Flood of emotions. We took the CATC exam today. I felt a great sense of relief when I put down my pencil. I did the best I could do, and I think I passed.

Frontline aired a powerful documentary on the rise of opiate abuse in the United States, entitled "Chasing Heroin." It detailed first-hand accounts of middle-class addicts, their families, and the social workers & recovery workers trying to help them. Best video on the subject I've seen.

Saw a documentary on Tom Bradley, the five-time mayor of Los Angeles. I remember him as the city's mayor in the 80's when I was growing up, but there is a lot I didn't remember and never was made aware of. I remember the criticism against him. I remember the dissatisfaction with the LAPD, Chief Darryl Gates and the battering ram. I remember the crack explosion, gang proliferation and speeches by Minister Farrakhan. Those big things stick out in my mind when I think of that era.

​I had no grasp of where Tom Bradley came from, what he overcame, or the forces he was up against during his years as LA's mayor. Watching the documentary "Bridging the Divide" helped change my perspective.

Saw a documentary on Whitney Young, the civil rights "power broker." It's Black History Month...

Attended a Defy Ventures coaching event in the Solano Gym. The event was hosted by Catherine Hoke, the founder of Defy Ventures. It started at 10am.
Everyone in attendance wore name tags and referred to each other by the first names our mommas gave us. For some in attendance it had been a while since they had been addressed by their proper first name. I discovered one of my neighbors was actually named Wilbert. We got a friendly kick out of that.
The dropping of the pretenses was kinda refreshing.
The event lasted until 4pm. For six hours straight, Catherine took charge and led us through some of the same exercises that are done at normal CEO training camps!