News and thoughts about missing friends

I don't like to drive far from home during the day unless it is to Vegas. I had reason to drive a bit today to see a couple of business associate and friends. One of the men operates a rather large family owned business. I used to meet with his father a couple of times a year and always enjoyed our positioning and our conversations and time together. I had not been to their offices since his father died. It was a sad day and brought up all kinds of emotions in me. Not just about the man who passed away; but, also all that had gone on in my life since I first met him.

We met and went to lunch. We talked about some business issues, things that need to be finished before I retire, life changes and financial news matters with predictions about the future. Our one hour meeting ended up going on for hours and I left just in time to face all the heavy traffic for my long ride home. It was a good conversation and a good opportunity to reconnect. I had delayed the meeting and am sure that on some level it was because I knew it would bring back memories.

We talked a little about the new transportation funding program MAP-21. The bill makes local right of ways, known as arterials, part of the National Highway System. MAP-21 - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century. It also changes rules related to funding pensions. Spencer Fane, Britt and Browne - MAP-21: Pension Funding Relief … and Much More.

Recently, I read an article about how some scientists are predicting that going to see riots. Motherboard - We Are Now One Year Away From Global Riots, Complex Systems Theorists Say. They predict that when food prices rise again there will be riots. It talks about the riots that happened in Egypt when food prices soared; but, it leaves out all the other reasons for the revolt. No one thing is to blame when we see governments ousted, it takes a number of failures of those in charge.

Now here is a news story regarding something I wrote about before. Yahoo - Plugged In - Microsoft’s ‘IllumiRoom’ tech extends games beyond your TV. Buy one of these little suckers and your 250 square foot apartment will feel like the great outdoors as your X-Box makes your room look like any environment you want.

BBC - Future - Cars turn to augmented reality
. Why do we need augmented and virtual worlds, doesn't reality work for anyone anymore? People are trading in the real world for a make believe one. One where they are in charge, strong, powerful, beautiful, intelligent and anything else they can imagine. As young people find this their most important world, the real world will be ruled by fewer and fewer.