Every time I saw this on billboards or will see or hear an ad about this I would say , “are these people stupid”. Kids in 3rd world countries want clean water, food, medication for illnesses such as malaria or small pox. Shut some just want to be able to read and write what the hell will a laptop do for them if they don’t even have electricity. Well Celia, ignorance is no excuse and I’m taking about my own ignorance here, especial for someone that lives in the most powerful country in the world. Once I visited the website for One Laptop Per Child at laptop.org I was enlightened and convinced that every child has the right to know and obtain the tools necessary for the acquisition of knowledge. Yes some of the countries where children are getting these laptops do not have the best nutrition, hygiene, or decent living conditions, but these children are learning ways via cyberspace to change this for themselves and their families. I once heard that the printing press was the best invention and due to it, it brought on the age of enlightenment. So now imagine what a laptop can do. These children will become the leaders of their countries, they will change their lives via education and knowledge. Chat with other children form other foreign lands and see that they are all the same, with the same desires, fears, and dreams. Past generations have done a great job of polluting and endangering our world and now its these children that will save it one laptop at a time.
I urge you to donate to this amazing cause.
During Matt last week in San Francisco we went to go celebrate and make sure that he gave his proper good-by. On Friday night we had dinner at Mezes a great restaurant on Chestnut St in the Marina that serves the best Lamb Shank ever its to die for but unfortunately they had sold out and Matt never got to taste it. Which in retrospect its better for me, or else he would want me to make it just as amazing, Matt culinary standard have definitely risen in the time he spend in San Fran.
The cool celebration was on Saturday we went to the geekiest event ever, the Robogames which are one of the worlds biggest geek convention. During the Robogames teams from all over the world complete to see which robot can kick ass the best. Mass and total destruction is the key, whom ever said that geeks are sissies is so wrong I have not seen so much adrenaline and testosterone since the last UFC flight I witnessed. Robots smashing into each other worst then rush hour in Los Angels, these guys had flame throwers and steal wheels with hooks all with the purpose to mutilate their opponent. Mad Max meets Conan.
This event was so worth it for so many reasons, but mainly because it was the perfect closure to Matt’s move to San Francisco 2 1/2 years earlier. The whole reason we moved here was because it was his dream as the Technology Mecca of the World, the whole essence of Silicon Valley the invention of the microchip and fiber optics was captured at the Robogames and the Ora of super geekiness that made it so cool.
OK, so as you all know I’m a Mechanics daughter and very proud of it. And no, I don’t know how to do an oil change, but I can change your battery, check the radiator and jump start a car with ignition spray. My dad is an honest guy that made a very good living for himself and his family. Although all my life I have heard what a bad rap mechanics get, heck I don’t even trust them myself. Now that I live far-a-way from my family its a nightmare every time I need to get my car fixed. The dealership is legalized rape and the independent shops are a hit and miss form over charging to just pain incompetence…I think I am more paranoid then the average consumer because I know enough not to trust anyone that will pull your time belt and hold it hostage until you pay the $800 ransom, that’s if you ever want to drive your car again. My dad’s business was solely word of mouth, he had a great reputation for high quality work and he always backed his work with 100% satisfaction and a guarantee that if it did not work as it should he would keep fixing it until it did…no extra charge.
So now I just need to pass on the favor as so many that helped my dad’s business grow enough to send all four of his kids to college, pay for his home and have enough for a nice retirement. Last week we took our poor little car Sabino (its a Saab and I named him Sabino) for a much needed tune-up to Babbitt’s Tune Up and Brake Service in Berkley, Mack (although some call him Max) is the bomb. He reminds me a lot of my dad, honest, hard working and respectable that runs his shop along side his son Novato. He has a same day work system, you drop our car off in the morning and he guarantees that you will get it that same day even if he needs to stay late (my dad was the same, I waited may nights for him as late as 10pm until we could all go home, including the client). He originally quotes us $250 and when Matt went to pick it up he charges us less…yes folks he charges us less…yes you heard it form me…the man is damn honest and did not charge us the original estimate even though he could have…heck other places end up charging you more. Not Mack, you see why he is the bomb. There are a few folk just like my pops and I am proud to include Mack among them. So if you live in the area and need your car fixed, Babbitt’s Tune Up and Brake Service is the place to go. Oh, and Sabino is one happy car…dirty but happy.
Do you change your oil every 3,000 or every 5,000 mile?
That brief moment between the conscious and the unconscious right after a mid-afternoon nap is truly a spiritual experience. You remain immobile for a few seconds and you are completely relaxed completely unaware of your surroundings You have no recollection of time or space you don’t even remember your name. You cease all ties with the world. You are no ones lover, no ones daughter and no ones friend. If you had a good dream you are still rejoicing in the events of that parallel world. Wishing to return to that marvelous dream land you close your eyes, but the conscious mind has now take control and you slowly start to remember where you are. As you start to take in the world around you the sounds and smells begin to trigger events in your memory and you start to remember that you have love ones and perhaps even a few enemies. As you slowly start to gain control of your body it begins to move just slightly first your legs then your arms. By now you as you just lay there you have realized that it’s Saturday afternoon and you still have tomorrow. Nice.
When was the last time you took a nap?
Literally Peepoo bags are helping the world get ride of poop, buy way of biodegradable bags.
We take for granted that we have in-door pluming and running water. Places in third world countries are up to their elbows in poop and contaminating their land and water.
What are you doing with your poop?
