One year ago today: March 4, 2017, genetic intelligence anniversary, coincidence?
Five years ago today: March 4, 2013, secrecy is best.
Nine years ago today: March 4, 2009, “I refuse to waste . . .”, yeah, yeah.
Random years ago today: March 4, 2001, more links.
Look what I have. These were unnecessarily expensive recessed lighting fixtures I found for a dollar each at the flea market. It wasn’t until I saw them priced at $40 each that I opened the packages to make sure. I mean, nothing fancy about them, but they are nicely finished. The selling point was that they could be fitted through a cutout and thus do not require a bracket to fitted between the ceiling rafters. The tag says designed in France, but nothing as to where it is manufactured. Absolutely no plastic parts. So does this mean I have the fanciest closet light fixtures on the block?
Okay, found it. The template is the diagram on the box itself, on an inside flap. The item is sure packaged fancy. But for a buck apiece, in the closets they go. The quality of these items is offset by the discovery that 45 feet of 3-wire cable is needed to connect the three-way switch and that cable costs $54 for each 15-foot length.
I didn’t get started today because it is rehearsal this afternoon. Or so I thought, see addendum. Folks, I often know generally what I’ll be doing on Sunday by the previous Wednesday. If you want to convince me you are an irresponsible do-nothing, act like I’ve got nothing going on in my world and change your plans at the last minute. I take it in stride, up to a point. Usually I have some chores to fill the time, but rarely a half-day’s full. So this morning I got up to Wal*Mart, where most funny-looking people shop. I was after some propane, the cool nights are back, and the electric blanket isn’t quite enough.
“Chromosome 6” is finally a murder mystery, with some spooky elements of realism that make you wonder how the author knew. It is also an unwitting expose on how the main usage of computers and science since 1980 has been for tracking every person and keeping their life history on file. Trillions have been invested in keeping up to date files on every man, woman, and child. The much criticized dictators of the previous century would have loved to see what’s happened in the west. (In Europe, most of the government offices that track people’s movements are required to shred the information after 15 days.)
The book is an indirect revelation of how most of the social programs people believe are for the public good are really schemes to watch for any hint of non-conformity that puts the establishment at risk. And the way these people use medical records is a case example of the depth of information the government would love to see in every area. Basically, the information on health issues can be used to track down and find any individual the state determines is “of interest”. The unexpressed lesson in this book is how the medical records have become so intrusive that a lack of medical history can be used to track people, i.e. the police demand a list of all the people who did not have a liver transplant.
During the follow up “investigation” the police go about breaking up two marriages, bankrupting a dry cleaner and a radio station, destroying a doctor’s career, instigating a teen suicide, causing a series of auto accidents, and needlessly stressing out some 60 innocent people. But the cops are “just doing their job”, they insist. Are they now?
Sea Cliff bridge.
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A quick meeting brought up the topic of small business, and it would appear this immediate area needs another car wash. It was not until today that I was able to find a lineup with only one car ahead of me. We’ve seen as many as seven cars waiting in each of the four bays. I’m counting only the hand wash with the wands, not the drive-through out on the highway. But that raised an eyebrow when I found out that Agt. R had worked at that one back when it originally opened. I broached the idea of having a business plan ready in case the situation up in St. Augustine is based on some kind of self-employment.
My instinct tells me should the government even drop a hint, we should be ready to be their golden boys. Remember what effect all the properly filled out paperwork has had so far. This is another topic discussed at some length. The possibilities include dumb luck, some kind of non-profit deadline, a fiscal year end over there, and my pet theory that they know when they ask for anything, it arrives in a day or two, complete and in the proper format.
That’s not my wishful thinking. This is a mortgage assistance outfit, so you can imagine the caliber of some of the people they deal with regularly. Reconciliation? What’s that? Profit and Loss Statement? Huh? On the other hand, everything they’ve asked us for was anticipated and ready to go. It makes them look good over there. Ergo, if they push this one through, it’s a feather in their cap. Yea, I’m guessing, but basing it on fairly solid indicators.
I put on that DVD “A Bridge Too Far”, which I’ve never watched through uninterrupted. Because most of it is so bad I can’t stand it. A few of the battle scenes are enough to fool most people, but I can only take so much of it. It’s a good thing the German Army was full of half-blind idiots who were bad shots to boot. What good is an armored vehicle if you stand up in it rolling into battle? The film did not portray the overwhelming material strength of the Allies except to falsely portray that it was necessary to keep up with the Germans. Which is utter nonsense.
Germany had never planned to fight the USA. When they declared war on America after Pearl Harbor, it was a formality since USA had already been fighting on the side of the English for over two years. But the movie had one role that I always identify with. That’s the guy who stands near the parachute door or the bridge ramp for hours, then at the last moment yells, “Go! Go! Go!”. I’m telling you, had I had a little parental support in this life, that would have been the career for me. Professional last-minute go-yeller, you know, and take all the credit.
A more apt title for the movie would have been “One Montgomery Too Many”. Then again, the Brits could point and Patton and say don’t be calling anybody a joker until you take care of that. Neither of these men really one any battles as much as they used overwhelming material superiority to bowl the enemy over.
ADDENDUM
Nor is putting a musical group together immune from the challenges of hiring staff. You don’t get an easier go of things because musicians are mellow and uber-sociable. Not so, a lot of times they are less disciplined and callous than could otherwise be. This afternoon, just after I had finished loading up the PA system and instruments into the car, I get the cancellation call. Not feeling well. When did this begin. Two days ago. But you can’t ask why no call two days ago. I’m not singling out this situation, I’m just pointing out that bands are not just about musical ability. It’s more like a partnership of individuals with wildly differing management skills and all-too-often contradictory goals.
I’ve had a few doozies over the decades with other situations. They range from the wishful thinkers to the borderline crackpots. The characters who want to start a contracting business, but at the moment all their tools are in the pawn shop. The lady who wanted to start computer consulting but had no color monitor and at the moment her printer was rented out. Then there’s the guy who wanted a partner so somebody would pay for half his truck, but only he got to drive it “because of the insurance”. We all love people who every time they need to write something down, it becomes an expedition for a pen with ink and something to write on. Desk? What’s that? But other than all that, they are great partners, they say. They’ll even hook up cable TV in their ‘home office’ and expect you to pay half.
Trivia. The most common word used in The Beatles lyrics is “you”, with 2262 instances.
Last Laugh
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