Two Chips in One

That’s what HOPE is, isn’t it, something between a decision and a feeling; it is giving of permission to oneself to be optimistic about things yet to be.
-Morag Joss
“Half Broken Things”

On September 16, 2009 An MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) team announced that they had succeeded in combining two semiconductor materials (silicon and gallium nitride) that have different and potentially complementary characteristics into a single hybrid microchip. It is an advance that could lead to overcoming fundamental barriers of size and speed facing today's silicon chips.

This leads me to believe that these two ‘chip’ companies are worth evaluating (if you have a five year or longer investment time horizon they are a BUY):

INTEL Corporation (stock symbol INTC):
This trades currently at about $20 per share
and pays a dividend yield of about 2.85%

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC. (stock symbol MCHP):
This trades currently at about $27 per share
and pays a dividend yield of about 4.9%

Consult your Investment Adviser to see if these investments are appropriate for you.

Twenty-five years ago today:

September 19, 1984
Wednesday

Today was a fun day. My co-workers ‘in training’ played hangman for much of the day. I had them stumped when I used the words ‘TOKYO’ and ‘FOREVER’.

Pat Wright, Barbara Reynolds and I enjoyed lunch together on Market Street as we ate our turkey avocado sandwiches. We had a good laugh at the diversity of people from Hari Krishna chaps to a toothless man to a bunch of other gents who kept passing by. Barb said a lot of the gents were staring at me. I just made a grunt. I looked and they looked away…lucky me.

After work I kept my appointment with the Oakland Women’s Health Center to donate (my sperm). I talked to Robin, the case worker there. She is pretty cool.
“There have not been any pregnancies announced yet,” she said after I had asked about any results. I was presented with a check for $21.25 for my donation.

I took a ride on my bike along the beach. I saw some familiar faces and some new ones that are becoming more familiar.

I went to mom’s for a couple of pork chops and found a package waiting there for me. It was my new military front pocket pants that I ordered from that Bachrach Men’s Catalog from Chicago, Illinois.

I was thinking of Nici Maurino tonight, so I decided to give her a call. There was no answer, just a constant ring.

PHOTO: Sept 10, 2004
Mykonos, Greece.

Richard Greenspan of Daly City called me. He is the guy I met at ‘The Oasis’ the night I met Karen Jackson. He has a bit of a fat tummy and is a redhead. He seems nice and his folks seem to be wealthy because they went to Greece and Israel and who knows where else. He told me he was all alone at their Daly City home.
“So tell me about that Karen girl,” Richard said.
I did not share too much information with him because I didn’t want to prolong thoughts of her (freckles on the back).
“I’m going to ‘The Oasis’ again on Friday night,” Richard said.
“I might go, too.”
I was still undecided as to whether or not I would go to 'The Oasis'. Do I really want to become a regular at any one place? I think not.

Bobbie Renbarger is very interested in the VIP ‘early retirement’ program that is being offered at the company. I am, too. I want to leave the phone company and seriously pursue my idea of ‘Michael J of New York’, clothiers for men. I want to do it—so bad.

I need more support and more of a push to get me going with the concept of my own business. I telephoned Bobbie and left a message on her voice recorder because she inspires me. She gives me more incentive ideas about delving into a private business.

Read More

The Gypsy

"Life is a journey and the road we travel has unexpected twists and turns which sometimes lead us to unexpected places and unexpected people."-as heard while watching
KYLE-XY, Season II

Do you know a gypsy? Have you ever known a gypsy? Have you ever had your fortune told by a gypsy? I have never had my fortune told. Sometimes I wonder what a crystal ball will reveal. I think I want to find out things the 'natural' everyday way.

The only gypsy I have ever 'sort of' known (or remember) is Magda Rikosi, a character role played by actress Grayson Hall, in the TV-soap series DARK SHADOWS. Magda Rakosi was a gypsy who lived at the Old House on the Collinwood estate in 1897. She stole the Hand of Count Petofi from her gypsy tribe, and attempted to use it to cure the werewolf curse she had placed on Quentin Collins.
Magda and her husband, Sandor Rakosi lived at The Old House by special permission of Edith Collins. Magda was obsessed with finding the Collins family jewels and one night, while reading in her crystal ball, she discovered there was a hidden room inside the old Collins Mausoleum. What she did not know was that this vision was sent to her by Barnabas Collins, who had just traveled back in time to 1897 and needed to be freed from his coffin. When Sandor returned with Barnabas, Magda saw the bite marks on Sandor's neck and realized that Barnabas was a vampire.

I also seem to recall that there are known 'gypsies' in current day France that cause a bit of havoc to the French. There is even a BLOG devoted to Gypsy News:
http://www.gypsygirlpress.net/gypsynews/2008_09_01_archive.html

I have recently fallen for an old song called THE GYPSY by The Ink Spots. It was a featured song on the soundtrack in the 2008 film, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. I like the mood of it and I wanted to feature the tune on my BLOG today. Take a listen:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+gypsy%2c+ink+spots&docid=805206360586&mid=66C52CFCF0AE2854A68F66C52CFCF0AE2854A68F&FORM=VIVR3

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 16, 1984
Monday

It was a great day. I dressed in a white, pressed shirt and tie to the office. I got a few head turns. For lunch, Barbara and I left at 12:30PM or so and ended up in Union Square to see the torch runners relay around the Square. It was fun. We returned to the office at 2:30PM. Ooops. Luckily, no one got on our case about it.

After work I arrived home in a jiffy. Suzy Miller arrived at 6PM and we went bicycling together. Then I biked more ‘on my own’ (after Suzy pooped out). I stopped at mom’s who was babysitting Ashley.

I was home and in bed by 9PM when I woke up to a phone call at 10PM. It was Danny Garcia calling.
“I just wanted to see how you were doing’,” Danny said as I rubbed my eyes to awareness.
“Oh, well I thought you lost interest,” I bluntly said.
“I merely called to see how you were doing is all,” Danny said as we quickly ended our conversation.
What is with him? I guess he just wants to be friends (which is fine). I would just find it to be a rather shaky involvement. I have decided he is okay looking but just NMT (Not My Type).

PHOTO: Karyn Kossoff, 1984


I think I like Karyn Kossoff at the new San Francisco office. Her personality is bubbly. She is a bit on the OW (overweight) side but she has a neat smile. I like it. Patty Reid is nice---but just plain FAT! Hank (at work) is also a temptation. Then again there is an ‘ugh’ about him, too. The preppy fellow in the neighborhood remains a mystery.

Read More

The Future Is One's Past

It is scary to discover that one's future is also one's past.
The anticipation of a world is inevitably the myth of an eternal return.
-Jules Verne
"Paris in the Twentieth Century"
(The Lost Novel)

Michael, 'The Gemini'
At 11:59pm Pacific Time I was born fifty years ago today (May 26th) in Oakland, California. I celebrate my 'New 30' in Barcelona, Spain. Viva Espana!

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 26, 1984
Saturday

What a way to start my Birthday morning!
Chris’ lower back was ‘killing him’. He couldn’t take it and I didn’t know what to do. The pain eventually subsided and we managed to have a great morning. We showered and then headed for Carmel.

We ate at a nice outdoor restaurant after I bought a cool, new pair of shoes. The shopping could not be helped among all of the neat little shops.

It looked like the weather was going to be nice but it remained gloomy so we decided to head for the Santa Cruz-Los Gatos area.

We found our way to Seacliff Beach in Aptos, CA. We enjoyed the ‘walk & talk’ as we checked out this entirely new beach, feeling the warm sun along the way. We had fun joking around about the nice bods, the grody bods and the great lookin’ asses and vice versa. It made me laugh hearing Chris talk so spontaneously and directly. There was no jealousy involved either. It was just plain summer fun and goofing off.

PHOTO: by LaWanda Wilson-Cornmesser

We were soon in Los Gatos, CA where we had ice-cream at Swensons. The traffic was hectic for a good while but I had my share of cool, alternative tunes to help pass the time.

Before long we were back in Alameda. Chris fled to Concord to change clothes and shower. Chris returned about two hours later and we ventured over to San Francisco’s Top of the Mark to see the wonderful City Lights view on my 25th Birthday.

I was feeling tired after the long day. We left the Top of the Mark and walked (regretfully) to Polk Street and walked into a 24 hour restaurant called GRUBSTEAK. It was a drastic change from the Top of the Mark clientele. We left as Chris started to feel tired, too.

I had to drive home with Chris dozin’ off. He was not in the mood for ‘anything’. So I remained silent listening to mellow tunes. When we arrived home Chris fell asleep in his car and I went inside to sleep in the house. He didn’t want to come in, so I left. I guess he left after his nap (or maybe after a scary dream of me or some other face knocking on his window).

Read More

Your Very Own 'Humanoid Robot'

Without phrasing it in so many words to himself, he took it for granted that they would live together forever and that life would be beautiful and serene, an endless golden haze of music and books and theater and talks by the fire.
-Nial Kent
aka William Leroy Thomas
'The Divided Path'


A February 2009 article written by Paul Marks in NEW SCIENTIST magazine talks about how robots have started to evolve.

Imagine having your very own robot to talk with by the fireplace someday? It does not seem too far-fetched to me.

Artificial Intelligence Engineer, Christopher MacLeod, and his colleagues at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, have created a robot that adapts to such changes by mimicking biological evolution.
"If we want to make really complex humanoid robots with ever more sensors and more complex behaviours, it is critical that they are able to grow in complexity over time-just like biological creatures did," he says.

What would you name your "humanoid robot"?
Macleod is moving forward with his idea. A simulated robot that not only evolves its own way of moving, but also decides how many legs and sensors it needs to carry out a given task most effectively is on the way.

He is confident the technique will help to build more advanced robots. In particular, the software could make humanoid robots and prosthetic limbs more versatile.
"It can build layer-upon-layer of complexity to fulfil tasks in an open-ended way." Macleod says.

What next? Read the complete article here:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126946.600-unnatural-selection-robots-start-to-evolve.html?full=true

Twenty-five years ago today:

April 10, 1984
Tuesday

My 'tubmate', Judy Albert, a big black lady, wore the funniest looking wig today. I almost died laughing when I saw her. She is in the cubicle next to mine.

I called Tammy Duhr and we scheduled a date for this Saturday. The plan is for a movie and 'conversation catch up'.

I had lunch at FATS alone. My brother, Tony, and Helen are "a growing item". I guess they preferred having lunch as a twosome today.

I took a daytime snooze on my afternoon break. Ben Nunley, a co-worker, allowed me to read his newspaper. Michelle of the Residential Telephone Order Center spoke to me for a while. I always tease her, calling her Ms. High Fashion.

Chris Cordellos telephoned around 7PM. We talked until 8:30PM. He mentioned his accident.
"Yeah, I fell. I couldn't even stand up, so they gave me a week of rest," Chris sighed in relief. 'They' refers to the US Coast Guard, of course.
"You lucky sucker," I said.
He chuckled as we continued to chatter about the great time we had during my recent visit.

"Jim Severn has been coming by every day," Chris revealed, "I wrote him a note because I'm trying to get him off of my back."
I comforted Chris, complementing his "pizzaz" and "personality".
"I miss you," I said, stressing how much I appreciate our friendship.
We laughed and reminisced about April 1st and our walk along Clam Beach and 'our' twin twigs.
"I'll call you tomorrow," I said, closing our conversation.
I fell asleep not long after.

Read More

The New Entrepreneur

"As an entrepreneur, you have to get used to failure.
It is just part of the path to success."
-Mark Pincus,
Founder of Tribe.net
and Zynga, a San Francisco based
company that develops online games

Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself. Life is fully of setback. Success is determined by how you handle them.

Write down your short and long term goals four times a year. Two personal, two business and one health goal. A study at Yale University found that only 3% of the students had written goals. Twenty years later, the same 3% were wealthier and healthier than the other 97% combined.

I clipped and saved an article in the Small Business "The Journal Report" back on February 23, 2009 that was written by Kelly K. Spors as a reference for inspiring 'The New Entrepreneur'.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123498006564714189.html
The economic atmosphere today requires a new entrepreneur to answer these questions to see if you have what it takes. I have condensed some of the key advice from the Spors' article (with the inclusion of some great supplemental books):

1. Are you willing and able to bear great financial risk?
Roughly half of all start-ups close within five years, so you must be realistic about the financial risks that come with owning a business. Don't assume you'll be able to lower your risk substantially by finding investors.

2. Are you willing to sacrifice your lifestyle for potentially many years?
If you are used to steady paychecks, four weeks' paid vacation and employer-sponsored health benefits, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

3. Is your significant other on board?
Don't ignore the toll running a business will take on your loved ones. Failed ventures frequently break up marriages because entrepreneurs devote so much time and money to the business.

4. Do you like all aspects of running a business?
In the early stages of a business, founders are often expected to handle 'everything' (from billing customers, hiring employees to writing marketing materials).

5. Are you comfortable making decisions on the fly with no playbook?
A book that lays out the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is written by Bill Wagner called "The Entrepreneur Next Door". Find a copy immediately!

6. What’s your track record of executing your ideas?
The ability to implement ideas is one of the biggest differences that will lead one to success.

7. How persuasive and well-spoken are you?
You must always be selling your mission and vision.

8. Do you have a concept you’re passionate about?
You must be eager and exuberant about running your business.

9. Are you a self-starter?
John Gartner, an assistant clinical psychiatry professor at John Hopkins University has written a book called "The Hypomaniac Edge".
It theorizes the many well-known entrepreneurs that have a temperament called hypomania. They are highly creative, energetic, impatient and very persistent.

10. Do you have a business partner?
If you don't have all the traits to run the show find a partner who compensates your shortcomings. Choosing a partner is not a light decision. Spend several days hashing out the specifics to make sure you are both on the same page.

Jon Gillespie-Brown seems to have taken notice of the article by Kelly K. Spors as well. Jon is a published Author, Lecturer, Founder/CEO and Mentor on Entrepreneurship. He currently mentors at Stanford, UC Berkeley and the London Business School. He recently wrote about liking the article as much as I did.
http://www.tobeanentrepreneur.com/blog/so-you-want-to-be-an-entrepreneur-at-the-wall-street-journal/
Jon Gillespie-Brown has a paperback book "So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur: How to decide if starting a business is really for you" that will also help you with your business plan.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1841128031?tag=soyouwantob05-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1841128031&adid=0GYBRPXJNK8EW07W71M2&

Twenty-five years ago today:

Thursday, March 22, 1984

Today we celebrated Barbara Reynolds' birthday (even though the official day is March 23rd). It was great fun. I left a little 'Happy Birthday' note in her incoming mail slot. I bought her a mini-birthday cake. I also selected a scarf for her at Emporium that she seemed to like. She was certainly surprised. She is too sweet. I wish I could have seen her face when she saw the card I found for her in Sonoma.

After work I called Helen Wong and we went to 'Headlines' in San Francisco. I bought a BIKE T-shirt. I couldn't resist not buying my brother John the "A Super Papa" sweatshirt.

We found our way to the 'Executive Health Spa'. I saw Stevei serving drinks. She recognized me. Helen thought she kept looking at me on occasion but I didn't notice any of that.
"You're the best-lookin' gent here," Helen whispered.
I was flattered as I was feeling the electric buzz from the triple vodka grape I had ordered. Dave Vigil made the drink for me. It found it tasty (after getting used to the flavor).

Helen and I did not dance. We both thought the band was "shitty". That's okay. We departed by 9PM and I drove Helen to her car at the BART station.

Before I knew it I was home in bed, dreaming.

Read More

Bizarre Love Triangle

"You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely."
-Ogden Nash

It's time for a song. I loved this song when it was introduced by the group NEW ORDER. New Order is an English rock group formed in 1980 by the remaining members of Joy Division following the suicide of singer Ian Curtis.

There is a movie I recently added to my NETFLIX list called CONTROL. It is about the death of Ian Curtis. I look forward to watching this story.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2_B_cWK_M

Listen to BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDD41R_5eR8

The lyrics:

Every time i think of you
I feel shot right through with a bolt of blue
It's no problem of mine but it's a problem I find
Living a life that I can't leave behind
There's no sense in telling me
The wisdom of a fool won't set you free
But that's the way that it goes
And it's what nobody knows
While every day my confusion grows
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say

I feel fine and I feel good
I'm feeling like I never should
Whenever I get this way, I just don't know what to say
Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday
I'm not sure what this could mean
I don't think you're what you seem
I do admit to myself
That if I hurt someone else
Then I'll never see just what we're meant to be
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say

Twenty-five years ago today:

Monday, January 30, 1984

I submitted my Pacific Bell ideas to the Division Staff Management today. Work went smoothly today. I told Susan, Pat, Mathilda and Ben a dirty joke (the one that ends 'but Mom...you told me not to talk with my mouth full'). Ben got a kick out of it.

I ate lunch at the Pot Belly Deli today.

Leslie Fonseca called me at around 4pm per Salima. I did not call her back. Am I a creep? I don't think so. I will call her when I am in the mood to do so.

I called mom on break to chat a bit. During break I told Salima and Rose that I may be (HOH) 'Head Over Heals' over Nancy. Am I really?

After work I cruised via bicycle to Dad's and ate a couple of tuna sandwiches. I was back home before one could blink an eyelash. The phone rang within minutes of my entering my pad. It was Chris Cordellos.

Chris is interesting but I am worried about his back problem. It sounds very bad. We made definitive plans for a visit to Huntington Beach in June 'no matter what'. Chris tells me he has been considering art, fashion design, sewing and cosmetology as potential careers. He speaks so ambitiously of these fields. He seems to have a lot of ideas. The only problem is that he seems unsure as to where to turn and what to do. I am glad I am his friend. He appreciates my advice. He is always requesting my opinions.

The disc on Chris' lower back fell and may be touching his spinal cord.
"It may require an operation," Chris said.
"If you need it I think you better get it done soon," I advised.
"You're right. I have an appointment any minute," he confirmed.
I went on to share the two classes that I have decided to take at the College of Arts & Crafts in North Oakland.
"That sounds good," he interjected, "I still might move to Arcata, it's near Eureka."

Chris wants to do so many things. It will be interesting to learn when and where things will end up. Chris explained that he was calling me from Oak Knoll Hospital. Poor guy. I wonder if our 'no matter what' trip to Huntington Beach will actually happen.

Later that night I had another call from Chris.
"You won't believe it, Michael. I had a dream about you." he said.
"Really?" I asked, "What was it about?"
"Well, you got married." he announced.
It was funny to hear his words because I think I had the same dream but the bride was a blur. Was it Nancy? Was it Paloma? Who was it?

The 'powers that be' say that we dream about our problems and forecast solutions this way. How true is that? I wonder if (and when) I'll ever marry? I am a bit curious to know. Then again I am willing to wait longer than usual for that 'big step'. If Barbara Reynolds (age 38) and Helen Wong (age 35) have remained single all of this time then why can't I just be happy and 'wait n' see'? What is going to happen? How is it going to be? I will just remain happy for now.

Read More

All Is Full of Love

Ever hear of "Bjork"? I remember she wore that wild n' crazy "Swan" dress for the Acamedy Awards one year. She is currently searching for a new pad in New York City. I know...firsthand. I did a search for one of her music videos and was quite intrigued by the sexy robots here. I'm hooked to the tune. It's a 'must see':
http://search.live.com/video/results.aspx?q=bjork+robot&docid=201329475755&FORM=VIVP11#docid=287903842602

That video isn't as far-fetched as you may think. Scientists have created the first 'humanoid' robot that can mimic the facial expressions and lip movements of a human being. Check out this article...what next, Virtual Sex (as per a previous blog I wrote?). Haha
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1085059/Pictured-The-robot-pull-faces-just-like-human-being.html

Twenty-five years ago today

January 15, 1984

It was early Sunday morning and I faintly remember my brother, John, coming home at around 3am, telling me that it smelled like a skunk outside.

I finally woke up to my cousin, Sandy Gallegos, who called to say it was raining; whereby, our bike outing was cancelled. I heard John getting ready and we both went over to mom's house for Sunday breakfast.

After breakfast I accompanied mom and dad to look at some new Centre Court homes for sale on Harbor Bay Isle. We also looked at a casita at 1100 Verdemar. I think my dad is considering an investment purchase. It is still questionable. We couldn't believe the black and filthy dirty heating filter attached to the furnace at the casita home.

I wonder where I will be living in six months?

My brother, John, said that Leslie Fonseca called me.
"She's in love and just wants someone to support her," John said.
I had to laugh. Then again...I wonder. Is she a risk? I don't know if it's a waste of time to lead her on. I don't want to hurt her. She is so nice.

Chris Cordellos called me, too. John answered the phone. I was half asleep, so I told John to tell him I was asleep.
"Take a message," I yelled to him downstairs.
When I did return Chris' phone call his mother answered. I was confused because he had said he had two roommates. It is strange that his mother would answer his phone. Oh well...he is a Pisces (another George Jones?). Another liar? It's too early to tell.

I learned (from mom) that my dad made an offer of $118,000 on the casita on Verdemar. It will be interesting to learn whether or not it will be accepted. It needs totally repainted walls and new carpeting.

I called Paloma and told her about the movies I had available to see. She seems anxious to visit (I think). I'm glad. It would be nice to see her on Wednesday, the night of the Full Moon. I'm such a romantic sometimes. It's funny how I write a lot about how certain people influence my life. Certain events and material things can cause a lot of happiness with me right now. For example, a full moon, my new black lamp, my new 'old bicycle antique' and my poster of France all make me happy.

Shockwaves! Paloma called me at around 8:45pm.
"I can be there in forty-five minutes to an hour," she said.
She is finally coming over to see me and my place. Should I feel privileged? No, I feel happy. We will have fun watching a movie. Who knows what else?

Paloma and I watched "Trilogy of Terror", the 1975 film starring Karen Black.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRxq_E-N72A
Maybe I wanted her to get scared and have her clutch and hug me for protection. It was an 'ok' movie but it didn't seem to phase her. She didn't have a need to clutch me during any of the scary scenes. She liked my place though.

I told her about Gilbert, the modeling agent, and his proposition so-to-speak. She simply laughed about it. I shared some pictures with her that I had taken. She liked them. It was really good seeing her. I am especially thankful that she didn't "light up" (smoke).

Paige LaBris called me from Sacramento (just before Paloma arrived). I like Paige a lot but I just wonder where we really stand together as an item. Will she ever be "HOH" (Head Over Heals) over me. She still wants to visit (with a girlfriend tagging along, of course). It could prove meaningful. Who knows?

Read More

Where Do I Come From ?

"A molecule that interacts with another molecule has a much greater chance to luminesce."
-actor Alan Rickman's last line in the movie "Nobel Son"

I have been reading the book "The Seven Daughters of Eve" by Bryan Sykes (a professor of genetics at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University). He wrote:

We may know our parents, even our grandparents, not far beyond that, for most of us the trail begins to disappear into the mist.

He reminded me of that movie GATTACA when he wrote:

DNA has just four key components. A for adenine, C for cytosine, G for Guanin and T for thymine.

In the 1997 movie, GATTACA, people are cloned. I feel like watching it again:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKTJioYKHcI

I plan on writing more about this fascinating book that will ultimately explain how we are all descendants (maternally) from one of seven daughters of Eve (Ursula, Xenia, Helena, Velda, Tara, Katrine, or Jasmine). I just wanted to touch up on an article I just read that was published yesterday (January 7, 2009). It is about ten extinct beasts that could possibly be brought back to life. The writer of the article, Henry Nicholls wrote:

THE recipe for making any creature is written in its DNA. So last November, when geneticists published the near-complete DNA sequence of the long-extinct woolly mammoth, there was much speculation about whether we could bring this behemoth back to life.

Creating a living, breathing creature from a genome sequence that exists only in a computer's memory is not possible right now. But someone someday is sure to try it, predicts Stephan Schuster, a molecular biologist at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and a driving force behind the mammoth genome project.

Does this mean that one day we can resurrect Sigmund Freud, George Washington, Katherine Hepburn and Clark Gable? It may seem far-fetched but for the right price who knows what will be possible in another hundred years. I would like to have a mini-clone of myself. Seriously! I could teach myself new things. You may read the full article here by Henry Nicholls if you'd like:
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126905.000-ten-extinct-beasts-that-could-walk-the-earth-again.html?full=true

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 8, 1984

GEICO Insurance Agency called today. I made arrangements with them to provide me with Auto Insurance over the telephone.

I watched the 49er versus Washington Redskins football game. Then I decided to go bicycle riding (after I shaved my moustache). I also had my haircut by Cheryl (who suggested a 'body wave' for me). What is a body wave?

The bike ride was exceptional and exhilarating. I once again bumped into Susan and Nancy. I casually invited them out for tonight. Susan was driving her car when they saw me on my bike. She didn't say anything when I suggested the outing. Her friend, Nancy, said that she had to go to work now. I asked Nancy where she worked.
"Oh, at El Taco in San Leandro," she said in a not very excited tone.
I told them I would ride my back all that way to chat. So I did and learned that Nancy is only a senior at San Leandro High School (jail bait?). I gave Nancy DeSilva my business card and suggested she call me sometime this week. We'll see if she calls or not.

I found a great Paris poster of an older gentleman on a bicycle with a child on the backseat with a french baguette. I was with mom at Longs Drug Store when it captured me. I had to have it. It was a crowded shopping day. We survived and I was most happy with my new poster.

Once I returned home to my pad I washed clothes. Mom came over to help straighten up a bit, too. She is so darn good to me.

Leslie Fonseca called just when I noticed a message that Sherri had left me:
"Leslie called!"
It is flattering for me as I do really like Leslie. It's just 'the child' that brings about a 'hang up' deep down inside me. I discussed it a bit with Rose Rodarte, a married co-worker.
"It's not so bad that she has a baby," Rose said.
And it is true. I guess it is not a bad thing. It's simply a question of how I truly feel deep down that counts. I guess I would prefer my 'own' kids with my 'own' chick. What can I say? Why waste precious time?

Wake up! Leslie is a nice girl. I may see her again. When she called we talked a while about our day.
"I will call you again tomorrow," I reassured her.
She kind of giggles at times and it sounds like she's a little girl herself. I am seriously infatuated at this point.

Read More

This Guy Is No "Flake"

There is a great magazine that my Creative Director friend, Arlene Zapata, recommended called 'Fast Company'. She lives in the Chicago vicinity. The magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper. It keeps me abreast of new, up and coming companies that are breaking ground in innovative ways. It has a slant towards Internet-based technology companies. I just love it.
www.fastcompany.com/

In the November 2008 issue there was an article about "Young Flakenstein". He considers himself the 'Darth Vader' of the Internets. I was quite interested in the technological prowess of this fellow. Gary Flake is his actual name. This web geek is hopeful in making MICROSOFT come alive again.

The CEO, Steve Ballmer, of MICROSOFT, has said that MICROSOFT's future lies in ad sales. Gary Flake, 41, is known to experiment with risk. (That reminds me of that classic Cole Porter song I love called "EXPERIMENT").
www.coleporter.org/cd.html

Gary Flake calls himself "Dr. Flakenstein" on his own blog.
www.flakenstein.net/blog

With MICROSOFT's unparalleled reach (more than a billion computer users worldwide) Flake has foreseen collective power. The more people contribute data to a site, he says, the richer it becomes for each user. MICROSOFT has an advantage.

I feel the same way about Flake's belief after reading the 'FAST COMPANY' magazine article. He believes the Internet is becoming a mirror of the physical world.

Flake is a bit of a mad scientist. He spent three years writing a computer science textbook (The Computational Beauty of Nature). I just might pick up a copy of that one! The book supposedly explores the work of thinkers like Sir Isaac Newton and the 5th Century Greek philosopher, Zeno. The text touches on how neurons process information in the brain and the behavior of ants.

Personally, I bought a giant hardcover book on the behavior of ants about ten years ago. I have thumbed through it but have never read it. I felt a sort of connection with Flake after I learned of his research on ants. Too funny.

I am curious to see if this "Flake" will create the new ideal 'Bride of Flakenstein' after his recent Microsoft Live Labs innovation of PHOTOSYNTH.
http://livelabs.com/photosynth/
We seem to have more and more web wizards lurking in the mist.
Stay tuned...

Twenty-five years ago today

December 31, 1983

It was an early start morning. I was immediately cruising in my car with my bicycle to Suzy Miller's apartment on Shoreline Drive. She was still in her bathrobe and ready to take a shower. So I didn't stay long and we didn't talk very much. I took the bike to JOE's BIKE SHOP for the flat tire repair. Gray wasn't working (the fellow I spoke to over the telephone). There was another guy there who was pretty friendly. I instructed him to fix both flat tires.

I drove to my Mom's house and had a quick breakfast. I was hanging out until my folks dropped me off at South Shore Shopping Center. My folks had accepted a New Years Eve party invitation at my moms' sisters' house (Aunt Lillian) in Castro Valley. I walked to JOE's BIKE SHOP and was riding my bicycle by one o'clock. I rode non-stop until four o'clock that afternoon. I stopped for a quick lunch with Sherri (my future sister-in-law) at Orange Julius. We had a nice chat.

I won twenty-dollars on the 49er-Detroit Lion football game. That was a pleasant surprise. The bike ride for the day was A-1, too.

Helen called and told me that her sister, Geneva, and her boyfriend, Derek, would not be joining us tonight. Geneva was sick. Such is life. Helen and I went on our own. We ate forty-five dollars worth at Horatio's. It was a great dinner. We remained at the Hilton until 12:45-1am or so. It wasn't QUAKE-FM 99 radio night but we had a good time dancing anyway. It was fun talking about whatever and whoever.

My resolutions for the 1984 year are:
1. No more credit card usage
2. See fifty-two flicks/movies
3. Exercise regularly
4. Look into the modeling scene and get a portfolio worked out
5. Take an Art class and expand on my interest in the Art world
6. Keep a careful watch on permiscuous gentleman (and "NOT" deal with them).

Read More

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

I saw a movie preview of a new Nicholas Cage film called 'Knowing Is Everything' a few weeks ago that depicted a 1959 setting. There was a schoolteacher instructing the classroom to 'Draw a picture of what you think the future will look like'. It made me wonder what pictures would be drawn. It also encourages me to do a drawing today of what I think the future will be. I want to try that exercise. It might even be a good one to do on New Years Eve: Draw a picture of what you think 2009 will look like.

My above photo that I posted today might be historic one day. No one will have a huge laptop at a Cafe. If anything it will be a smaller gadget pinned to the lapel of his coat, shirt or eyeglass frame, no?

It is true that a picture is worth a thousand words. That is why I take a photo every day. As time goes by we lose touch with what was. A photo is history and many times our very own personal history. This might be a good time to add a link to the old time classic song 'As Time Goes By':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIiAdHGi3AI

"When I photograph, what I'm really doing is seeking answers to things."
--Wynn Bullock

'A picture is worth a thousand words' is a proverb that refers to the idea that complex stories can be described with just a single still image. Most photographic images are more influential than a substantial amount of text. It also aptly characterizes the goals of visualization where large amounts of data must be absorbed quickly. In essence another part of your brain is used when you examine a photograph more closely.

If you look again at my above photo it may even inspire a story. Who is the man? What is he doing on his computer? Is he sending an electronic message, applying for a job or browsing for Russian mail order brides? I encourage you to tell me your version of the story (in a thousand words or less). Let the fun begin.

Meanwhile, I will keep taking pictures.

As Albert Einstein once said:
“A photograph never grows old. You and I change, people change all through the months and years, but a photograph always remains the same. How nice to look at a photograph of mother or father taken many years ago. You see them as you remember them. But as people live on, they change completely. That is why I think a photograph can be kind.”

Read More