Unnecessary.

What's the deal with 'u' following 'q'?
Always.
(OK, not always, but damn near often enough to be considered always.)
Quickly, think of a word that has the letter "q" but not the letter 'u' behind it.

If you came up with more than just "Qantas", as in the airlines, you probably are very familiar with the Arabic or Hebrew.

In fact, there are only twelve words recognized as legal for use in scrabble in North America that do not have a 'u' following a 'q'.

So my question is.. why do we bother typing the damn 'u'. To me, it just seems like an unnecessary step. North America has over half a billion people, and lets assume that only 1/2 of them are literate. So you have 250,000,000 people typing or writing this completely unnecessary vowel.

Think of the productivity gains.

Question to Qestion
Quotation to Qotation
Quarter to Qarter
Qualified to Qalified
Queen to Qeen
Quick to Qick.

Just thinking of the time we could all save.

(don't get me started on how 'beard' and 'heard' don't sound the same)
Marburg
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

Balance.

Why is it that even though, as a species, we never seem to be quite
as productive as we think we can be? The zen answer is that we fail
simply by trying. By wanting, and acting on that want, we create
the pain of not having, and the pain of want. And that works out…
until we have to start doing things like paying the mortgage and car
bill and food bill. That requires us to go to work. Work requires us to
succeed. Which, by it’s nature is quite un-zen. So, where does that
leave us? Trying to balance zen and non zen, when zen means that
all things are interconnected, and in fact there is no line separating
this from that. Unless we give up the house and the car and actually
live…

There’s no way that T will dig on that vibe. Though I do see hints of
the answer in simplicity. Complex answers are almost never correct.

P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'42.15" W157 51'32.79
Elevation: 144ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

What you wont hear in the mass media...

20060503
On November 1, 1979 Iran's new leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urged his people to demonstrate against United States and Israeli interests. Ruhollah Khomeini was anti-American in his rhetoric, denouncing the American government as the "Great Satan" and "Enemies of Islam".

On November 4, amid another chaotic occupation of the grounds, a mob of around 500 Iranian students calling themselves the Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam (although reported numbers vary from 300 to 2000) seized the main embassy building. The guard of Marines was thoroughly outnumbered, and staff rushed to destroy communications equipment and sensitive documents. Out of 90 occupants, 66 were taken captive, including three who were taken from the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Fourteen women, African Americans and non-US captives were soon released, leaving 52 who remained captive until their release in January 1981. Ayatollah Khomeini claimed he was not aware of the students' plan, but he applauded the action afterwards (Though in actuality he had been informed by the "Muslim Students" on November 3).

Former hostages Dr. William Daugherty (who worked for the CIA in Iran), Kevin Hermening, David Roeder, US Army Col. Charles Scott (Ret.), and US Navy Capt. Donald Sharer (Ret.) have alleged that Iran's later president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (elected 2005) was among the hostage takers. All of them have claimed that they are certain that Ahmadinejad is the man whom they remember from their captivity.

Col. Charles Scott recently told the Washington Times [1] that "He was one of the top two or three leaders; the new president of Iran is a terrorist."

On 10 January 2006, President Ahmadinejad declared that his government is following the "religious mission" initiated by Navvab Safavi, a Shi'a cleric who assassinated the historian and author Ahmad Kasravi in 1946 for "insulting Islam." In 2001, Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, Ahmadinejad’s ideological mentor, praised Safavi and encouraged Muslims in taking similar steps against the "enemies of Islam." [15] [16]

There have been allegations that Ahmadinejad was involved in terrorist activities during the Islamic Revolution (given the gaps in Ahmadinejad's official biography for that period), and he has been connected to senior Hezbollah figure and terrorist, Imad Mughniyeh [17].

In December 2005 Ahmadinejad made several controversial statements regarding the Holocaust and the State of Israel, at one point referring to the Holocaust as a "myth" and criticizing European laws against Holocaust denial. He said that although he does not know whether or not nor to what extent the Holocaust occurred, if it had in fact occurred, European countries should make amends to the Jewish people by giving them land to establish a state in "Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska" instead of making "the innocent nation of Palestine pay for this crime". The statements were condemned by many world leaders.

Ahmadinejad is believed by many to belong, or to have once belonged, to the anti-Bahai and anti-Sunni clandestine society known as Hojjatieh. An Islamic society to which Ahmadinejad belonged when he attended Alm-u Sanat University was, according to an article that appeared in the Asia Times Online, an extreme, traditional, and fundamentalist group that maintained close links with Hojjatieh. Three members of Ahmadinejad's cabinet are said to have Hojjatieh backgrounds, including Hojatoleslam Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehyi, the intelligence chief who graduated from the Haqqani theological school, founded by Hojjatieh. Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, a Shi'ite cleric closley associated with the school, issued a fatwa urging two million members of the bassij Islamic militia to vote for Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential elections.

The current president of Iran is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and is currently working very hard to develop nuclear technology.

References provided upon request.


P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

Public Radio

Recently, say from Jan '06 or so, I've been listening to quite a bit of public radio.

I learn quite a few interesting things....

The Panama Canal is over 92 years old, and they are thinking of widening the lochs to accommodate the new fleet of cargo ships.

There are 104 Nuclear energy plants in the US, and none of them were build after the Chernobyl disaster; 20 years ago.

Earth Day was started over 36 years ago.

Good thing I have a blog, or this information would just be wasted.

:-)

P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

A question of ethics?

The owner of the company currently work for is racist.

There's just no other way to say it.

Now in the islands, there's a bit more flexibility and tongue-in-cheek about race. In fact there is a very popular comedian that does entire bits dealing with race. But there is a significant difference between comedy and racism.

I don't think there way to use the word 'nigger' in a sales meeting and it not be racist.

I was flabbergasted... and I still am. At first, I thought it was an attempt a humor. A poor attempt, like most of his analogies. I was wrong. Over the last few months, he has made comments that confirm my belief. "The darker side of town"..

I am usually a rather understanding kind of person, but this is just stupidity backed by arrogance.

P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

The Book - Translated

Quoted Text from one of my favorite authors... in a new languate.

Bizarre and then some!

"lu le cukta li'u tcita ledi'e xe fanva be le lisri pefi'e la xypyp. lyfkreft. zi'epede'i li ji'ipasocivo .itu'efu'eju'ocu'i

ni'oni'o mojykalsa .i'unaisai bu'ocu'i .i norju'o ledu'u le cfari mokca pu fasnu ca ba'e makau .iki'ubo so'iroixipa se'o banli .ii purci mi .ije so'iroixireku'i se'o le cabna cu mokca co selsru le grusi je tarmycau cimni .iji'a ca'o benji ledei notci fu le nalselju'o .iju'a mi cusku .iku'i ruble jijnu ledu'u le xe benji bele selsku be mi be'o bei le stuzi be le tersku poi mi djica ke'a ku'o ba cizra jela'aru'e baltepygau .iji'a cfipu murse fa le mibypre smuni .iru'a ba'o banli te jenca lifri .iju'eru'e krasi fa le mabla se manci jalge be lemi nunrapli poi rircyrai je tolfadni lifyfau .i ri mulno je se birti se krinu lebi'u curselgre cukta goiko'a .i .a'e morji le fakstu ko'a .i puki manku je jibni le xekri je raskai rirxe poi stodi muvdu bumru cnita .i revycla mutce se kumfa .i le kajna co gu'e fusra cukta culno gi drudi tcena cu simlu co fanmycau porsi vile cankycau ke nenri kumfa je kevna .iji'a barda je tarmycau derxi le cukta vi le loldi .e le rufsu tanxe .i mi facki fi le ko'a vi pale derxi .i na snada lemu'e cilre le cukta tcita .i claxu le crane papri .i ko'a karzukte vi le cukta fanmo .ibabo mi suksa je tortei viska da poi runtygau le sarxe flexu pele gasysanji

ni'o steci da .i mu'a liste le se cusku je se zukte ku .i'u.iire'e.a'unaisai .i da tcidu slabu mi sedi'o le se ciska noi mlimipri ke'a zi'enoi rigni joi cinrycai ku'o bele mintu be fu'e.u'ere'e le cizra je tolcni pevykakpa be fi le snura se mipri bele munje be'obe'o poi mi pu djica je ckire tcidu le cukta befi ke'a .i .au.a'afu'epe'a ckiku je gidvu fu'o ko'egoi lebi'u gremokca je banrytadji poi le cesyfenki ru'i senva je blesku ke'a ze'upu le remna nuncfa ku'o zi'epoi gasnu le te facki .e le se zifre vu'ovoi bancu le marjymunje .e le plini .e le kesycanlu joike temci te cimde vu'o poi slabu mi'o fu'o .i sorctona'arbalvi lenu zo'e morji gi'a djuno co stuzi vau da .i ko'a ba'e revycla .i genai le minjypri gi le fekmli jdasivni xance ba'o ciska leko'a ckape je latmo jufra peseci'a le ruvle'u co se manci ka tolcni

ni'o ki .a'e morji lenu ko'igoi lebi'u nanmu noi tolcni puki gege ckasu se jvinu gi cizra cmila gi nalsau xansni zukte calenu mi ko'a batybei .i puku ko'i toltugni lenu mi fi vo'a pleji ko'a kei mu'i de poi clabalvi se smadi le mibypre .i calenu jarki je kruvi je bumclu rirxyla'i bo klaji sutrykla le zdani keiku mi terpa se xanri ledu'u le smamli stapa jamfu ca'o .o'unai bu'o jersi vo'a .i le xaksu tolvitno sruri zdani cu simlu le cnino je bilma jmive poi zukte zi'o le palci .ibo fu'epe'a ba'o suksa kalrygau ko'ogoi le purganlo co jilra nunsanji fu'o .i bitmu .i batytcena rudykoi .i gu'e dertu bliku gi te mledi mudri je bakri .i le peseta'i lo salpykurfa ge'u kanlysmi canko cu simlu co ckasu se jvinu .i fu'eda'i .ii rora jibni lenu nalkakne co narcfa co nerkla je danryspo be mi fu'o .iseni'inaibo ba'o tcidu le paucma po'o po'u lebi'unai jdanatfe ve sinxa pulenu ganlygau ko'a gi'ebabo batybei

ni'o ki .a'e morji lenu puki mulno tcidu .uo.u'a .i za'e pilda flira .i stela le nitydru kumfa poi mi ze'u pilno ke'a lo tolfadni nunsisku po'o .i mulsma fa le zdabra .ito'unai nicte midju .i ki su'a ju'oru'e lanzu puku .iku'i na tcila birti .iju sefpre si'imei ju'osai .i na detri sanji .i ba ra ku fu'e.u'e.i'unai ba'o lifri so'i cedra .e kestei .ije ba'o runta je cnegau lemi temci sidbo fu'o .i pukiku mi lakygrana se gusni tcidu .i ru'i digyfarlu lakse .ai .i di'inai se janbe le darno galdinju .i cizra pe'ipei jundi le se janbe .i da'i mu'ibo lenu mi terpa ledu'u tirna fi ra fe di poi darnycai je zunti tonga ge'ero'enaisai

ni'o .a'i.ue co'a sance le guska joi juxre .i bartu le canko .i canko le vorme poi te jvinu le gapru co drata drudi pele tcadu .i ko'u cabna lenu mi sagbacru le somoi pemcypau po'u da noi mujyclira .ice tepydesku jimpe fu'e.ainai le smuni be ko'u .i ca'e lo pagre be ko'e roroi te jmina le ctinytai .ije la'edi'u se balvi leza'i mulkansa fu'o .iba'o makfa benji .iju'o ko'a dunli le se jijnu be le pu mibypre .u'anaicai .i ve'a le mintu nicte kuku fe ko'e pagre le balsarlu co temci joi menli .ije le cerni nitydru bo kumfa zo'u viska fa le balmibypre ne'i le bitmu .e le kajna .e le ve lasna fe le narpruselvi'a

ni'o na viska le munje teki'i le purci ku ba la'ede'u .i roroi mixre fa le cabna bemi be'o le cabna ku joi le so'omei be le purci .i ro le pu slabu dacti cu simlu le cizra xebe'i le cnino je zenba pu'u viska .i ze'ubakiku senva cadzu pa'o le se manci peta'i le se tolju'o .a le se junmle .i daxiny.poi fu'epe'a ckiku je gidvu fu'o zo'u li ny.mei ve mlecu fi leka mi kakne co saurju'o le dacti po'u le jarki munje noi clani bapli mi .i mi .enai lo drata cu viska le vanbi bevo'a .i smamau je naljikca binxo balmibypre seki'u lenu mi na simlu le fenki .i le gerku mi ta'e terpa .i ra jijnu fo'agoi lebi'unai ctinytai noi noroi nalylamji mi .i si'a ca'o tcidu .i tcidu le cukta .e le slanycku vu'opoi tolgubni ja se tolmorji ke'a zi'epoi le cnino puvyviska cu gidva zo'i ke'a .i mi danre pagre le darmau se ckiku pe'a pelo kensa canlu .e lo nunzasti .e lo banrymorna ge'u le muctymunje midju co se tolju'o

ni'o ki .a'e morji le nicte poi vi ke'a ku mi puki zbasu mu midjymintu cukla le jelca bu'u le loldi .i sanli le midju .i sagbacru .i fo'egoi le tolcnano stepemci ba'o notci se bevri fo la tartar. i le bitmu ba'o runme .ibabo le xekri brife mi vilbei pa'o le balcoi co lolcau je grusi .i minli se cnita le jesnysmi jipno be le nalslabu cmana .ibaze'aku mulno manku .ibabo te gusni co gigdo tarci ta'i le cizra je tolslabu tarmorna .i ta'onai viska le plita co crino se gusni peni'ave'u mi .i vi ra ku sarlykru galdinju tcadu tepa'a no tcadu poi mi djuno ja tcidu ja senva sera'a ke'a .i jbimau fluvoi fa'a fo'igoi lebi'unai tcadu .icabo viska le banli rokci je kurfa dinju vi le kunti foldi .i cinmo le tolmelbi nunterpa poi jgari pe'a .i tepcmo .i damba .i za'i kunti co menli .ibabo di'a nitydru kumfa .i vreta le mu murse ke loldi cukla .i le steci nicte pu'u litru kei cu se pagbu gezu'u le mlecu befi leka cizra kei beife so'i purci nicte be'obe'o gizu'unai le zmadu befi leka tepcai .iki'ubo jimpe ledu'u mi zmadu fi leka jibni le bartu pe'a balcoi je plini keiku fe ro purci be mi .ibabo co'a to'e darsi co makfa sagbacru .i naku djica lenu seirgau le balmibypre .e le xadni .e le terdi ne'i le se tolju'o balcoi poi mi na kakne co sezyxru ke'a ta'a fu'otu'u"

P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

Geek Mode.

One of the things I really liked about my last job was the ability to go into geek mode, and get paid for it. I'd spend a full day either writing code or researching something that I thought might help the biz. The mundane world would just fade away, and only the project at hand would, or could, be thought about. Now, I'm not a geek. More rather a geek wannabe. I have nither the skills nor experience to classify myself as a geek, though I do know the culture. So, when I say geek mode, I'm trying to convey a deeply satisfying and focused time. A happy time.

(Makes it even better that I was supposed to be working at my new job.)

Today I successfully installed, on my notebook:
Apache Web Server
PHP
MySQL
and an e-commerce engine.

Problem is, I gots no ones to share it with!

I'm the alpha geek in my world. (With the exception of some friends that I don't get to see F2F)

P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

Things that I'm afraid of...

To quote a prophet of mine:
"No aliens, psychopaths or MTV hosts
Scare me like vampires, mummies and the Holy Ghost"

But seriously..
These things scare me:
Acinetobacter baumannii - Currently accounts for 7% of all hospital acquired infections and few drugs can fight it.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - 102,000 infections per year and becoming ever more resistant to antibiotics.
Aspergillis - Once present in the bloodstream, you have a 50% chance of survival, even with the best antifungicides available.
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium - Major cause of heart, brain and abdomen infection. About 10% of hospital patients are infected. Current drugs fail to kill it quickly.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - One of the best at learning how to adapt to anything we can throw at it.
Escheria coli - Nearly half of the drugs used to fight this infection are no longer working.
Klebsiella - Nearly half of the drugs used to fight this infection are no longer working.
H5N1 - Not really terrifying, yet. Current speculation is that it will enter the US soon. It's been the cause of over 200 million dying from the disease or being killed to prevent it's spread.


Maybe I shouldn't be working in the Sanitation industry...

Oh, and more subtley, I'm afraid of the Hamster Syndrome.

P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

New Day

Ok.. so it's a new day. Big fragging whoop.
I loath my new job and that makes actually showing up a bit of a chore.

There are so many things missing, from what I think a company's structure should look like.
We lack simple things like an org chart or SOP manuals. For a company this complicated, they are a necessity. And they are totally absent. Leadership would be nice.

I learned a few things about the owner. He's never worked for someone else.
His father ran this company until his death in '96. He dropped out of college to take over.
This explains quite a bit about how things are run, or rather allowed to run, as there is certainly little direction be offered by The MGMT.

This also explains why the Monday morning meetings don't start until he shows up, sometimes over an hour after the scheduled time, and the use of words in which I'd not post in a public forum. Quite obviously, the use of the "N" word in a sales meeting is inappropriate.
Many have told me to record a meeting and turn him in....
Though that would be the 'right' thing to do, there are issues with me not having the ability to pay the mortgage shortly afterwards.

Side note: Thinking of going on a bit of a fast for Lent. Not that I've any inclination towards religion, but the timing seemed to fit my need for a change.


P38Pilot (Skillset Exportable)
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'88.98' W158 01'52.29
Elevation: 78ft
(accurate to within 11ft)

Change your mind.

For a good number of weeks now.... frag, it's more like months..
Anyway, I've been in a funk.
I followed a difficult desicion (quit my job) with the accomplishment of a goal that I was never really certain that I could complete. (See Viscious Cycle Blog)

The new job did take a bit of time and I let some really sorry-ass excuses get in the way of living my life. Life began living me. And that sucked.
I dropped off the diet that I was on... and quit riding.. and more of less gave up on a lot of the goals that I'd planned for the new year. Sorry ass excuses really..
Today, in a fit of enthusiasum (which has been quite rare of late) I decided to change my mind.
To rethink why I do the things I do and change the behaviors I'm less than pleased with.


P38Pilot
Current meatspace coordinates:
N21 18'43.98' W158 01'06.29
Elevation: 12ft (Sitting in a hammock)
(accurate to within 11ft)

Like Nailing Jelly to a tree.

Business is slow. Times are tight. The competition is agressive and capable.

I don't have access to a computer at my desk. This means that I have no price list, except the one that I hand typed. I have no accout list, except the one I typed.

I have to share the one general use computer that can print and access the product/client database with 6 other salesmen/and one office person.

Inevitably, when I get to the computer.. the printer is jammed.

Working here is like nailing jelly to a tree.

P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

Life is like the wheels of a bicycle.

Things have been crazy.
Stress abounds.

Yesterday, the cycle began to turn around.
I was offered a position at a company I'd be courting for a few weeks. Seems I did a good job selling myself, the offer was good enough for me to not feel the need to negotiate.

The pilot will need to change his location soon.

Now, how do you resign from someone that you consider a friend?

P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

A New hut?

We've been waiting. Planning and plotting. Anxiously anticipating.
Now we're there.
Today we were offered a new house, two in fact. Even with six months of running contingency plans and scenarios, we're unsure of which house to purchase.
The amounts are staggering, and completely impossible to deal with, considering that we we're dead broke not three years ago.
How's $345.68/sq. ft. for the larger house?
or $357.46/ sq. ft. for the smaller house?
We only paid $240.72/ sq. ft. for our current abode. And we plan on selling for $447.04/ sq. ft. Nice.

Fraging scary to be sure.

We should know for sure latter on this afternoon.
Add this to a "Plan B" in the works with an undetermined compensation package...
Folks are coming in three weeks to stay with us.
Still have not worked out some major details on my November Epic.

I'm a stress ball.

P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

Confronted with a loss.

Confronted with a loss.
I first met Portnoy in late September or early October of 2000. Of course, I didn't know his name then, that was to happen a few days later. I couldn't shake my mind of his face for the rest of the day. Our second meeting was later that same night. Mysterious forces at work, to be sure.

There was a connection right away. I just can't explain it. This is where most people would, though they've stated that they can't explain it, try anyway. It's beyond. I'd either insult you or prove myself daft in the attempt. There was a connection. Deal with it.

No one knew how sick he really was. Though I have a gut feeling that he did. We went to the clinic. When Dr. Sosumi called me the following day, I was devastated. How could something like this happen to a pure soul like his? Fsking wrong, is all it is. When I think about it, it makes me doubt that there's any justice or balance in this world. The doc told me that we were looking at a year, give or take. Immune deficiency. Treatment limited. Risks immense. Fsking wrong.

That one-year anniversary, of what was supposed to be his death passed, without celebration or remark. We all knew it was a matter of time, and there was a fear that by speaking the devils name, you summon him. We didn't speak of it until almost 3 years had passed.

In April of 2004, I walked into the room to find him crumpled on the floor, listless and drooling profusely. There was no warning, no complaints, just the sudden attack. I rushed him the Hospital. Massive infection in his teeth. In his weakened condition, the infection just overwhelmed his system. Eleven teeth needed to be removed.
This was a very bad turn of events. If he was on borrowed time before, this was the second mortgage.

In June of 2005, the true descent began. Repeated trips to the Hospital. Steroids. Antibiotics. He would lose his appetite and become dehydrated. We'd bring him back to the Hospital to get saline injections. He'd be ok for a week or two, then it would cycle back down. Each time, getting a little worse. On the next trip the doc found Lymphosarcoma. A form of Leukemia. The treatment, chemotherapy was just as likely to cure him as to kill him.

We went ahead with the treatment.
It was a stopgap to prevent his death for just a bit longer. Nothing more. The chemo was to run five weeks.
He made it two.
Portnoy entered my life late September of 2000, and departed 2005-09-06.
I'm changed from knowing him. And changed again from the loosing of him.

I'm angry. This isn't a part of the cycle of life. I watched him waste away, and there was nothing I could do about it. This wasn't a consequence of poor choices, or karma completing the cycle. It's out of sync. Wrong.
There's a fury in me that I have no one to channel at. There's no "one" to be angry at.

There are days, this is one of them, where I wonder at the 'reason' of things. The point.
Usually, I find it.
Today it is hidden from me.
I’m hurt, angry and lonely.
The connection to him has been closed on his side by his death, yet is still open and bleeding on mine.
It’s of little consolation that the pain that he bore for all this time is now gone as well. That pain was never his. And though I couldn’t take it from him, I seem to have my share now.

I walk forward looking of the good that will set this right.
Something that will close the hole that Portnoy’s absence.
Balance.
Today, everything seems to be sliding. Evil is on one side, and hope doesn’t carry the weight it once did.
Fsking wrong.


P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

The price of ignorance.

The previous post talks about a bit of a flood...
My warehouse is located on the ground floor beneath a monsterous warehouse that has been vacant for close to 2 years. Apparently, there's been a bit of neglect to the fire supression systems..

Sometime prior to 8pm a fire sprinkler main burst in the upstairs warehouse. Security heard the fire alarm around 8pm and called the Security Big Boss, and was instructed to wait to see if the alarm would go off. (Who the hell trains these people?).
Just after 9pm an employee of the tenant two suites down heard dripping. Upon investigation, he saw the water dripping from the ceiling and called that businesses owner. The owner called the 'emergency contact number' for the landlord and got a recording. 15 minutes later and several calls unaswered, he called the landlords main office. He was greated with someone who did not know the location of our building. (Who the hell trains these people?) One the location of the building was established, the phones lit up.
All of the tenants were called, and finally, the FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Water was gushing from a 4 inch pipe for at least two hours.

Estimated damages to my business alone exceed 57 thousand dollars.
Not including man hours to clean and to account for all the damages.
Lost sales have not been figured into this either.

Who pays the price for ignorance?

P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

Fate's not done with me.

In the previous post.. I said "Palpable feeling of doom".
Got home tonight, cooked dinner, watched a rerun of CSI and the new NUMB3RS.
Right before the end of NUMB3RS, I get a call from the property manager at work. There's been a fire sprinkler main burst in the warehouse above us.

Sprinklers again.

That was at just before 10pm. It's 02:01 the following morning.
I've been on 'bucket brigade' for the last 3 hours.

Life in not fair.
I want my lemonade.


P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

Lemonade

Yesterday was a dark day.
Numerous "salmon days" at work. I was on the receiving end of a bit of "seagull management" on top of that.
Palpable feeling of doom.
Traffic caused us to decide to stay in town until later (blowing my plans out the door). When we got home at around 10:30, the sprinklers for the back back lawn were still going. From 7. Not knowing anything about sprinkler systems in general, I proceeded to press most of the buttons on the sprinkler controller. Starting in a methodical manner. Each change on the control box was followed by a walk around the house to see if the sprinklers were still on. Back to the box...press some more buttons.. walk back around the house. Turning the control box o the "off" position failed to turn off the sprinklers.. WTF?!?! Is the term "off" used differently in landscaping lingo? After about an hour of making changes on the box and walking around to the back to find the sprinklers still on, I was ready to kill something. I reprogrammed the control box. All 6 pumps were turned OFF. All of the watering times for each of the 6 pumps were turned OFF. I even changed the date. (Figured I fiddled with everything else, what the hell?)
The damn sprinklers were still going.
It's now 11:45. I've had a shit day. (I'd planned to go for a bit of a bike ride too.) I'm filthy from messing with the sprinkler controls and every walk around the house to see if the sprinklers were still on took my rage to a new level.
Frustrated beyond rational thought, I decide to turn off the water to the whole house.
The grass has wedged the cement cap on tight.
I'm now in a complete blind rage. This is how people get murdered, they mess with people when they're in this state. I've taken off my shirt because I'm sweating furiously, standing in the front yard tearing clumps of grass out by the fist-full. Savagely. I jam the handle of a set of pliers into the hole in the cement cap and wedge it in there tight and yank with both mud covered grassy hands. It barely pops free. Slightly relieved, though no less calm or rational, to find out that the valve does not require some special took to operate, I crank the valve closed.
One more trip around the house thinking "I swear to god that if the sprinklers are still on I'm going to kill everyone".

The sprinklers were off. (at least some of the laws of physics are working)

I walk into the house and use my elbow to turn on the water in the sink.
Nothing.
I swear the room just faded to white.

I really can't remember the last time I'd been that furious. In retrospect, it sounds comical.

Stepping back, it's just a bunch of things adding up and I don't really have an outlet.
My Cat's sick and the Doc has no idea what's wrong.
My 180 HDD is dead. And all the data with it.
My job has turned from something that I looked forward to, to something that causes me to blog on company time.
I'm totally broke (partially because my job pays next to nothing - it was a labor of love to begin with)
I'm averaging 3.5 hours of sleep a night.
All I want to do is go ride - and unless I want ride in the dark, which I'm less than fond of in my area.

Maybe today wont be another dark day. (I'm not holding my breath)

P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

The meaning of life?

The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for.
-- Oscar Wilde

Well, that's a bit easier than I was expecting.

P38Pilot
N21 19.190' W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)

Retaliation Against Stupidity

The following was my e-mail response to the chain e-mail concerning the US Postal Services re-issuance of a Islamic Stamp in 2003. I've added the original email as well (I have this nasty habit of archiving everything)


Original email:
Date: 2/20/03 3:32 PM
RE: BOYCOTT this US Postal stamp when purchasing your stamps at the post office.
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine Barracks in Lebanon. REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military Barracks in Saudi Arabia. REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa. REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the US COLE. REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on the Pentagon on 9/11/01. REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM attacks. Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the MUSLIMS with a commemorative first class postage stamp. I strongly urge you to REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this stamp when purchasing your stamps at the post office. To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors. I also strongly urge you to pass this along to every Patriotic American you know, whether by e-mail or otherwise.
End Original email

Begin reponse email
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of Pan Am Flight 103!
There is NO mention of Muslim connections or motives in the indictment of the two Libyans responsible for this. Modern thought places these two in league with the Hizbullah. Keep reading.
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5260/indict.html
TERROR is not a religion.

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993!
Ramzi Yousef, the convicted TERRORIST responsible for the February 26th attack as been linked to Iraqi intelligence. Remember our nutso pal there, Saddam Hussein? There is a very persuasive case to be made that Ramzi Yousef conspiracy to take down the WTC in 1993 (and unleash Cyanide gas on the survivors) was Hussein's revenge for the Gulf War. In fact, the bomb went off on the second anniversary of the ending of the Gulf War.
Looks like this is a revenge issue.


REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon!
Hizbullah, a radical shia group founded in Lebanon has been indicted in the attack against the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, as well as the bombing of the embassy in Beirut. This is a TERRORIST organization that uses religion as a recruitment platform. Not the nation of Islam attacking America, a wacko radical splinter group who's sole interest is removing outside influence from there lands. BTW, there are backed and funded by Iran and Syria.
A TERRORIST group.

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military barracks in Saudi Arabia!
Hizballah was indicted in this as well.


REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa!
Muslims did this. All 1,300,000,000 of them. Holy shit! Of course not. This was our old buddy bin Laden, who is also know to have conducted the bombings of the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 7 August that killed at least 301 persons and injured more than 5,000 others. He claims to have shot down US helicopters and killed US servicemen in Somalia in 1993 and to have conducted three bombings targeted against the US troop presence in Aden, Yemen in December 1992. He and his ilk are linked to plans for attempted terrorist operations, including the assassination of the Pope during his visit to Manila in late1994; simultaneous bombings of the US and Israeli Embassies in Manila and other Asian capitals in late 1994; the midair bombing of a dozen US trans-Pacific flights in 1995; and a plan to kill President Clinton during a visit to the Philippines in early 1995. It was estimated in 1999 that his group numbered about 3000, though he has influence and helps to fund any group that has the same goal.


REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE!
See above. Our good ol' buddy bin Laden.


REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11/2001!
See above. Our good ol' buddy bin Laden.

By using the term "Muslim" you are stating that 1.3 BILIION people are responsible for the acts of the TERRORIST groups listed above. A recent census of suspected militant Islamic groups notes the number at less than 100 thousands all told. Persecution of the second largest religion in the world based on the actions of .007% of their population seems a little extreme. if not a bit ignorant.
Just because I think that Jerry Falwell might possibly be the stupidest man in America for his remarks that the Islamic prophet Mohamed was a “terrorist”. Don’t get me started about his moronic comments about him ‘outing’ Tinky Winky! And Falwell told Oral Robertson and the world (on national TV less than 48 hours after the 9-11 tragedy) that “God is upset that America has become too sinful, so last week in retaliation, the Lord lifted his veil of protection that previously kept the nation safe, and that's why the suicide attacks were successful.” Millions of people beleive this. This is incredibly frightning to me. Speaking of Oral Roberts;
"On January 4, 1987, Roberts launched his most notable campaign to date. Roberts told his followers that if he did not raise a total of 8 million dollars by March, God was going to take his life...Comparing himelf to the apostle Paul, Roberts begged not to let Satan defeat him. 'God' he says, 'clearly told me he needs me here on earth. And here's why, because of all the ministries, this ministry is the only one God has on this earth that owns a medical school.'...Some time later, Oral's son, Richard, took pen in hand to warn of his father's impending doom. Without 'the additional $4,500.000.' explains Richard, 'God will not extend Dad's life.' He then pleads, 'Partner, we cannot let this man of God die. There is no reason for him to die.' ...After sternnly warning, 'IF YOU NEGLECT TO PAY ATTENTION...Then Satan will take advantage and hit you with bad things and you will wish that 1985 had never come,' Roberts closed his letter with a hard sell. Sending a seed-faith gift will not only enable you to 'STOP SATAN IN HIS HATE TO BRING YOU DOWN,' it will also 'help you get your hundredfold return.'(Hank Hanegraaff, "Christianity in Crisis" page 196-198)

This guy's picture should be listed in the Wikipedia entry for Thief or maybe Idiot! This guy is either very cunning, or very stupid.

By the same reasoning used with the term Muslim earlier, I make the following case. Jerry Falwell and Oral Roberts, self-labeled Christian leaders have proven that they are both idiots (or thieves), therefore all Christians are idiots (or thieves). Ouch! Hurts don’t it. That’s exactly the logic that went into the e-mail on “Muslims”. But, I'm not doing anything different than the e-mail did.. take some small examples and expand those upon a social group indescriminately.
Now...
Think about the Crusades. Go pull out your Bible and read John 8:7.

Pay attention to what you read. Don’t punish the masses for the actions or beliefs of the few.

The U.S. Postal Service is perhaps trying to make a point. There are close to 5.5 million Muslims in the United States. Are we to crucify them as well? Hell, they’re Muslims right? Aren’t they responsible for the bombing of the Twin Towers?

Now you know better. (or do you just beleive everything you read)
End response email

Parting shot... Terrorists don't surf.

P-38Pilot
N21 19.001' W158 1.386'
(accurate to within 10ft)
Position verified by 6 Sats.

Intent vs. Impact

Perhaps one of the most difficult things about inter human communication is the delta between what your intent versus your impact. I often find myself forgetting to look at what I said in comparison to what I meant. When I do have the social conscience to do so, I'm often surprised by the difference.
With written word, I have the time, and often the awareness, to look at what I'm trying to say. In IM and chat room conversations, I seem to have a grasp on this, so why is it that in face to face communication I'm oblivious?
Now before I get to down on myself, I notice this more often when I'm truly listening to someone talk. This morning, our office manager said to a client "Well, if they left the selling to me.. but that's beside the point." Yes, he said this to a customer. No I have no idea what the hell he was thinking, nor what his intent was. We we discussed it this morning, he failed to recognize the difference between what he said, and what he meant(whatever that was). Attempts to bridge the gap were futile. And it's not that this individual is an idiot, in fact he's well educated and has considerable skills in the financial market. He's just missing that part of the brain that checks to see that the words used match the intended message

-P38Pilot
N21 19.190'
W157 51.734'
(accurate to within 91ft)