Richard
“Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man” Mudrinich graduated from the Carnegie Mellon
Tepper School of Business in May 1993.
I was a marketing and entrepreneurship major with a natural passion for
small business. Since graduating, I
have maintained my passion for Carnegie Mellon University and its collaborative
environment across all academic disciplines.
In essence, Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man is a renaissance yard man who
utilizes various art forms to promote yard safety awareness and advance various
innovative yard safety products and services.
For instance, Carnegie Mellon is a leader in many academic fields,
including business, computer science, drama, engineering, psychology, robotics,
etc. I had a vision to collaborate with
Carnegie Mellon on Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man yard safety initiatives. I contacted a few key individuals over the
past few years with my entrepreneurial inspirations. I wish that I could talk with Dr. Randy Pausch about my
interactions with Carnegie Mellon. It
appears that on several occasions Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man was the
inspiration for several projects, including the spin-off of an edutainment
workplace safety software company without me – not very nice.
(February
2004)
Carnegie
Mellon University – President Jared Cohon
I
have corresponded with President for several years since I had my lawn mower
accident.
In
addition, I was a volunteer with the MIT Enterprise Forum of New York City for
a decade. (President Cohon received his
PhD from MIT.)
Also,
I got to know Dr. Dave D’Appolonia via the MIT Enterprise Forum of Pittsburgh.
I
have contacted President Cohon several times with regards to various products
and services related to RRtGCM yard safety, including yard safety footwear and
yard safety software.
(February
2004)
Carnegie
Mellon University – Dr. Thomas Emerson and Dean Ken Dunn
I
graduated from the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business.
I
contacted Dr. Emerson and Dr. Dunn to ask for their assistance in developing my
various RRtGCM yard safety products and services.
In
particular, I sent them emails to notify them that I was developing yard safety
footwear.
(May
2005)
Dr.
John Lehoczky – Carnegie Mellon University – Dean, College of Humanities and
Social Sciences
I
sent Dr. Lehoczky an email (May 4, 2005) to explore the possibility of working
with Carnegie Mellon University on a research study to find a cure for yard
accidents with a focus on cognitive psychology.
Dean
Lehoczky:
I
want to find a cure for outdoor power equipment accidents. I graduated from the Carnegie Mellon Tepper
School of Business (MBA 1993), and I have become an advocate and promoter of
yard safety, featuring my character Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm). Incidentally, I had a lawn mower accident
about a year ago that resulted in the partial amputation of my left foot.
It
is the Spring Season. Each year, there
are about 100,000 lawn mower and 400,000 garden-tool-related accidents, as well
as over 200 fatalities. During the past
year, I have developed some relationships with various organizations with an
attempt of spearheading a collaborative effort to finally solve this
problem. During some preliminary
conversations, I have been told that the majority of outdoor power equipment
accidents could have been prevented; they are the result of “stupid human
tricks” and “lack of common sense.”
Apparently, there is a significant disconnect between human behavior and
the real danger of the outdoor power equipment. I liken my observation to the electric bug zapper lights; the bug
does not think it will get hurt until it is fried to a crisp. For some strange reason, most people are
very careless and lack awareness with regards to the frequency and severity of
these often times brutal and life-altering accidents. They do not think that they will get hurt until it is too
late. My new life goal is to reduce
outdoor power equipment accidents to zero.
I
recognize that Carnegie Mellon University has one of the top psychology
programs in the world, especially in cognitive psychology. I would be thrilled to speak with the
appropriate individual regarding this significant phenomenon that results in so many yard
accidents each year.
Furthermore,
I am an advocate and promoter of yard safety, featuring my character Rescue
Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm). Please
visit my website http://www.rescuerick.com
for additional information and my BLOG http://rescuerick.blogspot.com
for interactive feedback. Also, I
strive to educate and entertain. Rescue
Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) is a renaissance yardman utilizing various art
forms to communicate the yard safety message.
I
appreciate any insights and suggestions that you may provide. Furthermore, since my accident, I have had
significant difficulties trying to find more traditional work. I appreciate any introductions that you
might provide to facilitate a new career opportunity. I can be reached at (724) 347-4078. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Richard
T. Mudrinich
Rescue
Rick the Grass Cut Man
2122
South Hermitage Road
Hermitage,
Pennsylvania 16148
(August
2006)
Carnegie
Mellon Entertainment Technology Center
Carnegie
Mellon West Campus
Etcetera
Edutainment – CEO, Jessica Trybus
Over
the previous few years, I contacted several individuals (Jared Cohon, Don
Marinelli, Randy Pausch, etc.) at the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment
Technology Center about collaborating on various education entertainment
projects related to yard safety awareness.
Apparently,
Carnegie Mellon decided to create the spin-off company Etcetera Edutainment to
focus on industry safety applications.
I
received a phone call from Jessica Trybus to discuss RRtGCM and yard safety.
Jessica
Trybus spent time at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business
entrepreneurship center seeking some guidance regarding business problems to
apply entertainment technology applications.
At
Tepper, Jessica Trybus was enlightened on the existence of Richard Mudrinich
and the innovations of Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man in the world of yard
safety – an inspiration for workplace safety and the eventual launch of Etcetera
Edutainment.
I
have followed-up with Jessica Trybus about collaborating on yard safety
edutainment software – to no avail.
Also,
I contacted the Carnegie Mellon West Campus in Mountain View, California to
introduce the concept of edutainment related to yard safety, including yard
safety footwear.
I
really believe that Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man influenced their decision to
pursue the safety educational market niche.
I
would be thrilled to collaborate with Etcetera Edutainment (as well as
Electronic Arts and others).
I
wish that I could talk with Dr. Randy Pausch about this situation.
I
feel that Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man should receive an equity stake in
Etcetera Edutainment.
Also,
Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man wants to collaborate on developing yard safety
edutainment software.
Rescue
Rick the Grass Cut Man recognizes that Carnegie Mellon has developed some
existing relationships with various players in the green industry. Richard Mudrinich wants to collaborate on
advancing his various genius yard safety initiatives that appear to be advanced
without him.