Evolution of Revolution

mikemjensen Useless Observations Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

Evolution.

It’s a real thing. And without discussing monkey to man, there are examples in nature where species have obviously evolved for survival.

A Sting Ray- A shark that decided that hanging out on the bottom was cooler.

A Sting Ray- A shark that decided that hanging out on the bottom was cooler.

A trip to the local aquarium revels animals in so many different varieties it dizzies the mind. Obviously, there is no one design of aquatic animal but instead many with specific designs. These animals have learned to survive deep depths, limited food sources, great temperature ranges, and whatever other variable you can think of.

We watched a film on the Galapagos Islands. Again, animals were introduced and the ones that survived were the ones that evolved and learn how to feed.

We attended a street fair yesterday. The majority of the vendors seemed to be ordinary people who had turned interest into opportunity. They spent long hours under their sunshades, talking, showing, and selling their wares. My guess is that most have a “day job”. These people, however, spent their Saturday to follow their passions in order to move ahead, gain some extra income, and possibly live a better life. Some are already doing it.

Am I witnessing an evolution?

I know many are unhappy with the plight of the middle class. Some with the treatment of employees by corporations and employers. Some by the difficulty to earn a “living wage” at jobs that they have trained for, dreamed for, and spent a lot of tuition money learning about.

As the industrial revolution era ends and a new revolution begins. I believe those who evolve and figure out where the new feeding grounds have located will be those who succeed. Those who continue to adhere to the rules of yesteryear, might find the future to be a big deep ocean.

 

Day 146

Art History

mikemjensen Vanity Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

One of the best things about summer is the street fairs. We attended one today.

Magna, Utah allowed its main street through downtown to be shut down for an annual “Halloween in Summer”. The venders mostly had spooky, magical and otherwise weird themes. It was fun to see people dressed up and walking the streets just to be looked at. There was, of course, food, novelty items, music, and people there to be entertained. And it appeared they were.10580000_917875321606590_20821147509365761_n

For us, we became art. Thanks to an artist willing to draw stick characters for a small fee.

My sweetie and I put our money down and added just a few minutes of held poses.

Now we can relive the day for as long as the paper continues to hold together.

 

Day 145

I’ve Only Done Windows

mikemjensen Useless Observations Tags: , , 5 Comments

Hey Kids,

I’m not one of the early pioneers. I started out in the computer world using Windows 95. I played a little in DOS but I can do nothing beyond what I have been explicitly told to do.

My first personal machine was a Windows 98 computer, from right around that same year. It was hot. Pentium II 266 processor. 64MB (yes MB) of RAM. It seemed like over kill then. And a 4 GB hard drive. It was as much as I could afford, saving money by putting it together with a lot of help from a friend who know what he was doing.

Today I spent a little time reminiscing about the old days of computing. I came in mid-stream of the computer revolution but it was still exciting times.IMG_20150717_202434_168

I hadn’t spoke of these things for a very long time and Windows 95 was forever ago.

Yet walking through a second hand store, in the book section I found the ultimate throwback to those times: Windows 95 for Dummies.

I confess, I could’ve used this book.

When did you enter the computer world?

 

Day 144

Saved 10 Minutes

mikemjensen Motorcycles Tags: Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

So I found myself in the left turn lane and I didn’t mean to.lane-assignment-sign-left-lane-left-turn-right-lane-straight1

The construction barrels and zigzaggy lanes had me confused and next thing I knew, a car pulled up to the right side of me (Commonwealth people that would be your left). It is at that moment I realized I had strayed from my needs.

It was just the next street that I actually needed to make the left and this block, in the downtown area of Salt Lake, was going to take a good extra 10 minutes to make it back around.

10 minutes! I can’t be wasting that much of my life.

I eyed the situation. One car across from me making the opposite left. And no cars going straight. Distractions minimized.

The light turned green and I pulled out to the middle of the intersection; the car that had been next to me was slow off the line (on the phone).

I punched the bike and zoomed (safely) in front of the car and continued straight to the next side street and quickly made the left that I needed. Another 10 minutes rescued from the waste pile.

I love riding a bike!

 

Day 143

Staying off the Shelf

mikemjensen Writing Tags: , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

There was a time I thought it would pretty cool to see my books on sale on the shelves of Barnes and Noble. It was a small time but I’m coming clean, it’s how I started out thinking as the measure of success.twins

I still get asked where my books are available. “Um, Amazon.”

“But not in a real store?”

“If you don’t consider Amazon, the biggest book retailer, a real store; I guess so.”

I know there was a time that books were only sold in stores. But then again so were lots of things. I, like millions others, found the Internet and have moved past all that.

As I have learned since, wishing my books in a big box book store is like wishing I had a first class deck chair on the Titanic. Or like sitting in the pilot’s chair on the Zeppelin. Or having a low numbered boarding pass for a Southwest Airlines flight.

I’ve enjoyed not playing within the publishing world. I think I’m just fine without the rejection letters, the humiliating twitter comments from agents reviewing their slush piles, or publishers taking my work and changing it to how they believed to be more marketable.

I made a conscious choice to self-publish.

Why?

I do everything else myself. I fix my own vehicles. I tie my own flies. And I write my own books.

Are they perfect?

Of course not.

But every aspect of the job is up to me. I own my books. I choose the story, the cover, the formatting. Everything. I decide what they are worth.

And if B&N ever did want my book AND I agreed to let them; I would make like 2¢ a book. I have respect for my work and the thrill of seeing my book on their shelves, just doesn’t feel worth it. And don’t even get me started with the return policy.

No, I’ll stick with my control, my meager sales, and my own destiny.

By myself and online.

 

Day 142

To Pluto and Back With a Few Stops.

mikemjensen Useless Observations, Writing Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

Hey Kids,

pluto-july-13-2015

Pluto July 13th 2015.

We reached Pluto today. We, as in our little probe droid we hurled out to space in 2006. We now await pictures of all kid’s favorite planet, next to Uranus. And yeah, I said it. Planet. I’m with Captain Picard. No matter what you say to me, there are 9 planets and 4 lights. Resistance is not fu-tile.

I’m watching a thunderstorm roll in with its lightning and all. One of the best things about the hot summer nights. I hope it’s a big one. The other day we got .99” of rain. More than our average rainfall for the entire month of July. We normally get about 14” of rain in a year so 1” in a night= big deal. Hence the blog mention.

Came home to a notice from the power company. They want some money or no more power. They’re so demanding. I quote King Theoden from The Lord of the Rings. “How did it ever come down to this?” I guess I’ll pay them tomorrow. Something anyway.

Snap Chat is pretty fun. My “handle”, User name” or whatever is writerfish. Look me up. I’m spending all my time talking to myself right now. I need some friends.

Apparently tonight is random thought night.

I’ve been playing and learning video editing lately. I feel so Hollywood. I wish I was good at it, but I’m good enough to get a crappy job done. Hope I never lose my day job. But then again, I would love to lose my day job, but only for more money elsewhere.

Enough rambling tonight. I think I need to get back to work. I need to finish this book I’m working on; its taking way too much time. Maybe my grandkids can finish it for me. I have another Christmas book that needs to get finished too, and hopefully before Valentine’s Day.

Have a great night and thanks for sitting up with me.

 

Day 141

Think. Then Help

mikemjensen Sunday Thoughts Tags: , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I attended a fantastic church service today. It’s amazing when inspiration for thought is produced.

1) When God’s Law and Man’s law are in conflict, one must choose for himself how to follow. It’s not as clear cut as one might think. The speaker explained how each individual must decide, case by case. Does the law of the land really put you against God’s law? Are you compelled to actually break God’s Law. Man is an agent for himself. Choose wisely, prayerfully, and be mindful of all of the subjects of the law, not just how it pertains to you.

2) Reading scriptures is not enough. One must do what they teach to actually understand them. Underlying need is to serve others. Don’t worry so much what you must teach them, but instead ask what you can do to help them, to make their life, their burden, easier.fruit

These two talks and subjects have been on my mind all day and I believe they extend past Sunday lessons.

1) Do what is right despite what others may say is right and wrong. Hold yourself accountable.

2) Quit worrying so much about what you have and a little bit more what others need.

Maybe it pays to go to church every once in awhile.

Maybe.

And once in a while.

 

Day 139

Dreams?

mikemjensen Vanity Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I attended a car show recently. On my walk through the collection of rare, immaculate, or extraordinary vehicles, I crossed a Lamborghini.

I’m not a connoisseur of exotic cars but I do admire fine engineering and flashy paint. I understand that the cost of these cars easily out value the houses that I can’t afford either.

I don’t pass judgment on people spending that much money on something as inutile as a sports car. I would do it if it was my lot to do so. I’ll admit it.

On this one particular Lamborghini, the license plate is what I found interesting.

“Dream Big”. 1024914935132166918_2020125741

I get it.

Dream big for me does not mean dreams of a car. My dream is to be debt free, a house suitable to what I need, in a place I want to live, and surrounded by people I love.

Some may say this is not dreaming big but it’s huge to me.

On my voyage through life, however, I hope plenty of wheeled blessings are included too.

 

Day 137