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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Category: Uncategorized

War

October 29, 2021 Uncategorized 3 Comments
Episode #665 October 30, 2021 Last month i entered a war with two colonies of ants.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I5zE4N6g9Q The invading wave of insects coincided with a concrete patio that i had poured around my house. i believe that their habitat was so disrupted that they sought out my home as a new foraging field. Other factors were involved. The ongoing drought was making the ants’ source of water scarce. i had grown a bit lax when it came to thoroughly cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces. The sudden onslaught of two different colonies did coincide with the patio construction. In some...
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Kindness vs Anger

October 22, 2021 Uncategorized 10 Comments
Episode #664 October 23, 2021   i struggle daily with impatience, intolerance and anger. They are gut reactions. There is no room in my self image for such emotions, yet there they are. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHP5MKgK0o8 The antidote for impatience is understanding. The antithesis of intolerance is appreciation. The alternative to anger is kindness. The other day i was walking across a parking lot, head down to avoid the concrete parking stops, deep in thought. As i approached a fast food restaurant for lunch a man behind me yelled, “Why the hell did you walk behind my car?” As i turned toward...
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Champions

October 12, 2021 Uncategorized No Comments
Episode #663 October 16, 2021 This week's bLog is another skydiving story. This time it is a tale of teamwork from the point of view of one of the players.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP808MiJUcM World record Today we are attempting a world record of skydiving. Assembled are 246 skydivers, 6 free fall photographers and 12 aircraft. The goal is for all 246 jumpers to join up in a free fall formation. All the grips between skydivers must be held for 3 seconds forming a planned pattern. After one minute all participants must fly away from each other, open their parachutes and land....
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Process

October 5, 2021 Uncategorized 4 Comments
Episode #662 October 9, 2021 My writer’s group asked me what my process was for writing a story. For a story to come alive it requires a process.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw i use the same process for a fact or fiction story. It is the same process for a speech or a consultation. The process i use for a slide show or movie is the same. This bLog is written using this process. Think of a topic, moral or message. Write a list of events, key words, descriptive phrases, ideas and concepts regarding the topic, moral or message. Group the...
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Postscript Brain

September 30, 2021 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Episode #661 October 2, 2021 In the beginning of computer graphics there were dots.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=506k3_V4z7o A computer screen lit a pixel and it was white. If a pixel was not lit, it was black. Thus, a pattern of black and white dots represented every graphic element. Letters in words in sentences were made of black and white dots. Any graphic was made of dots. By rearranging the dots over time, the screen could be animated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggufwGTM6N4 Since we lived in the age of paper, computer graphics had to be transferred to paper. The paper was already white, so the...
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The day i died

September 22, 2021 Uncategorized 6 Comments
Episode #660 September 25, 2021 i have told this story before. My writers group encouraged me to rewrite the story as a memoir (a slice of personal history). They suggested that i write it in first person with terminology that non skydivers will understand. i invite you to come along for the ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A The Day I Died I convinced Sally to become a skydiver. She has made about 300 jumps. I have made 5000. Today I asked her to make a skydive with me. Normally, skydivers practice on the ground what they plan to do in free fall. It...
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