I THINK IT'S TIME TO GIVE OUR CITY COUNCIL A RAISE!

Posted: 19 Feb 15

PLANTING A SEED I HOPE WILL GROW AND BEAR FRUIT

---

I believe in recognizing and rewarding excellence.  

Don't you?

---

The blessings we enjoy here don't just magically appear.  They are the result of hard work and heavy burdens cheerfully borne and properly executed.  Service above and beyond the call of duty has been the norm for quite a long time.

---

If you look at the pay scales, you would be shocked -- at how poorly our elected leadership team --  is compensated -- for the significant opportunity-costs -- which they sacrifice in the public service.   Some even hold full-time jobs -- yet manage to attend the many meetings and calls for service -- which their political duties entail.  (Here, take a look for yourselves.)

---

And, do they give themselves raises?  No.  Instead, they give themselves pay-cuts and freezes.

So if their salaries are to be raised -- we're the ones who are going to have to make that happen -- TO INSIST.  We can never afford to fully compensate them in proportion to their persistent dedication, but we can sure signal our approval with meaningful tangibility.

---

We don't have a public forum for easily discussing such topics, as far as I know -- but surely the City's communities and non-governmental systems can undertake, or at least consider, this initiative?

Furthermore, the "Civic Mentor / Pittsburg" sub-project assumes the responsibility for establishing a set of special and general purpose public forums -- over the near-term.

Then and there -- if not before and elsewhere -- let's revisit this topic, among many others, in earnest -- and bring them all to proper and happy conclusions.

---

Tendered with great respect and gratitude,

David Nelson

---

All Original Content © 2015, 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.

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.

---

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

-- Thomas Jefferson

---

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). 

---

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)

---

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

---

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)

---

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.

---

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.

---

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?

---

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.

---

HERE'S TO A BRAND NEW 2015, 

FAR SUPERIOR TO 2014, 

IN EVERY RESPECT!!

---

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.

CIVIC MENTOR / TERRITORIAL / Knowledge Base #3 -- The SF Bay Area

Posted: 23 Dec 14

Announcing the

TERRITORIAL CIVICS KNOWLEDGE BASE (Preliminary) for the

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA

---

1.  SO WE'RE ALL ON THE "SAME PAGE"

Yesterday, I announced the establishment of a preliminary corporate sub-website, called the "The Mentor Enterprises / ELMS Reference Center."  

(Here is that announcement)

I also introduced two preliminary "Territorial Civics Knowledge Bases (TCKB)" for (a) Pittsburg, CA and (b) Contra Costa County.

All TCKB's are meant to be accumulators of websites, links, and other relevant, invaluable information -- WITHOUT PRACTICAL LIMIT.  Eventually, everything in webspace will be somehow all gathered in one convenient place -- to help simplify and untangle the complexities of modern living -- ALL WITHIN the SINGLE Mentor/ELMS (where ELMS means "Entire Life-time Management Systems")

---

2.  PURPOSE

Today, I am pleased to announce that one more TCKB in the line is ready.  The next concentric territorial ring surrounding and containing my home-base, at Pittsburg, CA.  Yesterday, we did city-level and county-level.  Now, area-level is placed in operation.

Accordingly, here it is -- and I hope it meets with your approval:

Territorial Civics Knowledge Base (Preliminary) for the

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA

That announcement started out to be the only purpose of this bulletin until I realized this was a perfect chance to verbalize what I propose to do to with the entire year of 2015.

---

3.  REALITY CHECK

As in every case, throughout this project, everything is a work in progress.  

I bring these things into existence -- crude as they are -- as rapidly as possible -- rather than risk not getting them to you at all.  At this stage of the project, the rule must be SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE.  I'll worry about the niceties, all in good time -- as fate permits.

Everything will get better and better over time.  After all, these are my "babies," and I take great pride in the fact that -- at long last -- they are now coming into the real world -- so I can see them, share them, ponder them, refine them, learn from others, and do all else to make them worthy of existence -- AND OF OPTIMAL BENEFIT TO OUR REMARKABLE SPECIES OF LIFE -- if not at once, then eventually.

---

4.  MY NEXT STEPS -- Another Peek Under the Tent

4.1  More TCKB's -- Naturally, this stage has to spiral outward from the place with which I am most familiar and deeply involved -- my home-base at Pittsburg.  

Here, I can see and feel and examine the impacts of system developments and make refinements and extract practical general system-models which can be adapted to suit other territorial situations. Here is the first, logical place to look for partners, employees, and volunteers to help this undertaking.  Yet, there ought to be something in this for everyone, even at this early stage.

---

4.2  THE NEAR-TERM AGENDA 

OBJECTIVE: Establish all preliminary Territorial KB's before New Year's Day.

• State-Level -- California (by week's end)
• National-Level -- (by week's end)
• Global-Level -- (next week)
• Specific TCKB's for each and all Cities, Counties, States, and Nations outside my home territory -- on a "catch, as catch-can" basis (I'll be working on this, all along, but will not be able to intensify until a later stage of this Mentor / ELMS project development cycle).

---

4.3  THE LONG-TERM VIEW -- 2015 -- as it looks from here.

I will explain all of this later but, in a nutshell, here are the broad contours of the Project Development Plan for 2015

   4.3.1  Continue to flesh-out the TCKB's (in perpetuity)

  4.3.2  Begin the second Mentor Knowledge Base series -- the FUNCTIONAL Civics Knowledge Bases (FCKB) -- (starting next week -- continuing, in perpetuity).  

• There MUST and WILL be literally thousands of these.  These are the pieces that will provide power, focus, and direction to the designs of the various subsystems comprising the PRIVATE and CIVIC MENTOR ELMS's.  
• Looking at life from every conceivable angle -- the sum-total of existence. 
• Probably organized under the Library of Congress Classification System to assure thoroughness and compatibility with the entire Human Knowledge and Experiential Base (HKEB) -- (major patterns and KB's will be established during 2015 -- ongoing development, perpetual).

   4.3.3  Begin the third Mentor Knowledge Base series -- the PRIVATE Knowledge Bases (PKB) -- (Also, starting next week -- again, refining and evolving forever)

   4.3.4  All of the KB's will be developed, simultaneously, with the establishment of the specific PRIVATE and CIVIC MENTOR ELMS's -- THE END-GAME FOR THE WHOLE THING.  

• Together, these will place all of human knowledge, experience, and wisdom into the easy reach of every rational fellow human -- which we can use as a logical pattern for efficiently and effectively managing the TOTALITY (Public and Private) of our existences -- to optimize our well-being, betterment, and fulfillment in this life.

---

5.  TOP 2015 PRIORITY

A HUGE PROBLEM HAS TO BE SOLVED

but it is one which WILL be solved because

THE INTERNET REVOLUTION 

has changed the whole, entire ball-game

5.1  The absolutely most urgent, imperative thing I wish to accomplish -- EARLY IN 2015 -- BEYOND EVERYTHING ELSE -- is to introduce the "Civic Mentor / Neighborhood Management system (NMS) Concept."  

Unavoidable Limiting Factor:  However, I MUST have these emerging KB's and their evolving organizing framework -- firmly in place -- to accomplish this.

If I do nothing else important in this life -- I MUST get this done.  Many lives and much property are at stake.  

---

5.2  BEEN DOING MY HOMEWORK

I have spent nearly six decades DELIBERATELY examining human existence -- inside-out, top-to-bottom, backwards and forwards, under the microscope, through the telescope, ears to the ground, probing, testing, inquiring, contemplating, writing, experimenting -- in other words, as thoroughly as possible.

I have come to understand and marvel at the vast store of human achievements and experiences and understandings and methods and so on -- which we have inherited and which we are continuing to develop.  (In short, everything I could reach that makes us an "us.")

I am completely convinced that the United States is an incredible, highly successful human achievement.  Its systems, while still humanly imperfect, are relentlessly self-perfecting in their nature and behavior -- at all times.

But, I have detected a serious omission.  One which I think I can help fix -- and, therefore, MUST attempt.  With the advent of The Internet blessing, the time has never been better for discerning this problem and dealing with it.

---

5.3  A MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEM -- SOLVABLE

IN A NUT-SHELL:  I have come to detect a "STRUCTURAL GAP" in our orderly systems of self-government. 

A QUICK REVIEW: so we're on the "same page" -- From top to bottom, we have the Federal level, the State level, the Regional (or Areal) level, the County (or equivalent) level, and the City (or equivalent) level of government.  (FIVE and I think there should be SIX, because...)  

---

5.4  THE CRITICAL OMISSION:  Then next, finally, there's just us -- down in the "grass roots" of society -- where we ALL reside -- providing, as "ordinary citizens" -- for the common good -- with our private resources (taxes, energy, time, etc.) -- and making our demands -- for some of the blessings of the common good -- manifested and tended to by government and by the economy (goods and services we require).

---

5.5  THE BASIC SCENARIO:  Picture this.  One of our private hands reaching up toward our government-levels and toward our other inherent systems for the things we require -- and they, reaching down toward us, trying mightily, to deliver them -- often in exchange for something -- sometimes not, directly.  Our other "hand" offering up from our ranks -- the money, people (as employees, volunteers, officials, etc), and so forth that those systems require to function.

---

5.6  BUT DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM?  Right there -- where those hands are supposed to meet -- right where the people, collectively, are supposed to FIRMLY interconnect with each other and their social systems -- is often a big, yawning gap.  

• For example, take my home-town of Pittsburg, CA.  It has a population of about 60,000 and a City government of about 240 employees.  As marvelous as our government is, it cannot do everything for us.  Our American system is supposed to be a social partnership.  We are the government and the government is US.
• Of course, there are many advanced neighborhoods around this rational nation -- tending to all of this, in their stride.  But I contend that this is the exception more than the rule.  And, all can benefit if everyone is behaving systematically -- whether they are advanced management systems or random fragments of potential neighborhoods. 
• We, in the grass roots have to take charge.  It is our duty -- for "we the people" are what the nation is all about -- when you get right down to it.  
• We are the ultimate source of all authority, responsibility, and resources.  We cannot avoid answering, personally -- because whatever we cause or permit to happen, we (or others we care about) are most likely to be affected in our persons by it.  
• If we don't wish to feel bad -- then, don't let bad things happen.  Make good things happen, instead.  
• And, the better we cooperate in the good-doing, the more there will be of it.
• And the more people who are involved, the more systematic their cooperation needs to be -- in order to minimize wasting of it. 

---

5.7  A PROBLEM BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY:  This gap is a perfect opportunity to bring the blessings of self-government even closer to home.  Sensibly organize every single neighborhood and link them together as another functioning, institutionalized level of government -- and we will lay good hands on the levers of power as never before.

I mean to suggest ways to do this.  But not just to suggest -- but to demonstrate and persuade with compelling examples and easy-to-use best practices -- arranged for optimal action.  THIS IS MY MOST URGENT PRIORITY.  

• And, as the Model NMS evolves -- neighborhoods who pattern themselves after it will become better engines for their own well-being 
• Each and all of them doing all that is necessary to provide safe, secure and wholesome existences for their fellow residents -- for each other.  
• Each and all of them doing things that are difficult, impossible, or even unthinkable for them to try to do -- in disunity and chaos
• Each and all of them amplifying the power and efficiency and responsiveness of the "other" government levels.
• Each and all of them forming themselves into virtual "fortresses" and "islands of well-being, betterment, productivity, and great joy" that bounce crime and other evils out of their midst -- yet joined, allied, so as to not bounce evil onto each other -- but rather right out of their common territories.  Joined so that their power of their individual resources become amplified in the common recognition and sharing
• Each and all of them better discharging their inescapable civic and private duties -- and maximizing the inevitable civic and private blessings of their liberties -- down through the latest generations.

---

5.8  A MISSION-PHASE ACCOMPLISHED:  At that point, we will have addressed a major portion of the totality of our PUBLIC existence.  The NMS Model must be instituted in order for the entire Mentor/ELMS concept to make sense. 

THE ULTERIOR FLOW AND TRAIN OF LOGIC:  Once all or most of the nation's neighborhoods become self-mentoring NMS's --  we will have a powerful, practical common anchor point -- by which to stabilize our social lives -- at this, the most "natural" level of human commonality -- where we live and all must eventually return, repeatedly - making us reachable among ourselves -- with greater ease -- an anchor needed in order to "plug-into our lives" the remaining Civic and Public Mentors under construction -- and have the whole thing work to best effect.  

Our Neighborhood Management Systems (the NMS's) and our Families are, or CAN BE, the most BASIC linch-pins of our human interconnectedness (or should be) -- for we share a common territory and, hence, a common destiny -- which we are going to want to influence in our favor -- and have to cooperate to do this -- and these secure connections -- enable us to act as one -- when the situation calls for such ready strength -- ready without us having to go emergency measures -- just to anticipate, respond, or react, sensibly -- assuring, instead, that we hum right along, giving ourselves peace of mind and body -- so we can carry out our private and public business -- productively -- for the greatest fulfillment -- of the best possible futures -- for ourselves, our world, and our descendants.

What better, more moral, more sensible, more rewarding thing in this life could we possibly do -- than live with high purpose?

---

5.9  READINESS FOR THE NEXT PHASE:  Then, with the NMS-model in place, down in the foundation of things -- the next project phase can accelerate -- the other part of the human equation -- our private existences and ways to mentor them, systematically.

---

6.  THE END-GAME IN SIGHT

Based on such INTELLECTUALLY-SECURE knowledge bases, I can establish systems:

• that people will want to use, for they will find none better -- for only the best available ingredients will be incorporated -- and we will be able to judge which fits each case;
• that are thorough -- leaving out nothing -- for the things that we don't notice or understand -- are often the things that do the most avoidable harm to us.  No one can possibly know all there is to know -- but if all that is known is made increasingly easy to find out -- including things we didn't know we needed to know -- exactly when (or before) circumstances call for them -- then we can dramatically increase our chances of managing our existences favorably, rather than not.
• fun to use -- because systems are more useful when people enjoy them; 
• easy to use -- because people are extremely busy creatures -- and the whole Mentor / ELMS mission has to do with simplifying life, so more good can be done -- more favorable change accomplished;
• immensely practical -- because time and other resources tend to be scarce, precious, and should not be wasted; 
• comprehensive (in other words, thorough, again) -- because to manage the TOTALITY of existence means to overlook nothing; Ready, reliable access to orderly KB's guarantees that that which is practical will not likely be missed too often.
• self-explanatory -- since a system which naturally models real life is easier to adapt to suit our own unique circumstances and understandings
• accommodating -- easy for us to believe in and adopt for all the intended purposes -- oh, the advantages are endless -- but I will accumulate a list of them in the corporate strategic statement, later.
• free of charge -- the whole aim is to lift-up the species -- excluding no one -- and money is an obstacle for many.  The only return on investment I truly seek -- is that we humans all engage in a perpetual, orderly conversation about all the things that matter to us.  Help me perfect the Mentor / ELMS.  I am counting on the common wisdom to offset the many weaknesses in my own.

---

5.  CONFIDENCE CHECK

NOW THAT I HAVE FINALLY FOUND SO MANY OF THE "RIGHT TOOLS" -- after much trial-and-error, the flood-gates seem to be opening, at long last.  The above plan may appear formidable (and, I guess it is), but I have been giving this a lot of thought -- and I feel confident that I can juggle all the balls -- until I institute the Corporation (c. 2016)  which will share some of the load.

"The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing"
Stephen R. Covey

---

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.

CIVIC MENTOR / TERRITORIAL / Knowledge Base #1 & 2 / City and County (#1)

Posted: 21 Dec 14
Change #1: 23 Dec 14 -- Added  link to SF Bay Area TCKB in paragraph 2

---

1.  Purpose

To announce the establishment of the preliminary corporate website, called the "The Mentor Enterprises / ELMS Reference Center."

I consider this to be a breakthrough of monumental importance to my successful creation of The Mentor / Entire Life-time Management Systems (ELMS) -- and believe it will prove INVALUABLE TO MANY OF YOU, AT ONCE! (and to all of you, eventually)

---

2.  How is this immediately important to you?

Throughout this week, I will be presenting you with the unfinished First Section -- "The Preliminary TERRITORIAL Civics Knowledge Bases."  Yes, it's unfinished -- much more to be done -- but I'm betting you're going to find them IMMEDIATELY PRACTICAL just as they are.  But just wait till you see what they are destined to become.

• If you're interested in Pittsburg, California's TCKB, then click here.
• If you're interested in Contra Costa County, California, then click here.
• If you're interested in the San Francisco Bay Area, then that should be ready later today or tomorrow. (Done on time, 12/23/14, click here for the announcement bulletin, above for the direct link)
• If you're interested in California, that will be right behind the SFBA.
• If you're interested in the Nation, that will be ready around the end of the week.
• If you live in another State, your TCKB's will be deferred while I deal with other crucial project phases.  However, much will be useful to you during the entire project development process.

As Each New Territorial Knowledge Base Comes On Line, I Will Publish a Bulletin Announcement, like this one.

---

3.  Remember -- Everything is Preliminary 

I MUST INTRODUCE NEW SYSTEMS AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE!  I have to test and refine things as I go -- otherwise I may not be granted enough of fate's time to finish what I have set out to do for this world.

I know you understand that this is all "a work in progress."  Things will be modified and refined, right before your eyes.  But, I assure you -- within the master plan I am following -- this is a milestone of major significance.

I hope you like it.  And, if you don't -- well, just give me some time -- and I'll bring you around, too. Thanks to The Internet Revolution, we humans can do some extraordinary things -- and I think this is going to prove to be one of them.

---

AND SINCERE BEST WISHES FOR 

A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

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.

THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES? A Confident, Tentative Forecast

Posted:  3 Oct 14

It's often amusing to gaze back into the far past to see what futurists had predicted for the present times -- and how far off they were.  But, such is often the way when one tries to guess, based on less than perfect information and understanding -- about such an astounding, dynamic state of existence as ours is proving to be.

Still, it makes great sense to try to see as far-distant as our faculties and present perspectives allow. It's more than just idle curiosity, but that is a factor. But, trying to imagine life beyond our own life-spans can help us make the most of the time we've been allotted.  To answer the nagging questions, "what's the point of it all?" and "where is this all leading?" and "why should I believe I matter?"

From what I think I've been learning over near and distant time, I believe the following guesses are not unreasonable.  Time will tell.  Meanwhile I have need to venture them forward. For, I expect to use them, rely on them, until a clearer perspective can be attained. All is in the hands of time.

A FUTURE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE 

-- BUT PROBABLY WON'T, IN MY TIME.

BUT EVENTUALLY, APPROXIMATELY 

-- THIS SHALL MATERIALIZE, I'M SURE 

-- AS FATE PERMITS AND ENABLES.  

(I can't see it going any other way, unless fate strikes some terrible blow.)

1.  HEALTHY life-spans will double -- REPEATEDLY -- personal and collective wisdom will continue to grow -- social systems will continue to mature -- but living such prolonged existences, without becoming bored, will become a serious (but solvable) challenge.  Fortunately, growth in wisdom is likely to keep pace among our maturing selves.

2.  Overpopulation of the universe is a far, far distant threat -- of no practical concern to the human species -- presuming that human existence could even endure to explore, develop, and exploit the sheer vastness of it all. The universe holds the answer to our over-population and resource-scarcity concerns -- everywhere -- under wise stewardship of ever-advancing humanity.

3.  The world will become completely multi-lingual (all languages will eventually merge into one universal -- probably a form of English -- (solving a great many problems)) -- an INEVITABILITY as The Internet fully permeates and changes the entire species -- and creates better and better opportunities and greater need for constructive global interactions -- and as ease and freedom of travel continue to mature and reduce the divisive human "time and distance" problem.  Excuses and causes for disagreement will diminish.

4.  Government forms found to be inferior to democracy will disappear (evolve out of existence) -- as unsustainable -- within any universally enlightened, complex, rational life-form.  The nations will continue to mature and unite more and more tightly and harmoniously.  Democracy will continue to evolve, driven by the self-perfecting impulses -- and ever-increasing understanding as to the ways of reality -- and as the absurdities of error are all systematically detected and settled.

5.  Space travel and colonization will increase the life-options and opportunities for all -- as scarcity of resources continue to lessen -- fed from beyond terrestrial bounds -- as we figure out how to make our reach for the stars a practical reality -- and the ability to detect and preserve that which is invaluable develops without conceivable limit (except as posed by the laws of nature and the moods of fate).

6.  All social ills will be cured by the concentration of human power being achieved -- enabled (even forced) by "The Internet Revolution" and -- the growing size and quality of the human knowledge base that can be brought to bear in any given case.  Everything driven relentlessly forward by the human rational impulse toward the good.

7.  All religious contradictions will be settled as the human species matures to its next levels.

8.  Human well-being and betterment will become universally embraced as all the objective morality we ever need -- and will over-arch virtually all individual natures and behaviors -- in all rational (i.e. not insane) and increasingly enlightened minds.

9.  The ever-deepening common spirit of human well-being and betterment will overcome all serious, divisive differences -- as mutual understanding, trust, and confidence deepen -- species-wide -- and as ignorance of our best natures and possibilities continues to diminish.

10.  The world will become its best, as human existence becomes optimized -- and all the good that can be humanly done, will be.

Thus spake my crystal ball this morning.  And, with such presumed clarity (for now) -- duty becomes clearer.

We are privileged to belong to such a remarkable species!

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.

---

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.

---

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.  

---

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.

---

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.

DON'T FORGET PRECAUTIONARY COMPUTER ROUTINES

Posted:


IN A NUTSHELL

1.  This is just a friendly reminder, since the original bulletins are  "submerged" from view -- and some friends may not have yet chanced upon them.  This link explains all (please click here).

2.  The time is fast-approaching (if I can help it) where such information will have a permanent home in a place where you're sure to be reminded when it is most needed.

3.  The whole goal is to help us humans stop ourselves from "reinventing wheels" so unnecessarily, wastefully, and often.   Stepping into life's very same potholes (or missing the very same good chances) which earlier victims (and beneficiaries) might have made known and useful to us, had they only been able to -- in good time.

4.  We've got far better things to do than trying to remember -- usually in random fashion and at random success-rates -- all those wise, practical, and inspiring things which ought to be built right into the automatic portion of our "life-control panels."

5.  And, it is certainly unhelpful to suffer the added risk of overlooking or even not knowing to look -- where the answers lie ready and waiting to meet the questions we probably should be asking.


6.  Here's to human betterment and to everything we can possibly contribute to advance it.

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.

STRATEGIC AGENDA FOR "THE MENTOR ENTERPRISES / ELMS"

Posted:  20 Aug 14

MENTOR SYSTEM-MODULES 

COMING SOON!

---

BUT FIRST, TO GET US ALL TO THE SAME DOOR,

LOOKING THROUGH THE SAME KEYHOLE

WHAT

The Mentor Enterprises / ELMS is the working title for the collection of major endeavors I am resolved to undertake within and with this life.  It is also the name of a corporation being formed to develop and perpetuate the "Mentor/ELMS Concept."  ELMS stands for "Entire Lifetime Management Systems" and that is the exact function I am determined to put to the test.

A "mentor" may be defined as a wise, trusted counselor -- an adviser of great importance.  I believe that the common wisdom -- "the great human knowledge base" -- (the parts written and the parts yet-to-be written) -- can be better harnessed -- to free the species -- to realize, fulfill, and transcend its greatest potential -- within a thorough system -- of mutual, "self-mentoring" measures -- which rationally -- recognizes, develops, taps, and applies -- our fullest human genius  -- and I mean to prove -- that this challenge -- not only can -- but should be -- tackled and wrestled to the ground -- with all due dispatch.

In other words, we are our own best mentors in this particular life --
and every rational being has much more to contribute and gain

if and only if we can share and exchange our wisdom readily.
In this area of life, we humans have a lot of room for improvement.  
URGENT IMPROVEMENT.

---

WHY

Presently, the corporation is forming to establish, test, and perfect two public-service enterprises which I believe will sufficiently address a serious "market niche" -- which our society and, indeed, ALL OF HUMANKIND -- need to have served.  I will discuss that market niche/social challenge, separately.  But work here -- works toward the ultimate aim of -- optimizing -- human well-being and betterment -- to suit our general and particular cases.

---

HOW

The Strategic Concept is to divide the perceived "totality of human existence" into two major, interdependent aspects: (1)  One's Private Existence (self, family, household, friendship circles) and (2) One's Civic Existence -- the public side of life (neighborhood, city, county, economic area, state, time-zone, nation, civilization, the human species, the planet, beyond).  Each aspect is a focus of a corporate enterprise (The Private Mentor and The Civic Mentor Enterprises) -- with the aim of bettering the life-experiences, BOTH for every individual human being AND for the entire species, as a complete whole.

---

WHEN

Here, then, is my strategic agenda, as things presently stand.  I believe I've just about overcome my most serious problems -- in formulating and designing -- the organizing-framework -- to control the corporation, The Mentor Concept, system development, and system-delivery operations -- all together as one simplified thing.

---

MENTOR SYSTEM-MODULES 

COMING SOON!

These system-modules are to be 

• complete, self-contained management systems --
• based on The Internet (as an online "electronic replica" of our universe) --
• to help any fellow human who desires to participate -- 
• to methodically manage each major element -- 
• comprising and determining the TOTALITY 
• of their individual and collective existences -- 
• more systematically than ever possible before --
• to the extent that these can be managed at all -- 
• and tailored to suit their unique and common circumstances -- 
• all from one convenient, free, comprehensive, integrated -- 
• network of management-systems -- 
• which is ALSO designed to enable all participants -- 
• to cooperate and coordinate together -- more and more easily --
• whenever circumstances warrant or are anticipated
• in calling for greater power
• ALWAYS FOR THE GREATER INDIVIDUAL AND COMMON GOOD

Here is the present work sequence being followed.

---

STRATEGIC AGENDA

---

PRIORITY ONE

Civic Mentor / City-Element / for Pittsburg, CA
Civic Mentor / Neighborhood Element / Neighborhood Management Systems and Alliances
Civic Mentor / National Element / National Information Super-system

---

PRIORITY TWO

Civic Mentor / County Element / Contra Costa County, CA
Civic Mentor / Areal Element / San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA)
Civic Mentor / State Element / California
Civic Mentor / Time-Zone Element / Pacific

---

PRIORITY THREE

Private Mentor / Individual Element
Private Mentor / Family Element
Private Mentor / Household Element

---

PRIORITY FOUR

Formalize Corporation "The Mentor Enterprises /  ELMS" (circa 2016)
Broaden the product and service lines to address specific identifiable organized entities, nation-wide.

---

PRIORITY FIVE

Civic Mentor / International Element
Civic Mentor / Global Element
Civic Mentor / Extraterrestrial Element
Civic Mentor / Galactic Element
Civic Mentor / Universal Element

---

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.