Despite my efforts to suck less the logistics of yesterday just sucked… After a fairly lame day I decided to take off a little early and go sooth my nerves at home. I started the astro up (sweet sweet astro) and proceeded to head home, I felt a little chug from the engine and checked the gas gauge. It was low but not out and the trip meeter said I had 134 miles left to go. Despite the sketchiness of the gas gauge (I’ve had trouble with it) I figured I could make it to the cheap gas station off the freeway on the way home. As I started up the ramp to get on the freeway the van just went ahead and ran out of gas (so I thought).
So there I was having a crappy day sitting on the dangerous shoulder of the freeway on ramp. Not a good end to the day!
I made a couple calls to friends and luckily a good friend Amanda was nearby and had a gas can (she had just run out last week). So after 15 minutes or so she showed up with a can or gas and I went to work. The can was one of those stupid ones with the safety nozzle which makes it impossible to put gas in without spilling a bunch out. I really don’t see how safe that is. The stupid thing wouldn’t reach the safety flapper in the fill tube so I had to hold the mechanism back and let it drizzle in slowly. Convinced that that the gas was evaporating faster than it was going in I pressed on.
I finally got every last drop in and proceeded to try, with no luck, to start the beast. I figured maybe because it was on a slope and it was only a gallon of gas the pickup wasn’t exposed. That’s when the genius idea struck me and and the words came out of my mouth (in slow motion) “Amanda, why don’t you push me to the flat with your suburban”. So we pushed and tried a start with no luck. Then these words came out of my mouth “Amanda, why don’t you push me to the 7-11 with the Suburban”. This was naturally a great idea since the 7-11 was a half mile away with 3 lights and 3 turns down and up hills.
Naturally we proceeded, coasting down one hill the having Amanda catch up to me while moving without crashing in hopes of keeping the momentum going. Despite the adverse conditions (talking on the cell, no power steering, rush hour, people hooting and hollering at us cause it was so ridiculous) we made it to the 7-11 and got some more gas. $40 of gas later the car still wouldn’t start and I realized my problem was a little bigger than running out of gas. Luckily the Mechanic was about a mile back the way we came and even though it was almost 7pm I had hopes that he was still there.
We continued the pushing, with more people cheering from the sidelines and made it all the way back to the Mechanic. He happened to still be in the office so I dropped it off and breathed a sigh of relief.
All in all we escaped with only a few scratches on the already scratched bumper and a busted license plate on the suburban.
Thanks Amanda for the Epic Rescue!
Sometimes you see something that’s better than the best thing you have ever seen… Ever!
The following video is just that.
Please save us Italian Spiderman!
I was recently discussing Twitter with a good friend. Her view was that twitter was an escape from life and genuine interaction, mine was that it was a connection. I sit at a computer all day in a little office in La Mesa. The only time I get interaction with real people is saying hi to the secretary on my way to the bathroom or the occasional run downstairs to get some coffee. Other than that it’s pretty much all digital (excluding the regular wanderers that wind up in my office). Here’s the jam I’m in, I like people and I like my friends so what can I do to keep a connection as I slave over my keyboard? Twitter to the rescue! It’s a quick and easy way to stay connected.
Anyway, as we were debating the pros and con’s I made a claim that God has a Twitter. I threw up a quick tweet (prayer) that went something like this “Dear God, please have a twitter don’t let me down on this one”. And (in faith) proceeded to move to something more entertaining (thank you ADD).
Then this morning swings around and I’m up working a little at home before I roll into the office. The heavens open and a beam of light shines through the clouds and right into my home office! And what do I hear? A voice that says something like “Daniel, I got a Twitter like more than a year ago you dolt!” Wow, all I have to say is G.A.P.
I really was under the impression that God was not a sarcastic idiot that mocks himself but who knows… People get crazy writing stuff on the internet!
Follow God on Twitter (not recommended)
Follow Daniel on Twitter (Recommended)
*Disclaimer - Daniel really does love God a lot, please note the sarcasm
I don’t normally find myself working late at home but for some reason I am right now. Call it procrastination, call it overload, or call it whatever you want I’m still sitting here tweaking a clients site so it can launch. It was supposed to launch today but it’s looking more like tomorrow. Ugh…
I have had the dream for a while of building up a business (or businesses) that would be able to support different missions or humanitarian organizations around the world. My thinking was to tap into whatever industry I could to make enough to allow me to donate my time to help established organizations with there marketing efforts, web sites, computer systems or anything they needed. I say established because I want to work with organizations that are “in the trenches” and there to stay. I lean towards the area of marketing and tech because that’s the industry I currently work in. A support role like that could be crucial for an organization to establish solid funding!
Here’s where the morals come in… Obviously I would like to gain a much working capital as possible for ventures like this. One of the ventures I was dreaming of was a fine “Cigar Bar”. I like Cigars, I like fine Beers, Scotch and Wine, why not work at something I love. And I thought, how funny would it be if I could tap into the American Alcohol and Tobacco industry to help support missionary and humanitarian efforts! The irony (at least as far as the culture of the American Church is concerned) is just beautiful. So I made myself think the theory through. Why stop at a Cigar Bar, why not go all the way and open regular bars, or a liquor store? Alcohol makes a lot of money so why not tap into it? I felt a little uneasy with the idea just because It pains me to see people who struggle with alcoholism and I don’t want to promote it.
I had to take the thinking one step further and asked myself where would one stop… I would be acquiring money for a good cause why not tap into businesses that make it easily? Would I stop at a bar or liquor store, or could I take it a step further and start a porn business? I mean come on, porn makes a lot of money (so I’m told) why not tap into that? The people who are going to have alcohol problems or porn addictions are just going to do it anyway right? Wouldn’t it be better if I at least took there money and put it towards a good cause?
Well, turns out I do have a conscious and I feel dirty even typing the ideas that I forced myself to think. So no I’m not going to open a bar or a porn shop. I think I’ll stick with my original plan and go with something classy. (making sure to steer clear of the drunken porn raves as ways of making money)
I often talk with people about the “Robin Hood Philosophy” of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and as an American Businessman I am dang poised to do it. It’s not really stealing because I’m selling products people “want” and I’m not about to ignore morals just to make a buck. I think it only sometimes feels like stealing because others have such need and I have such excess. When others work 12 hours a day picking tea leaves or breaking rocks for one of two dollars I have the capability of making $20, $50, $200, $1000 an hour. I live in the land of opportunity, and I am free to take it! My excess is magnified by others need and sometimes making money really feels like stealing. However, I do want to find ways of “stealing” money from Americans and funneling it to those who’s need is much greater than ours.
Basically the moral of the story is if I have to wear green tights and run around stealing rich peoples jewels then so be it. Something must be done and I want to do something
(don’t even pretend like you don’t want to see me in green tights!)
On another note I had a Phởlicious lunch today with James Pearson. We sat down to brainstorm some business ideas and a new site design for Acholi Beads and I’m pretty sure a new Institution was born. Stay tuned for updates, info is Coming Soon!
I just had the privlage of spending a few moments with the Pearson family at the Acholi Beads booth during the Adams Ave Roots Festival. James Pearson, founder of Acholi Beads, was heading the operation up with almost the entire family there to back him up.
Festive mood, perfect weather, and great attendance! Despite onlookers being barraged by a wide array of junk, trinkets and all your normal street fair goods, one booth stood out against the backdrop of beef jerky and Bob Marley shirts. Acholi Beads may have not caught the eye of of every passer by but unlike the others they will make a difference! Enjoy the interview and visit www.acholibeads.com to learn more about what’s going on.
Acholi Beads booth @ The Adams Ave Roots Festival
James working the booth
Beadmakers
Jim Pearson
Susie and James Pearson
The Pearson Clan
Social Networking has been has been all the rage for the last 5 or so years and we are yet to see a a decline with a rapidly increasing array of new social networking software. For me at least it started with blogs, pretty much everyone had a xanga or blogspot and you had a network of friends by creating a blogroll (links to your friends blogs) and making comments on others posts. That seemed to be the start of the social networking for me. Of course I really had no concept of the social network but it was just fun keeping up with friends. The blogger and xanga type blogs are a bit tedious and it really wasn’t as fulfilling as one would have hoped. Then the dawn of MySpace (ok ok, I think friendster was the first but MySpace certainly ruled it’s world) and the world got a lot smaller and smuttier (thank you Tila Tequila).
As MySpace got massive and tried to keep the kids entertained more and more social networking apps came out. I’m sure most of you are signed up with at least two and probably another 2 that you won’t admit too. I used to have two that I wouldn’t admit to but one was so sucky they took it offline! Basically it was a place for people to get together and share hobbies (it was really called hobbiez.com). I know I know I haven’t since not wanted to punch myself in the face! The other one is here. But seriously they suck. Then there are social networks hosted by Ning and some of them rock. Most are dedicated to people who have a fetish with unicorns or something crappy like that. They should also be punched in the face.
Social networking has always lacked personal touch and sometimes for good reason… But the moral of the story is humans need human interaction! So many people live fake lives with fake friends (who really has 600 friends they actually know?) and never experience the joy of real friendship.
So I was never REALLY into the myspace, facebook, bla bla bla networking thing until now. Along came BrightKite and it seems like social networking is taking a turn for the better! Here’s the premise, you have a social network of friends and what not but the focus is on people who are actually around you. There aren’t a bunch of pictures and blogs and comments. It’s kinda like a big community of people who actually care about what’s going on with you and you may actually meet! Anyway, it’s kinda hard to explain I suggest you start with Twitter and then go to BrightKite from there. (That will help you wrap your mind around it)
You may be thinking, I don’t want to meet strangers… And that’s fine, you can set it to private and that’s it it’s just you and your friends. It’s a great way to stay up to date with your friends!
As of now it’s in Beta and you need to get an invite, if you want one you can contact me and I’ll email you one. But please don’t diss it till you try it!
Enjoy!