22 Feb 2009 #0908.html

Houston Temple Ordinance Workers

. . .

Dear Family and Friends,

Welcome to this week's "Thoughtlet."

These words are my personal diary and a weekly review of ideas, beliefs, thoughts, or words that will hopefully be of some benefit to you: my children, my family, and my friends.

"Another week and more chess moves: Colby 8, Rob 6, and Roice 5. Even though there is not much interaction with those I love, I do enjoy knowing you are thinking enough about me to make a chess move. It is the simple things which do make a difference.

Monday I went to the POPS (Pioneer Oil Producer's Society) luncheon. Not sure why I enjoy these other than Bob Scott's history lessons, and I do. From 2 to 3:00 PM I worked on a plan for the week, as well as the East Cameron opportunity and Wharton County wells. On the way home Norman Niedell called to see if I could do some simple seismic modeling for him. Told him I do not have the tools. When I got home I moved the rest of red rocks in back yard to remake the rock garden. As I write this I realize my rock garden is the rock garden my Mom always wanted to have. Oh well! Hopefully she is able to visit and see what we have done. Ben sent contact information and apologized for not checking his e-mail very often. Joe Roberts sent an e-mail suggesting I should approach Rob Yorke at 3DGeo about investing in DML. Told him no thanks at this time. The big news was the following e-mail from Melanie:

> From: University of Texas Dental Branch <utdds@uth.tmc.edu> > Subject: Welcome to the UTDB Family! > To: jaredawright@yahoo.com > Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 11:22 AM > Dear Jared, > > Congratulations! It is my pleasure to inform you that you > have been selected for acceptance to the 2009 entering class > of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. You > have been selected based upon your excellent qualifications, > traits, and attributes. It would be our privilege to > welcome you to the Dental Branch family and to the dental > profession. > > Please reply to this email at your earliest convenience and > indicate whether or not you wish to accept this offer. A > response is required no later than February 28, 2009. Also, > please visit the "Accepted Students" section of > our website at > http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/studentaffairs/accepted_students.htm. > There you will find information about our criminal > background check policy, and a letter of intent that you > will need to print, sign, and submit to the Office of the > Registrar, along with a $30 matriculation deposit. You will > also find other helpful information on this section of our > website, including additional forms and documents that need > to be completed. > > We look forward to having you join us here at the Dental > Branch and anticipate seeing you at the Orientation for > Entering Students (August 12-14), which precedes the start > of classes on August 17, 2009. We will also be hosting the > annual Open House and White Coat ceremony on Saturday, > August 15. We look forward to seeing you and your family at > this exciting and memorable event welcoming you to the > Dental Branch and the profession of dentistry. > > Please note this offer of acceptance is conditional based > upon submission of the required background check and > completion of any remaining coursework projected in the > application at a level consistent with past performance. If > you have any outstanding requirements, you will receive > notification after your letter of intent and matriculation > deposit are received. If any of your plans change, or if > you have any questions, please contact Ms. Celeste Rivera in > the Office of Student Affairs at utdds@uth.tmc.edu. The > administration, faculty, students and staff of the Dental > Branch look forward to you joining our family and to > celebrating your achievements here at the Dental Branch and > in the profession of dentistry. > > Sincerely, > > Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., M.S. > Dean and Professor"

I responded with:

"Jared and Melanie, There are not words to describe how excited I am for both of you and for me and Andrea (We are looking forward to babysitting and spending more time with those wonderful kids you guys keep finding on the street). Love, Dad"

Tuesday morning, the 17th of March, I sent a note to Jiafeng, attempting to close down the Tarim project (two years after the work was done):

"Dear Jiafeng, I took the information in the e-mail below to John Gillooley today. John has agreed with my conclusions: 1. Geokinetics is not going to send anyone to have a final meeting with Tarim Oilfield. 2. Geokinetics is not going to do any additional processing Tarim Oilfield might require after such a final meeting, if this meeting were to happen. 3. Geokinetics is not going to pay anything else for the Tarim Report to be put together in a special format Tarim Oilfield might require. 4. Geokinetics prefers to avoid paying or sharing payment money with Lawyers to seek outstanding payments from Geo and Tarim. 5. Geokinetics prefers to avoid going to CNPC to report irregularities with how the data were transferred to Geokinetics through Geo from Tarim. 6. Geokinetics is not willing to walk away from 1,214,350RMB due for work which was completed and submitted to be sent to Tarim Oilfield twice for final payment all in good faith, specifically based on my relationship with your father. 7. Geokinetics will consider pursuing legal action and/or contacting CNPC if there is not an immediate mutually agreed resolution to the outstanding payment due Geokinetics from Geo and Tarim for the Tarim work which was completed and delivered, albeit delivered late. You knew all of this. However, I am pleased to report the last point John Gillooley agreed with me today, namely: 8. Geokinetics will close the books on the Tarim and walk away from claims on any further payments if Geo will send 20% of the Total Contract Amount to Geokinetics within the next couple of weeks. From Jialin's e-mail John and I learned Geo was originally paid 70% of the total contract price by Tarim. The 50% previously paid to Geokinetics plus the 20% John is asking be paid now, add up to the 70%. As Jialin and you have pointed out Geo did nothing to earn any of this 20%. Geokinetics is willing to take a 30% loss on the total project in order to close the books on the Tarim Project. Geokinetics does recognize Geo has to pay local and national tax on this 20% payment. Using the same formula used in an e-mail sent on July 13, 2006 we estimate those taxes to be D+(a-b-c), where D=80% of half the total amount, a= 20% of half the total amount, b= local tax payment of 5% of a, and c=national tax payment of 33% of a, as shown below. Original 50% payment formula: A. Total Contract Amount: 2,428,700RMB B. Half of total amount: 1,214,350RMB C. 20% of half the total amount: a. 242,870RMB b. 5% local tax payment: 12,143.50RMB c. 33% national tax payment: 80,147.10RMB D. 80% of half the total amount: 971,480RMB Previously transferred amount: D+(a-b-c)= 971,480RMB+(242,870RMB-12,143.50RMB-80,147.10RMB)= 1,122,059.40RMB transferred in 2006. Reworking this for the new 20% payment: A. Total Contract Amount: 2,428,700RMB B. 20% total amount: 485,740RMB C. 20% of 20% of the total amount: a. 97,148RMB b. 5% local tax payment: 4,857.40RMB c. 33% national tax payment: 32,058.84RMB D. 80% of half the total amount: 388,592RMB Money to be transferred in the next couple of weeks: D+(a-b-c)= 388,592RMB+(97,148RMB-4,857.40RMB-32,058.84RMB)= 448,823.76RMB Amount due and payable now to close out the Tarim Project. Please send an e-mail to myself and John Gillooley agreeing to transfer 448,823.76RMB to Geokinetics in the next couple of weeks and giving a specific estimate of when the payment will be made. If there is not an e-mail when I wake up, I will call you in about 8 hours to confirm your agreement to these terms. Thank You for your continued professional approach to solving this issue. Best Regards, Roice"

I did not go into Layton's office on Tuesday. I spent the morning moving the geologically interesting rocks back into rock garden. I think it looks pretty nice.

When I came inside there was a note from Randy Bruner regarding East Cameron opportunity. The current owner does not have plans for the block, and the well to the north condemned their prospect ideas. They are not willing to share 3D nor to take time to look at the blocks. Randy's best advice is to wait until their lease with the Federal Government expires, to purchase 3-D seismic over the blocks, and to completely put prospects together. Turns out this is very good advice. While I was working outside Jim McCloud called about NAPE prospects in Jackson and Matagorda Counties.

Andrea and I went to the temple for our 2:00 appointment with Elder Bradford, the Houston Temple President. We were called and set apart as Houston Temple Ordinance Workers. We start on the 19th of March and are assigned to work in the temple each Thursday afternoon thereafter from 12:30 to 6:00 PM. I have always enjoyed the temple, and I am sure there will be many blessings come to us as a result of this service.

When we got home there were a couple of e-mails. Susan Walker sent me the framework for a Provisional Patent Application. There was also a note from Ben about how busy their summer plans are. I'd suggested Ethan come out to Utah when we are out there. Probably too young to travel that far alone. Oh well!

On Wednesday I worked on the Steamboat, Pandera, and Liberty prospects. Hardy Coons called about having lunch with the last practicing Exxon Rover Boy. Never did make contact. Ho well! Wulf pointed out the Central Lease Sale was a month earlier than expected, on 18 March 2009, which was the first of a series of negative pieces of news about Dick Coons' East Cameron opportunities. John Boyce sent a note I like:

"John Kennedy reportedly once said to an assembled group of scholars in the White House, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." The quotes below could prove his point... When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt. Thomas Jefferson The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Thomas Jefferson I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. Thomas Jefferson The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. Thomas Jefferson The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson In light of the present financial crisis, it's interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

John Boyce also sent the movie to the right, titled: "Sorry Bill, I'd rather kiss my new boss!"

Jim Siebert sent a note about one of his friends:

"Roice,

I just had lunch with Richard and Richard from AR Group/Wilkens Weather. Richard Wilkens is the president of the company and Richard Agee is the CFO. The lunch went very well and they would like to sign non-disclosure agreements, and have us give them the full presentation. In our conversation I let them kind of take the lead to see what direction it went and within a few minutes they concluded that in their opinion the best way to move forward would be to find the right company that had some cash reserves and to drill a "test" well ourselves. Then if that was successful, we could grow from there.

They know several different people and companies that they would like to introduce us to ... as potential investors, but first the Richards would like to see our full presentation.

They are available for a meeting next Thursday morning starting at 9:30am and we could give them the presentation in their private conference room. If that time won't work for you, then we'll find another time that will. They would like to sign the non-disclosures before that meeting and then with our permission, they would like to approach a few people without giving the "secret" away.

I think there is great potential here and I look forward to our presentation to them asap. This is just a brief discription of our lunch today...and we'll talk more about it when you have a chance.

Jim"
Turns out the meeting was postponed until Tuesday the 3rd of March (see 0910.html). I prepared confidentiality agreements and forwarded them to Jim.

I sent the following note out to Wulf, Kevin Hird, and a potential investor:

"Wulf, Dick and I were turned down yesterday on another great exploration opportunity. Any chance you can pull another Petsec out of your hat? This is the most exciting and immediate exploration project in our portfolio, and is in about 75 feet of water offshore Louisiana. The company we were talking to are considering waiting and bidding on all three leases in 2010 when they will all be available. We do not think this is a good idea, as two of the blocks brought a bid of $5 million last time they were bid on. The Coons Prospects cover three 3 mile x 3 mile US Federal Lease Blocks. One block is open, and can be bid on in the April 2009 Lease Sale. To make this bid Dynamic Resources Corporation would have to have agreements executed, and deposits in place by the second week of March. Terms are the Investors will own 100% of expenses, including dry hole costs (for tax purposes), until payout, and after payout Dynamic Resources will back-in for 25% WI. Two of the blocks are currently owned, and because the owners drilled two dry holes on the north end of these blocks a couple of years ago, they have discounted the potential of these blocks. As mentioned above, the current owners paid $5 million in lease fees four years ago, and are relinquishing the blocks in July 2009. The owners are willing to sell their leases for the remaining months for a fee and an OverRiding Royalty Interest. The Investor could purchase these leases, or Dynamic Resources Corporation could purchase these leases for the Investor (remember the Investor has 100% ownership until payout). The geological opportunity is a seismic travel-time low and a depth high. There is an extensive shallow gas cloud which slows down seismic velocities up to 150 ms 2-way travel-time and creates a travel-time low. When the gas cloud velocity affects are removed there is an 8,000 acre structure at 5,000 feet depth which is at the same level that has produced 200 BCF (billion cubic feet of gas) in fields on two nearby blocks. This structure has amplitude anomalies on 2-D and 3-D seismic data, and is invisible to most geoscientists because of the gas cloud velocity affects. However, there are similar amplitudes at the same levels in the same seismic survey over fields which in total have produced on the order of 1 TCF of gas from multiple stacked sands. At depth the structure moves down the fault and into a neighboring block. We can demonstrate there are 8-20 sands, and the total potential of the multiple layers in the Coons Prospects exceeds 1 TCFgas. The opportunity is to bid for the first block, which covers the southern portion of the Prospect in the April Lease Sale. Cost is about $3,000,000 (including new 3-D seismic data to confirm the geophysical work which has been done with older surveys and the cost to lease the two expiring blocks). The second step is to drill the shallow opportunity in May. Cost $8 million. Then the third step is to drill the third block in June. Cost $10 million, because the well will go to 12,000 feet. This approach provides complete control of this field, which has been missed because of gas cloud velocity affects, for a minimal investment. At $4/MCF (Thousand Cubic Feet of Gas), 1 TCF of gas is worth US$4 billion. We are ready to demonstrate the scientific basis for taking the exploration risk today. The project could be stopped after evaluation of the more modern seismic, after the lease sale, or after the first well as new data is made available. The first step would be to sign a confidentiality agreement covering a 1/2 block boundary around the three blocks the Coons Prospects are located on. The time-line is short, and so negotiations and technical due-diligence needs to start immediately. Thank you for your help and I look forward to continuing the conversation at your convenience. Best Regards, Roice "

It ended up eating a lot of time the next week and did not go anywhere. Oh well!

Wednesday afternoon about 3:00 Matt Kitterer of the University of Utah stopped by Layton's office to talk to me about funding alumni programs. He is a nice guy and good at what he does. He ended up getting me to commit to pay for a lunch and host several alumni sometime in May. The conversations on this lunch have continued since his visit.

On Thursday 19th Jeff Jurinak sent a note asking if I'd like to present DML material to ConocoPhillips. This became a big deal (see 0910.html). Wulf sent the following good questions from a contact about the East Cameron opportunity Dick came up with, and a coverletter he later forwarded:

  1. So all-in cost for Hess is about $11 million through first well for a 75% interest?
  2. When is payout estimated to occur at $4 gas?
  3. How many sands will the first well test?
  4. If first well is dry, how many sands will be condemned for second well?
  5. If first well is $8 million for 5,000 ft and second well is $10 million for 12,000 ft, that means the first well is $1,600/ft, second well is $833/ft. Please explain how you estimated the well costs.
  6. What are completion costs?
  7. How many wells will be required to develop the field?
  8. Is there available nearby pipeline capacity?
  9. How much will it cost to connect to nearest pipeline with capacity?
I edited the note Wulf sent his contact:

"Dear ___, I enjoyed our conversation at the GSH Luncheon yesterday and welcome an introduction to Hess Corporation. Our prospect is the Coons Prospect. It covers three US Federal Lease Blocks at 75 feet water depth in offshore Louisiana. Two blocks will be relinquished July 1, 2009. Two of the three blocks are currently owned, and because the owners drilled two dry holes on these blocks a couple of years ago, they have discounted the potential of their blocks. The third block is open for bids in the MMS 208 Lease Sale on March 18, 2009. The opportunity is 8-20 stacked sands, plus a channel full of sands, so I refer to them as The Coons Prospects. Prospect ownership is controlled through Dynamic Resources Corporation with 1/3 ownership by DRC, 1/3 by Richard L. Coons, and 1/3 by Wulf Massell. Our terms are as follows. Hess Corporation would purchase these leases. The Federal Royalty on these blocks is 14.8%. The Hess will cover and own 100% of expenses, including dry hole costs until payout. After payout DRC will back-in for a 25% WI. DRC also requires a $150,000 prospect fee, and a 3 1/3 ORRI. The current owners are willing to sell their leases for the remaining months for a fee and an ORRI. The geological opportunity is a seismic travel-time low coincident with a depth high. There is an extensive shallow gas accumulation and associated gas cloud that depress seismic velocities and reflection times up to 150 ms at the objective and create a large time syncline. When gas velocity affects are removed and data is depth converted there remains an 8,000 acre four-way closure at 5,000 feet. This same level has produced 200 BCF (billion cubic feet of gas) in analog fields from two nearby blocks. Our structure has amplitude anomalies on both 2-D and 3-D seismic data, and is invisible to most geoscientists because of the gas cloud velocity distortion. Two analog fields on nearby blocks have already produced on the order of 1 TCF gas from multiple stacked sands. At depth our structure is repeated and extends down and along a major fault into a neighboring block. The shallow horizon is probably 100% oil, with most of the gas having bled off and created the gas cloud directly above the anticline We have mapped 8 to 20 productive sands, with a total potential exceeding 1 TCF gas or equivalent oil. Our plan is to (1) negotiate an agreement with the current lease holder for the two expiring blocks (they want a fee and an ORRI) and (2) drill a 5,000 ft well in May on one block and (3) a 12,000 ft well in June well on the second block to hold the acreage. Both blocks were purchased in 2004 as part of a four-block lease purchase totaling $5MM. We must also purchase 8.25 blocks of new vintage seismic data to confirm the geophysical work we've already done using older surveys. The 8.25 area includes the three target blocks plus a 1.5-mile apron. The new seismic data will cost about to $1MM. Processing, the fee to purchase the two expiring blocks, and bidding on the third block in next month's sale, could bring the costs to $3MM. We further estimate the first shallow well to cost $8MM and the second deeper well at $10MM We are ready to demonstrate the scientific basis for taking this exploration risk today. The project could be stopped after evaluation of the more modern seismic, after the lease sale, or after the first well as new data is made available. The first step is to sign a confidentiality agreement covering a 1/2 block boundary around the three blocks on which the Coons Prospects are located. The time-line is short, and so negotiations and technical due-diligence needs to start immediately. It is possible that Hess Corporation has a license to the required seismic data. Additionally, your company may be positioned to drill a May and a June well on our prospects. I look forward to continuing our conversation. Best Regards, Wulf Wulf Massell, Ph.D."

At 9:30 in the morning I had a meeting with Jeff Johnson and Mark Bashforth. They are both excited about the Energy Technology Exchange. We agreed to a follow-up meeting on Friday the 27th (see 0909.html). Then I went down to the Sushi place on Westheimer next to the shoe shop and had lunch John Gillooley and Rick Drake of Geokinetics. Turns out they had left Geokinetics an hour early, John forgot his cell phone, they went to the wrong place first, and were waiting for me when I arrived. The shoe place was closed. I have never paid him the $300 down payment for my new cowboy boots, and feel bad about not being able to proceed with this right now. Oh well. From here I went into the office, where I captured an interesting quote from Dan Layton as a possible stanza for Prime Words:

Investors: We don't mind people Making money with us We don't like people Making money off us

I worked for Layton from 1:30-5:30. Randy was sick and I was to take his place in reviewing a prospect at Choice Energy. However, I thought they were coming to our office, so I was working on the Wharton County opportunities, when they called and asked where I was. I was about an hour late by the time it all worked out. I liked the Prospects, and they wanted to meet with Dan when Randy was out of town on his annual golf trip the next week. I got Dan to go over there, and he does not like partners, and did not like the business terms so nothing happened. This is certainly a good place to learn about what I have wanted to do for all of these years. There is no question about my weaknesses in doing the things necessary to build up an oil company (other than the technical exploration work).

When I got home there was a note from Lac Nguyen asking for a status on Robonaut. I responded with:

"Lac,

I continue to work at the opportunity. I prepared some web pages for an investor (see http://www.walden3d.com/Robonaut). I took two Investors to NASA last week for a tour and demonstration. They consider Robonaut to immature to invest in a manufacturing facility.

Bob Savely has prepared a Space Act Agreement. It is expensive. They want $12 million over 2 1/2 years to create two AquaRobonauts, one for them and one for us. They also want us to hire 7 professionals to work with their team for the 2 1/2 years. This requires a total investment of $25 million to get up and running. I have a couple of other folks I will be talking to this about over the next six weeks.

I have not contacted you because I did not have anything specific and positive to report. I'm hoping to tie something together so we can get started in the next 4 months. If I can't, I expect NASA will withdraw their support. Look forward to your comments.

Best Regards,

Roice"

On Friday morning there was a note from Jeff Jurinak who was coming to Houston for meetings and wanted to introduce me to Ken Tubman. I sent him a confidentiality agreement. Wulf sent me specifics regarding the design of a 3D survey Layton is talking about shooting in Jim Hogg County, Texas. I corresponded with my sister about visiting Jeff Hafen in the hospital. There were e-mails back and forth to Melanie about her buying a house. I told her it would be nice if they could move into Hergenrotter's old house. No question I am still a dreamer. Paul sent a nice note. He has been in Huntsville, Alabama with NASA and Kate is coming down to Salt Lake for Rachel's wedding shower. Jiafeng sent a note saying he was willing to work with closing the project down for 20% of the outstanding money. I would think so. There was correspondence with Maureen about Geokinetics not having a copy of the contract with Geo. Maybe it is not all my fault they have not been paid.

I did not do my exercises, but I mixed 10 bags of manure with 10 bags of sand and spread it across the three front lawns. Andrea is totally stressed out about the wedding and going to Salt Lake for the wedding shower and to meet Garret's parents. We started to head for the airport and I realized I needed to go back for shaving kit and toothbrush and map to Rachel's house because Andrea had switched to the larger suitcase and did not empty one of the zipper compartments. We made it to the airport in plenty of time and got on the plane, but our large bag didn't make it. This was also frustrating. We went to Rachel's house and met Peggy. Her husband Mike had been called to work on the railroad and was not able to make the dinner, which was the reason I needed to be in Salt Lake for the shower. It was a very nice dinner, and I enjoyed meeting and getting to know Peg and also spending time with Rachel and Garrett. It was worth the trip and the hassle of not getting our bag until about 4:00 AM Saturday morning. I was asleep when it came anyway.

Saturday morning Richard Nehring called and set up a meeting Tuesday the 27SM at Layton's office (see 0909.html). We went to Joshua and Audrey's house for the shower and helped get ready. I took a few photos and Andrea was not able to take photos because the camera went into giggle mode. The photos I took are at http://www.walden3d.com/photos/Family/09_GarrettRachel/090221_Rachels_Shower I met Peg's Mom, then Kate, Sara, and Des's Mom arrived and I got to talk to each of them. Garrett called and asked if I wanted to go have lunch with him, his brother Mitch, and his Grandpa. We had a nice lunch and it was good to get to know these new family members a little bit. They drove me down past the new Draper Temple, which has an extra high roof celestial room and I took a couple of photos (see http://www.walden3d.com/photos/Temples/090221_Draper_Temple_1.jpg). Then we went back to Joshua and Audrey's. Sometime during the day I took some photos of Sophie, which are at http://www.walden3d.com/photos/Family/06_JoshuaAudrey/090220_Sophie. Andrea left with Rachel to help with Bridal photos and I was to go to where my sister was staying and take her downtown to meet Andrea and Rachel. They were finished with the first set of photos when we met up, thanks to the cell phone connection. It was fun to stand behind the other Joshua as he set up photos and to take photos, as well as photos of him taking photos. Rachel is gorgeous in her wedding dress. You can judge for youself by going to http://www.walden3d.com/photos/Family/09_GarrettRachel/090221_Rachels_Bridal_Photos. After the photos Andrea went with Rachel to help her get changed and then to have dinner at Peg Olson's house. I stayed downtown with Sara to meet Des and his Mom and to have dinner at The Olive Garden on West Temple.

Since it was about an hour before we were suppose to meet Des and his Mom we walked over to Sam Weller's bookstore. One of Mom's addictions was purchasing books here. It was one of the more enlightening hours of my life. Tony Weller, Sam's son, was there and he was the one that let me into look at the rare books. He asked interesting questions and I ended up buying two books: "The Genesis Code" by one of the Professors at the "U" when I was there, William Lee Stokes, and "The Joyous Journey of LeRoy R. and Ann W. Hafen, an autobiography," by the author of "The Hafen's of Utah." During the course of our conversation I described how I had attempted to get Sam interested in putting all of his books on-line back in about 1992 (well before Amazon.com), and how the guy doing the programming of their in-house program killed the idea. Tony had no idea about these conversations. I told him I enjoyed his performance art at the Salt Palace, and what I remembered was his flouting a beer as a statement against the establishment. He responded, "That was a long time ago." The book business is being hit really hard by the current financial downturn. They are shutting down a large portion of their store and are planning to sublease the space. They are having a hard time making ends meet. Our conversation led me to mention my indexing schemes, and to describe the universality of the approach. Tony at least faked interest. The insight which came to me was the fact his bookstore is the ideal place to build a general Knowledge BackboneSM covering all the activities of humanity. Imagine the immediate context from going on-line and searching for a book discussing location ig2657 or activity a3222 or time t423727 or data type d5Feiii1 or combinations of the above indices versus the results from a Google web search for something as iniquitous as a "stripper well." Imagine the value of the index which can provide this kind of context. I truly believe this is world changing stuff, and world changing in the most positive sense possible. I introduced Sara to Tony and we talked about all of the books Mom had bought. One of his assistants defended Mom, saying it is the most positive of addictions. I enjoyed the time a lot, and even though our budget is tight right now, I was very glad to pay for the two books Tony found for me. Tony would be receptive to me putting a team of software developers and indexers in his store building the interface and critical mass of indexed books to establish this type of a business. Now if I can just get a good well drilled which I have sufficient return on I can fund some of my out-of-the-box ideas.

After leaving Sam Weller's, Sara and Olive Garden and put our name on the waiting list. Then we walked a couple of blocks to see what was playing at the place they do musical performances downtown Salt Lake City. Looked like Sara wanted to go see the performance that was playing after dinner. We went back to The Olive Garden and were seated. Des and his Mom were waiting for us out front when Sara gave up waiting and went out front and found them. I enjoy Mrs. Penny a lot, and it has been a long time since we have had an opportunity to have a discussion like we did over dinner. It is fun to watch her reactions to the amount and quality of food provided. The funniest story I recall from the evening was her description of one of her sons learning about confession. He did not really know what a sin was, and so he just went down a list he found and confessed to that sin. One of the first sins on his alphabetical list was adultery. The priest did not quite know what to do with this 12 year old. Probably because I was still high from my conversation with Tony Weller I ended up telling Des and Sara and Mrs. Penny about what we are doing at Dynamic Measurement. Des was very interested and came up with ideas about testing the viability of our approach. This conversation has continued, and it will be interesting to see where it goes. I told them about going down past the Draper Temple and that the open house was still going on. Des expressed interest in taking a tour of the temple. I don't know if they did or not. It was a nice evening.

After I left them I drove up to Peg Olson's house and participated in the festivities there for a while. Then it was time to drive back to Randy and Kathryn's in Provo. It was late when we got to bed and very early when we got up to drive to the airport for a 6:00 AM flight back to Houston. We did not make it back in time for church. Oh well! I had President Steward substitute for me in my Sunday School class.

I had purchased a book in the Houston airport on the way to Salt Lake called "The Bible of Clay." During the travel, when there were breaks, and on the way home I read this book. I took a break Sunday evening to go Home Teaching with John Boyce. As a result of part of our conversation driving between houses I sent him a link to my work on condensation (see http://www.walden3d.com/cedarcity/CedarValleyWater/), which he grabbed hold of and designed a prototype solution. But that is a story for another time, as this Thoughtlet is getting way too long. When I got back home I kept reading "The Bible of Clay." I finished it up later in the week. It was a "Di Vinci Code" type of thriller based in Iraq just before the second Iraq war. It was about a Nazi war criminal, Tannenburg, who thrived by stealing archaeological artifacts and selling them to the west through three of his former SS associates. The idea was that Abraham had befriended a young scribe, and this young scribe wrote his description of the creation of the world on cuneiform tablets, which Tannenburg had found evidence of, killed the archaeologists who made the find, and kept before the war. He charged his granddaughter with telling the world, and getting an international team of archaeologists to come into Iraq before the war started to find the rest of the tablets. The author, Julia Navarro, is Spanish, hates George Bush, and made all kinds of fabricated accusations. The story held together well, and was fun to read. It was especially interesting to read about the significance of an actual account by Abraham of the creation (see The Book of Abraham in The Pearl of Great Price), which predated Moses' account of the creation in Genesis (see The Book of Moses in The Pearl of Great Price) as a newly called Houston temple ordinance worker."

Since the 38th week of 1996 I have written a weekly "Thoughtlet" (little statements of big thoughts which mean a lot to me). Until the 43rd week of 2004 I sent these out as an e-mail. They were intended to be big thoughts which mean a lot to me. Over time the process evolved into a personal diary. These notes were shared with my family because I know how important the written word can be. Concerned about how easy it is to drift and forget our roots and our potential among all of distractions of daily life, I thought this was a good way to reach those I love. It no longer feels right to send out an e-mail and "force" my kids and my family to be aware of my life and struggles.

Everyone has their own life to lead, and their own struggles to work through. I will continue this effort, and will continue to make my notes publicly accessible (unless I learn of misuse by someone who finds out about them, and then will aggressively pursue a legal remedy to copyright infringement and I will put the Thoughtlets behind a password).

The index to download any of these Thoughtlets is at http://www.walden3d.com/thoughtlets, or you can e-mail me with questions or requests at rnelson@walden3d.com (note if you are not on my e-mail "whitelist" you must send 2 e-mails within 24 hours of each other in order for your e-mail to not be trashed).

With all my love,
Dad
(H. Roice Nelson, Jr.)

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Copyright © 2009 H. Roice Nelson, Jr.