Observations on Corporate Office Life

Corporate office life has a curious dynamic. It allows individuals to fight for appearances in their work environment. The consequences of such superficial endeavors is a continual perpetuation of the false external self. This is the self that smiles when something is wrong. This is the self that attempts to deflect blame onto another. This is the self that will openly downplay culpability in failed or poorly performing projects. There is usually collateral damage which could at a minimum perpetuate a false impression and at worst can cause someone to lose their job. The behavior of people working in such an environment is continuously bolstered by the punitive actions of the company when an individual is found lacking in their responsibilities. These people, especially in poor economic times have a real fear of being fired for their incompetence. So, the destructive behavior continues, leaving fractured lives in its wake.

The Richest Man In The World (Me!) (10/93)

How could've I been so lucky as to have
Someone like you? The luck I must have
Had would've won the lottery, twice! But
I don't need the money to be the richest
Man in the world. All I need is to have you
Near me, that priveledge I wouldn't sell
For gold! Your face, your smile, are so
Precious like gems or valuable jewels. So delicate
And beautiful, yet more rare than any gem
Or emerald. The feeling of wealth I feel, runs
Deeper than any amount of money, and lasts,
Oh! So much longer! If I had The choice of
Having you, or being financially wealthy, I
Would be poor the rest of my days, to spend
Every last moment with you!

Lost Friends

I am writing this note because I am having great difficulty grasping the magnitude of what has transpired these past few weeks. Additionally, I feel that I have had a drastic impact on the well-being of someone who I have come to call friend. I think there has been a great deal of miscommunication and misunderstanding based on that, which I feel has caused an insurmountable rift between us. The greatest challenge I’ve had is standing seemingly in the dark, virtually shunned from the existence of my friend and without much insight to speak of, except that she appears to be suffering. I realize that I am not the sole source of this turmoil in her life; nonetheless I cannot help the responsibility that I feel for these things. Of course, without any real contact or insight, I have no idea what part I actually played, or what precisely has transpired since our “breaking” of contact with one another. Collaterally, I almost feel like I have lost another (mutual) friend in the process, which makes it all the more painful. Even though, I have still had occasional contact with this mutual friend, it is not the friendship it once was; we had grown as friends due to the interactions I had with this other friend. I feel like since their relationship came before I came into the picture, there has been a sort of estrangement between us, even though she has not said so explicitly. In the end, I just want my friends to be happy and not uncomfortable around me. It would also be nice if I could be their friend once more. I suppose it is too much to ask. I miss them.

Is Parkour or Freerunning for Me?

I have been very interested in finding an activity or sport that I can or work to engage in for fitness and entertainment purposes. Nearly a year ago I came across a video clip showing guys doing what looked like a form of acrobatics over a mostly urban landscape. They leaped and flipped fluidly over a seemly insurmountable obstacles. They look like they use different types of climbing techniques, agility, strength and speed to overcome nearly any obstacle set in their path. Watching the video impressed me to a high enough degree that I felt like the activity known as parkour, might be something that I can train and learn to master as a traceur. A traceur is someone who performs parkour.

I am now 35 years old, overweight and decidedly unfit by most standards. But I wasn't like this all my life. There was a time when I was quite fleet of foot. Certainly, there was a time when I was much lighter than I am today. If I am to make the decision to train and study to become a traceur, then it will be a huge commitment on my part due to the great changes that I will have to endure in order to be able to perform parkour properly and safely.

Google Lunar X Prize Team

I am seriously considering pulling together a team for the Google Lunar X Prize contest. I have been thinking about it almost constantly since the announcement on Thursday (13 Sept 07) and have been asking those closest to me what they think about the whole idea. The responses have been encouraging. All believe as I do, that the venture would be difficult and would require a great deal of planning. Furthermore, the two main areas that would be most likely to cause problems were generally determined to be (1) appropriate funding/sponsorship and (2) recruiting the right team for the endeavor.

So this is where I stand...in the middle of a once in a lifetime decision. Do I procede with assembling a plan and recruiting the first of the project team? Do I commit to spending the next seven years of my life to the development of a concept that could very easily propel me into notariety or just as easily into professional/financial ruin? Do I ask my family and friends to sacrifice their time and efforts to support something that could be so potentially life altering? Let me ponder on that for a moment.

The goal of the X-Prize as I understand it is to successfully land a robotic rover on the surface of the moon to be able to capture and transmit HD video back to earth and also deliver a preloaded data packet back to terra firma dubbed "the first email from the moon". Conceptually, there are many ways that this task could be accomplished. The low-earth orbital launch vehicle is one consideration as there are a small handful of potential commercially available, verticle launch rockets. These include but are not limited to those from Boeing, ESA, JAXA, and RSA. There are likely other more non-conventional means of launch as well. Next consideration is the "capsule" that will carry the payload to the vicinity of the moon's surface. Next is the means by which the rover would finally descend to the lunar surface. Then of course is the rover itself. Decisions would need to be made on whether a rolling rover is appropriate, or maybe a walking one. Ultimately there are many other design/concept decision points that would have to be sorted out.

Now before any of the aforementioned takes place, work will have to be performed to obtain private funding and or commercial sponsorship for the project. A business plan of sorts will have to be drawn up to present to those intent on funding this project. Finally, there will be numerous other non-engineering tasks that will have to take place to bring this whole concept into reality.

All that being said, that brings me back to my original question. Am I willing to take the steps neccesary to bring this once in a lifetime opportunity to life? As a final thought, I should also ask whether or not it should be done. I think the answer is Yes, it should be done.

What are your thoughts? Is anyone interested in joining such a team? Any ideas or concepts that you would be willing to contribute? If this team would come together, what should it be called? I am open to comments and suggestions and I encourage anyone who is seriously interested in this challenge to contact me.

I will be posting what I decide here, when I decide it.

Canada: The Air Up There

When I arrived on my first trip to Toronto, Ontario, I got off the Continental Express Embraer aircraft and noticed that the air was pleasantly fragrant. I not sure what was the source of the floral-esque fragrance, but I found that it permeated throughout the areas of Ontario to which I traveled. I suppose one could argue that its simply because the air in Canada is cleaner and I would buy that for about a second. However, there were fairly frequent air quality reports and advisories broadcast on the radio and television. I think the Canadians are acutely aware that their air quality is not as clean as it once might have been. For now, the source of the sweet smell will be a mystery.

Despite the fact that my trip to Ontario was for business, I wanted to make the most of it. This trip was the first real international travel that I've experienced. My thoughts were to sample some of the food, experience some of daily life of the average Canadian and most of all do and see things that I've never done and seen.

As I soaked up the experience of being in another country, I pondered how different life could be here. The first hint was even before leaving Houston while sitting on the aircraft. All announcements were in English and French. Later after arriving in Toronto's airport, I noticed more evidence of a countries desire to maintain two official languages. All important signage was written in both official languages. I was struck by the added complexity of passing information in both English and French. Here in the U.S., an exit sign is usually small and unobstrusive, but in Canada the exit signs were much bigger. This was clearly due to having to list both languages on its faces. Oddly enough, it wasn't much of an issue for me, in fact after a while I didn't even realize the French words on public signs. Now, I'm not sure what I was to expect on the roadways, but I found that in southern Ontario, residents don't really pay much attention to speed limits. This highlights one very major difference between the U.S. and Canada, all units of measure is metric. My experience was something like...the temperature is currently 28 degrees outside while driving 100 kilometers per hour down the QEW for a distance of 40 kilometers. I would need to add fuel to my rental car at the cost of 101.3 per liter of petrol. Finally, at the end of the day I can at least enjoy a 1/2 pound hamburger with my frosty 500 mL beverage.

Nothing remarkable occured on my way to my motel, except that the first accident I saw in Toronto, was of a mid-sized car that had managed to flip itself over onto its roof and block the entire roadway it was traveling on. I checked in to my room, flipped the switch on the A/C to cool the room down and then I was off again to scope out the area including were I was to be for the next day and a half. After driving around for a while I succumbed to my hunger pains and found a Chili's-like restaurant called Kelsey's. I found that the food was great tasting and the people were friendly. One unique aspect of my visit to Kelsey's was that after my food was delivered, my server indicated that she would bring me some ketchup (for my fries) and serviettes. I didn't catch what she had said until she dropped a half dozen or so square-shaped bar napkins in front of me. Just another reminder, I'm not in Texas anymore!

I finally got back to my room, tired, but assured that I knew where I was to be the next day. I made sure that everything was ready for me in the morning, set my travel alarm and my cell phone alarm, and drifted off to sleep.

The next day was a marathon event. Tons of information was presented and several different accents sometimes made note-taking a challenge. We moved through so much information that the key people in the meeting decided to start tackling the nexts days agenda. By nearly 6:00 pm, they were still going and I was not engaged in discussions. I made the decision to call it a day. I buzzed out of the building and instantly knew what I was going to do next. I was going to go back to my room, make a couple of phone calls, look at a map, and then I was going to find my way to Niagara Falls!

Niagara Falls, Ontario was about an hour and a half drive from Brampton where I was staying. I was thrilled that I had made it and with enough sunlight left to take a few digital stills of the waterfalls and surrounding area. The area immediately adjacent to the falls was an interesting combination of stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues nestled on a rather steep hill. In a way it kind of reminded me of Universal Studios meets Las Vegas on the Strip. On my way there, I was determined that I would go to New York and find a restaurant to dine in.

My last day in Canada started out with the knowledge that my day would begin at 9 am. Eventhough I had gone to sleep at 1 am. the same morning, I was fairly confident that I wouldn't have any issue with meeting the schedule. I managed to get all my belongings in order and then proceed to checkout of my motel. I was running a few minutes behind and ended up arriving at the meeting at9:15 am. I thought, no big deal. We were on a limited schedule and expected to wind up the day early. Early enough that I thought I would have no problem getting to the airport on time. As the meetin wore on, the thought of my 5:15 pm. flight was becoming ever more reoccuring. I knew that to be safe and allow for possible delays, I should arrive at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of my departure time. That's what I had scheduled in my mind, and that is what I wanted to happen. 3 pm. came and went. I was getting a little anxious, however I didn't worry too much because several of the key personnel in the meeting was also booked on my flight. If they weren't too worried, why should I be? The meeting finally came to a stopping point so that those of us who had to leave were able to do so.

I made my way out to my rental car and sped off to the nearest gas station, it was a Petrol Canada. I proceeded to attempt to pay at the pump, first with my Visa debit card, and then with my regular Visa credit card. Neither worked. I tried a different pump on the other end of the station with the same result. I really didn't have time for this! I hopped in my car and drove off looking for the next available gas station. Meanwhile, I had roughly $17 Canadian burning a hole in my pocket and I wanted to make sure that I didn't leave the country with spending it. Afterall, I could spend it in the U.S. I had browsed the website for Canadian Tire earlier, to see if there was anything of interest to me to purchase, but I didn't find anything worth buying for the amount I had available. So, as I was looking for the next gas station, I saw a Walmart and pulled in quickly. The time at this point was about 3:45 pm. I briskly walked in and searched the shelves and rack in the immediate vicinity for anything obviously Canadian that I would like to have, but didn't find anything worth buying. Mostly because aside from the fact that this store was in Ontario, there was no real differences between it and its U.S. counterparts. Even the prices, even though listed in Canadian dollars, looked pretty much like what I would expect at any other Walmart that I've ever been to. Disappointed, I quickly got back to my car and continued toward the airport. Before I knew it, I was in sight of the airport and settle on trying to get gas at another Petrol Canada. Once again, my cards wouldn't work. Getting frustrated now, I walked into the store and asked to cashier why I couldn't use my cards and he replied that if it is a U.S. credit card that the pumps would accept them. But, all I had to do was to fill up and come back in to pay. Fine, I can do that. After pumping nearly $40 Can into my little G6, I was on my way to the airport.

Now usually, in my experience at every other airport I've been to, it is quite easy to locate the appropriate entrance for such things as departures, arrivals, and rental car return. Today, was one of those days where I was to experience the one airport that is not clearly marked where to deliver my rental car. After driving back and forth passed the airport and trying various paths into what I thought was the airport terminal, I managed to get myself routed into some parking garage on the airport property, but I couldn't go back the way I came becuase it was one way. I had to go through the garage and make my way out following the exit signs. As I got more flustered, I left the garage and proceed back out to the main roadway that I had traversed so many times before and I ended up going down an unintended roadway, which happened to be the right way to go. I don't now why I didn't go that way before, but at that point I wasn't too concerned. I had finally made it to the rental car drop off site.

The rental car return was very quick and I was finally on my way to getted checked in with my airline. The time was about 4:15 pm. when I entered the terminal. Now, if you've ever been to Toronto airport, you'll know that what appeared to be every airline that had an international flight was located in this concourse in a kind of horseshoe shape. From where I entered the area, I could not see to the end, furthermore I could not see my airline. So I merely picked a direction and started walking. Along the way, I saw many different airlines and a sign that said Customs with a Canadian flag next to it. I thought to myself that I was fortunate to have found customs so as soon as I check in, I could go directly there. Check in went quickly and in a flash, I was on my way back to the customs sign that I saw earlier. I clearly knew what I had to do to minimize any difficulties at the security check point. I started unpacking my laptop and and was just about to remove my shoes when the security officer asked for my passport and boarding pass. I was only too happy to comply. She briefly looked it over and said that I was in the wrong area and that this line was not for those traveling to the U.S. All persons travelling to the U.S. must go the the U.S. Customs area somewhere near where I had checked in minutes earlier. I smiled and commented that at least it was a dry run, gathered up my belongings and hurriedly moved to locate the "U.S. Customs". How did I miss something that said U.S. Customs? I should have seen it on my way to the check in counter. After standing in front of the area that said U.S. Customs and not seeing any single obvious entrance to the U.S. area, I noticed people walking intently in one direction, behind the check in counters. U. S. Customs could only be accessed by going behind the counters. I quickly stepped through and followed the flow of people into a fairly open area where at least a dozen lines existed. Each line was to a single customs agent. I found the smallest line in my immediate path and proceed to wait for the next available agent. Once I approached the agent we greeted each other and right away I noticed that something appeared to be bothering him. I suggested that thing couldn't be that bad, he at least was employed. He responded that he was disgusted by "all these people who live in the U.S. for years and years and never bother to become citizens". I indicated that I shared his sentiment and he finally allowed me to proceed to the security check point. The security check went as quickly as can be expected and I was finally on my way to the gates. I glanced quickly at my boarding pass to confirm my gate and moved in that direction. At this point, the time was about 4:45 pm. and I had not found anything to spend my Canadian money on, so I spotted a currency exchange booth and endured the high cost of exchanging my roughly $17 Cdn for just over $13 US. Ouch! Relieved that I at least didn't have to worry about carrying my vast Canadian wealth back to Texas, I continued to make my way to the gate. At each junction, another sign pointed my way to my final destination. After having walked most likely the longest path from one end of the airport to the other, I finally arrived at my gate. The area was uncomfortably warm and filled with people waiting for there flights. I managed to find a spot slightly under an air vent blowing cool air and waited about 15 minutes before my flight was finally called to start boarding. As the sweat cooled slightly under my clothes and on my forehead, I got in what I hoped was the last line I would get in.

I found my seat and was slightly suprised to find that several of the folks that was in my meeting was seated near me and even right next to me! That was totally unplanned, but it made the flight a bit more interesting. The flight was uneventful and in fact we arrived roughly 40 minutes early, however due to severe weather in the north Houston area, there were aircraft lined up everywhere waiting to take off and waiting to find their gates. Unfortunately, we had to wait nearly 30 minutes before finally proceeding to our arrival gate.

I was finally back in Texas and all I need to do now was call my wife to let her know where I was to be picked up. I activated my mobile phone and noticed that it indicated a low battery. I noted the warning and dialed my wife's mobile phone. She answered with Hi and I responded with Hi and then the phone went dead! Okay...no big deal...I have change and can simply use the pay phone to call her. I pick up the first pay phone handset, deposit the correct amount required for the call and proceed to dial the number. First I heard a series of clicks followed by silence and then moments later, the phone spits out my change and fails to complete the call. I try again with no success. I decided that it must be the phone so I tried another one with the same result. Okay, it must be this batch of phones. I'll find another batch and try there. Once again, I go through the motions only to experience the exact same scenario play out. I started considering alternatives to contact my wife including asking a perfect stranger to borrow their phone, and decided to try to call the operator for assistance. Finally, the operator was able to help me place the call and I managed to contact my wife. She simply replied that she was already waiting in front of the terminal and was waiting for me to come out. After trying two other exits from the terminal, I managed to locate my wife and was rescued from my day!

I joined my wife with her mother and my two children for a nice meal at Bennigan's. It was good to see them after these passed few days. We consumed our meals and then proceed home where upon arrival I basically ceased to be useful. I was very happy to be home and I was exhausted. Sleep came quickly.

What do you like to be called?

As long as I can remember, I was taught to show respect to adults by addressing them by their surname. Whether it was a man or a woman, young or old, I was always told that I should always say Mr. This, or Mrs. That, Officer Joe, or Dr. Who (you get the idea). Of course to be respectful to someone you didn't know, you were expected to say Sir or Ma'am. To further complicate the matter, as adults you must consider how someone wishes to be addressed. For example, you tell some one "Yes, Sir" and you might get a response of "Don't call me sir, it makes me feel old", or "Good afternoon Mr. Stevens". To which he might reply, "Mr. Stevens was my father, call me Ray". Now it seems that what used to be undesireable, is now expected, such as "Hello Bill, how's your day?" is now sometimes heard as, "Hello Richardson, how's your day?" It's not even good to call a colleague by their full first name like William, to paraphrase from Sheryl Crow, "It's Bill, or Billy, or Mac, or Buddy..." So what is the right way to address people? I personally like to be called by my first name. Mr. Webb is okay, but just Webb isn't. Of course there is the whole aspect of nicknames spanning everything from the cute familial names to the down right offensive and ignorant. Would it be better to just not worry about names at all? What kind of a society would that turn out to be? Maybe we should simply be referred to by a number. Why not, governments have been doing it for years when it comes to taxes, passports and social security. The DMV gives you number that uniquely identifies you from the next person, and services, banks, credit cards, clubs and organizations among many others assign a unique account number that identifies you to them. Do they really care how you like to be addressed? Of course there are the employee numbers that your company gives you and then there are the various aliases online that each of us maintain. So who are we really? Are we merely a physical manifestation of a self appointed, company generated, government assigned, or club initiated number, name, or reference? Let us not forget those individuals that choose to officially change their names, to better suit his/her needs. One of the more rediculous in my opinion is the pop rock musician, Prince, or is it the artist formerly known as prince, or is it some unpronounceable symbol, or is it something else? Actors and actresses change their given names because their agent told them it would flow better, or writers create a pen name because it would be more memorable. You know, as I think about this more, this whole issue is much more complex than even I first imagined. I originally thought that a name is a name is a name, but it is much more than that. So...what do YOU like to be called? "You can call me flower if you want to, I don't mind."