Eric Mack On-Line

I'm in the final few weeks of my graduate studies in Knowledge Management and I've decided to cut back on Internet, email, and a few other activities in order to focus on my final project. So, last week I put my email in the hands of my capable team and with the exception of blogging The National Knowledge Management Conference at Pepperdine University, I plan to be mostly off-line until late August.

I appreciate many people in the Lotus community some affectionately call the yellow bubble. As just one example, l last night I reached out to Volker Weber on Skype with a question for an idea that I had for how to reach and serve this community. It was the first time we have communicated, but he was right there, offering input and advice that changed the direction of my plan - I believe for the better.

That's just one example; I've had similar experiences with many in the yellow sphere and have made many wonderful friendships as a result.

This is a neat group of people to hang out with.

And they are all yellow.

That's cool!

I remember watching the first lunar landing, narrated by Walter Cronkite. Exciting, yes. What would that same landing look like 40 years later? Here's one look that imagines how TV news would cover that historic event if it happened today.

This is what happens when you tether an iPhone 3Gs to the bottom of an radio controlled airplane with video recording enabled.

Via Engadget

Due to the extreme fire hazard where we live, there are no fireworks within 50 miles our house. For July 4th we sometimes drive down the mountain to see fireworks or we find another way to celebrate the holiday. This afternoon, we celebrated July 4th at Fort Tejon as it was celebrated in the 1850's. There, we got to see a 31 gun cannon salute to the 31 states in the union at the time, compete in sack races, tug-of-war, and pie eating contests.

This evening, I plan to print and read the Declaration of Independence with my family. We will try to imagine what the circumstances were like that led our nations founding fathers to draft this document - a document that shapes much of who we are as Americans and why we are not English.

This document defines principles of limited government and personal freedoms. It sets the groundwork for a government that will represent the people and protect and encourage these principles as rights.  I encourage you to become familiar with the language and the arguments in the Declaration and to think about it as you read or discuss issues concerning public policy.

Take some time today or this weekend to read this important document.

It's important to understand what we are protecting.

Happy 4th of July, America!