Mark Beaulieu

I really enjoy reading every one of your Mac stories.

Thanks to Keith Valone, who let me stay at his student rat-trap in L.A. He made me eat an avocado and an artichoke. Entrepreneurial opportunities and the weather hooked me on California. After UT Austin and student life as a painter graduating at Trinity University (BFA) and U.C. Davis (MFA), I produced large airbrush super-realist paintings. (Pictures of Jim's Coffee Shops and Earl Abel's are in private collections - so we live on). My first after-college job was in Hollywood - minimum wage at Shakey's Pizza Parlor. My boss said I had a great voice and had me announce all the pizza's (Thanks, Ms. Gartman). From there, I started a computer typesetting company in Irvine with a Trinity University roommate, Roland Alden. Sold that. From then on, I was part of the formative years of Silicon Valley. Joined many startups, wrote plenty of software, invented lots of things, getting a patent. One day, I made a presentation to Steve Jobs about a new software architecture for his then NeXT computer. That evening I was an extra in Oliver Stones' Doors movie. The all-night shoot took place at the Pulgas Water temple. I pulled a hippie shirt in my closet that I used to wear at MacArthur HS in Mr. Bigg's art class. Wrote some books, Multimedia Demystified for Apple, Wireless Internet for my current industry, and a six-volume Historical Fiction on the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Taught in San Francisco about the origin and future of digital media centered on Marshall McLuhan. Invited his son, Eric, to stay with us. Wired Magazine reviewed my Digital Restaurant Guide that I converted to USRG.com (restaurants are big in California.) At Wired, I worked in their warehouse on nights and weekends to learn everything about the Internet and made one of the first-ever web sites. Woking in the wireless industry, I was the director of two companies - Qualcomm & Novatel. Went on to consultancy. I am still making pictures. Artists never retire.

Thanks to Robert Crowley (Class of 72) who did the narration for one of my Eleanor books. Sad for his recent passing. I came to writing about Eleanor from a freshman class at U.T. Austin on Medieval Studies.

My wife Joanna's cooking website is a good resource of dishes we have known, including a Huevos Rancherof recipe from San Antonio Foodiekitchen.com. Great fringe benefits, by the way. We wrote a book, "The Artists Cookbook", up on Amazon.

In my downtime, I advise, research, map, illustrate author's projects, and collaborate with artists. We live in Longmont, Colorado.

Most people keep in touch with me on Facebook .

Keep your stories coming. You know there is a book in each of you. Just write it.

Can I tell this now?

Mr. Davis, the V.P. disciplinarian, besides his buzz cut, was known for two things: a paddle and a ruler. Holes were drilled in the paddle - surely by the skills of the voc-tech shop - so that, by the laws of physics, it would fly through the air with the least resistance to celebrate posteriors. The ruler measured girl’s dress lengths to the knee and boy’s hair over the collar. Some girls probably needed a 6" ruler.

Being inspired by the radicals who went to Woodstock (Diane & John), my contribution to the age of Aquarius took a different path. In Key Club, we got to do the “thought for the day” for a week. Over the P.A., after the pledge of allegiance and a moment of prayer, to inspire the students and teachers, I read a lengthy passage from Chairman Mao’s “red book.” The inscrutable wisdom of the great communist brought no protest. The next day the club set its sights higher.

Since Mao wasn’t moving the masses, we went to the school library and scrolled through Bartlett’s quotes. A gem of great wisdom. “Those who can, do, those who cannot teach.” I okayed this play for fellow key-clubber Manuel C. After The Pledge, the word went forth. About ten minutes into first period we get called to Mr. Davis office. Sitting there in his finest Blue and White was Mr. Pearson, our great band leader, except he was Red. Long story short. Pearson demanded blood, and the paddle was not big enough, so Manuel got suspended. I always felt bad; it was my fault. I suppose Manuel was stereotyped as a “troublemaker,” but he was always a charitable, good guy. I was spared the wrath to raise other rabble or do some good; one never knew what would be judged as right or wrong. I guess I atoned making breakthroughs and murals.

Many teachers had a good laugh that morning. I think it was Mr. Kykendahl subbing for Mr. Campbell (science teachers, go figure) who caught me in the hall - "Mark, you know how the saying really goes - “Those who can do, those who cannot teach. Those who cannot teach, teach teachers.”

You gotta have a sense of humor.