Monthly Archives: September 2010

Aside from a normal Google search or Google Blog Search, here are some sources for finding information on companies worldwide:

• BusinessWeek Public and Private Company Search

• Crunchbase

• Elsevier Business Intelligence

• Forbes Global 2000

• Funding Universe

• Hoover’s Companies

• Inc 5000

• LinkedIn Companies

• List of Stock Exchanges

• OTC Companies

• PrivCo

• Startup Data Trends

• VentureBeat Profiles

• Yahoo Finance Stock Screener Results

• YouNoodle

• ZoomInfo

Updated 5/10/2012

Sikuli is a GUI automation application and framework.  In addition to its usefulness in the job of testing software, automation will continue to be an important skill to have in a variety of careers (see my post Who Will Tend to the Robots?).  I think Sikuli has the potential to displace many other functional test automation software suites since it’s user-friendly and free.  The program uses screenshots of GUI features and image recognition to easily build scripts for automation.

Here’s the Sikuli site and official news sources:

• Project Sikuli

• Questions and Answers for Sikuli

• Sikuli’s Official Blog

• Sikuli on Twitter

Here are some tips on using Sikuli:

• Android Boss – Automated Test in Android by Sikuli

• Catherine Devlin – pdb with Sikuli

• CSAIL – Sikuli Rethinks Programming

• Cuberick – Testing Image Generation with Cucumber and Sikuli

• Help Desk Geek – Basics of Using Sikuli to Automate Tasks

• Lifehacker – Sikuli Automates Almost Anything with Screenshot Ease

• MakeUseOf – Create Automation Scripts Easily Using Screenshots

• PC Pro – Sikuli: Scripting with Screenshots

• The Baydin Blog – 5 Sikuli Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

• The Pursuit of Quality – A Look at Sikuli

Here are some presentations on Sikuli and its uses:

• ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology – Sikuli: Using GUI Screenshots for Search and Automation

• Catherine Devlin – Sikuli Talk Follow-Up

• Ctibor Škuta – GUI Automation with Sikuli

• J. Huston & C. Baker – Sikuli Lecture

• Tsung-Hsiang Chang & Rob Miller – Sikuli: Using Screenshots for GUI Automation and Testing

Here are some YouTube videos on Sikuli:

• Automatically Setting IP on Mac OS X

• How to Download a Bunch of Files with Sikuli Script

• Latechna Sikuli Demo

• Sikuli Desktop Automation Screencast

• Sikuli GUI Automation in Action on Ubuntu Linux

• Sikuli Script for Automating a Coda/Firefox Workflow

• Using GUI Screenshots for Search and Automation

This is a list of researchers, bodybuilders, and trainers who have written informative books or who have useful information on their sites. I haven’t gone through all of these sites, so it’s important to remember that advice is much more believable if it cites scientific evidence. Exercise advice that doesn’t cite scientific sources is not as reliable. More resources are linked in the post Low Carb and Paleo Diet Links.

Physicians and Researchers:

Dr. Alex Hutchinson: physicist and fitness author

Dr. Brian Sekula: health performance expert and blogger

Dr. Carlon Colker: physician and supplement consultant

Dr. Cassandra Forsythe: nutrition scientist and author

Dr. Doug McGuff: emergency medicine physician and owner of a weight training facility

Dr. Ellington Darden: strength training researcher and author

Dr. Eric Heiden: orthopedic surgeon and gold medal winner

Dr. Eric Serrano: physician and fitness writer

Dr. Fred Hatfield: strength training author

Dr. Greg Shepard: exercise physiologist and developer of Bigger Faster Stronger

Dr. Jim Stoppani: exercise physiologist and author

Dr. John Berardi: nutritional biochemistry researcher and author

Dr. John Ratey: psychiatry professor and exercise researcher

Dr. Jonathan Dugas: exercise physiologist and sports science blogger

Dr. Kelly Starrett: physical therapist and writer

Dr. Layne Norton: nutrition scientist

Dr. Lee Brown: strength and conditioning professor

Dr. Lon Kilgore: exercise physiology researcher and author

Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale: physician and author

Dr. Mike Reinold: physical therapist and writer

Dr. Nick Evans: orthopedic surgeon and fitness author

Dr. Randall Strossen: psychologist and strength training author

Dr. Robert Wolff: strength training researcher and author

Dr. Ross Tucker: exercise physiologist and sports science blogger

Dr. Spencer Nadolsky: physician and writer

Dr. Stuart McGill: biomechanics professor and fitness author

Dr. Thomas Halton: nutritional epidemiologist and weight loss author

Dr. Tudor Bompa: professor and periodization researcher

Dr. Warren Willey: weight loss physician and author

Dr. Wayne Westcott: fitness researcher and author

Dr. William Kraemer: professor and textbook author

Trainers and Bloggers:

Alan Aragon: bodybuilding researcher and trainer

Alwyn Cosgrove: trainer and author

Ben Greenfield: trainer and fitness writer

Brad Pilon: nutrition researcher and author

Bret Contreras: strength and conditioning specialist

Brooks Kubik: powerlifting champion and author

Chad Waterbury: neurophysiologist who trained professional fighters

Charles Poliquin: strength coach and writer

Christian Thibaudeau: strength trainer and author

Craig Ballantyne: trainer and writer

Dan John: strength coach and blogger

Dan Ogborn: exercise scientist and author

David Lasnier: strength coach and blogger

Drew Baye: high intensity training blogger

Eric Cressey: performance coach and author

Hugo Rivera: bodybuilding and fitness author

Jamie Hale: conditioning coach and author

Jason Ferruggia: strength coach and author

JC Deen: fitness consultant and writer

Jeff Thiboutot: personal trainer and writer

Joe DeFranco: strength coach and writer

John Alvino: strength coach and blogger

John Izzo: fitness coach and writer

John Parrillo: nutrition entrepreneur and author

John Peterson: fitness author

John Philbin: president of the National Strength Professionals Association

John Romaniello: personal trainer and blogger

John Stone: bodybuilding writer

Jorgen De Mey: celebrity trainer and author

Joseph Brandenburg: personal trainer and blogger

Julian Hearn: founder of BodyHack

Justin Lascek: weightlifting blogger

Kelly Baggett: performance consultant and writer

Kurtis Frank: biochemistry blogger

Lee Hayward: bodybuilding trainer and writer

LL Cool J: fitness book author

Lou Schuler: strength specialist and author

Lyle McDonald: bodybuilding writer

Mark McManus: bodybuilding writer

Mark Rippetoe: strength training coach and author

Martin Berkhan: personal trainer and writer

Matt Perryman: trainer and blogger

Matt Schoeneberger: personal trainer and writer

Michael Mooney: exercise and supplement writer

Mike Irr: sports performance trainer and blogger

Muata Kamdibe: weight loss blogger

Nate Green: fitness author

Nelson Vergel: fitness and nutrition author

Nick Horton: Olympic weightlifter and writer

Patrick Arnold: organic chemist and supplement blogger

Patrick Ward: strength specialist and blogger

Rob Faigin: hormone and fitness writer

Robert Dos Remedios: strength coach and author

Ross Enamait: trainer and blogger

Rusty Moore: independent researcher and fitness blogger

Scott Abel: fitness coach and blogger

Scott Mendelson: training specialist and writer

Steve Kamb: fitness blogger

Steve Maxwell: strength training writer

Stew Smith: author of books on military and security training

Todd Becker: biotechnology scientist and blogger

Tom Venuto: trainer and author

Tony Horton: fitness system creator

Travis Stoetzel: gym owner and blogger

Magazines and Resources:

Bodybuilding Articles

Bodybuilding Pro

Bodybuilding Studies and Research Blog

Conditioning Research

Critical Bench

CrossFit Journal

Dragon Door

Elite FTS

Flex

Human Kinetics

Iron Magazine

Iron Man Magazine

Maximum Human Performance

Men’s Fitness

Men’s Health

Mind and Muscle

Muscle & Fitness

Muscle & Performance

Muscle & Strength

Musclemag

Muscular Development

Myotropics

National Strength and Conditioning Association

Peak Performance

Powerlifting USA

Powerlifting Watch

Precision Nutrition

Predator Nutrition

Renaissance Exercise

RX Muscle

StrongLifts

Super Human Radio

T Muscle

T Nation

Wannabebig

Pro Bodybuilder Writers:

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bill Pearl

Bill Phillips

Bob Paris

Dave Draper

Dave Palumbo

Dorian Yates

Eddie Robinson

Franco Columbu

Frank Sepe

Frank Zane

Gary Strydom

Gordon LaVelle

John Hansen

Kevin Levrone

Lee Haney

Lee Labrada

Lou Ferrigno

Mike Francois

Milos Sarcev

Rich Gaspari

Robby Robinson

Ronnie Coleman

Shawn Ray

Tom Platz

Tony Pearson

Updated 7/1/2012

Dr. Joseph Mercola’s site is one of the most popular health sites, and possibly the most popular site of any doctor.

Unfortunately, he’s wrong about some things like his thoughts on vaccination.

On the other hand, lots of the articles on his site have links to peer-reviewed studies or news stories about them.

The key when using his website is to pay attention to the articles that are backed up by scientific studies, and doing further research on Google Scholar on the topics that don’t cite certain studies.

The same strategy can be applied to other natural health sites like Natural News.

In his incredibly popular and insightful book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith describes the experience of a friend who interviewed people who were dying.  Goldsmith’s friend asked them what advice they would give to younger versions of themselves.  The three main categories of advice were:

• Find happiness and meaning now instead of trying to get something external like a promotion or bigger house in hopes of attaining happiness.

• Focus on spending time with friends and family members who you like and love.  The old adage is true.  When people are on their deathbeds, no one wishes they had spent more time in the office unless they were working on something that gives meaning to their lives.  However, in many cases working at a job to support a family gives people more than enough meaning in life and I have a great deal of respect for those individuals.

• Follow your dreams, whether they are big or little.  ”The key question is not, ‘Did I make all my dreams come true?’ The key question is ‘Did I try?’”

An additional insightful article on the topic comes from former palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware.  It’s called Regrets of the Dying.  The importance of dreams, friends, family, and happiness are spelled out here too.

As a previous side project I was examining ways to predict the future based on the knowledge of successful executives and entrepreneurs from a variety of fields (see my post 4,000 Mentors for details).  When I was searching for advice and blogs written by successful executives, I put together a list of managerial and C-level titles to know what to look for.  This list may also be useful to people who work in recruiting and sales.  Here is the list with relevant abbreviations:

chairman

chief administrative officer – CAO

chief business officer – CBO

chief communications officer – CCO

chief creative officer – CCO

chief executive officer – CEO

chief financial officer – CFO

chief information officer – CIO

chief information security officer – CISO

chief investment officer – CIO

chief knowledge officer – CKO

chief learning officer – CLO

chief marketing officer – CMO

chief medical officer – CMO

chief medical information officer – CMIO

chief operating officer – COO

chief people officer – CPO

chief privacy officer – CPO

chief risk officer – CRO

chief science officer – CSO

chief strategy officer – CSO

chief strategic officer – CSO

chief technical officer – CTO

chief technology officer – CTO

corporate vice president – CVP

director

executive director

executive vice president – EVP

founder

general counsel

general manager – GM

group vice president – GVP

managing director – MD

partner

president

senior vice president – SVP

vice president – VP

Some reports discuss the potential for a primary care doctor shortage for a few reasons:

• Physician interest in becoming a specialist, which can be more lucrative and offer the opportunity to be an expert in a certain field of medicine

• Artificial limits placed on the number of doctors by the American Medical Association

• Desire of doctors to focus on direct care and concierge medicine rather than dealing with a huge number of patients and insurance providers

There’s still debate over whether there will actually be a shortage of primary care doctors.  And if there is, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and artificial intelligence systems may end up handling many primary care duties.

Another potential remedy could be more people adopting the paleo diet, plus other nutrients like probiotics.  This would likely increase the general health of the population, leaving doctors to handle more significant medical issues.  A recent blog post by Robb Wolf and Tim Ferriss describes the variety of health problems that can be cured by avoiding grains.

Physicians from a diverse selection of medical specialties support low carb and paleo nutrition.  Longevity researchers such as Dr. Cynthia Kenyon also support paleo-type nutrition.

I’ve read a lot of books by Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist who has pioneered the use of SPECT imaging to examine the brain and gather more data to diagnose and treat mental problems.  The major point of the brain scan is to get information that goes beyond the standard clinical questions used in psychiatry.  As Amen says, psychiatry is the only medical specialty where practitioners don’t actually look at the organ of the patient they treat.  He’s also published some peer-reviewed research about SPECT brain scans and their ability to diagnose mental disorders.  The Amen Clinics website also has an extensive database of abstracts related to neuroimaging and its diagnostic uses.

I’ve also read skeptical takes on Dr. Amen’s work.

The books written by Dr. Amen have fairly extensive checklists and images for diagnosing brain disorders.  They also list a variety of treatment recommendations.  The best way to settle this would be for some enterprising researchers to get a SPECT machine, scan patients, and see how well the claims and recommendations in Dr. Amen’s books match up with conventional methods for diagnosis and treatment.  Do they improve upon established methods of diagnosis and forms of treatment?  Are they repeatable?  Those are the true measures of his success.

Dr. Nancy Appleton is the author of Suicide by Sugar and has documented an extensive list of reasons why sugar decreases health.  These reasons are backed up by references to medical research.

More and more evidence is labeling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as a form of Type 3 diabetes that’s associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Dr. Stephen Ilardi, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas, wrote a blog post about the link between sugar and mental illness.  Also, lots of books by nutritionally knowledgeable psychiatrists recommend avoiding sugar and flour as a means of preserving emotional stability.  An example is The Chemistry of Joy by Dr. Henry Emmons.

This is tough news to take since I like giving chocolate as gifts to family and friends.  The best alternative to deal with this situation seems to be reducing the total amount of sugar and flour that you eat, giving you an increased opportunity to eat small amounts of milk chocolate instead.  Even better is dark chocolate, which has health benefits like reducing blood pressure.

Stevia is also a great choice for sweetening food and drinks.  It’s safer than artificial sweeteners and can improve insulin sensitivity, reverse metabolic syndrome, and lower blood pressure.  Truvia is made from an extract of the stevia leaf and is cheap and widely available.

I wrote earlier about the growing possibilities for citizen scientists that are being brought about by an increased availability and decreased cost of the technology used for life sciences research.

Livly is an exciting organization co-founded by Eri Gentry (founder of BioCurious) and Dr. John Schloendorn, who has experience in prominent longevity organizations like the Methuselah Foundation and the SENS Foundation.  The group is working on developing cures outside the traditional space of billion-dollar research group or academic hospital.

Livly has raised funding from the Vitae Institute and started a collaboration with the Direct Oncology Foundation.  The goal is to fulfill needs that would allow for a universal cancer therapy based on granulocytes and their potential for cancer-immunity.

Further information is in the following newsletters from Livly:

• May 2009

• June 2009

• August 2009

• January 2010