Lectures: Ton o lectures coming up, so here goes.  Architecture in an Agile Organization , Jan 17th, free but must RSVP.  The old yarn is, if houses were constructed the way software was built, the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.  Learn how to create quality software quickly.  *  Also, Tour of Regency England via Jane Austen , Jan 19th, $15, of a lecture and discussion of the socioeconomic status of women, cultural mores, and the English class system during the period.  *  Also, Port Militarization Resistance, Jan 18th, free, of the importance of an independent media.  *  Also, The Journey of Forgiveness Destination Peace , Jan 16th, free.  Anger, even justified, is like acid eating away at the soul.  Learn how to move from past hurts to complete healing.  It's hard to imagine basing a Chuck Norris movie on the concept of forgiveness, but this discussion still sounds good to us.  *  Also, Embryo Adoption Live Workshop , Jan 19th, free, on donating embryos to help other couples become parents.  *  Also, How to Create Marketing Materials that Get Clients and Make Sales, Jan 17th, because if you wrote it, your company literature would be a yawn-fest.

Activity: Lucky Strikes Bowling brings its retro-chic to Bellevue .  About the only thing this place has in common with yesteryear's crusty bowling alleys is that they both have pins.  This bowling alley even has a dress code.  Showing its Hollywood roots, Lucky Strikes is a bowling and lounge combo full of neon, art, too-cool music, comfortable chairs, swanky drinks, and zipped-up versions of comfort foods.  This place makes bowling cool again.  If bowling isn't your thing, Lucky Strikes will still inspire you to break a hundred.

Party: Bravo Winter Soiree, Jan 17th, $60.  This group holds the must-attend Seattle parties.  It's sort of the über-crowd sans martini glasses, with performances by the young artists.  Actually, "young" for opera talent just means someone in their 20's. 

Keeping Your Resolutions: Weight Management, Jan 17th, free, of using hypnosis to quit shoving food into your pie-hole.  *  Also, Exploring Your Self Image , Jan 16th, free, for women, of learning more about what's weighing you down and how to achieve your true potential.  This is an especially good session for the mental 98-pound weaklings.  *  Also, Passion Test, Jan 19th, $65.  Whatever makes you get up in the morning, how come you're not doing that?  This workshop helps you discover and develop your passions.

Real Estate:  Guerrilla Marketing for Real Estate Agents, Jan 17th, $29, of low cost and imaginative ways to differentiate yourself from the other bazillion agents in the area.  *  Also, Real Estate Investing in Multi-Family Properties, Jan 14th, $15, on how to make money by housing more than one family at a time.  *  Also, Recreational Property Investment Show, Jan 19-20th, free, for those interested in second homes, cabins, condos, fractional ownership, raw land, and investment & income producing properties.  Exhibitors break out the special "Buy Now!" prices during the show.

Family Activity: Model Railroad Show , Jan 19-21st.  How can your inner kid not come out at this show?  Many different layouts and scales run the tracks.  Kids get to run some of the trains, help make scenery, and learn about safety around actual trains.  *  Also, Kindermusik Demo Class, Jan 15th, free, for kids age 0-5, on how to integrate and develop music in your little prodigy while their minds are most spongy.

Man/Woman Interactions: Secrets of Great Relationships, Jan 24th, free, on how you're being an unwitting doofus and sabotaging your relationship without even knowing it, what to do about it, and how to form healthy relationships.  *  Also, 8 Minute Dating , Jan 17th, $35, since you only need eight minutes to know if you want to see someone again.  *  Also, the Black Show, Jan 19th, $30, a tragic opera of gods and humans striving to achieve an erotic connection to spark life.  *  If the relationship has progressed the entire way, then Bellevue Wedding Show , Jan 19-20th, $12, on all of the gee-gaws you need for your princess day.

Business: 36th Annual Economic Forecast Conference , Jan 17th, $165.  The prognosticators of the future give us their predictions for 2008's economic fortunes.  Learn what's in and what's out; come away with better strategic understanding.  * Also, French-American Chamber of Commerce dinner , Jan 16th, $45.  The Frenchies invite us for dinner for sweet tastes of the regions, all towards the grand goal of fostering better relationships and business between our two great nations.

Men's Activity: Romp Naked , Jan 19th, $30.  The semi-annual wiener festival is back.  You gotta visualize this party.  A room of men shed their clothes, inhibitions, and self-imposed identities to free their spirits.  The organizers stress this isn't about getting laid, so no boners.  Thoughts of good naked vs. bad naked certainly comes to mind.

The Infection of Positivity.
Too much of anything is no longer a good thing.  So, when does being complimentary and positive become counterproductive?  While positive feedback can encourage a gentle ego to move forward, it can also feed a burgeoning monster.  So are we a bunch of namby-pambies that should be using whips instead of hugs?

You're Special .  This is the Mr. Rogers syndrome , which told us that we're special just for being whoever we are.  Actually, you're not special - you're as inspiring as two-week-old lettuce.  If you really want to be special, you need talent and industry.  Telling others they're special for no particular reason leads to inflated egos and self-entitled jerks.  The world is tough, and it doesn't owe anyone anything.

Discourages Root-Cause Analysis.  Being too positive can lead one to believe the status quo is good, or at least good enough.  If you're getting positive feedback on results, then everything is alright, isn't it?  Knowing something isn't working kicks the arse into gear.

Taint of Insincerity.  Doling out positive vibes without solid backing is a form of compliment inflation.  So when the impressive result does come around, well, big deal - it's just one more compliment among a handful of others.

Cool Video: Speaking of the Passion Test, here's the intro:

If you're having problems seeing the video, click here