Reading and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#10)

Reading and Driving!

Smoking Cigars and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#9)

Smoking and Driving!

One hand on the match and one hand gripping the stoggie! Who has the wheel?

I don't smoke, but this guy was driving along, opened his jacket and pulled out a cigar. After he opened it, he smelled it(savored the moment), cut it, tasted it, and then lit it. I think this gentleman experienced a glimpse of utopia.

Albuquerque: Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Festival

Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Festival

Aki Matsuri celebrates the Japanese culture and features Japanese/Okinawan dancing, arts and crafts, food, cultural displays, martial arts, and taiko drumming. Parking and entertainment free!

Cost:$1.00 fundraising for proposed Japanese Cultural Center

General Information & Fees:Sunday, October 1, 2006 from 10:30AM to 4:30PM

Location & Directions:
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on the southwest corner of Indian School Road and 12th Street north of I-40

505 294-6993

New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League
New Mexico JACL 5010 Lomas Boulevard NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111

Eating a Banana and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#8)

Two hands on the banana and two eyes on the peel? Who is watching the road? Who has the wheel?

Hint: Eat banana at home or wait until you get to your ultimate destination. Not that ultimate destination, the place you go. Not that final place! The place you will spend your day.

Obstacles to eating a banana and driving: Children playing, elderly crossing the road, dogs, rabbits, squirrels, other drivers, tire blow-outs, chug holes, choking on the banana and so much more.

Drinking Coffee and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#7)

Classic distraction number seven! Coffee Drinking.

Everyone has observed coffee drinking and driving. Place your hand in the coffee holding position and take an air sip. Notice/imagine the blocked view. Seconds count when you are in a moving projectile, I mean vehicle.

Think about it! Where is the next million dollar law suit going to take place? I mean accident going to occur.

Accidents happen - they are usually not planned.

Drinking and Driving Don't Mix!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#6)

Drinking and Driving Don't Mix!

The Grim Reaper needs no help, so don't bring him early for you or anyone else.

Hint: Designated Driver!

Volunteer at the next DWI Check point with Mother's Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and you will see first hand how pathetic drunk drivers can be.

Don't let this happen to you or anyone you know...

Enough said.

Popping Zits and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#5)

There is a time and a place for everything, but driving is not the time to pick or pop a ZIT.

As I headed out on the highway, I looked over at this guy and he had both hands off the steering wheel with strategically placed fingers on his nose, squeezing a huge white-head pimple.

I thought, "Dude, the puss is going to block your view."

Disgusting and pathetic!

Hint: Use the mirror in the bathroom! Please release the beast before you leave the house, but clean up the mess. Slow Down!

Question: Why is everyone rushing to their own funeral?

The worst part of the story is, I lost my place in the book I was reading on the way to work, I had to find a stable place to set my coffee cup on, so it didn't spill any java, while I dialed my cell phone to call someone and have a good laugh about the zit popper. In addition, I had to find something to write with and write on to docucment this nasty story for the world. Of course after thinking about it I lost my breakfast, so I continued to drive my car with the door open and with my head sticking out of the car. Have you seen the Exorcist? The projectiles were much worse in the film. Get the point?

Where is the next accident going to occur?

Please Note: Most people are incapable of multi-tasking!

I noticed a YIELD sign was plowed over by the mall. It looked as though it had a smeared white-head on it. Hope everyone is okay!

Price of hitting a YIELD sign? $500.00 to replace. Car body repair guys working at $75.00 per hour, $500.00 plus for the plastic bumper, $300-$500.00 for matching paint + time and so forth.

Price of some zit prevention cream? $8.00

Do the math!

Watching a DVD and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#4)

I wonder why vehicle manufacturing companies don't install front entertainment systems?

On a recent road trip from Possum kingdom Texas to Albuquerque, New Mexico (Hwy 40), my family and I were witness to a young college age, male driver, flying by us in a car doing about 90 miles an hour.

The flying by at 90 mph is not unusual, but the self installed front entertainment system was. This yahoo was multi-tasking while driving.

There is a reason the Department of Transportation will not allow vehicle manufactures to install electronic visual equipment in the front of a vehicle!

Hint: Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Questionable: As we came upon Moriarty, New Mexico there was a multi-car wreck and it looked like this individuals vehicle was involved. How do you explain it when someone else dies or is injured because you were watching Gilligan's Island when you should have been driving?

Do the right thing! Take a bus or plane if you want to watch videos while you travel on the road!

2006 Albuquerque Grecian Festival (Oct 6-8)

Neat Cultural Event to Attend! Albuquerque's Grecian Festval October 6,7, & 8. Fabulous Food, Pastries, Dancers & LIve Music!

To see the 2008 information click here

To see the 2008 schedule of events click here

Justice or Injustice; That is the Question! What is the Answer?

Drivers that see only green, won't be upset when they see the same green color leave their wallets.

I used to believe that traffic cameras were a form of injustice; however, over the past few weeks I have been paying particular attention to vehicles running red lights in New Mexico.

Do you realize that at least two vehicles per light are running the red? Okay, occasionally no one comes through the red, usually this occurs when there is no one in the lane. We might as well change all the bulbs to green, as so many drivers simply ignore the changing lights. Think of the cost saving opportunity. We randomly snap photographs to share the burden of fines as a community.

Interestingly enough, I now find myself a little disappointed when no one runs the red. Personally, I have adopted the two-to-three second wait before accelerating out into an intersection as a rule.

What a great tax income for the State. Everyone doing their part.

Here is a quote from Swindon, England!

"People moan about all the speed cameras going up all over the place and how they are just there to make money; I say put more up, and everywhere. If you want to speed and break the law then too bad if you get caught. DonÂ’t moan about the supposed injustice, pay the fine and take the points. Hopefully you will get 12 before long and end up banned. Maybe that will teach you." (Martin Hills Blog)

Cure: More speeding cameras and red light cameras please! If personal accountability fails, big brother must wail.

Any thoughts?

Using a Cell Phone and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#3)

In-Vehicle Cell Phone Use: Is it a Fatal Distraction?

A good friend of mine, called me to inform me he had just witnessed this exact act with an ironic twist. Yes! Cell phone use is a fatal distraction.

Here is the story. A lady has her cell phone tucked in the crook of her neck holding the phone to her ear with her left shoulder. As the lady begins her left hand turn through the intersection, her phone slips. The lady immediately leans into the slip and inadvertently turns the steering wheel left as she tries to over compensate for the slippage of her phone at the same time. The direct result of her action amounted in plowing over the stationary traffic light pole in the medium. The lady drove over the traffic light pole without terminating the call and/or stopping. It appeared as though she had no knowledge of hitting the traffic light or running over it like a dirt bike over whooptie-do's or a skier over black diamond moguls.

Fortunately and even ironically, the vehicle behind her was a police patrol car. After chasing the lady down with lights and sirens, the lady finally hangs up and pulls over.

Profiles in Driver Distraction: Effects of Cell Phone Conversations on Younger and Older Drivers. by David L. Strayer , Frank A. Drews

Why does Cell Phone Use Interfere with Driving?

Hint: The bumper sticker reads, "Hang-up and Drive!"

Keep asking your self, "Where is the next accident going to occur?"

California has a new law coming!

Picking Nose and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#2)

Do you pick your nose while you drive? Warning: In Swindon, England there is a Magic Round-About. An Englishman was enjoying a good pick heading into the first of five round-abouts when he was hit from behind. The force of the blow thrust his finger so far into his nose that he passed out.

His finger was stuck up in his nose to the third knuckle, as the ambulance drove away.

When the Englishman awoke he found himself in the Princess Margaret Hospital with no clue how he had arrived there. The patient only knew his nose was a bit sensitive.

Remember, there is a time to pick and grin and it is not while driving. Be discreet.

Keep asking your self, "Where is the next accident going to occur?"

Applying Make-up and Driving!

What Were You Doing When You Should Have Been Driving? (#1)

Do you apply your make-up while you drive?
Warning: Every morning , I pass not one, but dozens of women applying make-up as they commute into work.

Hint: Get up a few minutes earlier.

Where is the next accident going to occur?

Working with the Middle East

Working with the Middle East: Join Marilyn Stanton and Charis Corp as you walk through this Middle East Journey.

If you have a business relationship with people from the Middle East, or a genuine interest in other cultures, this course is intended to enrich your interactions. Learn how language, culture and religion set the backdrop to understanding the mindset, communication styles, and business relationships in the Middle East. We will discover eight countries over the course of two days.

The eight countries include Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

Working with the Middle East will be presented October 4 and 5, (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) Cost for the two day course is $900. Enrollment is limited to the first 18 people.

Please contact me for more information and/or enrollment instructions.

When: October 4 & 5, 2006

Time: 8:00 - 5:00

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Cost: $900.00

Enroll: Web Pay

For more information on what will be covered in the class, please email mmkline@gmail.com or see http://www.chariscorp.com

Pink Balloon Image Rising

Today, I release the pink balloon image trapped within my mind. What does it mean?

Love & Happiness.

I actually saw a pink balloon rising up into the air last Sunday. A smile immediately adorned my face as I thought of the wonderful women in my life and how much I love them.

To the Ladies in my life: My Wife, My Daughters, My Grand Mother, My Mother, My Sister, My Nieces, and all My Friends.

Thanks for loving me and putting up with all my human flaws. I love you! 

A Bali Story: Surf-o-Tech? Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!

Unfortunately, for me, I haven’t been back to Bali since 2004. Where does time go? On that last international surf trip, I decided to take a yellow 7’0 SurfTech, which was new technology and very controversial with surfers, and a sweet, white, 7’10 Sockeye thruster, surfboard. I didn’t want to be sitting neck deep in the waves (water) on my 6’4. At age 40, I disperse a little more water than I like to admit, although it definitely helps with buoyancy over a shallow reef. One advantage deserves a disadvantage. The buoyancy thing is both positive and negative. The issue which is not so positive is I resemble a huge walrus in the open sea for any sharks in the area to admire and desire. Tiger sharks are lovely.

Anyway, I arrive in Bali with my boards packed snugly in my FCS board bag to witness the Indonesian baggage belt block up. My boards happened to be the catalyst to the blockage. The Indo baggage guys begin to tweak my boards back and forth on the belt opening’s edges, leveraging the boards to move heavy hard case, tourist bags until the jam was cleared. My jaw had dropped to my chest as I think the worst. The worst had occurred, as I unpacked my boards, the Sockeye was dinged on both rails and punctured in places unbelievable, but the Surf Tech was unscathed.

My awesome Bali guide named Made, said, “No worries the boys can fix it quick for about $50.00 dollars. The Bali boys are fantastic and they can fix anything quick, including broken boards. At Ulawatu, I spied 1970’s, Lightning Bolt, single fins with young Balinese absolutely demolishing the clean wall of waves.

Okay, to the story. I am paddling out on my Surftech surfboard and these Japanese guys (with top of the line hand shaped boards), look over and start laughing at my board. I hear them speak loudly, “Surfotech? Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!” My Japanese surf brothers are making fun of my Surftech. This is not totally unusual as a lot of surfers can’t stand the computer manufacturing of blanks and new epoxy resin. Change is difficult for some, not me.

Note: Most traditional surfboards are hand shaped and glassed, but Surftech is a computer shaped blank with an epoxy fiberglass.

After an hour of being cut off and dropped in on by a Japanese gang of rude, control freak surfers, I got a little bit angry, which is not my normal disposition. I believe waves are to be shared and peace in the water. It appeared that I would need a new tactic to enable me to get a few waves, as these guys had no intention of sharing. I thought for a moment about their jesting and I remembered being sucked into a pier surfing a gulf coast hurricane swell while in Corpus Christi, Texas. Why is the Corpus story important? I hit the pier hard and incurred no damage to the integrity of the board. So what is the point? The point is I began to drop in on the waves, starring at my Japanese wave hogs and screaming “SurfoTech! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA.” One might say I went Kamikaze on my Japanese peers. The result or funny thing is I got my share of the waves – thanks to Surftech. One collision with my surf tech and those guys were out $700-$800 dollars. Surf with confidence, surf with Surftech. When the line-up is full of rabid dogs, bring out the Surftech. Heck, just bring out the Surftech.

Laughing is good for the soul so laugh while you can, then I break out the surf-o-tech! Ha-Ha-Ha! I drop in singing:

Michael had a Surf-o-Tech, Surf-o-Tech, Surf-o-Tech,

Michael had a Surf-o-tech, a surfing he would go!

And every where that Michael went, Michael went, Michael went,

And, every where that Michael went, the Surftech is sure to go!

We Remember

New Mexico remembers 9/11/2001 in a Luminaria tradition (year 5).

We will not forget...

Working with China: Class Offering in Albuquerque, New Mexico

On September 20, 2006 join instructor, David Wan, in an intercultural journey titled:
Working with China. In this class David will include his first-hand business examples to help illustrate the principles. If you have had experiences working with China or anticipate the need to in the future and want advice on how to approach something, this is the place to be!

Working with China is designed to help you learn relationship-building and communication strategies to improve your effectiveness with Chinese counterparts. In addition, one advantage to attending this class is that for up to 6 months afterward, you are entitled to 30 minutes of consultation time with either David or another expert.

When: Wed., September 20, 2006

Time: 8:00 - 5:00

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Cost: $450.00

Enroll: Web Pay

For more information on what will be covered in the class, please email mmkline@gmail.com or see http://www.chariscorp.com/wwchina.asp.

Synopsis:

Learn relationship-building and communication strategies to improve
your effectiveness with Chinese counterparts. Effective management
practices and business communication are covered for working face to
face or virtually with Chinese in meetings and negotiations. Avoid
offending them by understanding their cultural values, country
background, sources of pride and sensitivity, and appropriate business
entertainment etiquette. This course also provides excellent
preparation for business trips and hosting Chinese.

Goals:

Understand Chinese cultural values and the impact on management
and business practices; gain strategies and tactics to be successful in
your marketing, design, project, and operational goals in China. Build
skills in effective intercultural communication with Chinese.

It is Absolutely Disgusting. Save Yourself! Don't Read this...

I had a Coke back in 1979, but I still have the Smile Years Later!

Click here to watch the 1979, Coca-Cola commercial, which featured the defensive lineman "Mean" Joe Greene from the Pittsburgh Steelers (American football) a twelve-year-old boy named, Tommy Okon and his thirst quenching Coke.

In 1979, when this commercial first aired, I was living in Okinawa, Japan. I thought, “This commercial is awesome.” This awe of the Mean Joe Greene commercial was short lived once the Japanese version came out.

Most American’s love football players, but the Japanese love their Rikishi (or sumo wrestler). Sumo wrestlers are highly regarded members of society. Take a quick moment to think about the American commercial above and the wonderful sports memorabilia given to Tommy Okon, Mean Joe’s Jersey. Now think about the Sumo wrestler and the equally wonderful material, which they sport. Okay! In other words, there isn’t much material the Sumo wrestler could give to a kid. I think you are getting the jest.

The Japanese commercial went line-for-line with the American version. A young Japanese boy walks up to the Sumo wrestlers, addresses the Sumo in Japanese. The gruff Sumo, tired from his match, stops and replies, then he turns to walk away. The boy quickly offers the Sumo his Coca-Cola. The Sumo drinks the Coke in one flow. The boy sheds a tear, says good-bye and begins to walk away. Just then the Sumo wrestler yells “OI,” and tosses his Sumo mawashi (similar to a highly padded jock strap), which rings the kid’s head. The Japanese boy smiles and thanks the Sumo profusely.

Now imagine where that mawashi has been. Today’s Sumo wrestlers range in weight from 400 to 500 pounds. The Sumo wrestlers attempt to lift each other out of the ring by hoisting on the mawashi. With this point made, I think I prefer the American football jersey over the Japanese Sumo’s mawashi. Please feel free to comment below, even if you differ from my opinion.

I can not stop smiling when I envision this reenactment. If someone knows a link to this Japanese commercial, please send to me so I can link to it.

Who Let The Dogs Out: Do You Remember, Your First Dog?

We were living in Austin, Texas and I was probably four years old, when a neighbor came a knocking on our door. In the neighbor’s arms was a mutt of the Heinz 57 variety. The dog was super cute with floppy ears, sporting a multi-colored coat and a whimsical, hyperactive nature. “Would ya’ll like a dog? We have a litter of puppies and we just want to find them a good home,” the neighbor expressed.

My brother and I scream with enthusiasm, “Please Mommy, oh please!” We were young, but we were putting on the heat and a form of pure pressure on the situation, from the inside. Let’s call this stress tactic a salesperson’s dream and a mother’s nightmare. We were both holding on tightly to our Henry Dogs as we looked up at our mother with our full on “deer in the headlight eyes.”

Just then an amazing thing happened, the neighbor placed the puppy on the ground and it ran in circles all over the house. I believe the puppy left a few things in its path that are better left outside (not so funny).

My brother and I chased that puppy, laughing, and zig-zagging, until we were all just beat tired. However, the dog’s last burst of energy was a rush into the bathroom and a leap into the air landing directly into the toilet. Water splashed everywhere and our laughter went higher in an uproar as we called frantically to our mom until she came into the room. The neighbor and mom looked on and we all laughed uncontrollably. We named the silly mutt “Snoopy” (very original, for four), as he sat and panted in the cool toilet bowl water.

Still laughing, my mom agreed to keep the dog, our first family dog.

Steve Irwin is a Modern Day Achilles!

Crikey! She’s a beauty and sharks, I've been self-trained as well, and crocodiles, naturally. I've been catching them since I was nine. No problem. –Steve Irwin

A surfer and adventurer meet’s his death on a sad day, 09.04.06. It seems apparent that Steve Irwin must have been dipped into the river Styx, held only by his heart. It seems that the heart was the only vulnerable and unprotected part, pierced by a stingray and its venomous dart. Although everyone’s days are numbered who would have thought that Steve’s number was up?

Steve Irwin was and is a modern day Achilles. Steve was an animal kingdom warrior! Who will entertain us now? To me and mine, Steve Irwin will be missed. Our hearts go out to his wife Terri and their beautiful children, family, and friends as the world grieves the loss of the infamous “Croc Hunter” and his crikey call.

Other News

Steve Irwin Quotes

Wildlife documentary maker Ben Cropp, citing a colleague who saw footage of the attack, told Time.com that Irwin had accidentally boxed the animal in. "It stopped and twisted and threw up its tail with the spike, and it caught him in the chest," said Cropp. "It's a defensive thing. It's like being stabbed with a dirty dagger." (Read the TIME.com obituary.)

The Crocodile Hunter website

BBC News

Sign-up for a Google News Alert on Steve Irwin stories

See the Flickr photos

Hanging Out in a Place Called Possum Kingdom

We spent the weekend in a place called Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas. What an awesome sleepy hollow.

The World According to Shockacomm in August 2006