the iMentor

Hints & rants

This weB-LOG is about the musing of a technical consultant. It is the iMentor's thoughts on technology and the human condition.

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Author: Rick Thues

Skydiving road trip – part 1

July 3, 2023 Uncategorized 6 Comments
Episode #753 July 8, 2023 The first part of a 6 part series, 2023 skydiving road trip.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgBHRYtt-Y4   The first two days were long, monotonous and weary drives, which were wrapped in fluorescent yellow Palo Verde, cave dwelled cliffs, vast plains strewn with volcanic rock, Tonto's Saguaro forest, pole pine covered mountains and a 14 mile long lake at sunset, all domed in a big sky floating with infinitely diverse clouds. We are continuing our trek to skydive in all 50 states. When we began this road trip Paula and I had jumped in 35 states in the...
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Irony of Kindness

June 29, 2023 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Episode #752 July 1, 2023 Thomas walked along Fortune Street swinging his brief case casually. He was clearing his head after a stressful day at the brokerage.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTsB-llTzyc Assessing risk and playing the odds all day long was exhausting, but it paid the bills. The Jacaranda trees which lined the street were in full bloom. The sun filtering through the quietly rustling branches was pleasantly warm as Thomas strolled along the sidewalk’s purple carpet. He could not imagine a better end to a Friday afternoon. The sudden screeching of brakes and a horrible metal on metal impact jolted Thomas...
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Kurzweil

June 23, 2023 Uncategorized 3 Comments
Episode #751 June 24, 2023 Ray Kurzweil developed text to speech technology to help machines communicate with blind humans. In later years Kurzweil helped develop speech to text to help humans communicate with machines.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdYaGt_sm3Q Kurzweil has been an advocate of Moore’s law, which observes that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles every two years. Exponential growth in the amount of computing per dollar is also notable. Kurzweil says: We will achieve one Human Brain capability for $1000 around 2023. We will achieve one Human Brain capability for one cent around 2037. We will achieve one...
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Planning a bLog

June 17, 2023 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Episode #750 June 17, 2023 Planning a bLog episode is like planning any other project. I use the following method and so might you.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdMFKklFqkg   First, figure out the theme.  What is the goal?  What will you say when the project is finished and you step back to admire it? The theme of this bLog is: “How to plan this bLog.” Next, break down the idea. What are the elements of the theme? Write down of list of the aspects of the story you will tell. How the list is ordered is not important. There need be no...
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Laurel Canyon

June 10, 2023 Uncategorized 4 Comments
Episode #749 June 10, 2023 Laurel Canyon profoundly influenced my life.   Some of my favorite musicians came out of a group of singer-songwriters and bands that lived and worked in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Laurel Canyon scene was known for its laid-back, bohemian lifestyle, and its music reflected that sensibility. Among these musicians were: The Mamas and the Papas whose popular California folk songs were "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8I5vDewcZo The Byrds had a jangly, folk-influenced sound with unique vocal harmonies. They were an influence on...
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Pain

June 1, 2023 Uncategorized 4 Comments
Episode #748 June 3, 2023 Sometimes it has to hurt.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgxsFL7-psI I have tried all the methods of opening a jar. There is the “tap on the lid before you open it” method. This method loosens the vacuum seal and only works some of the time.  If you are at a higher altitude the pressure inside the jar is greater than your air pressure. If you don't have to reseal the jar you can poke a hole in the lid with an awl to release the pressure and the lid comes right off. In my kitchen I have...
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