The Mediation That Wasn't

It didn't go well. Google Maps fed me bad directions, sending me off in the wrong direction through downtown L.A. in terrible traffic. I allowed plenty of time to get to the courthouse, as this appointment was very important to me (for obvious reasons). However, by the time I noticed I was going the wrong way, and turned around and slogged through traffic all the way back, I was 20 minutes late.

I ran at top speed into the courthouse building and up to the custody center, only to be greeted by a friendly but firm woman who told me that the mediator "was released by the court five minutes ago." I asked if there was any way we could contact her (she couldn't be too far away at that point, could she?). She said that there was no way. No options. That they were booked up till May.

She said our only option was to wait till the day of our court hearing, and come back together (Nicole and I) as a walk-in.

This is forty-five times more stressful.

I was notified later by my attorney that Nicole was indeed present on the phone (from Washington). I feel so bad that I wasted her time.

She has started updating me on Noah's progress, sending me pictures and describing his latest adventures -- which I greatly appreciate. He's able to sit up on his own, and he's walking now!

I leave you with these:

Google Will Own Us All

The new Google Reader just came out, and it's amazing. Score one more for them. Between the new Google Streets, this very blog site, Picasa, their search engine, and about fifty bazillion other applications which are all conveniently integrated, I'm a little worried about what this might mean for us. "Google Barnes & Noble"? "Google American Idol"? (Digression - this is nearly as bad as "The Starter Wife Presented by Ponds." It's one thing to try and get your show sponsored. Yay for getting funding. But when your show's title has to share screen space with your sponsor's name during the opening credits, it's time for a less greedy sponsor. Digression over.) People don't even say "do an internet search" anymore. They say "go Google it."

I'm very happy for the Google geeks who are rolling in money in their fat glorious hilltop mansions. (What do they even do with all that money? Buy a lifetime subscription to World of Warcraft? Snatch up all the rare Daredevil comics?) I just hope they know when to stop.

Google used to keep our internet search information till the end of time. I hear they just made a decision (after much urging from outside sources) to stop that. Now they only keep it for about 18 months. Why do they even need this info? It just seems like we're giving them a lot of authority here.

One day, they will create Googlebots who will end us.