Dick Durbin loves him some forgiveness!
Here's some backstory on the whole situation. George Ryan worked decades for the state of Illinois, holding the post of secretary of state for a number of years and eventually getting elected governor in 1998.
Amidst swirling accusations surrounding a drivers license for bribes scandal, Ryan did not seek reelection. Eventually he was tried and convicted of 18 federal counts relating to corruption.
Ryan has only served one year of an already too-short 6.5 year sentence.
Ryan is a Republican.
Durbin is a Democrat.
That alliteration was unintentional, as is this assonance.
Durbin has publicly stated he's considering asking President Bush for clemency for Ryan. Why does Dick want George free? Is it because he wasn't really guilty? Is it because of George's good works? Nope. George is all sad he's in jail. He's depressed. And, being old, he doesn't have much life left, so he should be free, right? Right?
Right.
Conveniently, Durbin said this just a few short weeks after he was elected to yet another six-year term as senator.
It's heartwarming to see such love across the aisle in Illinois. It makes me truly believe in all Barack Obama's talk of change. See, even now, how a new era of cooperation has started, with politicians on one side testifying for those on the other. All in the name of feeding from the same public trough.
Can we get away with robbery? YES WE CAN!!! Can we fool the voters enough to continue taking more of their money at the risk of their very safety? YES WE CAN!!!
29 November 2008
25 November 2008
Subtlety isn't my strong point....
My manager had a discussion with me today about a dustup last week.
There was a work meeting at 7 a.m. last Wednesday, which is when I'm normally pulling a 23 skidoo. Mostly night shift folks attended, but there were a few day shift people there. One of those people is perhaps the most useless sack of skin I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with in my entire life.
Backstory!
Those who know me even remotely know I have little tolerance for incompetence, stupidity and laziness at work. I empathize with taking a while to get the hang of a job. It takes time. But there has to be some effort made by people to get it.
I used to work with this person in my old job, network montioring at AT&T. She only got that job because she complained to the union that her seniority demanded she get hired. Nevermind she had no idea what the job involved or that she had zero desire to learn it. That's right. Her 20 years with the company meant she deserved the job.
After we got collectively canned last year, she decided, several months after I did, that taking Cisco classes was the route for her to go.
There's $3,000 vouchers available to unemployed folks to assist with job retraining to get back into the workforce. That's how I was able to take the classes.
To get this voucher, you had to take a basic test. And by basic, I mean staggeringly easy. I mean, middle school math at the hardest, and perhaps some simple reading comprehension. You have to pass this test to get the voucher.
She failed. Twice.
Yet she was still given the voucher.
And she used it to take Cisco classes.
Because, you know, how hard can configuring a router be when you can't even do basic math?
So, as it turns out, she also applied for the same job I have currently. I interviewed well after she did, but was offered the position very shortly after I interviewed. When she discovered I was about to be hired, she wasn't pleased. More accurately, she kept pestering one of my colleagues via text message and cell phone call wanting to know why I had been hired when she hadn't yet received a response.
She's nuts.
She's the sort of person where you become dumber just by being in a 10-foot radius of her.
So, you can imagine my reaction when this....thing....sat down next to me at last week's meeting. I stood up and tried to just stay by the door, but this thing decided to do a guilt trip. "Oh, he doesn't want to sit next to me."
"Not particularly," I answered.
Apparently, management is using this occasion to make a mountain out of a molehill. This is a big deal if I want to stand away from stupid, psychotic people instead of being a team player.
So, when my manager brought this to my attention, I basically said the company made a mistake in hiring this person. That she's judged by a much lower standard than folks who actually want to do their jobs. That that's management's problem for hiring her.
But I have to be more diplomatic. I shouldn't display such open contempt for somebody, no matter how worthy they are of that contempt.
I know, everyone has to do stuff at work that they don't want to do. That's why it's work.
But the title of this blog involves rants, so I'm ranting. So freaking there.
Anyhoo, my manager asked me how I'd handle myself with this in the future.
"I'll be more subtle in my insults," I answered, to her wonderful smiling face.
There was a work meeting at 7 a.m. last Wednesday, which is when I'm normally pulling a 23 skidoo. Mostly night shift folks attended, but there were a few day shift people there. One of those people is perhaps the most useless sack of skin I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with in my entire life.
Backstory!
Those who know me even remotely know I have little tolerance for incompetence, stupidity and laziness at work. I empathize with taking a while to get the hang of a job. It takes time. But there has to be some effort made by people to get it.
I used to work with this person in my old job, network montioring at AT&T. She only got that job because she complained to the union that her seniority demanded she get hired. Nevermind she had no idea what the job involved or that she had zero desire to learn it. That's right. Her 20 years with the company meant she deserved the job.
After we got collectively canned last year, she decided, several months after I did, that taking Cisco classes was the route for her to go.
There's $3,000 vouchers available to unemployed folks to assist with job retraining to get back into the workforce. That's how I was able to take the classes.
To get this voucher, you had to take a basic test. And by basic, I mean staggeringly easy. I mean, middle school math at the hardest, and perhaps some simple reading comprehension. You have to pass this test to get the voucher.
She failed. Twice.
Yet she was still given the voucher.
And she used it to take Cisco classes.
Because, you know, how hard can configuring a router be when you can't even do basic math?
So, as it turns out, she also applied for the same job I have currently. I interviewed well after she did, but was offered the position very shortly after I interviewed. When she discovered I was about to be hired, she wasn't pleased. More accurately, she kept pestering one of my colleagues via text message and cell phone call wanting to know why I had been hired when she hadn't yet received a response.
She's nuts.
She's the sort of person where you become dumber just by being in a 10-foot radius of her.
So, you can imagine my reaction when this....thing....sat down next to me at last week's meeting. I stood up and tried to just stay by the door, but this thing decided to do a guilt trip. "Oh, he doesn't want to sit next to me."
"Not particularly," I answered.
Apparently, management is using this occasion to make a mountain out of a molehill. This is a big deal if I want to stand away from stupid, psychotic people instead of being a team player.
So, when my manager brought this to my attention, I basically said the company made a mistake in hiring this person. That she's judged by a much lower standard than folks who actually want to do their jobs. That that's management's problem for hiring her.
But I have to be more diplomatic. I shouldn't display such open contempt for somebody, no matter how worthy they are of that contempt.
I know, everyone has to do stuff at work that they don't want to do. That's why it's work.
But the title of this blog involves rants, so I'm ranting. So freaking there.
Anyhoo, my manager asked me how I'd handle myself with this in the future.
"I'll be more subtle in my insults," I answered, to her wonderful smiling face.
24 November 2008
HMO gripes
Since rejoining the ranks of the employeed about 6 months ago, I've rediscovered the joy of health insurance. This also means rediscovering the wonders of insurance company incompetence.
Earlier this morning, I looked online to make sure vision insurance is part of my health coverage. I also looked online to see if there's any way I could find an eye doctor covered in network. No such luck.
This meant I had to make the dreaded call to customer service.
I've worked in customer service. In a way, some of the stuff I do now qualifies as customer service. I suppose there's some element of customer service in lots of jobs. It's not easy.
Yet still, I marvel at the level of roadblocks involved in dealing with health insurance.
My first call to Humana involved lots of hold time and dealing with some poor woman who sounded like she had a cold. Before even talking to someone, I had to navigate through a series of options just to get to a live person. After spending entirely too much time on the phone, I was given the name and phone number for an optometrist in Oak Park, a short jaunt from my home.
Upon calling the phone number, I found out it had been disconnected.
Great. Time for a second call to customer service.
Upon navigating through the phone maze a second time, I again got through to a live person, who provided me a list of four working phone numbers for eye doctors less than half a mile from my home.
Why couldn't I get this during the first call?
My theory? Health insurance companies deliberately frustrate patients. They figure by sending folks in an endless path of paperwork, they can reduce claims. Therefore, less claims equals more profit.
At any rate, I at least have an eye exam scheduled next week. Yay for dealing with health insurance stupidity.
Earlier this morning, I looked online to make sure vision insurance is part of my health coverage. I also looked online to see if there's any way I could find an eye doctor covered in network. No such luck.
This meant I had to make the dreaded call to customer service.
I've worked in customer service. In a way, some of the stuff I do now qualifies as customer service. I suppose there's some element of customer service in lots of jobs. It's not easy.
Yet still, I marvel at the level of roadblocks involved in dealing with health insurance.
My first call to Humana involved lots of hold time and dealing with some poor woman who sounded like she had a cold. Before even talking to someone, I had to navigate through a series of options just to get to a live person. After spending entirely too much time on the phone, I was given the name and phone number for an optometrist in Oak Park, a short jaunt from my home.
Upon calling the phone number, I found out it had been disconnected.
Great. Time for a second call to customer service.
Upon navigating through the phone maze a second time, I again got through to a live person, who provided me a list of four working phone numbers for eye doctors less than half a mile from my home.
Why couldn't I get this during the first call?
My theory? Health insurance companies deliberately frustrate patients. They figure by sending folks in an endless path of paperwork, they can reduce claims. Therefore, less claims equals more profit.
At any rate, I at least have an eye exam scheduled next week. Yay for dealing with health insurance stupidity.
23 November 2008
You Can Never Go Home Again
I'm back. And I'm pissed.
Subject I will be touching on in future posts will include:
The incompetance of AT&T
The subtle trade of family guilt
The mechanics of government employment
Moving
Stock Markets
Politics
But for now, I am back.
I didn't get to vote this year. I didn't get to vote, not that my vote would have mattered because I would have been voting in California, so it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Obama (my future boss) was going to get all of those electoral votes sewed up. The only reason I have to vote is to vote judges out of office and on ballot initiatives. The rest of the system is gerrymandered in California, regardless of what they tell you. But the narrow passage of Prop 11 may change that. It will be interesting to watch. From far, far away.
I moved back to my other set of roots, back to the DC area. It's not changed much beyond the usual urban sprawl. I found it funny when someone said "do you know that over a million people live in your county?" No, but why should that matter? Oh well, there is a different perspective on everything, I guess.
It's good to be back online, even if I will have to get back in the groove.
Subject I will be touching on in future posts will include:
The incompetance of AT&T
The subtle trade of family guilt
The mechanics of government employment
Moving
Stock Markets
Politics
But for now, I am back.
I didn't get to vote this year. I didn't get to vote, not that my vote would have mattered because I would have been voting in California, so it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Obama (my future boss) was going to get all of those electoral votes sewed up. The only reason I have to vote is to vote judges out of office and on ballot initiatives. The rest of the system is gerrymandered in California, regardless of what they tell you. But the narrow passage of Prop 11 may change that. It will be interesting to watch. From far, far away.
I moved back to my other set of roots, back to the DC area. It's not changed much beyond the usual urban sprawl. I found it funny when someone said "do you know that over a million people live in your county?" No, but why should that matter? Oh well, there is a different perspective on everything, I guess.
It's good to be back online, even if I will have to get back in the groove.
19 November 2008
Buildup: I'm PO'd
Hi everybody!
I don't have internet yet! I've been in my new place for a month, and still don't have internet!
I want major businesses to fail! Incompetance of this scale should not be rewarded with paychecks!
Soon. Maybe next Monday, maybe earlier...
Toodles
I don't have internet yet! I've been in my new place for a month, and still don't have internet!
I want major businesses to fail! Incompetance of this scale should not be rewarded with paychecks!
Soon. Maybe next Monday, maybe earlier...
Toodles
05 November 2008
Help me, Obi-Wan Wolf Blitzer. You're my only hope.
The force is weak in this one.
Click on the pretty preceding letters for hilarity.
This has to be one of the most ridiculous, shark-jumping, fridge-nuking moments I've ever seen. Seriously? Reporting via hologram? Holy crap.
The only thing missing from this amazing technological advance was a holographic Anderson Cooper kneeling before Larry King, asking, "What is thy bidding, my master?"
Really. What does this technological advance add to the newscast? Anything? Something? A desire to see younglings slain via lightsaber?
Mind you, I've watched rasslin'. I've seen some ridiculous angles. Hell, I watched Heroes up until recently, and that show stinks.
This....this just beats it all.
I'm convinced now the world is about to end.
Click on the pretty preceding letters for hilarity.
This has to be one of the most ridiculous, shark-jumping, fridge-nuking moments I've ever seen. Seriously? Reporting via hologram? Holy crap.
The only thing missing from this amazing technological advance was a holographic Anderson Cooper kneeling before Larry King, asking, "What is thy bidding, my master?"
Really. What does this technological advance add to the newscast? Anything? Something? A desire to see younglings slain via lightsaber?
Mind you, I've watched rasslin'. I've seen some ridiculous angles. Hell, I watched Heroes up until recently, and that show stinks.
This....this just beats it all.
I'm convinced now the world is about to end.
03 November 2008
How I voted and why
For president, I voted for Obama. The clincher for me was Colin Powell's endorsement. I've had strong reservations about both Obama and McCain, but I think Obama is enough of his own man to be the right guy for the job right now. Yeah, he has ties to the Chicago political establishment, but when he ran for senate 4 years ago, he wasn't the establishment's handpicked candidate.
Almost everyone else, I voted Republican. Thing is, I live in Cook County, so those votes won't do me any good.
On judge retentions, I voted no for every last one of them. I'm sure there's some decent judges in the bunch, and again, I'm sure my vote won't make much difference. Still, I think the lot of 'em are bastards. If I can help get new judges in there, that's just fine.
I also voted in favor of an Illinois constitutional convention. I think there's a lot of crap wrong now with Illinois politics, and redoing the constitution might just be the way to right some wrongs. Also voted in favor of amending the existing constitution to allow voters to recall state officials. Illinois is on the verge of sending its second consecutive governor to jail. Rod Blagojevich hasn't yet been indicted, but the dominos are falling. It's only a matter of time.
In any case, regardless of what you believe, get out and vote if you haven't already. Yay, America. And stuff.
Almost everyone else, I voted Republican. Thing is, I live in Cook County, so those votes won't do me any good.
On judge retentions, I voted no for every last one of them. I'm sure there's some decent judges in the bunch, and again, I'm sure my vote won't make much difference. Still, I think the lot of 'em are bastards. If I can help get new judges in there, that's just fine.
I also voted in favor of an Illinois constitutional convention. I think there's a lot of crap wrong now with Illinois politics, and redoing the constitution might just be the way to right some wrongs. Also voted in favor of amending the existing constitution to allow voters to recall state officials. Illinois is on the verge of sending its second consecutive governor to jail. Rod Blagojevich hasn't yet been indicted, but the dominos are falling. It's only a matter of time.
In any case, regardless of what you believe, get out and vote if you haven't already. Yay, America. And stuff.
12 October 2008
It depends on what your definition of "is" is.....
With less than a month to go until the presidential election, John McCain and supporters have heavily criticized Bill Ayers, a man with some previous minor connections to Barack Obama.
Early in his political career, Obama served on some educational committees with Ayers. Ayers ultimately did donate a small amount of money, $200, to Obama's reelection campaign while Obama still served in the Illinois legislature.
Of course, this doesn't mean that Obama holds all the beliefs that Ayers had back in the day.
Back in the day, Ayers had a fondness for blowing stuff up, like the Haymarket Riot memorial in Chicago. Ayers also helped plan a number of other bombings elsewhere.
Naturally, once federal charges were dropped, this opened up a shiny new career for Ayers, in education.
In his writings, Ayers parses his words with all the skill you'd expect from a self-serving, narcissistic child of privilege. One of his money quotes?
Right here:
We were very careful....to be sure we weren't going to hurt anybody, and we never did hurt anybody. Whenever we put a bomb in a public space, we had figured out all kinds of ways to put checks and balances on the thing and also to get people away from it, and we were remarkably successful......Terrorists terrorize, they kill innocent civilians, while we organized and agitated. Terrorists destroy randomly, while our actions bore, we hoped, the precise stamp of a cut diamond. Terrorists intimidate, while we aimed only to educate. No, we're not terrorists.--Fugitive Days, Bill Ayers.
Guess that explains how Ayers got his nice, shiny professorship at UIC. Bombs educate people. On second thought, maybe that happened because his daddy ran Commonwealth Edison and was friends with Richard J. Daley.
Bombs sure educated a close friend of Ayers and his girlfriend in 1970. Three of his terrorist friends, including his girlfriend, were killed when a nail bomb they were building exploded, tearing them to shreds. Literally. Cops were only able to identify his girlfriend after they found what remained of her thumb.
Another thing I really dig is about Ayers is how others are fooled into parsing words like he does. Check out a recent blog entry from Eric Zorn, who writes for the Chicago Tribune: http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/10/what-is-and-isn.html#comments
By definition, a terrorist is someone who uses violence in an attempt to coerce others into different beliefs. Zorn justifies Ayers' actions by saying Ayers didn't want to kill anyone.
Riiiiiiiight.
So, let's sum up. All you have to do to become a respected professor is bomb a lot of shit, not mean to kill anyone, and have a daddy who's close friends with the mayor. This also works in never having to do time for your crime.
Ugh.
I'm not gonna even start on my disgust for both presidential candidates.
Early in his political career, Obama served on some educational committees with Ayers. Ayers ultimately did donate a small amount of money, $200, to Obama's reelection campaign while Obama still served in the Illinois legislature.
Of course, this doesn't mean that Obama holds all the beliefs that Ayers had back in the day.
Back in the day, Ayers had a fondness for blowing stuff up, like the Haymarket Riot memorial in Chicago. Ayers also helped plan a number of other bombings elsewhere.
Naturally, once federal charges were dropped, this opened up a shiny new career for Ayers, in education.
In his writings, Ayers parses his words with all the skill you'd expect from a self-serving, narcissistic child of privilege. One of his money quotes?
Right here:
We were very careful....to be sure we weren't going to hurt anybody, and we never did hurt anybody. Whenever we put a bomb in a public space, we had figured out all kinds of ways to put checks and balances on the thing and also to get people away from it, and we were remarkably successful......Terrorists terrorize, they kill innocent civilians, while we organized and agitated. Terrorists destroy randomly, while our actions bore, we hoped, the precise stamp of a cut diamond. Terrorists intimidate, while we aimed only to educate. No, we're not terrorists.--Fugitive Days, Bill Ayers.
Guess that explains how Ayers got his nice, shiny professorship at UIC. Bombs educate people. On second thought, maybe that happened because his daddy ran Commonwealth Edison and was friends with Richard J. Daley.
Bombs sure educated a close friend of Ayers and his girlfriend in 1970. Three of his terrorist friends, including his girlfriend, were killed when a nail bomb they were building exploded, tearing them to shreds. Literally. Cops were only able to identify his girlfriend after they found what remained of her thumb.
Another thing I really dig is about Ayers is how others are fooled into parsing words like he does. Check out a recent blog entry from Eric Zorn, who writes for the Chicago Tribune: http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/10/what-is-and-isn.html#comments
By definition, a terrorist is someone who uses violence in an attempt to coerce others into different beliefs. Zorn justifies Ayers' actions by saying Ayers didn't want to kill anyone.
Riiiiiiiight.
So, let's sum up. All you have to do to become a respected professor is bomb a lot of shit, not mean to kill anyone, and have a daddy who's close friends with the mayor. This also works in never having to do time for your crime.
Ugh.
I'm not gonna even start on my disgust for both presidential candidates.
11 October 2008
The bunny chronicles: Mops, Gollum and a food dish
Ever since the rotten little beast has taken up residence in my apartment, we've had a certain ritual whenever I want to get her back in her cage. She normally hides out under my bed whenever she's out of her cage. My bedframe is on wheels, so I would move the bed back and forth. Eventually, the beast would emerge, hop about happily, and finally return to her cage.
Recently, I said to myself: "Self, this is too much effort. You have a mop. Just put it under the bed, and she'll go home."
Right.
So, I tried this. The beast thumped, and instead of hopping back into her cage, she went between her cage and my CD case. From there, I'd try to get her back in the cage, but she'd thump again, then run away, darting back under my bed.
The subsequent second through fifth attempts had the same degrees of success.
Frustrated, I moved the bed back and forth, and naturally the beast returned to her cage.
I was not satisfied with this. Moving the bed takes effort, more effort than I'm willing to spend to get the beast back home.
I needed another plan.
Fortunately, I have cardboard cutouts of Ivanova from Babylon 5 and Gollum from the Lord of the Rings films. In my revised effort, I placed the Gollum cutout right next to the beast's cage. I also placed the Ivanova cutout right next to the Gollum cutout, placing the Ivanova cutout on its side. This created roughly a 6-foot long barrier, blocking off the living room area of my apartment from my bed. This meant when the beast emerged, her only choices would be to either return to her cage or go to the front hallway. Once she was in the front hallway, there was no escape for her.
Once I had the barrier set up, I again took the mop and placed it under the bed, moving it along until finally, the beast emerged. She looked around for a bit, didn't see her usual escape routes, and returned to her cage.
Victory was mine!
Naturally, when the beast returned to her cage, she was angry at being thwarted. So, she chomped on her food dish and threw it around her cage even more than usual.
I had to do something about this. First off, she wastes food when she does this. Second, she makes a lot of noise when she does this. I don't like hearing so much noise.
So I said to myself: "Self, you have superglue. Why not glue the dish to the plastic shelf it sits in?"
Yesterday, I finally did that after cleaning the beast's cage. For those who are worried about the rabbit eating glue, I only used the glue on the surface that contacts the shelf, not on a portion that she normally grabs to throw the thing around.
After letting the glue set for a while, I put the shelf back in her cage. I filled it with pellets. Naturally, the beast tried to throw it right away, but the dish stayed in place.
Victory is mine!
Or so I thought.
Shortly before I went to bed last night, I looked at the beast, and she looked right back at me. Standing on her hind legs, she tugged at the dish twice, finally loosening it and removing it from the tray.
I was gonna need another plan.
So, I again glued the dish to the tray. I left it out of her cage overnight, thinking perhaps the glue needed some more time to do its work.
Upon waking up today, I returned the dish to her cage, and again filled it with pellets. Right away, she tried to throw it again, but was only able to move the tray upon which the dish was glued. The dish was staying put.
Victory is mine....?
Time will tell if my plan worked.
Rotten little beast.
::edit, 8:29 a.m. Central time::
I've returned home. First thing I noticed as I got in the door? The bunny's food dish....on the floor of the cage instead of in the shelf.
I need a new plan.
Recently, I said to myself: "Self, this is too much effort. You have a mop. Just put it under the bed, and she'll go home."
Right.
So, I tried this. The beast thumped, and instead of hopping back into her cage, she went between her cage and my CD case. From there, I'd try to get her back in the cage, but she'd thump again, then run away, darting back under my bed.
The subsequent second through fifth attempts had the same degrees of success.
Frustrated, I moved the bed back and forth, and naturally the beast returned to her cage.
I was not satisfied with this. Moving the bed takes effort, more effort than I'm willing to spend to get the beast back home.
I needed another plan.
Fortunately, I have cardboard cutouts of Ivanova from Babylon 5 and Gollum from the Lord of the Rings films. In my revised effort, I placed the Gollum cutout right next to the beast's cage. I also placed the Ivanova cutout right next to the Gollum cutout, placing the Ivanova cutout on its side. This created roughly a 6-foot long barrier, blocking off the living room area of my apartment from my bed. This meant when the beast emerged, her only choices would be to either return to her cage or go to the front hallway. Once she was in the front hallway, there was no escape for her.
Once I had the barrier set up, I again took the mop and placed it under the bed, moving it along until finally, the beast emerged. She looked around for a bit, didn't see her usual escape routes, and returned to her cage.
Victory was mine!
Naturally, when the beast returned to her cage, she was angry at being thwarted. So, she chomped on her food dish and threw it around her cage even more than usual.
I had to do something about this. First off, she wastes food when she does this. Second, she makes a lot of noise when she does this. I don't like hearing so much noise.
So I said to myself: "Self, you have superglue. Why not glue the dish to the plastic shelf it sits in?"
Yesterday, I finally did that after cleaning the beast's cage. For those who are worried about the rabbit eating glue, I only used the glue on the surface that contacts the shelf, not on a portion that she normally grabs to throw the thing around.
After letting the glue set for a while, I put the shelf back in her cage. I filled it with pellets. Naturally, the beast tried to throw it right away, but the dish stayed in place.
Victory is mine!
Or so I thought.
Shortly before I went to bed last night, I looked at the beast, and she looked right back at me. Standing on her hind legs, she tugged at the dish twice, finally loosening it and removing it from the tray.
I was gonna need another plan.
So, I again glued the dish to the tray. I left it out of her cage overnight, thinking perhaps the glue needed some more time to do its work.
Upon waking up today, I returned the dish to her cage, and again filled it with pellets. Right away, she tried to throw it again, but was only able to move the tray upon which the dish was glued. The dish was staying put.
Victory is mine....?
Time will tell if my plan worked.
Rotten little beast.
::edit, 8:29 a.m. Central time::
I've returned home. First thing I noticed as I got in the door? The bunny's food dish....on the floor of the cage instead of in the shelf.
I need a new plan.
05 October 2008
29 September 2008
Panic! At the Disco
Wow. What you're seeing is your government standing up for you even if it's the wrong thing to do, and then dropping the ball and leaving things in a mess. They've heard the voices of their people and they are responding. And boy oh boy are their people pissed. They are emotional and irrational, and willing to crush the entire system in order to set the system right. And after saying no, they're going on election recess.
People would much rather see their investments tank than bail out billionaires for their bad decision making. Initially people would have not paid any mind to the poor getting thrown out of their homes for taking a sketchy mortgage. Now it's trickled up to the middle class, and the middle class is getting hosed. Mostly people are looking at what they've done, said "I'm doing nothing wrong, why do I have to help people who are failing? Why do I have to take that risk? I didn't risk before, why am I being forced to risk now?"
There is a significant psychological component to this, this is true, and most people get it. But they aren't moving forward until, metaphorically speaking, heads are on pike staffs outside of the Capitol Dome. And if the system falls apart because Congress goes on recess, their heads should be right next to them.
More importantly, the references to Chicken Little or the Boy who cried "wolf" may not be 100% accurate but people are tired of eight years of "if we don't do this we're all dead." I'm fortunate. I don't have a mortgage, have significant cash in savings, and can eliminate my debt in a hurry. I also know that many others, well, are not.
A long shot is that the 371 billionaires in the U.S. could come up as heroes and bail out the government by each making a $20 million donation. But they got rich presumably by taking good risks. This isn't a good risk and everyone knows it.
When people are identified for prosecution, maybe then people will endorse the deal. There's a sense of cruel vindication. You lose, you don't get bailed out- you lose your shorts and go broke. That's the deal that the people want to see.
If the financial system can't take that, then the system is dysfunctional and there will be more pain coming.
24 September 2008
Who's To Blame for the Banks?
Always, always, ALWAYS beware of partisan politics. They rely on misinformation, half-truths, and blind partisanship to survive.
Yes, the people that caused this mess did so under Republican rule. But the ability for them to do the things that cause what they're calling a financial crisis was initiated and approved by a Democrat.
Pay particular attention to what caused the Acts to be written, and then in turn what caused them to be repealed and ask yourself... why?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-Steagall_Act
Yes, the people that caused this mess did so under Republican rule. But the ability for them to do the things that cause what they're calling a financial crisis was initiated and approved by a Democrat.
Pay particular attention to what caused the Acts to be written, and then in turn what caused them to be repealed and ask yourself... why?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-Steagall_Act
Cue: Drop, Other Shoe
When I handed in my two week notice last Monday, I felt a deepening sense of dread the entire weekend. Dread because I knew the people for whom I work were going to take the decision personally.
Nothing was initially said, but I did not accept that nothing would be said. Their displeasure would be released, I was certain of it. I had nothing more than a hunch and prior experience to base this on.
They realized something was amiss when, after I told them I was leaving, that my primary customer knew as well- because they were one of my references. That generated a look upon realization of "you sneaky bastard."
Yesterday, I was called into the office and "feelings were expressed."
After telling me that had I approached them first, they would have been happy to see me go and would have provided great letters, I nodded. When they finished, I countered with a simple "you didn't make me feel comfortable with that option and the decision I made at the time was solid." When I explained my reasoning, they retreated from their indignance and were conciliatory. "No hard feelings" was said enough times to attempt to mask the hard feelings.
Tick tock. Three more days to go.
Nothing was initially said, but I did not accept that nothing would be said. Their displeasure would be released, I was certain of it. I had nothing more than a hunch and prior experience to base this on.
They realized something was amiss when, after I told them I was leaving, that my primary customer knew as well- because they were one of my references. That generated a look upon realization of "you sneaky bastard."
Yesterday, I was called into the office and "feelings were expressed."
After telling me that had I approached them first, they would have been happy to see me go and would have provided great letters, I nodded. When they finished, I countered with a simple "you didn't make me feel comfortable with that option and the decision I made at the time was solid." When I explained my reasoning, they retreated from their indignance and were conciliatory. "No hard feelings" was said enough times to attempt to mask the hard feelings.
Tick tock. Three more days to go.
22 September 2008
Hope vs. Abandon Hope
We were in a store, when I happened to notice what looked like an unpackaged Obama-bobblehead on the floor. It wasn't actually a bobblehead, but a statue with a disproportionately large head. Nothing wrong with that, except the surroundings were strange.
1) It was facing the corner
2) On its left was a giant red plastic devil mask
3) On its right a pile of plastic signs "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here"
Every now and then, the doll would bust out with "Can we do it? Yes we can!" if you got close enough.
This felt... wrong to me. I mean, isn't it a fairly strong metaphor to put Obama in the corner, not facing anyone, even if only an effigy?
I point out to the clerk, and ask "don't you feel weird putting Obama in (and motioned to) the corner, especially with all this evil stuff?"
"No, it annoys the customers. It has no off switch. It doesn't shut up. ... Actually, it kind of reminds me of a 98 lb. version of O.J. Simpson."
I laugh my way out of the store. The sound of Obama's voice annoys the customer, juxtaposing his message of hope with Dante's Inferno. The sound won't ever stop, and after awhile the whole Obama message could be associated with a suspected murderer. But the real punchline?
This was an independant book store in the People's Republic of Berkeley, California. So blue they are indigo, possibly ultraviolet. Or more like red, and not Republican red. Green, and not money green. Too bad pink's not in the rainbow, because they've got that too. The only reason Obama would not get all of the votes in this town is because he's too central, too fascist, not true enough to the people's cause. Not liberal enough, not progressive enough.
I'm glad I saw this before I leave.
1) It was facing the corner
2) On its left was a giant red plastic devil mask
3) On its right a pile of plastic signs "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here"
Every now and then, the doll would bust out with "Can we do it? Yes we can!" if you got close enough.
This felt... wrong to me. I mean, isn't it a fairly strong metaphor to put Obama in the corner, not facing anyone, even if only an effigy?
I point out to the clerk, and ask "don't you feel weird putting Obama in (and motioned to) the corner, especially with all this evil stuff?"
"No, it annoys the customers. It has no off switch. It doesn't shut up. ... Actually, it kind of reminds me of a 98 lb. version of O.J. Simpson."
I laugh my way out of the store. The sound of Obama's voice annoys the customer, juxtaposing his message of hope with Dante's Inferno. The sound won't ever stop, and after awhile the whole Obama message could be associated with a suspected murderer. But the real punchline?
This was an independant book store in the People's Republic of Berkeley, California. So blue they are indigo, possibly ultraviolet. Or more like red, and not Republican red. Green, and not money green. Too bad pink's not in the rainbow, because they've got that too. The only reason Obama would not get all of the votes in this town is because he's too central, too fascist, not true enough to the people's cause. Not liberal enough, not progressive enough.
I'm glad I saw this before I leave.
18 September 2008
Corporate doublespeak, meetings and fatigue
I hate business meetings.
I really, really hate business meetings.
Invariably, these meetings turn out to be a big circle jerk, fingers get vaguely pointed to blame someone for some wrong doing, promises get made to improve the situation, and nothing comes of it. Business meetings are every bit the futile, soul-sucking exercise they're intended to be.
I hate business meetings.
In my not-quite-so-new job, I monitor alarms on government and military two-way radio equipment. The unfortunate part is the hours: I work overnight four nights a week.
So, whenever I have to attend a meeting, I have to attend it at 7 a.m., right as I'm supposed to leave.
I really, really hate business meetings.
Yesterday morning was a great example of the soul-sucking corporate meeting. Everybody from the overnight shift was present, as were a few folks from the day shift. Essentially, the meeting was called because some folks, myself included, screwed up in opening up a few trouble tickets and/or following up on tickets.
Luckily, I still have the FNG (Frakkin' New Guy) label, so I haven't come remotely close to getting canned....yet.
The meeting started with everyone seated around a rather generic-looking conference table in a rather generic-looking conference room, with two supervisors present and another on a conference call with the rest of us. The department head was also on the call.
Right away, the department head said "this was by no means any sort of disciplinary action." Right. That explains everything.
The meeting continued with examples of trouble tickets that various folks had screwed up, either by not following specific customer requests or by inputting a site ID incorrectly. Certain customers have different IDs, for the same site, based on how they want a particular alarm to be addressed. Once that was explained to everybody, this particular problem all but vanished.
Problem is, one of the customers who recently complained had been affected by recent hurricanes. Naturally, this meant more trouble tickets were opened, therefore, more errors happened than usual.
In the meantime, fresh off a 10-hour shift, the overnight folks were starting to nod off.
I really, really hate meetings.
I understand their purpose, really. Everyone's accountable to somebody else, so management has to demonstrate they're doing something to correct a problem, lest someone higher up the ladder decide cuts are needed.
I just don't like sticking around for something when I'm about to fall asleep.
Of course, the meeting disintegrated into a discussion of other problems, real or perceived. My personal favorite problem was about how burdened the overnight shift is because we have to handle monitoring alarms, opening cases and dispatching those cases to the appropriate technician. First and second shift only have to monitor alarms and open cases.
Normally, the overnight shift is pretty slow. There's exceptions when there's bad weather or when there's a major telco outage, but usually, it's pretty slow. In the last week, I read the last two books in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series and started reading a new book....while still doing my job.
Have I mentioned that I hate meetings?
I hate it even more when people ask questions in meetings. Questions only serve to drag the meeting out, keeping me from sleep. I like sleep. I don't like meetings.
Thankfully, the department head had another conference call to make, so the meeting adjourned at 8 a.m.
The catch? We have to meet again in a few weeks to see if there's been any improvement.
I hate business meetings.
I really, really hate business meetings.
Invariably, these meetings turn out to be a big circle jerk, fingers get vaguely pointed to blame someone for some wrong doing, promises get made to improve the situation, and nothing comes of it. Business meetings are every bit the futile, soul-sucking exercise they're intended to be.
I hate business meetings.
In my not-quite-so-new job, I monitor alarms on government and military two-way radio equipment. The unfortunate part is the hours: I work overnight four nights a week.
So, whenever I have to attend a meeting, I have to attend it at 7 a.m., right as I'm supposed to leave.
I really, really hate business meetings.
Yesterday morning was a great example of the soul-sucking corporate meeting. Everybody from the overnight shift was present, as were a few folks from the day shift. Essentially, the meeting was called because some folks, myself included, screwed up in opening up a few trouble tickets and/or following up on tickets.
Luckily, I still have the FNG (Frakkin' New Guy) label, so I haven't come remotely close to getting canned....yet.
The meeting started with everyone seated around a rather generic-looking conference table in a rather generic-looking conference room, with two supervisors present and another on a conference call with the rest of us. The department head was also on the call.
Right away, the department head said "this was by no means any sort of disciplinary action." Right. That explains everything.
The meeting continued with examples of trouble tickets that various folks had screwed up, either by not following specific customer requests or by inputting a site ID incorrectly. Certain customers have different IDs, for the same site, based on how they want a particular alarm to be addressed. Once that was explained to everybody, this particular problem all but vanished.
Problem is, one of the customers who recently complained had been affected by recent hurricanes. Naturally, this meant more trouble tickets were opened, therefore, more errors happened than usual.
In the meantime, fresh off a 10-hour shift, the overnight folks were starting to nod off.
I really, really hate meetings.
I understand their purpose, really. Everyone's accountable to somebody else, so management has to demonstrate they're doing something to correct a problem, lest someone higher up the ladder decide cuts are needed.
I just don't like sticking around for something when I'm about to fall asleep.
Of course, the meeting disintegrated into a discussion of other problems, real or perceived. My personal favorite problem was about how burdened the overnight shift is because we have to handle monitoring alarms, opening cases and dispatching those cases to the appropriate technician. First and second shift only have to monitor alarms and open cases.
Normally, the overnight shift is pretty slow. There's exceptions when there's bad weather or when there's a major telco outage, but usually, it's pretty slow. In the last week, I read the last two books in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series and started reading a new book....while still doing my job.
Have I mentioned that I hate meetings?
I hate it even more when people ask questions in meetings. Questions only serve to drag the meeting out, keeping me from sleep. I like sleep. I don't like meetings.
Thankfully, the department head had another conference call to make, so the meeting adjourned at 8 a.m.
The catch? We have to meet again in a few weeks to see if there's been any improvement.
I hate business meetings.
16 September 2008
Tragedy in City Council, continued
So they've found the accomplices. One was a German national, 9 months pregnant looking to score some drugs, and she was the getaway driver. The other was trying to identify a dealer to have him hit by the shooter. The shooter's name, Henry Don Williams, is out as is his checkered past. They've got the shell casings and the accomplices. Just a matter of time now.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/16/BA2612UCIB.DTL&hw=garcia&sn=001&sc=1000
It's both sad for the death and inspiring to see how the community has rallied around the death of this man.
What was revolting was that there was actually a small segment of the populace that said he deserved it for being in that place at that time. You know, visiting with a girlfriend in a driveway of a suburban residential area. Some even placed the blame on the girl. Never mind that she volunteered everything she could, including things not requested, in order that the police find the lowlifes that did this.
I have nothing other than contained rage, sadness, and empathy for the man's family and friends. I will do what I can so that he lives beyond his time on Earth.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/16/BA2612UCIB.DTL&hw=garcia&sn=001&sc=1000
It's both sad for the death and inspiring to see how the community has rallied around the death of this man.
What was revolting was that there was actually a small segment of the populace that said he deserved it for being in that place at that time. You know, visiting with a girlfriend in a driveway of a suburban residential area. Some even placed the blame on the girl. Never mind that she volunteered everything she could, including things not requested, in order that the police find the lowlifes that did this.
I have nothing other than contained rage, sadness, and empathy for the man's family and friends. I will do what I can so that he lives beyond his time on Earth.
15 September 2008
It's Official
I resigned my job today. My last day is September 26.
I accepted a job in Rockville, MD starting October 27.
Updates will follow as they become available.
I accepted a job in Rockville, MD starting October 27.
Updates will follow as they become available.
02 September 2008
Tragedy in City Council
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/02/BAEK12MJSP.DTL&tsp=1
This is a local, legal matter here. This one touched me deeply.
Here we had Matt Garcia, 22, councilman for the city of Fairfield. Fairfield is a bigger city, 100,000 people, with Travis Air Force Base. It has cheaper housing and became a commuter city to San Francisco. Just over the hills from Napa. The area is arid, dry, and pleasant. Just outside of the real desert.
How did a 22-year old become a councilman for a city of 100,000? He saw what was going on in the town, didn't like it, organized a campaign to beat a status-quo representative, and with hard work and elbow grease he won. As far as politics go, it's a standard yet inspiring story.
What was going on in town that he didn't like? Gangs and a lack of development. The city was not developing in a positive manner. He saw the gangs taking areas. He didn't see his government standing up to the gangs. He wanted to change it.
The problem wasn't that he wanted that change, but that the gangs didn't. There are many un-PC, taboo things to say here, but one of these is well known- the gangs here aren't always run by citizens of our country. Identifying the gangs and their members is immediately libeled (yes, libeled) as being racist. Even in the glaring face of common sense, it is racist to consider illegal aliens (not a perjorative, a LEGAL TERM) that break the law AS CRIMINALS.
These gangs are more violent, they have cause an upswelling in crime, and our current system tries instead to understand these people as opposed to treating them for who they are- invading guerillas, foreign nationals taking unsanctioned criminal action in a foreign land.
And for Matt's desire of change, he was slain. Shot in the back of the head. The media won't say who shot him, they may not even know. But for someone who desires the reduction and removal of gangs in their town, does it really take a genius to offer a guess?
I am sad for the loss of this young man. Even if I disagreed with his politics, which admittedly I don't know, I nonetheless mourn a man who tried to do the right thing in an inspiring way. I can only hope another like him takes his place.
UPDATE (9/4): The FBI and California state investigative services have thrown their weight into the search and manhunt, and witnesses have reported the identity of the assassin, a latino or light skinned black male, late teens early 20s, 5' 9" or about. The news repeats like a drum that the police are not ruling out assassination as motive, but in typical California style they won't use offensive language (a targeted assault, honest to God, is what I heard).
This is a local, legal matter here. This one touched me deeply.
Here we had Matt Garcia, 22, councilman for the city of Fairfield. Fairfield is a bigger city, 100,000 people, with Travis Air Force Base. It has cheaper housing and became a commuter city to San Francisco. Just over the hills from Napa. The area is arid, dry, and pleasant. Just outside of the real desert.
How did a 22-year old become a councilman for a city of 100,000? He saw what was going on in the town, didn't like it, organized a campaign to beat a status-quo representative, and with hard work and elbow grease he won. As far as politics go, it's a standard yet inspiring story.
What was going on in town that he didn't like? Gangs and a lack of development. The city was not developing in a positive manner. He saw the gangs taking areas. He didn't see his government standing up to the gangs. He wanted to change it.
The problem wasn't that he wanted that change, but that the gangs didn't. There are many un-PC, taboo things to say here, but one of these is well known- the gangs here aren't always run by citizens of our country. Identifying the gangs and their members is immediately libeled (yes, libeled) as being racist. Even in the glaring face of common sense, it is racist to consider illegal aliens (not a perjorative, a LEGAL TERM) that break the law AS CRIMINALS.
These gangs are more violent, they have cause an upswelling in crime, and our current system tries instead to understand these people as opposed to treating them for who they are- invading guerillas, foreign nationals taking unsanctioned criminal action in a foreign land.
And for Matt's desire of change, he was slain. Shot in the back of the head. The media won't say who shot him, they may not even know. But for someone who desires the reduction and removal of gangs in their town, does it really take a genius to offer a guess?
I am sad for the loss of this young man. Even if I disagreed with his politics, which admittedly I don't know, I nonetheless mourn a man who tried to do the right thing in an inspiring way. I can only hope another like him takes his place.
UPDATE (9/4): The FBI and California state investigative services have thrown their weight into the search and manhunt, and witnesses have reported the identity of the assassin, a latino or light skinned black male, late teens early 20s, 5' 9" or about. The news repeats like a drum that the police are not ruling out assassination as motive, but in typical California style they won't use offensive language (a targeted assault, honest to God, is what I heard).
29 August 2008
Holy Name protesters discover their uninteresting fate
http://www.nbc5.com/news/17338235/detail.html
All six of the protesters were fined $2,600 and sentenced to one year probation plus 30 days community service.
Part of me wishes that these jokers got some actual jail time for their offense, but there's another part of me that's smugly glad.
These self-righteous know-all protesters actually seek some sort of martyrdom for their cause, whether they actually want to stop injustice or just wreak havoc as these jerks did. Jail time would have been a sort of martyrdom for them. Then, their few friends could say, "Oh, look how the big bad government and the big bad church have made our brothers suffer. We can't stand for this!"
Instead, five of the six protesters had to beg for extra time to pay off their fines. Hope you saved up all that money from your summer jobs and your pathetic theater gigs, kids. Wait! You didn't, and had to beg the system you despise so very much for more time.
You know what else is great? That you came off like weak-willed weasels when all your pathetic backers kept demanding mercy from the church and the government. So, let me get this straight. These hacks were willing to go wreak havoc but were not willing to pay a price?
Some martyrs they are. Maybe they should have gone the Thích Quảng Đức route. That'll show 'em.
Good luck with your community service, kids. Hope no one throws anything at ya while you're picking trash off the Eisenhower.
All six of the protesters were fined $2,600 and sentenced to one year probation plus 30 days community service.
Part of me wishes that these jokers got some actual jail time for their offense, but there's another part of me that's smugly glad.
These self-righteous know-all protesters actually seek some sort of martyrdom for their cause, whether they actually want to stop injustice or just wreak havoc as these jerks did. Jail time would have been a sort of martyrdom for them. Then, their few friends could say, "Oh, look how the big bad government and the big bad church have made our brothers suffer. We can't stand for this!"
Instead, five of the six protesters had to beg for extra time to pay off their fines. Hope you saved up all that money from your summer jobs and your pathetic theater gigs, kids. Wait! You didn't, and had to beg the system you despise so very much for more time.
You know what else is great? That you came off like weak-willed weasels when all your pathetic backers kept demanding mercy from the church and the government. So, let me get this straight. These hacks were willing to go wreak havoc but were not willing to pay a price?
Some martyrs they are. Maybe they should have gone the Thích Quảng Đức route. That'll show 'em.
Good luck with your community service, kids. Hope no one throws anything at ya while you're picking trash off the Eisenhower.
27 August 2008
Lunch at the Firing Range
Sometimes you can be reminded that you are in a unique job, and even if you no longer want to work there you still can point to the cool things about the place of employment.
My employer decided to have a 'sales event' wherein he invited several, er, like minded individuals and we all went out for lunch, then convened... on a firing range. Yes.
The last time I fired a weapon I was in college, and that was one day. The last time I fired a weapon with any regularity was 24 years ago, same weapon- .22 rifle.
There were eight of us. Half of the individuals involved brought their weapons, and we dropped an hour target shooting. I was able to fire three different types of pistols- a .357 revolver, a .45 semi-automatic, and a smaller-caliber semi-automatic that was arguably the best weapon to fire.
I can hear the peanut gallery now. No. No one is dead as a result of me stepping to the firing line.
There was significant muzzle flash from the .357, but I preferred to shoot it. The semi-automatics were less accurate, or at least I found them to be. And the ejected shells from the semi-autos rained like heavy brass confetti. One of the party was a former pistol instructor, so I got a freebie instruction from a pro on how to fire. Not surprisingly, I did fairly well the first time out as a result.
Afterwards, I contemplated doing that as a hobby. It has a high introductory cost: the weapon itself is at least hundreds, the license, and the schooling (because I won't own a weapon without being fully aware of how to maintain it). But once past that, you're really only paying for ammunition and cleaning supplies.
One thing's for sure- shooting firearms is not for the jittery. It didn't give me the "sense of power" that it gives alot of people, but then I wasn't shooting to destroy. I was shooting for accuracy. And it was muy fun.
My employer decided to have a 'sales event' wherein he invited several, er, like minded individuals and we all went out for lunch, then convened... on a firing range. Yes.
The last time I fired a weapon I was in college, and that was one day. The last time I fired a weapon with any regularity was 24 years ago, same weapon- .22 rifle.
There were eight of us. Half of the individuals involved brought their weapons, and we dropped an hour target shooting. I was able to fire three different types of pistols- a .357 revolver, a .45 semi-automatic, and a smaller-caliber semi-automatic that was arguably the best weapon to fire.
I can hear the peanut gallery now. No. No one is dead as a result of me stepping to the firing line.
There was significant muzzle flash from the .357, but I preferred to shoot it. The semi-automatics were less accurate, or at least I found them to be. And the ejected shells from the semi-autos rained like heavy brass confetti. One of the party was a former pistol instructor, so I got a freebie instruction from a pro on how to fire. Not surprisingly, I did fairly well the first time out as a result.
Afterwards, I contemplated doing that as a hobby. It has a high introductory cost: the weapon itself is at least hundreds, the license, and the schooling (because I won't own a weapon without being fully aware of how to maintain it). But once past that, you're really only paying for ammunition and cleaning supplies.
One thing's for sure- shooting firearms is not for the jittery. It didn't give me the "sense of power" that it gives alot of people, but then I wasn't shooting to destroy. I was shooting for accuracy. And it was muy fun.
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