My last two days in SF were action packed...

Wednesday was the longest day of the Forum with activities planned from 8am to 9pm focusing on the psychology of risk. 1) Fog shrouded daybreak as seen from the 27th floor of the W Hotel 2) Richard "Tex" Chapelle (on stage right), poker teacher and performer, gave a lesson on card hand strategy; William Hall, improv entertainer (on stage left), facilitated an interactive body language activity 3, 4) Jimmy Carter of Effective Leaders International (not pictured-not the ex-president) led several groups of about 12 each through a team dynamics exercise. Without talking at all, and limited by time and monetary penalties, groups had to self organize to guide each other through discovering the correct foot path through an electronic sensor enabled maze mat. 5) My view of sunset happened because I decided to bail on the poker game event and dinner in favor of a nap to recharge my wiped out body. Refreshed, I had nightcap and inspiring mind meld at the hotel bar with design strategist Jim Faris.

Thursday, the last day of the forum was a half day to reflect and summarize on the last 2 1/2 days. 6) Business case discussion and Forum summation yielded some pithy insights. The forum ended with lunch. 7) Visiting the Chronicle Books store at the Sony Metreon, I note to myself to find Wallace and Gromit window stickers, which were out of stock. The Sony stores were disappointing. 8) View of SFMOMA and the uncharacteristically clear weather. My cousin Leland picked me up mid-afternoon to take me on a tour of the area around the Presidio, which is near his house. 9) Here's the Yoda fountain at the entrance to Lucasfilm's new offices in the Letterman Center for Digital Arts. 10) Obligatory shot of Golden Gate Bridge. 11) Sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 12) Dinner was at Tong Palace Seafood Restaurant with Aunt May, Uncle Stanley and their sons Leland and Fulton. 13) Taking in the night view of downtown from the top of Twin Peaks. Leland kindly dropped me off at SFO so I could catch my red eye flight back to DC.

- mike lee - sf