Mentoring

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One of the joys of being a mentor

to someone I deeply care about is

to see that person achieve great things

seemingly without effort

with an amazing amount of passion, zeal, grace, poise

and last, but not least, a great sense of humor,

and a giving, generous heart

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"Only in America" ~ Coffee, Tea, or.... ??

I've decided to start collecting "Only in America" items to add to this blog. Here's the first installment:

Question of the day:

If you were to found a grassroots political movement named after a beverage, what would it be?

http://www.marconews.com/news/2010/mar/27/guest-commentary-coffee-party-just-blend-usual-eli/?partner=yahoo_feeds

Coffee and tea are already taken.

But these are still available, last time I checked:

Chai Party

Yerba Mate Party

Kool-Aid Party

Mangosteen Juice Party

Sparkling Water Party or Pellegrino Party (I like the sound of this one, even though Pellegrino might object)

There won't be an OJ Party. The whole OJ thing has been done to death.

Alas, in a language/culture that uses the same word for "political organization" and "celebration" it's only a matter of time until the rise of the

• Beer Party

And, shortly thereafter, the

• Imported Beer Party

* * * And that will be the end of the beverage-based political party fad * * *

The Bermuda Triangle is in Oregon?

So what went on here?

http://www.katu.com/news/89251767.html

Did a WWII-era plane crash in Oregon 60 years ago and remain undiscovered

or

Are we seeing the remains of a failed time travel experiment with alien technology and props from the Bermuda Triangle?

You decide.

(Apparently there are still loggers in Oregon. How quaint.)

And more details have emerged:

http://www.katu.com/news/89307142.html

SpaceShip Two

Sir Richard Branson is my *hero*!!

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-carry-test-100322.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+(SPACE.com+Headline+Feed)

Prediction 2010

Much of L.A.'s central city empty commercial real estate seems to be filling up disproportionately with psychics and medical marijuana dispensaries.

The former should know what the future holds and, I can only assume, they are acting on that future knowledge.

The latter will only increase. With marijuana decriminalization for all on the ballot in CA in the November 2010 elections, pretty soon marijuana retailers will be as common a sight as liquor stores in L.A.

And won't that be just totally awesome?

Mark Twain on Media

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed,
if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."

- Mark Twain


What would Mark Twain have done with the internet?

Everything most people can never hope to achieve.


What would Mark Twain's blog have looked like?

Metrolink vs. Union Pacific

Metrolink wins - hands down:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/03/railroad-worker-killed-metrolink-crash-el-monte.html

It's all rather dramatic when you were on the train. Below is the tweet time line of a Saturday morning Metrolink outing that turned grim when the train hit a truck parked on the tracks and killed the driver.

I left out the part about seeing the truck driver die on the tracks, failed CPR and all.
And the gasoline smell that permeated the train shortly thereafter.
And the rising panic inside the train.

3.
I *seriously* need coffee. about 2 hours ago via txt
* Delete
4.

Back at Union Station after getting off the crashed Metrolink train East of LA. At least I can get on with my life. about 3 hours ago via txt
* Delete
5.

Passengers from crashed metrolink train are headed to Baldwin Park metrolink station. about 5 hours ago via txt
* Delete
6.

i'm on bus line 000 to Baldwin Park - the Crash Line. about 5 hours ago via txt
* Delete
7.

Passengers are off the Metrolink train that hit a truck east of Los Angeles. We're on buses, destination not yet known. about 5 hours ago via txt
* Delete
8.

still on the Metrolink train east of LA that hit a truck. they are sending buses - to where nobody's saying. The mood is getting ugly. about 5 hours ago via mobile web
* Delete
9.

I'm on an Eastbound Metrolink train that just hit a Union/Pacifi truck/SUV near El Monte, CA. There is one fatality on the tracks. about 7 hours ago via txt
* Delete
10.

And the LA River is bone dry in very early spring. about 8 hours ago via txt
* Delete
11.

Wai Sang Meat Co. & Men's Central Jail. Ok... about 8 hours ago via txt
* Delete
12.

The sparrows are strafing low today. *Inside* Union Station & the PA just broadcast a... dial tone. about 8 hours ago via mobile web
* Delete
13.

Gah - - - I just saw the empty lot where the Ambassador Hotel was torn down, like 2 years ago. Now there's an urban wasteland. Way to go! about 9 hours ago via txt
* Delete
14.

I can't believe I'm up, out & about already... about 9 hours ago via txt
* Delete

Commitment to Change and Positive Action

It has been a rather interesting weekend.

Brushes with death always tend to re-calibrate one's perspective and future actions.

I am more than ready to attain the Next Level and move into the next phase of my training with passion, conviction, clarity, purpose and an unstoppable commitment to Success.

Nothing less will be acceptable.

Lunatic Labs is Back!

Excellent ~ I am officially resurrecting Lunatic Labs.

All Hail the Mad Alchemist!

It was a different time

It was a different day

One analog line, dedicated, 24/7/365

1200 bps.
(and that was fast)

One user at a time

It was before the world-wide web

It was 1989

Where are you today?

Sir Francis Drake

Dexter Riley

Serpent of Sandoz

Tim Maroney

Le Ver de Chaos

Teflon Jacket

The Extraordinary Fiend

Dopeman

Shatter

and Black Adder

samurai

elric of imrryr

wintermute

castalia


Let's not forget the Lab Weasel, who always borrowed my car for stuff I still don't want to know about.


Did I leave anyone out?

Almost certainly - but not for long.