CIVIC MENTOR / NOW / Vital City, County, and Areal Information / One Click Away! (#1)

Posted: 28 Dec 14
Change #1:  30 Dec 14 -- Expanded my explanation of what this major sub-system is all about in the overall scheme of things -- in paragraph 3.

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“An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy”

-- Thomas Jefferson

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1.  Purpose

To announce even easier access to the Civic Mentor Territorial Civic Knowledge Bases (TCKB) -- with instant links placed in the menu bar of this blog.

A CRUCIAL FUNCTION:  These TCKB's exist to accumulate and present, all in one convenient place, all the best available information from many sources -- concerning larger and larger concentric territories containing Pittsburg, CA. -- for now.  They are all preliminary and will be constantly refined, until just right. Please be patient.  Things really are speeding up, now.

OTHER CONCENTRIC TERRITORIES:  All the other individual cities and counties and major areas and regions of the nation will eventually get the same treatment (Gotta start with home-base, first -- else this can't be done, by one). 

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2.  All You Need to Really Know, For Now

2.1  THERE, ACROSS THE TOP OF THIS VERY BULLETIN BOARD: You will see the following clickable options -- to quickly access the preliminary Mentor/ELMS Territorial Civic Knowledge Bases of interest to you -- which are also clickable, below, for your maximum convenience:

• Pittsburg TCKB
• Pittsburg Police Bulletin Board (This is a blog which is also reachable inside the Pittsburg TCKB, above.
• Contra Costa County TCKB
• San Francisco Bay Area TCKB
• The Small Business Place Bulletin Board (This is also a blog, dormant for just a bit longer -- will need a dedicated functional KB for this huge topic)

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2.2  IN THE NEAR-TERM:  the following TCKB's will be added to the menu bar -- until the ultimate web-interfaces are engineered:

• California
• The Western U.S. (I think)
• The United States

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2.3  OVER THE LONG TERM: (but probably well-advanced, prior to 2016, when the Corporation is formally established -- er, hopefully)

• The World-Wide TCKB (to be broken down into logical groupings
• The TCKB for each individual concentric territory, heading longitude by longitude, from Hawaii eastward to the Atlantic (with some leap-frogging, perhaps)

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2.4  UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ALL TCKB-FORMATION:  That ought to take care of our needs, as to optimal convenience of territorial information -- of importance -- in managing our existences -- optimally.

Functional information (covering EVERYTHING else) is being prepared, separately -- on a highest-priority basis.

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3.  What You Might Like to Know

3.1  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM BEING SOLVED BY THE TCKB's

3.1.1  OUR FELLOW HUMANS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY -- living their lives -- to the best of their abilities -- under complex modern conditions.

They don't always have the time and other resources -- to closely monitor -- the statics and dynamics -- of their total surroundings -- sufficiently -- and to thoroughly research the vital and lesser questions of the day -- yet they need at least the most important -- of this information to participate -- effectively and efficiently -- with the rest of us -- for the greatest common and personal good -- all things considered and balanced -- as they undoubtedly would wish to and would  -- if the process were EASIER and MORE PLEASING to accomplish -- among all the other things that need doing.

They would do well to know how ALL of our life-support-systems are supposed to work -- the built-up blessings we've inherited and are constantly expanding-upon -- and how they are actually working -- and how to work them most effectively -- as individuals and groups and whole societies -- why, when, where and so forth -- what not to do and why. 

3.1.2  IN A VERY REAL SENSE, LIFE IS "A MACHINE" OF IMMENSE COMPLEXITY, and it seems very risky and expensive and destabilizing -- for each and all of us -- to try to operate, maintain, and evolve it and our own selves successfully -- without some rational, carefully thought-out and designed, and convenient "basic operating system" -- FOR THE ENTIRE THING -- IN OUR PERSONAL HANDS -- complete with thorough, concise "operating instructions."  Where instead, we might deliberately turn all of ourselves into individual and collective "self-mentoring systems" that can help us do the whole job -- far better than is presently possible.   All of us playing by the same play-book!

MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS:  

• Human existence has become far too complex for us to be so reliant on a random approach to life-management -- an approach which worked in simpler times -- but is so inadequate in these times.  

• REDUCTION OF COMPLEXITY DEMANDS SYSTEMATICS -- and humans crave simplicity so they can do more with the very same, scarce things they value and need to conserve.

• And such systems do not exist in nature -- they must be contrived -- and someone must do the contriving -- and at least one someone (and probably more) is doing the contriving. 

A GIFT TO THE YOUNG FOLLOWERS.  And for brand new humans -- just beginning to learn what it means to be human -- what a blessing we can share -- if we can save them -- from having to risk and waste -- so much vital life-force -- "reinventing wheels," already well-proven and tested -- (when they could be expending those forces -- on discovering and developing their genius and world-serving powers) -- merely because -- we couldn't place sufficient and thorough information -- in their hands -- in good time -- or at all. 

3.1.3  NEVER AGAIN should this current state of human affairs be, once this work is done. This is the task I believe fate has "assigned" me to undertake -- when it caused me to exist, survive, and mature -- despite the odds -- and permitted me to see the vision -- and seems to have equipped me to execute it -- and has overwhelmingly compelled me to reach for it -- with all my might.

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3.2  STATEMENT OF THE SOLUTION

3.2.1  Why not gather up -- ALL THE INFORMATION -- a fellow human ever needs to know -- and arrange it -- in a convenient, methodical way?  Bring the information to them in one menu, rather than fragmented and scattered all over the place?

Then, fellow humans can more readily browse and plunge-in -- as efficiently and effectively as opportunity permits -- or as changing circumstances require -- never losing their place -- gradually (or instantly) and steadily building up their civic knowledge -- about all the things that may prove important to them -- the patterns they need to see to be able to predict and favorably influence the whole course of their lives -- to be aware of the crucial things -- and best available practices for TAKING FULLEST ADVANTAGE OF THESE -- now and over the course of an entire life-time -- overlooking little that matters to them and thus, to us.

And, because they CAN do these things, they certainly SHALL, if they are rational and circumstance permits and enables.  (That's what the whole Mentor/ELMS project is determined to effect -- sufficient change in our total circumstances -- so as to help further unlock the power in our species to do optimal good with its existence)

And that will synchronize the entire human species and greatly help to optimize its power to do good for and with itself -- as never before possible -- though long desired.

What better can we ever do in this brief, precious life-experience, than to better ourselves, by bettering EVERYTHING about our total human-circumstances -- working singly and together -- for the well-being and best fulfillment -- of every single human-life-gift -- excluding absolutely no one?

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3.2.2  CIVIC MENTOR MAJOR SUBSYSTEM #1: I believe that these TCKB's will prove, once again, how much The Mighty Internet is changing so much of everything for the better --  breathing new life into our magnificent democracy and our personal, day-to-day lives -- bettering all humankind in the process.  Truly, we stand on the shoulders of each other -- and of those who came before -- and so it shall always be -- for as long as there are humans.

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HERE'S TO A BRAND NEW 2015, 

FAR SUPERIOR TO 2014, 

IN EVERY RESPECT!!

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David Nelson

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All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENT CONSTANCY

Posted: 24 Sep 14

Just to let you know that -- all continues to be well -- so far ...

Thanks for checking back here, from time to time -- as work continues behind the scenes on this Civic Mentor project.

I'm totally involved in some intensive self-training to be able to handle the programs that are powerful enough for the purposes and needs of the project -- under constraints of currently limited, but ever-increasing resources

Lots of unexpected detours -- and, personally, sometimes it's hard to keep re-starting.  Even though the multitude of pieces are certainly under control, still temporary losses of momentum (and enthusiasm) have to be constantly dealt with.

The consolation is that when the project it completed, the delays won't matter one iota.

Again, thanks for your faith that an eventual visit will lift the curtains and lead the way to something quite significant for "we the people" -- as fate permits and enables.


David Nelson


All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.

CM DEVEL. PROCESS: Standing Progress Report / Major Components

Posted:  31 Aug 14

1.  Purposes

This bulletin modifies previous public statements, somewhat, uttered before circumstances changed as they have -- as these changes impact the development of the Civic Mentor and related constructs.

To keep informed, those who are interested in the Civic Mentor Project (CMP), as to general direction and advances (and challenges).  (And, I find I need these little "pep talks.")

To re-inforce the expressed full scope of the project -- the totality of human existence. 

To help increase, as public understanding widens and deepens, public readiness to appreciate, accept, and participate in development and application of the finished products and services -- and should require less energy on the indoctrination and training of volunteer and hired teams -- for longer-term work -- and faster practical end-user adaptation and adoption.

To help me lock-in my serious and public commitment to action and to assist system-building administration.  Both considered to be essential to ultimate success.

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2.  Overview

For now, I am relying, chiefly, on bulletin-board (blogs) to help define and present the "seeds" of permanent web-objects, logically categorize their contents; and populate them with practical ideas and other information and data -- more efficiently -- WHILE simultaneously placing any useful information in public reach, sooner rather than later.

Here is the overall landscape for this project, as it presently appears.

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3.  ACTIVE BLOGS/BULLETIN BOARDS (BB)-- PUBLISHED TO DATE

FLESHING-OUT THE BB's: I have begun populating them with dynamic and static information -- to depend, primarily, on automation -- for example, via direct email-subscriptions from the sources directly to the bulletin boards.  That should help celebrate and spread the contributions of increasing numbers of fellow humans and keep them visible, to ease your recall and use of them, till they become part of habitual routines (if that's in the cards) -- and until migrated to more intuitive, permanent systems.

I expect to continue to use major revision-numbers in the title-line of this report (a change-accumulator) to signal to you significant changes.  

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4.  ACTIVE WEB-OBJECTS -- PRIORITIES

As Blogs (and other significant web-objects) develop, they will be moved to this category and hyper-linked to this section.

POPULATING THE BB's WITH AUTOMATIC INFORMATION should become apparent within a few days (but my predictive powers are not yet reliable).  Copy-right concerns will have to be managed and may result in hyperlinks to them, rather than pulling them onto the BB's as actual specimens.  

Civic (Public) Mentors are publicly-oriented;

Personal Mentors are inward-looking:

• Civic Mentor / National-Level / Economic / The Small Business Place
• Civic Mentor / City-Level / Pittsburg, CA
• Civic Mentor / City-Level / Pittsburg, CA / Police Services
• Civic Mentor.Net -- the main portal into the "Mentor/ELMS Electronic Universe" -- very rudimentary, for now -- to mature as the project matures.

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5.  VERY NEXT SUB-PROJECTS (not yet completed and activated)

a.  IMMEDIATE NEXT PRIORITIES -- this is the general order of work, but simultaneity is a marked and most fortunate tendency -- for the modules must each be at least partially built, pretty much at the same time, due to the tight interdependencies.  Each level suggests considerations for all the rest -- and the details must be captured, blended and balanced, when recognized:

• Civic Mentor / Neighborhood-Level -- this is one absolute "linch-pin" at one end of the Civic Mentor spectrum.  The second linch-pin at the other end of that spectrum is the National-Level.  Both are essential to logical consistency throughout the entire scope of the project, as far as a comprehensive nationally-scoped social-strategy is concerned.  
• Civic Mentor / National-Level
• Civic Mentor / National-Level / Economic / The Work Place
• Civic Mentor / County-Level / CA / Contra Costa County
• Civic Mentor / Areal-Level / CA / San Francisco Bay Area
• Civic Mentor / State Level / CA / California

b.  UNDER EARLY DEVELOPMENT -- NOT YET PUBLISHED

• Personal Mentor / Individual-Level -- to contain, among other things, a personal "control panel" to help conveniently manipulate all the other mentors from an intimate standpoint.
• Personal Mentor / Family-Level
• Personal Mentor / Household-Level
• Missing Link -- it seems to me that an additional level belongs here -- not sure -- has to be determined as the project dictates.
• Civic Mentor / Global-Level
• Civic Mentor / Universal-Level
• Civic Mentor / Other States, Areas, Counties, Cities, Unincorporated Communities -- brought forth on a continuing basis as opportunity can be created
• Civic Mentor / Humankind -- summarizing, empowering, and over-arching all the rest
• Institute the Parent Corporation -- "The Mentor Enterprises / ELMS" (c. 2016)

c.  While the above is linear in appearance, that's just for ordering, emphasis, and focus -- but all have to advance toward the target, largely together.

David Nelson

All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.

ANNOUNCING: New "CONTACT ME" and "CIVIC MENTOR" Facebook Pages

Posted:  12 May 14

Purpose

This bulletin announces more ways in which we can dialog with one another.

New Feature

At the top of the red, horizontal menu bar is a new "Contact Me" link, which will explain all.

I hope you will find it useful.


David Nelson





All Original Content © 2014 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

THANK YOU SO MUCH -- 132,000 Visits in 2+ Years!

Posted:  11 May 14

Friends,

Thank you, so much, for visiting this blog, over the years.  I can't tell you how encouraging that is to me in this risky undertaking.

The average length of visits is just over 5 minutes, which amounts to a gift of about 11,000 of your precious hours -- AND IT IS ACCELERATING (so far)!!

• And this growth is by word-of-mouth, rather than by systematic promotion -- for the vast undertaking behind the parent project is still extremely difficult to define in "10 words or less." When I finish whittling down the thousands of words to that magic number, then it will really be where it should be.  
• I HAVE managed to reduce it from the millions of words I had accumulated over many decades.  For the project MUST be thorough to be done right.
• About 20 years ago, I realized I needed an invention like an Internet.  Through this entire project, fate has been giving me help, usually in the nick of time -- for, among other things, I've been able (to my family's enormous relief) to rid myself of boxes and boxes of notes which were crowding out my working and living spaces.

As I have often said, the special nature and immediacy of the master project which life has "assigned" me to attempt -- and the limited amount of time remaining to me -- demand that I build much of it under the public eye.  Especially, since I believe that it is a rather novel enterprise, in its particulars -- as far as I can determine -- leaving me with a puzzle to solve, still acres in size -- with no "picture on the box" to go by.

• Even I can barely grasp the whole complicated thing in one bite, and the challenge contains many surprises, mostly good it seems, so far.  While much has had to be invented, most of the building blocks have been tried, tested, and proven practical -- through the known history of human endeavor. 
• I am striving to use the best ingredients I can wrap my mind around, and arrange them so that the entire conceptual edifice will prove reliably sound, rather than collapse under its own weight.
• So, those of you who have been watching have witnessed some of the many trials and errors, which an entrepreneur can normally venture and resolve in the comfort of privacy and better-controlled research and development conditions.

I'm sure this is confusing and disconcerting, at times, to those who haven't yet realized that this is all a "work in progress," still very much in the rough-drafting stage -- and only a tiny part of a much grander vision.  But, I do have the comfort of firm belief that, if fate continues to be kind, it will all make sense to even the most casual of visitors -- whenever waiting has been filled.

I am working toward that day with iron determination and eager anticipation.

Again, I am deeply grateful to you for your kind and patient interest.


David Nelson


All Original Content © 2014 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

STRATEGIC CHANGE: TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES (4/25/14) -- KILLED THE OLD PCJ BULLETIN BOARD!

24 Apr 14 / THU / 01:20 am

The Problem Solved:
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On 22 Apr, this Blog's Old "BULLETIN BOARD" style mysteriously began only showing 25 "FLIP-CARD" BULLETINS

THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS SHOWING

COULDN'T FIND AN ECONOMICAL FIX

LIKELY CAUSE:  Mischief -- I'm now even better prepared, as a result.

The Solution:  A STRATEGIC DECISION

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4/25/14/Fri/2000 hrs

This unexpected problem forced my hand.  Fate's agenda, as usual, overrides my own -- and is often wiser than anything I can cook up.  I'm beginning to see the recent fatal problems with the "old bulletin board" approach of the Pittsburg City-Journal -- as blessings, in disguise.

After days of effort, I decided that it was costing too much time and excessive dollars trying to fix something I had planned to supersede soon, anyway.  So, the "new look" for this blog is emerging a bit early.  

And, even this new look is just temporary.  To restore enough usefulness for you, so I can continue with other aspects of this master project. However, I will keep returning to this vital piece of the plan -- the "change-delivery" system -- so, you can expect to see it continuing to evolve, until it is just right.

Pittsburg, CA will be offered its own uniquely-tailored, special-purpose "Civic Mentor," as will other cities, counties, economic areas, states, nations and the world -- when waiting is filled -- if fate continues to be kind.

"Silk purses from sows' ears?" -- No Sweat!

David Nelson

All Original Content © 2014 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

CONTACT ME (AND EACH OTHER) ON FACEBOOK, if you wish

Posted:  4 Sep 13

IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ME AND CONVERSE, 

PLEASE VISIT ME 

AT THIS FACEBOOK PAGE:  

"Mentor / Pittsburg, CA" 

(please click here)

1.  Purpose

To tell you about a Facebook page you might wish to visit and place comments upon.

2.  Discussion

• I will do my best to read and respond to any comments, as appropriate.
• And you can say any appropriate thing you might desire others to know about the information being communicated to me -- and I to you.

3.  Action Requested

• Please visit and tell me what you're thinking.  
• As I'm a sensitive chap, please be kind.
• If you have any trouble accessing the Facebook page, you can tell me in the comment space below this bulletin -- and we'll sort it out, together.
• Here's the link again (please click here)

Thanks,

David Nelson




All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

THE CIVIC MENTOR ~~~ This City-Journal's Next Evolutionary Step (Rev. 8/25/13)

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Posted:  19 July 13
Revised:  25 Aug 13

NOW IS NOT A BAD TIME TO THINK BIG!
More and more, the impossible is becoming inevitable 
for our rapidly and well maturing society and species

1.  Purposes

1.1  To introduce to you the next major step -- "The Civic Mentor" -- and its interim website portal (Civicmentor.net).  They constitute yet another system-building tool -- in a public-service "system-of-systems" development process -- spanning decades -- and first made public with the creation of this Pittsburg City-Journal (PCJ), during 2012.

• From now on, new readers will not need to deal with the awkward URL (VNYLCityGov.Blogspot.com) when they wish to access the PCJ -- and all the other public service systems, as these come online.  
• You only need to remember the simpler name: "CIVICMENTOR.NET."

1.2  To continue increasing the quality and scope of public service to next include, more directly, the entire Contra Costa County -- then, to extend ever-refining systems-services, as appropriate, far beyond the territory -- even throughout this blessed nation -- humankind's crown jewel -- if that is to be.

1.3  To invite you to regularly visit the newly-forming system of many web-based systems, which is to be, among other things, the parent framework for the NEW PCJ.   I hope you will watch it as closely as you can, for I intend to keep growing and refining the emergent "super-system" -- until it has become a complete joy for you to habitually use and rely upon -- and until there is nothing left to do to it to make it as practical for you as it can be -- and keep it that way, as circumstances change.

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2.  Background

REASONS AND BEGINNINGS

2.1  The PCJ first began as the outward-looking component of a voluntary, grass-roots Neighborhood Management System (NMS) I've been developing for the 114-home neighborhood where I reside -- and expect to make that NMS fully operational before June 2014.

2.1.1  The PCJ combines with an inward-looking communications system (two sides of the same coin).  The idea was to create a TOTAL view and a THOROUGH way -- to methodically and reliably anticipate, respond to, and favorably influence -- ALL KNOWN changes in the total environment -- having the power to affect us -- both inside the neighborhood and within its wider surroundings.

2.1.2  Besides, there are relatively few human groupings more potentially important to an average life than neighbors.  No matter who they are or whatever else they do, everyone, with few exceptions, is a neighbor among neighbors -- at the very "grass roots" of society -- and the relationship is inescapable -- for the role comes with the territory.

• Neighbors are special among those who, if so inclined, can help insure another's (even many others') survival, prosperity, and well-being.  
• They personify the human instinct of "I watch out for you and you watch out for me."  
• The relationship is usually of long-duration -- even life-long -- so the quality of that relationship is especially important.  
• They are the ones who might be turned to when a common (or private) act of fate threatens or summons.
• They can heighten one's awareness and readiness for life's sudden and gradual impacts -- good or bad.  
• Together, they can do needful/desirable things that are difficult or impossible to do, otherwise -- if their essential unity and cooperation are sufficient to the tasks before them.  
• They constitute a special class of friendship, to be prized and nurtured -- and much, much more, too -- which will be explored with you, in coming days.

FATEFUL  INTENTIONS

2.2  It has always been my intention (virtually life-long) to (among a whole lot of other INTERRELATED things) develop and expand a range of needful services, spiraling outward from my very soul, through my family and home, my neighborhood, and throughout my city, county, region, state, and the Nation.  But, I have found fate constantly disrupting (and usually improving upon) my timetables.  For fate overrides all agendas with its own -- and is a far better "planner" than I could ever hope to be.

MANY BIRDS, ONE STONE

2.3  For example, I soon realized that the PCJ, with certain adjustments, could just as easily begin serving the City, too (and even the County and beyond), much sooner than later.  Once I understood what it was becoming, a perfect opportunity to "leap frog" my plans smacked me squarely on my noggin.  So, how could I justify withholding this emerging tool from my more distant neighbors? (And truly, we humans are ALL neighbors on our common, tiny planet.)

• Many birds could be killed with one PCJ-stone (a dreadful expression, but illuminative)
• Unfortunately, while the URL I created made sense for my own neighborhood, it quickly outgrew its original purpose.  As a result, I know it has been confusing for others -- but, by then, momentum made changing it untenable, until now.

BESIDES, The PCJ is the PRELIMINARY PUBLIC TOOL 

to help build the "SYSTEM-OF-SYSTEMS" TO FOLLOW 

-- proceeding, next, with establishment of the Civic Mentor.

GAPS IN THE SOCIAL ARMOR

2.4  I also confirmed that, in order to THOROUGHLY complete my own neighborhood's NMS, I needed certain things to be provided TO my neighborhood (and many others), in a certain form, from the various systems that comprise and serve our society.  And these are things I believe virtually every neighborhood needs to have in order to become fully optimized -- no matter where that neighborhood happens to be.  The Civic Mentor is meant to serve those needs, methodically.

• 2.4.1  And, I have repeatedly confirmed to myself that there are certain other "social structural gaps" that need to be closed in order for ALL the people, in their universal "grass-roots settings,"  to more fully organize themselves as integral, optimized subsystems of society, in this complex era.  

• 2.4.2  And, I think I have figured out a way to begin closing all of those gaps -- through the Civic Mentor, plus 5 or 6 other major components being planned for.  The Civic Mentor is the "linch-pin" and logical foundation for all that is to follow.

• 2.4.3  Indeed, THE MISSION OF THIS ENTIRE "SOCIAL ENTERPRISE" includes: (1) Providing for THE SOCIAL INGREDIENTS Perceived to be Missing and (2) Seeing to the CLOSURE of ALL closable STRUCTURAL GAPS -- particularly at the "grass roots" level of a self-governing society.

IT'S ALL SO FEASIBLE, NOW

2.5  With the passage of time and my growing absorption of new technologies, it has now become possible to advance beyond the groundwork thus far laid by the PCJ -- and ALL that has come before and is still appearing -- faster and faster -- to reach "the golden shore" I see and am so certain awaits us -- though much, much more remains to be discovered, devised, explained, and done -- and shall be.

THE MAGNIFICENT INTERNET ACHIEVEMENT CHANGES EVERYTHING!!  

We are still just beginning to build up our momentum 

in understanding and capitalizing on its awesome social potential.

The deliberate and methodical redesign of the social fabric -- during this generation -- in light of the profound social impact, opportunities, and risks, emerging from revolutionary modern technology -- is feasible, inevitable, and highly advantageous to the human good.

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3.  A Proviso

THE NORM

3.1  Please keep in mind that this system-building project is not a "typical" one.  Normally, an entrepreneur works on an innovation (often in secret) until enough has been accomplished that they feel ready to release their new product-service mix into the world.  He or she can do and correct many of the dumb-seeming things in private and no one will ever know.   Such reticence is often crucial to them, so as to not undermine themselves by premature exposure of their unfolding plans to the threats of negative forces that due care and timing could have avoided.

THE EXCEPTION

3.2  The special nature of this project, which life has "assigned" me to do, no longer affords me that luxury.  For I have now reached the point where I, though a private citizen, simply must do more and more of the remaining work under the public eye  -- though much has been done beforehand, behind the scenes -- over decades of thought and preparation.

URGENCY AND POSTPONEMENT RISK

3.3  Why must this all be done in public?  Because this project is so vast that if I wait till it's all done before presenting it to you, I might not even be alive to do so -- I'm no longer a young fellow -- plus, life is so risky.  Thus, it must be tackled in public or not at all.  Frankly, success is unimaginable to me, without undergoing this crucial public stage, at this particular time-point -- for this forces pursuit of clarity and helps me persevere, as I falter, from time to time.

• 3.3.1  Besides, the process of perfecting things must eventually involve all of us, if results are to be truly practical and meaningful.  Why not, then, afford you the early opportunity to witness and participate in the evolution, refinement, and institutionalization of the hoped for results -- thereby, greatly increasing prospects for success?  

• 3.3.2  Ultimately, at the very core of this whole undertaking is an unshakable commitment to deliver high-quality service, for the greater good of "we the people."  Naturally, since all is being done for us all, we the people have an implicit right to influence things, favorably, whenever we are ready to do so.  How could it be otherwise?  My own small allotment of genius, inspiration, time, and energy can only go so far -- to push "this boulder uphill."

• 3.3.3 And, I firmly believe that what fate is having me do will work, hand-in-hand with others, to save many lives and add much value to them -- even before the entire project is completed.  

• 3.3.4  THUS, THERE IS A VERY REAL SENSE OF URGENCY -- so time is not to be wasted on secrecy, fear, hurt feelings, and other private concerns.

THE IMMINENT FUTURE

3.4  Therefore, everything you see is likely to be in a constantly-changing "rough" form and will be refined as I can get to it.  (So please, don't judge me too harshly -- for there are many, many "balls in the air" and mishaps, blunders, and short-cuts must happen as part of the process.)  The smoothing-out has to be done on the fly.  And, it will likely take years before this project can be said to be finished with my part in it.

• Like a big building-construction project, "the land" has been studied and cleared, materials gathered, blueprints worked out, foundations are establishing, and the framework is starting to solidify for this emerging skyscraper. (I'll worry about "decorating" it, later)  You are standing on the very construction site.  
• As preparations solidify, team-building can begin in earnest, leading to establishment of the parent corporation -- "The Mentor Enterprises / ELMS" -- (circa 2016) -- to help refine and advance these concepts -- beyond the limits of my personal reach, unassisted -- and purify and perpetuate the concepts -- if found to be worthy -- beyond my lifespan (unless fate is playing terrible tricks on me).   But, with luck, further maturation of the concepts, and with the fabulous technology of this new age -- I can reasonably hope to progress a long way -- before any serious formal delegating to others needs to begin, in earnest.
• "ELMS" stands for "Entire Life-time Management Systems."

3.5  As I have said, many times, mistakes, even blunders, will be unavoidable -- and, to my chagrin, you will see many of them.  So be it.  The public advantages far outweigh the personal costs.

Who dares seriously say that any one of us cannot be a catalyst for world change -- for the better rather than the worse -- by fulfilling the suitably high purposes, dreams, determination, and luck at their disposal? 

 Oh, Yes We Can and Do and Shall!
Humans have been proving the truth of this 
for a long, long time -- and will doubtless continue to do so.

With your patience and help, all will be well, 
whenever "waiting is filled,"

if fate continues to be kind.

Respectfully yours,

David Nelson

---

All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

TEMPORARY SLOW-DOWN IN BLOG UPDATING -- an explanation

Posted: 11 July 13

Dear Fellow Citizens of the World -- friends or future friends, I dearly hope:

1.  While it wasn't my initial intention, I have taken virtually an entire season off from tending closely to this City-Journal -- slowing down other essential work, as well.  Fate insists on overarching (and overriding) my agenda with its own.

2.  Turns out, it was a badly needed break -- part vacation, part self-renewal, part mission re-thinking, and large part system construction -- for I am now re-energized and more sharply focused than ever.  My mental computer is augmented and "rebooted."  Now, my attention is back, more fully, on the task at hand and I confidently expect visible progress to resume, if fate reminds kind.

3.  I believe most of you are beginning to realize that the City-Journal is but a small part of a larger public service initiative I am pursuing.  If not, all will be made clear, ASAP.

4.  The Pittsburg City-Journal (PCJ)'s current mission is largely two-fold:  (1) to function as a system-building tool for my work purposes AND (2) as a public service instrument -- a vehicle for transmitting useful information in a deliberate and logical fashion -- in areas not adequately covered otherwise -- in support of a succession of even larger, enveloping systems.

My whole project seeks out needful niches to be served within this great human network -- taking fullest advantage of the "new" capabilities our magnificent Internet affords us.

And not just for Pittsburg, alone, but for the entire County, SFBA, State, and Nation and beyond.

More on all of this, later.

5.  However, as time and resources are so limited, my main attention must be on building the next set of systems, that are only possible, now that the PCJ exists as a secure foundation and is ready for the drastic revisions so necessary to support the next phases -- thus, delaying regular updating.

6.  Yet, I must try to insure that the momentum in the PCJ's growth-of-interest does not decline. Meaning, it must be kept populated with new and current practical information.  My problem is that the vital process of keeping published materials "fresh" for you entails a great deal of labor and focus, better utilized elsewhere -- at this particular time.

7.  I don't want to lose your interest or unduly deny to you useful, timely information.  I believe it is vital to the job I must do -- that readership only expand and never contract -- until the entire targeted public community (our entire on-line civic presence) -- is actively and regularly monitoring where the PCJ and follow-on systems intend to take us.  Then we can really build the particular public "grass-roots" cooperative and coordinative systems I feel we need so urgently.

8.  But, at the unavoidable risk of readership losses (temporary losses, I hope), I think you will find the next version of the PCJ, under construction, to be to our better advantage and worthy of the patience and loyalty being requested of you.  I am determined not to disappoint.

9.  So, there you are.  My excuse for not keeping the present version as closely updated as I desire. Yet, I will continually try to post practical things as ever they become ready for posting -- and as circumstance allows.

10.  Please keep in mind that this is all a work in progress and that time (with suitable determination and luck) is the great assembler (and disassembler) of all things.


Respectfully yours,
David Nelson


All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

CONTENTS TABLE #1 ============ LIFE TOOLS & THREATS (Updated 5/30)

Posted:  8 May 13

26 July 13 -- I'M RUNNING WAY BEHIND IN UPDATING THIS PAGE

Friends, as explained in my bulletin, "TEMPORARY SLOW-DOWN IN BLOG UPDATING -- an explanation," I am necessarily behind in my updating of things.  Yet, I really would like this page to be a sort of a "menu" of timeless bulletins.  I'll get back to updating as soon as I can, unless I figure out something even better.  Happy Friday to you all == D.Nelson

1.  Purpose

To list, all in one place, following this introduction, an accumulation of bulletins of an especially enduring character.  

Specific accumulator-categories included below are:

    0.  GENERAL RESOURCES (all levels of news sources, City & County government, etc)

1. Emergency & Disaster Readiness
2. Health
3. Education, Mental Development, & Self-Improvement
4. Entertainment & Leisure
5. Household, Home Life, & Safety
6. Financial & Consumer Safety Issues
7. The Military Services
8. Politics
9. Society, in General

2.  Background

a.  Many of these special bulletins were not placed on the seasonal "Blog Contents Tables" at the top of the bulletin board -- since those pages stress sequence.  You've probably noticed that I've been shifting many of these "orphans" around the bulletin board as I work on Version 2.0 of this City-Journal.

b.  This accumulator is the "next-to-the last step," on the way to a better presentation for these and future bulletins.  I must stabilize permanent locations for such as this, with easier and more logical interface access -- and ease of automation for my small "staff" -- and I shall.  That's one of the things Version 2.0 is about.

c.  Please remember that this entire blog is PRELIMINARY during these early years -- in mostly rough, imperfect draft form.  I find that the information just can't wait while I get "all my ducks in a row."  I simply MUST go public with this system-building tool (the PCJ), as-is, despite my discomfort at widely revealing apparent (and real) flaws in my work.  I often see them, but must keep pressing on with everything on my lengthy list, simultaneously.

d.  Also, you need to understand that, for now, this PCJ-component (of larger systems to come) is a "one-man show," so I have lots of balls I have to keep in the air at the same time.  Once things take hold, I will have something solid and sufficiently thought-out around which to build and empower a business organization, "The Mentor Enterprises / ELMS" (working title) to take over from me.  Then things will really fly toward completest fulfillment for us.  Meanwhile, I will install stand-alone systems and system-groups, as these become available -- for immediate use.  Later, the corporation will be responsible for refinement and perpetuation.

e.  Finally, as do we all, I have the usual human vulnerabilities -- the unexpected and unpredictable constraints and opportunities that scramble best-laid plans -- including needing a few days break, from time-to-time.  But "overcoming" is the order of the days, months, and years.  This is not an apology or complaint -- just giving you enough information (I hope) so you can better endure the wait for me to do all I've set out to do.


David Nelson

---

THE LIST OF SPECIAL-PURPOSE BULLETINS

(This list is not complete in all areas, yet, but will be)

---

0.  GENERAL RESOURCES

• TERRITORIAL DAILY NEWS SOURCES: Local and beyond
• Area Newsletter Accumulator
• CELEBRATING CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
• CALENDAR: Pittsburg's Neighborhood Program Events 4/13 to 6/1
• CC COUNTY: Supervisor Glover's Winter/Spring 2013 Newsletter
• COUNTY GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY REVIEW -- 5th District, Contra Costa County

1.   EMERGENCY & DISASTER READINESS

• PCJ STRATEGIC APPROACH: Emergency & Disaster Readiness Element
• FLASH!!! COUNTY-WIDE ALERT -- CERT -- Life or Death!!!
• EMERGENCY PLAN: PRIVATE: ALL Emergencies
• First Aid Information and More (Menu Option: "Quick Access")
• 52 Disaster Tactics: SURVIVE ANYTHING!! Popular Mechanics -- 4/13
• EMERGENCY READINESS: Important Documents
• EMERGENCY PLAN: PRIVATE: Drinking Water
• EMERGENCY WATER: Is it Safe to Store BOTTLED WATER in Hot Cars?
• EMERGENCY PLAN: PRIVATE: Food
• FAMILY: EMERGENCY READINESS: BASIC -- The Pledge
• BASIC "CERT" DISASTER APPROACH
• DISASTER PREPAREDNESS -- Personal Transport 

2.  HEALTH

• HEALTH: Daily Information Accumulator (#2) - Most Recent
• HEALTH: Daily Information Accumulator (#1) thru 8/6/12
• NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK 2013 (April 1-7)
• HEALTH: Seasonal Allergy Treatments for Children

3.  EDUCATION, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, & SELF-IMPROVEMENT

• LIFE-THREATS: CYBER-BULLYING -- Online Assaults
• MAJOR BREAK-THROUGH: The Kahn Academy
• LIFE-TOOL ACCUMULATOR: PHILOS & TECH: (an experiment)
• LIFE-TOOLS: The Genius Within? England's Smartest Family
• LIFE-TOOL: SECOND LANGUAGE: Why learn Spanish?
• LIFE-TOOLS: HOW TO STUDY IN SCHOOL & FOR LIFE
• LIFE-TOOLS: Education: ABC's of Student Success... and more!
• LIFE-THREAT: ANGER MIS-MANAGEMENT
• LIFE-TOOLS: FREE LEGAL ADVICE
• LIFE-THREAT: BULLIES
• USA.gov -- MENTOR THE CHILDREN!!!
• New Tool Helps Students Choose a College - Senator Boxer
• Strengthening Afterschool Programs - Senator Boxer
• EDUCATION: LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE SHOWS ITS STUFF -- AND SHINES!
• APRIL IS NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH
• Developmental Disabilities in Children -- Early Screening and Intervention Can Help
• The White House -- Mapping the Human Brain
• Enhancing School Safety - Senator Boxer
• APRIL IS NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH
• Developmental Disabilities in Children -- Early Screening and Intervention Can Help

4.  ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE

• FUN & AWE ACCUMULATOR: Some Alternatives
• FASCINATING IMAGES ACCUMULATOR (From USA.gov)
• Industry Recognition for MAYA CINEMAS 16 (and This CITY-JOURNAL)!!

5.   HOUSEHOLD, HOME LIFE, & SAFETY

• HOUSEHOLD HANDYMAN (or Woman) ACCUMULATOR
• Teen Safe Driving: What You Need to Know - State Senator DeSaulnier
• DRIVER SAFETY: FROSTY OR WET CAR WINDOWS IN THE MORNING
• SAFE DRIVER STRATEGY: Horrendous! Sad! Invaluable!

6.  FINANCIAL &  CONSUMER SAFETY ISSUES

• APRIL IS FINANCIAL CAPABILITY MONTH
• Senator Boxer's GRANTS Newsletter - Includes 33 new or updated FEDERAL GRANT opportunities
• REJECT SCAMS & HOAXES!! FAST FACT-CHECKER TOOLS!!!
• INTERNET SECURITY -- Protecting Bank and Facebook Accounts
• HOLIDAY SCAMS AND MALWARE ALERT!!!!
• SCAM ADVISORY -- WAKA WALMART GIFT CARDS
• SCAM ADVISORY -- 12/13/12 -- TRILEGIANTS
• National Consumer Protection Week (March 3-9)
• SCAM ALERT! "Work-From-Home" Scam
• USA.gov -- HOW TO AVOID SWEEPSTAKES SCAMS
• Are you eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)? -- State Senator DeSaulnier

7.  THE MILITARY SERVICES & PATRIOTISM

• The Other Day, I was Touched by a HERO OF WAR!
• MILITARY-COMMUNITY DISCOUNTS/BENEFITS ACCUMULATOR
• Reducing the Backlog of VA Disability Claims -- Senator Boxer
• Honoring Vietnam Veterans - Senator Boxer
• HOW TO GET A U.S. FLAG THAT HAS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL

8.  POLITICS

• CALIFORNIA POLITICS ~~ A Fast, Fascinating Look!
• CALIFORNIA STATE OF THE STATE 2013 ADDRESS (Text & Video)

9.  SOCIETY, IN GENERAL

• HEROES: To help save this world, we need EVERY HERO we can get & 211
• VOLUNTEERISM Gets a Big Boost From Pittsburg's Mayor
• TWO OF LIFE'S GOLDEN KEYS: To Over 1000 Gov't Benefit Programs
• FOR THE INNOCENT: Category 2: ANIMALS
• IF YOU KNOW OF ANY WEB-SITE OF PUBLIC INTEREST ...

MUCH, MUCH MORE TO FOLLOW

---

David Nelson

All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby suspend those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

SHIFTING TO NEXT GROWTH-PHASE FOR THIS CITY-JOURNAL

Posted:  1 May 13

1.  PURPOSES

To inform my readers of a few developments that will affect production and maintenance of this Pittsburg City-Journal (PCJ) over the short-term, as PCJ Version 2.0 is developed and brought on-line.

• Please be patient, for the result should be a far superior product which incorporates the lessons learned during the closing, months-long current start-up phase -- and the ideas and information developed and accumulated over a far, far longer period.
• In essence, I must temporarily shift priorities from (1) rapidly and regularly publishing daily updates (2) to concentrating on development of Version 2.0 of this Pittsburg City-Journal -- and I still may be able to do catch-up, in batches of bulletins, as I continue system-building -- and as opportunities can be created to do the daily chores.
• Further, I am now able to begin automating many of my routine tasks (since I now know what they are), which should get me back on track with maintenance duties, pretty quickly.

It's tricky to extensively modify an active blog and keep it fresh for readers at the same time as the larger work proceeds.  I have delayed doing the public aspects of this drastic re-work until absolutely ready to proceed.  That time has now arrived.

2.  THE FAST-EVOLVING SITUATION

I am bearing down hard on developing Version 2.0 to this City-Journal to maximize its service to our community (and beyond).  Here are some of the changes coming down the pike.  

Upon completion of this redesign phase, 

I expect to have achieved the following in-roads:

2.1  The PCJ will become a purely Pittsburg-specific communications vehicle -- separating "not-exclusively-Pittsburg" information into more logical web objects (blogs and traditional websites), under development.  The PCJ will become a subset of 2.2, below.

2.2  Our County will be served with a web-site/blog system called "A Civic Mentor for Contra Costa County."  Links to every useful bit of County information I can find will be consolidated in the Civic Mentor, together with daily bulletins of focused application:

• for the County, as a whole, 
• AND for each individual City and Unincorporated Community comprising the County. 
• Separate "City-Journals" and "Civic Mentor Systems" will begin to emerge to explicitly serve the unique needs of each individual jurisdiction -- as subsets of the County Civic Mentor.
• Please note -- this is not to compete with other individual and group Internet presences - rather this is to help increase awareness and promote and celebrate ALL of them where they belong -- within our consciousnesses -- more fully -- and with better timing -- than is presently the case.

2.3  Our Economic Region, the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA) will have its own Civic Mentor, which will address it, as a whole, along with the nine counties (and communities) comprising it -- with the Civic Mentor for Contra Costa County becoming a subset of this.

2.4  The same will be done to methodically address all the other jurisdictional levels that surround and affect us, concentrically (for we are interdependent with the whole, vast thing): 

1. the State and its other economic regions and counties; 
2. the Nation and its other states; and 
3. the World and its other nation-states

--- "RE-INVENTING" OF THE WHEEL WILL BE MINIMIZED -- for fine minds and hard work of our fellow citizens of this world have already done (and are doing) much of what needs doing.  It makes little sense to duplicate the efforts and achievements of others, rather than to use and build upon these valuables -- giving full credit where it is due.

• It's just that their contributions are still largely scattered around the landscape and are not always readily accessible.  
• I mean to bring their work together in one efficient place, so we can access the fruits of their labors at exactly the right moment when most needed.  
• I don't know all there is to know, but I do think I see how these things can be brought together to maximize their value and timely access.

2.5  THE RESULT WILL BE AN INTEGRATED, COMPREHENSIVE, COHERENT "civic information management system-model" which will eventually consolidate, all in one convenient place, ALL the information a citizen (or resident) might ever need to fully access and monitor the TOTAL changing environment and to thrive within it.

2.6  SIMULTANEOUSLY -- "General Management System Models" will be offered to guide and assist anyone who wants this help, in using this vast information-array to better manage all the significant aspects of day-to-day existence.  

--- 2.6.1  Specifically offered with be a complete and integrated set of management system-models for the people to use, as they see fit, at the "grass roots," where we ALL reside -- AT OUR VERY FINGER-TIPS -- all models blended as one cohesive and coherent system-of-systems -- with sub-systems (below) that can be readily customized to meet specific user requirements -- and which will make it easier to do all the things that we feel, know, or don't know need doing, in this life, in proper turn, as self-fulfilling, civically-responsive human beings.

--- 2.6.2  Accordingly, there will be personalizable management sub-systems for the following aspects of our existences, to be made freely available to all who desire such advantages:

• Individual affairs
• Family affairs
• Household affairs
• Work and Leisure
• Neighborhood affairs
• City Affairs
• County Affairs
• Regional Affairs
• State Affairs
• National Affairs
• Global Affairs

3.  OVERARCHING RATIONALE

To make the most of this "puzzle called life," it makes sense (at least to me) to systematically identify, examine, reconcile, and logically arrange ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES, EVERYWHERE (for they all have at least some bearing on us) to insure that nothing important is left out -- or out of balance -- and that all pieces are assembled for ease of use and maximum practicality -- and that we can coordinate these usages, together, as efficiently and effectively as possible.  In other words, satisfactory systems tend to be sufficiently thorough -- and all systems tend to be subsystems of successively larger ones.

I am resolved to do exactly as I have stated, in the time remaining.  This is just a beginning, to the extent of wisdom available to me.  The real power will come when there exists something suitable on which all of us can (and are willing to) collaborate and concentrate our collective genius, wisdom, energy, and good will to help refine and perfect what is yet to be perfected.

4.  THANK YOU

Thanks for your understanding.  I will do everything I can to minimize any inconvenience and to make any delays well worth your/our while.  And, I will keep you as closely informed as is possible and reasonable.


Respectfully yours,

David Nelson

P.S.  As are we all, I am still learning and growing.  Plans change in light of new developments.  All plans are subject to fate's final arbitration.  The above is an expression of my will -- always with the humble concession that fate sets the ultimate agenda.  The best that we mortals can ever do is to offer our best efforts.  And, that I shall.


All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby suspend those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.