Sometime this morning; most likely in the early hours, a blogging addict broke loose from being chained to his computer, where he's been cranking out a blog each and every day for over a month. He's escaped and no one knows where he is. Please be on the look out for him. He has been known to assume various identities and may be difficult to track down. For example: he's been called the Volunteer Cybernaut, Mr. William H. Pepper, and Hammerhead. Over the past several days, there have been "sightings" that have placed him at the -

• Cypress Hill Cemetery - checking out tombstones and searching for The Petalumans of Yesteryear grave sites.
• Argus-Courier - raising questions about the statistics related to blogs and how they are calculated.
• Fire Dept. Headquarters - meeting with the Chief about the volunteer efforts connected with CERT, NERT, and ALERT.
• City Hall - keeping in touch with the "Technology & Telecommunications" committee.
• Apple Box - testing his wireless lap top to see if it can pick up a Wi-Fi signal around the Turning Basin.
• Senior Center - carrying computers in and out of the building and trying to get one of the "gizmos" to connect with the Internet.
• McNear Building - meeting with the new "Green Building" Stakeholders.
• Historical Museum & Library - looking at the pictorial display about Rex Hardware store and the recent fire.

There are rumors that he might be "holed up in a garage." He isn't "dangerous," just "strange." Don't get him talking. He's been known for giving 50-minute lectures at the drop of a hat. Once he gets started, he's difficult to turn off.

There is no need to phone the police, if found. Instead, try "animal control." They know how to handle these types of bloggers, who are on the loose. Enjoy his break from blogging daily; but stay tuned for updates.

It didn't take my "Eagle Eyes" long to see this headline on the front page of Saturday's S.F. Chronicle - "Save(d) Mono Lake." It was a great article (over a full page of text, plus five photographs) that told the story about how a group of college students banded together, three decades ago, to conduct a research project that would save a dying lake. Many of the dozen members of the group that came together to "save" Mono Lake in 1976, have not seen each other since then. Several are professors, scientists, inventors, physicians, and teachers. Back - then - they camped out at Mono Lake over a two-month period, gathering data for the lake's first ecological study. This month - now - they came together for a reunion to celebrate the restoration of Mono Lake to its former healthy condition.

Chronicle Environment Writer, Jane Kay, describes the circumstances that initiated the study, at the end of the article. Here was a group of interested and concerned students; who - although "pretty green" - at what they were doing, pooled their talents and embarked on a mission that one member would recall as "one of those moments from which you can trace in your life." The details of the article are worth reading.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/29/MNGD5K7V581.DTL

It was one of those "collaboratory" type projects that "did good for the greatest number," even though it took decades to see the results. Bottom line: It was worth it!

Twenty-first Century causes, process-wise, are not that much different than 20^th Century endeavors (except, of course, for the newer technology). When we can come together around issues that generate a passionate response, it also creates a "sense of community" that lasts a lifetime. Don't give up! It's worth it!

"Clean out the garage!" This is an advanced notice to my regular readers that I plan to embark on a new adventure next week (August 1^st.) It's a chore that I've been putting off for some time; in fact, ever since we moved to Petaluma, over 13 years ago. Consequently, my daily posts will cease until this new journey has been completed. (Maybe there will be progress reports from time to time.) "Why this sudden decision, now? Is it due to the recent "hot spell?"

It wasn't a sudden decision. For the past week or so, my "significant other" has been gradually cleaning out her closets and sewing room. The "pile" slowly grew and it took a pickup truck to move it. Although nothing has been said to me, directly, I have a feeling that I might be next - if I don't get my act together and do likewise. Get the message?

My garage is a special place for me. Just this morning, I wondered what the letters G-A-R-A-G-E stood for and this is what flashed across my mind - "Great Archieve (of) Rememberances And Grand Experiences." So, as of Monday, July 31^st, I will post my last blog until - who knows? In the meantime, I will complete this month with a blog per day. I've been watching the stat reports that track the number of daily readers and they range from a few hundred (July 1) to a few thousand (July 24) and then, back down to less than a hundred on July 25. As of today, they're back to a few hundred. (Talk about a roller coaster ride!)

Even though I'll be busy cleaning "up and out," that doesn't mean that you cannot go back through these blogs and read some of the earlier ones that you may have missed. They are available 24/7, and by Monday they will number 130. When you have nothing better to do, just sit back, turn on your computer, and take that blogger's roller coaster ride that will amuse you as you go up & down and twist & turn, through a dozen different themes or topics.

Better yet, post a comment or two of your own. Share your reactions and thoughts. Then, when I return, I'll have some more material to write about. OK? Stay cool! Stay calm! Stay healthy! Stay tuned!

A fellow blogger and "community networking" friend from back east, Phil Shapiro sent an e-mail message in which he said, "sometimes you need to intersect the future before the future intersects you."   For some reason, my tuning fork began to shake and hum. The more I thought about it, the more I said to myself (old people talk to themselves) - "Phil, you've hit the nail on the head." 

What is a futurist?   One dictionary states: Someone who is interested in depicting life in some future time. (For example: something's design or technology.)   Ok, whatever you say; however, I prefer to look forward to the future along the lines of the quote - what might we do, now, that will prepare us for future situations that we think are in the works. It doesn't mean that these "something's" will happen, but logic indicates that they might, and that we can do something, today, to intersect these future trends.

Two other words pop up on the radar screen when I try to look forward. One is self-determination: the ability or right to make your own decisions without interference from others. Quite often I have heard that this group's or that group's prediction was way off the mark; but that this one voice over here was right on target. The other word is empowerment: to give somebody a sense of confidence or self-esteem. In other words, futurists are individuals, who not only think for themselves, but have the assurance that their thoughts and ideas are in sync with what the future might hold.

One down to earth example - regarding emergency preparedness on the local level. We have been told repeated, as well as having experienced it recently, that government agencies and community-benefit organizations can't do it all by themselves. In times of extreme disasters and emergencies, they need the assistance of volunteers. Doesn't it make senses, then, to plan ahead and design programs that are capable of mobilizing and organizing volunteers on the local level?

Well, what have some volunteer citizens done, right here, in "river city?" They created a Neighborhood Emergency Response Team training program, that hopefully will never be needed; however, just in case - we'll be ready. I know there are many other areas of futuristic concern: energy, water, pollution, health care, you name it. All it takes is one "spark plug" to get the ball rolling and to spread the word. In due time, others step up to the plate and contribute what talents they have to the cause. Eventually, a plan of action related to the "expected" future condition is ready and waiting for the "intersection." This certainly beats coming together after the intersection arrives and asking, "Now what?"

Now that I think about it, maybe I should take some time off in order to reflect more on the future and where best to invest my volunteer time, effort, and energy.   If I don't come up with some new ideas soon, "you know who" will mention our garage. Not what it has been for the past 13 years, but what it could be in the future. (Now that really is "food for thought!) Stay tuned.

Our City's "Technology & Telecommunications Advisory Committee" held its regular monthly meeting, last night. Except for two former committee members whose terms had expired, no other members of the public were present. Although I'm no longer an "official" member, I couldn't help myself. I had to drop by just to "keep in touch" with what' going on ICT-wise in Petaluma. I know I could have waited until the meeting would be posted on the City's web site and available 24/7 via Granicus http://petaluma.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=8

However, there isn't any substitute for "seeing and hearing" the proceedings, live.

Actually, my main reason for attending was to listen to the "Solarize" presentation by Luigi Resta and colleagues. It was very informative and gave a good overview about how municipal governments are using solar power as an alternative source of energy. Please take the time to view it.

As many local readers know, the Petaluma CyberCity Roundtable was instrumental in proposing the idea for such a citizens' committee to the City Council in 2005.When the call for membership applications was announced, the City Clerk received responses from many interested Petalumans. In fact, the committee ended up with two more members than needed. At the first meeting, I volunteered to serve a one year slot. Even though I could have applied, again, I chose not to do so. Why? Some people have asked; especially since I was so "Gung Ho" to get it established.

I'm still very enthusiastic about the role of this committee and the impact it can have upon serving the "public good." Personally, my original goal of getting the committee "off the ground"has been accomplished. Now, it is time to devote more time to other areas of interest like the recently initiated NERT project (Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams), the Petalumans of Yesteryears, and the City's "Green Building" Program. It was just a coincidence, but the meeting I just returned from this morning was an orientation meeting for the "Stakeholders Advisory Team" for the City of Petaluma Green Building Program. "This program is designed to encourage adoption of local building practices that result in buildings that are more resource efficient, healthier to live and work in, cost less to maintain, and generally have better resale value than conventional buildings." You'll be hearing more about this programs in the coming months.

Petaluma continues to be a great place to live, work, play and learn. There are still many challenges facing our community. There will be plenty of "Do Good" topics to blog about in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Yesterday was spent at the Petaluma Senior Center for two ICT-related meetings. In the morning, it was the Petaluma CyberCity Roundtable, and in the afternoon, the monthly get-together of the Senior Computer SIG (Special Interest Group). There was a call for "Help" from one of the SIG members, so another hour was spent working on his home computer. He's a "smart" person and was one of my students in the first "computer literacy" course taught at the Petaluma Family Computer Education Center several years ago. For some reason, he wasn't able to connect to the Internet. I don't remember exactly how we solved the problem, but we did - working together.

Together - that's a word I wish to focus on today. If you check your dictionary, you might find this definition: an adverb indicating that people are with one another, or that something is done with anther person or other people. Then, there are ten additional sub-definitions listed, such as: collectively\, by joint effort, and integrated coherent structure. That's getting a little more complicated than I thought.

Bottom line: about a half-dozen people, representing various non-profit community-benefit programs "came together" to meet in order to discuss potential Information and Community Technology-related projects that could be initiated "collaboratively." Here's another word I like, too: collaborate. What does it mean? To work together with another person or group in order to achieve something. Bingo! That's simple enough. It's stated in plain English and "hits the nail on the head." (It sounds like another Hammerhead blog might be in the works.) In any event, stay tuned for what the PCCR might do - collaboratively - with projects related to emergency communication systems, Wi-Fi education, and electronic Neighborhood Conference Boards or networks.

At the afternoon Senior SIG, over 20 participants "gathered together" for a presentation about Skype. No, you won't find that word in the dictionary, but you will find it in the current NorthBay biz Journal (August 2006), as the subject of Michael Duffy's "Tech Talk" column. For those readers who travel in Cyberspace and use Our Information Highway to communicate with others - anywhere in the world - Michael's article is filled with valuable information about Skype. For example:

• Skype turns your computer into a phone.

• If you add a microphone, speakers, and a Web camera, you can have picture phone conversations - for free.

There is more detailed information in the article about how to get started and how to enhance your setup. Check out http://www.skype.com

P.S. The Petaluma Senior Computer SIG is a great place to keep up to date on what's happening in Our Cyberplace. It meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at the Senior Center, 211 Novak Drive. Please contact this blogger if you wish to have your name and e-mail address added to the list of participants. I'm sure that Bill Soberanes would approve because it's a great place to mingle and to meet people.

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