About Time I did an Update

It has been far too long since I last types words into this blog. Primarily because I have been so busy with my day job at TechEd, that I've neglected many of my other passions including QuickPlanner Plus.

But today I had the opportunity to speak to an Intro to Business class at Sacramento City College.

I opened up with the basic questions of who in this class wants to start their own company and I got about four hands. Then I asked who in this class wants to go work for someone else, and I got about three hands. Out of a class of 14, that left several who didn't answer at all. So I asked a couple of them why they were in the class.

The answer? Its a requirement.

A requirement?

That's definitely not the right view to have about business 101. I don't care if you are going to be an entrepreneur, accountant, future executive, doctor, lawyer, burger flipper or wig maker, you had better understand the world of business.

So yeah... it had better be a requirement for everyone.

If you don't understand the world of business, you don't understand anything going on around you.

Okay this is starting to be less of a QuickPlanner blog and more of a Matsonian Rants so I guess I will have to post it there as well.

Business is business. Every organization in the world, every employee in the world, every group in the world operates on the basics of business and business operates on the basics of human organization.

And, here it is, human organization survives because of planning. And planning is the root to successful living.

So, if you don't understand business how can you understand life.

Join me in the mantra: Intro To Business for EVERYONE!

Bear Canister

Son

The Garcia Backpacker Cache Canister weighs in at 2.7 lbs. We both need
canisters. If you pack it correctly you should get about 12 lbs of food in
it.

Dad

Re: Bear canister to protect the Bears and our food.

Dad,

Cool. I take it we both need to have a bear canister? How much does yours weigh?

What frustrates me is that the State is not willing to certify the Ursack. It has to be the lightest and most durable bear-prevention food sack I've seen. The state certifies one of their models but only if it has the canister instert in it which is ridiculous and redundant.

Matson

Bear canister to protect the Bears and our food.

Son
The Bear Canister that I bought is a Garcia Backpacker Cache. It hold about
700 cubic inches and measures 8.8 inches by 12 inches. It sells for about
$65.00. I was able to find it for $55.00 at moontrail.com. They have some
low prices on their equipment.
You need to check out the oven I bought. It is at BakePacker.com. The way it
works is pretty cool.
Dad

Re: My equipment for the trip

Dad,

What a great list of top-quality equipment. I'm afraid mine will be the middle market. Hopefully I will get it done next weekend and sent over to you.

What brand of Bear Canister are you getting?

Matson

My equipment for the trip

Son

The following is my equipment that I already have.
Backpack Gregory Palisade (large)
Sleeping pad Therm-a-Rest Prolite 4
Tent North Face Bullfrog 23
Walking Poles Leki Makalu
Cook Stove JetBoil
Baking BakePacker
Cooking Pots 2 Quart
Water Filter MSR WaterWorks EX Filter
Bear Canister Garcia Machine Backpacker Cache
Light HeadsUp Lite
Scope KVH Data Scope (digital
compass/rangefinder)
Camera Nikon D200 with two Lenses
I still need to get a solar panel and a storage device for my 24 MB
pictures. I believe I will take about 4000 photos on the trip. Looking at
about 80 gig storage device.

Re: Permit to travel the PCT

Dad,

Not sure walking barefoot would help my severe flat feet. There is really no arch to be had.

:-)

Matson

Permit to travel the PCT

Son

I have received the permit for the PCT from the PCTA. Still waiting for the
permit for Mt. Whitney.

One item about feet. Prepare your feet for the trail by walking barefoot as
much as possible. This helps your feet by hardening the sole. I walk around
the house a lot barefooted. As long as the temperature is warm.

Talk to you later,

Dad

Re: Foot wear to wear to be confortable

Dad,

Good to hear from you! I was hoping that is the case. I have a great pair of Rockports that I like to use on my hiking trips, switching between boots and sandles as needed.

I need to have the Rockports re-tread, but they are a great pair of hiking sandles.

Matson

Foot wear to wear to be confortable

Son

After doing much research I have come to the conclusion that sandals would
be the best second shoe. Sandals would allow your feet to breath when at
camp. You can use the sandals to cross streams and with good soles you can
even walk the trail with them on good level ground.

I have read a few articles of people wearing sandals on the whole trip. They
would take a pair of shoes for the wet weather, but would use the sandals
for all hiking.
I have about a month before the swelling is gone on my foot. At that time I
will start the search for a good pair of hiking boots. My foot doctor told
me to get E wide boots. It is very important to get the toe box wide enough
for your toes to move. I have always worn regular size boots, C wide. I also
felt that my toes were being crushed. I never thought that a wider boot
would be the answer. As long as the heal of your foot is tight then you
should be good for a comfortable trip. If you can keep your feet comfortable
then the trip should be comfortable.
I should have my equipment list ready by weeks end or even sooner.
Dad

Lindsey Lohan - Why Nude Pics?

It was the obvious next step for her.
These millenial generation stars like Britney and Lindsey and non-stars like Paris, are so starved for attention, so starved for paparazzi attention, that they do crazy stunts, party all night and we are surprized when drugs and alchohol pay their toll.
So they go on to artificial rehab centers and more media attention. Then people wonder what happened to them when...
Now, in order to capture our attention, the stars innevitably turn to some fantastic event or activity.
For Lohan that event is posing nude.
But not, like many would do, in Playboy. No, she managed to get nude pics in New York Magazine, which would be more interesting if it wasn't for the Marilyn Monroe tribute.
Come on, Marilyn was great and was one of a kind. Lindsey is, well, just Lindsey. First off, the pics aren't that hot. She needs to firm up that body a bit.
Second, Lindsey always looked better as a redhead. Blond is just so common.
I feel like I am looking at a someone recently coming out of rehab... oh wait... I am looking at someone just out of rehab, which of course, makes me feel guilty about viewing the pics - and that is just not right.
So here is the rant - Rehab Girls - Keep your clothes on!
Second rant - If you really want help getting off of drugs, do not goto a luxury center... goto Narconon, dammit!

PICS AT: http://media.nymag.com/fashion/08/spring/44247/

Superbowl Results? Mixed

Okay, so the game of the year is over. The results (Giants 17, Patriots 14) are disappointing for some, and a thrill for many more.

At our party, the underdog Giants were the fan favorites. Even in the Cowboy loving household that hosted our party (no, I am not a Cowboys fan) they were all (sans two) rooting for the Giants.

Was this the trend across the country? Were true football fans tired of the Pats?

For me the emotions were mixed. My girlfriend spent many years living in Boston, so her team is definitely the Pats. Out of compassion I supported her hopes during the game while secretly enjoying the end of the Pats reign.

But who was I truly rooting for? Neither team. All I wanted was a good game. In an era when Superbowl games can be complete bores, all I wanted was an exciting game reminiscent of my 49ers win over the Bengals in '89.

The first half was nothing less than my worst fear... a fast moving game with low scoring... in other words a bore. Granted it could have been worse... one team completely dominating the other and the outcome decided by half-time, but still... the game just wasn't nail-biting enough.

And the commercials weren't that exciting either. Maybe the most unique was the pigeon carriers or Audi's take-off of The Godfather, but overall... not many to discuss around the water cooler.

Then Tom Petty came out, did his thing, and the game was reinvented for the second half. Scoring on both sides set the tone for a more exciting half and the Giants clinched the memory for millions of viewers worldwide.

One thought... how in the hell did Eli Manning stay on his feet?

Okay... off to work for me, but here is my final Superbowl Rant: who cares who wins, just make sure the game is worthy of the hype.

Re: Three Layer System

Son

The article about layering your cloths is so true. I have always worn a
cotton t-shirt on hikes or backpacking trips. As the mornings warmed up I
have been uncomfortable. I now know what to pack for our trip. I do not like
heat, as that is why I live in Northern Arizona. It is 31 degrees outside
and that is fine with me.

We have about 9 inches of snow on the ground and a storm is coming in
tonight which will give us another foot. Love it!

The can stove is interesting. I remember back in high school when my brother
John was in the Boy Scouts. His troop made these types of stoves out of
cans. Our cans were made from tin back in those days. Ha! Ha!

My foot is coming along just fine. I miss my treadmill. I think I can get
back on it in three weeks. Wish me luck.

I will post some menu dishes this week.

Later,

Dad

The Three Layer Sytem - How to Dress for Hiking

Dad,

This is a great article on the age-old practice of layering for hiking. Instead of the classic cotton undershirt, some sort of long sleeve cotton shirt, a sweater and a jacket as needed, the three layer system uses modern materials and science to keep the clothing light and the body well protected.

Check out the article here: http://www.abc-of-hiking.com/hiking-apparel/three-layer-system.asp

Love ya!

matsonian

Soda Can Stove

Dad,

Cool blog here from My Hidden Room (http://gabrielcain.com/) how you can create a stove for camping out of a soda can that seems to be hotter than many other options.

The post follows:

Soda Can Stove
Last night, I made a soda can stove. Melissa has been reading about various people's methods of cooking for the Pacific Crest Trail. We talked about the soda can stove, and I decided to make one. It's pretty easily done, as long as one is careful to follow the building guide, and maintain strict tolerances during construction. That is, measure twice, cut once. It took about 45 minutes to make, from start to successful flaming operation. So after building it, I of course had to test it out! We ended up cooking dinner with it.
It will boil a cup of water in about 4 minutes. Faster than the "real" stove in the house. Wow. It took about 1 oz of fuel to boil ~7 cups of water for our ramen and udon noodle dinner.

The instructions are from an PCT hiker's website and can be by Clicking Here.

VERY COOL STUFF!

Matson

Brother Oliver's Update

A quick update on Brother Olivers. Over the weekend we were able to salvage and offer up some items for sale. You will find the famous tables from Oliver's Pub at the rockin' "On the Y" bar near Fulton and Fair Oaks.

Other equipment and goods are helping other entrepreneurs or non-profits across the area.

But, here is the most important news.

Apparently, now that Brother Oliver's is closed, the land owners are going to tear it down and build a Beverages and More on the property.

Guess we know their real motivation. They didn't care about the icon... they wanted the tenant gone so they could build something far more profitable.

As a capitalist, I support that profit motive... as a lover of great restaurants... it makes me sad.

Fw: Nurse Rachette

From: Michael Genung

A heart-warming photo, you'll have to admit.

Hey, hold on a minute:  what's he doing with his fingers, next to the hand-shake???

Michael

PS:  the caption for the photo reads - "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."

Re: Equipment List

Dad,

 

Glad the operation went well! I am looking forward to getting your equipment list. I've started mine, but my garage has a flooding problem in these rains so I am busy cleaning that up and fixing the problem.

 

That's interesting about the nutrition. I'm curious, does it break down by how many calories we burn per mile and at what speed?

 

Matson

Equipment List

Son

Good morning!

I will have an equipment list for you by the first week of February.

I found an interesting site www.thru-hiker.com. There are many interesting
articles about backpacking. Look under articles and then nutrition. This has
many hard facts about the nutritional needs of a backpacker. I am using this
information to create a menu.

You need calories for your body. You need at least 50% calories from
carbohydrates, 15% calories from protein, 35% calories from fat. We prepare
our meals according to that formula, we should feel great. Now to get the
right food without the weight.

My operation went great. My doctor was going to fuse my big toe joint but
after getting in and looking, he did not need to. He cut off the bunion and
closed up. That takes a good 4 weeks off the recovery period. I was very
happy.

Talk to you later

Love,

Dad

A Sacramento Icon, Brother Oliver's, Closes its Doors

In what may be the first victim of the faltering economy combined with a dramatic increase in California's minimum wage, Brother Oliver's, a Sacramento area restaurant best know for it's tudor style building and its English pub feel, closed its doors the night of Tuesday, January 22.

Robert Miller opened Brother Oliver's over 28 years ago and for the last quarter century, it was an icon on the corner of Madison and Manzanita on the edge of the Sacramento community of Carmichael.

On Tuesday, Robert and his family simply walked away from his life's work. Why? For the same reason any business fails.... outgo was greater than income.

Essentially, the continuous increase in CODB (cost of doing business) including lease of the building, increased food costs and wage increases were too much for the Miller family to sustain.

Whether or not they tried to sell the restaurant first is hard to discern, and Robert is a very private individual with too much pride to hang his problems on others. No, the restauranteur simply decided that instead of paying the increased costs, he should just gather the staff around, give them the bad news and close the doors.

Now I can debate all day and all night that their are a thousand other options that are better than just good riddens to your life's work, but, then again, I am not privy to their books or the dy to day operations.

I do know that the current owners of the building and the land, apparently real a-holes, raised the rent to almost $12,000 a month (up from $10K); food costs have continuoulsy increased due to the rising cost of gas, corn, and other fundamental building blocks of the food industry; and the increase in the minimum wage for servers... good for them, bad for restaurants.

I am also sure that Robert, who is in his early 60's, was far too set in his ways to make the dramatic changes necessary to keep Brother Oliver's hip in the increasingly competitive Sacramento area restaurant market.

But still, there are so many easy solutions... marketing is the first. Robert continued paying for expensive Sacramento Bee advertising. Truly a waste. But he never brought anyone in to help him understand how modern marketing is done for little or no costs. And the idea of social networking or web 2.0 was far too foreign. Then, of course, there is the decor... a real neat concept, but was it increasingly... dull? And the menu. From a grand menu with terrific options to a single one-page with limited selections. One pagers ARE definitely the trend in modern restaurants, but it looks like a menu based on food cost, not on customer demand.

And instead of walking away... what about selling? What about auctioning off the memorabilia and other restaurant equipment?

Oh well... just another RANT: Restaurants are a tough business... Brother Oliver's thrived for a quarter century. That's amazing. It died a quick death. That's stupid.