: About Me

Born in Ohio, Raised in Michigan, schooled in Illinois, I have a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana. I served as an Army Reserve officer during the Vietnam Conflict, in Alaska as Motor Maintenance Officer at Fort Wainwright and Ordnance Test Officer at Fort Greely, and in Chieng Mai Thailand as Ordnance Advisor to the Seventh Regimental Combat Team of the Royal Thai Army. I was a reserve Captain on discharge.

Upon discharge, and after a short career as a drafting technician, I followed the career path of Construction Project Management. in 33 years I have managed various stages of the design and construction of hundreds of capital improvements, 21 years at UCLA and six a Cal State Fullerton and Los Angeles, with the remaining in various K-12 school districts.

I am a lifelong car lover, inheriting my passion from my grandfather who sold Auburns and Packards in Western Pennsylvania, and my father, who imprinted in me my first memory at age three when he brought home one of the first post-war new cars, a bright green Buick Special Convertible with power windows. My indoctrination included a succession of cars, including a Carrera Panamericana-era Lincoln Coupe, the MGA in which I learned to drive, two Jaguar E-types (XK-Es to you), a red roadster and a silver blue 4.2 Coupe, an MGB Roadster, and a DeTomaso Mangusta.

During college vacations, a buddy and I rode our Honda CB-77 Super Hawks from coast to coast and from border to border. I have driven or ridden in every state in the union save Maine.

While attending the Fullerton Church of Religious Science, I heard Rev. Michael Beckwith speak as a ministerial candidate. His centered demeanor and inspirational message led me to join my wife in the small group that visioned for the creation of what is now the Agape Spiritual Center in Culver City, CA which now has over 9,000 members. I was in the first group to receive all its accredited spiritual classwork under Rev. Beckwith, and went on to serve on the Agape Board of Trustees as president.

A friend who was familiar with my car knowledge and who was uncomfortable with the prospect of facing a car salesman alone approached me around that time and asked me to help her research, find, and buy a car. She showed her gratitude by compensating me, and that was the spark, along with an Agape workshop on "Living God's vision," that led to the creation of my business, Options in Mobility, or "OM."

As part of that business, I began publishing an automotive commentary called CAR-MA. It gained nationwide paid circulation thanks to remarks by award-winning journalist Denise McCluggage in her syndicated column, Drive She Said, where she atributed to one observation "the clear crystal ring of truth." I wrote, edited, took photos and drew cartoons for, and published that commentary for four years.

Last year I published my first book, Car-ma; Why Bad cars Happen to Good People (ICBN978-1-4343-5618-5; Authorhouse).

I have resumed publication of Car-ma, now as a color publication circulated as an email attachment.

My passion is ...

Cars, Spiritual Practice

I know too much about ...

Cars

My parents always told me ...

There's no such thing as job security. All you have is your own knowledge of your true worth.

My childhood ambition ...

To be involved with cars in some way.

My favorite memory ...

Driving with Dad to the Manistee River in Michigan in the silver blue E-type Coupe for opening day of trout season

Why I write ...

Because I'm a smart-a* and I love to show off, and because I can't stop

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Just finished Frederik Pohl's Beyond the Blue Event Horizon and re-read the first two of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy, watched the long version of Dances With Wolves, and listened to NPR, Harry Nilsson, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, White Stripes, & Paul Simon on a 400 mile drive.

My first job ...

Working in the tool cage at my dad's factory.

My best moment ...

Sleeping in the Alternative Birth Center when my second daughter was born

My inspiration ...

Michael Bernard Beckwith, Coco Stewart, Howard Thurmond, Peter Egan, Dan Neil, Denise McCluggage, Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Autos > Buying & Selling Cars Buying American cars from bankrupt Detroit automakers

1 of 2

Sadly, the mainstream media has designated the supposed imminent collapse of the US auto industry as its disaster du jour. Potential buyers have been bombarded with scary scenarios that make buying a car with a Chrysler, Ford, or General Motors pedigree seem like the automotive equivalent of investing in Confederate currency. There are few enough people out there with the cash on hand, job security, or access to financing who are seeking to buy a new car, without pundits scaring them away from dealers selling American-labeled cars. Leading the fear-mongers' list are GM and Chrysler, the co...

More..

Writing:

• Marketplace Approved Writer
• Helium Charter Member