Today's Christmas was pretty much laid back. We have been blessed by some really fine weather here in southern Arizona with temperatures reaching up to 75. I am in the last day of a four day weekend, which kept me busy. I've spent a lot of time on yardwork and a lot of time on the air via my ham radio setup. I have also reached out to people I haven't talked to in quite a while and it's been good catching up.
Tomorrow it's back to work, but I expect it to be a slow work week. I have some things to do but I'm not right now overwhelmed. My customer has shut down until the second of January, and I expect that things will pick up shortly after that.
After the challenging year that I have had I thought I would be depressed, but I'm not feeling that way. I could say that I have kept so busy that I haven't had time to. Maybe some pointyhead self-appointed psychiatric expert would say that I'm running from something, but I'm going to disagree. I'm doing the yardwork since I have time to do it. I'm busy in ham radio since I have time to do it. I'm reading a Ted Williams biography that belonged to my father since I have time to do it. What I haven't had time to do is work on my coin collection, but I'm getting things done and having fun. That's all there is to it. And yes, I am spending quality time with the cats, and with the family.
Next weekend will be another four day weekend. My employer is open for business on the 31st but I'm taking the day off since I need to burn a vacation day, and that's a good day to do it. My calendar is already filling up, as that I'm getting together with a local ham who wants to help me with mastering one of the newer digital modes. Come to think of it, I probably ought to plan on barbecuing something given the weather. I think they're forecasting colder temperatures for next weekend, but so what? It's been a while since I've done a beer can chicken. If I don't do that then it will be a tritip. Maybe a pork loin roast.
That said, I think this is it for this evening. I've said enough.
I'm now going to write something for my ham radio blog.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Sunday, 12/2/18
Yesterday news broke of the passing of former President George H.W. Bush. I well remember his presidency and I remember voting for him twice. His first year of office wasn't even completed when one major world event happened: the Berlin Wall fell. A year after that we found ourselves on the verge of beginning the operation to liberate Kuwait, after which he had an approval rating that topped 90%. So what happened?
One, he went back on his promise of not raising taxes. He caved, which was one beef I had with him. Two, H. Ross Perot entered the race, which split the base and gave the election to Bill Clinton. Ross Perot said a lot of things that people wanted to hear, but when it became apparent that he might win, he went off about Cubans. I can never be convinced that Perot wanted to win, but I very easily believe that he had a vendetta against the Republicans.
That said, I think Bush 41 was one of the better Presidents. He wasn't the best in my lifetime, but he was up there.
I hope that both he and Barbara are with the Lord.
Well it's December already. Like it does every year, it snuck up on us, and all of a sudden we're wondering where the time went. It's been one of those years. I can't call it good or bad. It was a year to get through and that's all that I can call it. I still am in mourning over the passing of my father, and I'm still processing that trial where I served on the jury.
I'm debating on whether or not to open up a little and vent about that experience. The venting would be more of what happened, why that kind of crime had to occur, that I spent three weeks hearing testimony and looking at evidence and glancing over on occasion to the accused and realized that I was looking at someone who could do such a thing.
No, I don't get nightmares about it, though I still on occasion dream that I'm back on that jury, deliberating, or there was something else that had to be brought up, and the jury gets recalled to go over things once more.
Why did that have to happen? What was going on in the mind of the guy we found guilty? Is there ever going to be any kind of remorse on his part?
One more month and we're done for the year.
I'd like to think that the one that's coming is going to ease off somewhat, and be more bearable.
One, he went back on his promise of not raising taxes. He caved, which was one beef I had with him. Two, H. Ross Perot entered the race, which split the base and gave the election to Bill Clinton. Ross Perot said a lot of things that people wanted to hear, but when it became apparent that he might win, he went off about Cubans. I can never be convinced that Perot wanted to win, but I very easily believe that he had a vendetta against the Republicans.
That said, I think Bush 41 was one of the better Presidents. He wasn't the best in my lifetime, but he was up there.
I hope that both he and Barbara are with the Lord.
* * * * * * *
Well it's December already. Like it does every year, it snuck up on us, and all of a sudden we're wondering where the time went. It's been one of those years. I can't call it good or bad. It was a year to get through and that's all that I can call it. I still am in mourning over the passing of my father, and I'm still processing that trial where I served on the jury.
I'm debating on whether or not to open up a little and vent about that experience. The venting would be more of what happened, why that kind of crime had to occur, that I spent three weeks hearing testimony and looking at evidence and glancing over on occasion to the accused and realized that I was looking at someone who could do such a thing.
No, I don't get nightmares about it, though I still on occasion dream that I'm back on that jury, deliberating, or there was something else that had to be brought up, and the jury gets recalled to go over things once more.
Why did that have to happen? What was going on in the mind of the guy we found guilty? Is there ever going to be any kind of remorse on his part?
* * * * * * *
I'd like to think that the one that's coming is going to ease off somewhat, and be more bearable.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Some Major Life Changes
I'll get straight to the point. I haven't felt like posting for a while. My father passed away last month and it is still affecting me. For all I know it may affect me for the rest of my life. I don't know. I've never been thru this before.
He would not have wanted a whole lot of attention to this. There was no published obituary. I got the "get up here right now" phone call from San Jose, and Sheila and I were on the road the very next day. I got up there in time to see him. He knew I was there but he couldn't talk.
I can derive comfort in knowing that he is with the Good Lord. Some of his friends at church found out for the first time, during his memorial service, that he was heavily involved with Project Apollo and the moon shots. As proud as he was for getting to do that, he wouldn't talk about it. Oh, he would talk about it to me, and told me some stories.
I can't tell you which is worse......the buildup to this event, or the aftermath. Both are unpleasant.
As for what he would want the rest of us to do, he would want the rest of us to be good citizens, be the best Americans we could be, and to do our best.
If there's anyone out there who is going to accuse me of being a good citizen......which I won't accuse myself of.........my dad had something to do with it.
He would not have wanted a whole lot of attention to this. There was no published obituary. I got the "get up here right now" phone call from San Jose, and Sheila and I were on the road the very next day. I got up there in time to see him. He knew I was there but he couldn't talk.
I can derive comfort in knowing that he is with the Good Lord. Some of his friends at church found out for the first time, during his memorial service, that he was heavily involved with Project Apollo and the moon shots. As proud as he was for getting to do that, he wouldn't talk about it. Oh, he would talk about it to me, and told me some stories.
I can't tell you which is worse......the buildup to this event, or the aftermath. Both are unpleasant.
As for what he would want the rest of us to do, he would want the rest of us to be good citizens, be the best Americans we could be, and to do our best.
If there's anyone out there who is going to accuse me of being a good citizen......which I won't accuse myself of.........my dad had something to do with it.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
A Nice Letter from the Judge
In today's mail there was a very nice letter from the judge, thanking me for my jury service. I'm sure the other jurors got them as well. I bring this up because sometimes little things mean a lot, and that letter means a lot. That letter is a keeper.
I'm going to take her up on her offer of contacting her office with suggestions. I want to thank her for the letter, and I want to get in touch with the prosecutor(s), to give them feedback as to why they won the case. When we were released from service, most of us wanted to get out of there, with some sneaking down the secret stairwell that was not open to the public.
OK, I've now said more about this than I originally intended. I've strongly suggested that this was a criminal matter, and that a guilty verdict was returned. Although my jury duty was an inconvenience, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be on a long trial, it was also an opportunity to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and it was a privilege. It was also damned interesting.
Would I do this again?
I would.
However, I'm also going to admit that I'm glad that the Pima County Superior Court can't summon me for jury service for two years.
Hopefully the federal boys won't drag me into their courtroom anytime soon.
I'm going to take her up on her offer of contacting her office with suggestions. I want to thank her for the letter, and I want to get in touch with the prosecutor(s), to give them feedback as to why they won the case. When we were released from service, most of us wanted to get out of there, with some sneaking down the secret stairwell that was not open to the public.
OK, I've now said more about this than I originally intended. I've strongly suggested that this was a criminal matter, and that a guilty verdict was returned. Although my jury duty was an inconvenience, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be on a long trial, it was also an opportunity to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and it was a privilege. It was also damned interesting.
Would I do this again?
I would.
However, I'm also going to admit that I'm glad that the Pima County Superior Court can't summon me for jury service for two years.
Hopefully the federal boys won't drag me into their courtroom anytime soon.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Back from Hiatus
OK, I can talk now.
I've been away on jury duty these past few weeks. Now that we have rendered a verdict, the State of Arizona, represented in Pima County Superior Court, has released me and the other jurors from service. By state law, we are exempt from jury duty for the next two years, but that's for matters belonging to the Superior Court.
I am free to discuss this case, but I made the decision about two weeks ago that I wouldn't. It is for reasons that I won't go into. Maybe in five years or so I might break my silence, but I might not.
It was to say the least, an interesting experience. I served once back in San Jose and that was for a DUI case. This matter was something completely different. All I'm willing to tell you is that we had a good camaraderie on the jury. We enjoyed each other's company, but the reality is that we will never see each other again. There will be no "reunion".
My employer didn't like it and neither did my wife. I didn't try to get on. I was under oath. I played it straight down the middle. I didn't try to get on and I didn't try to get off. They were made aware of my prior service so many years ago. They asked a question that had me reveal the armed robbery to them, (that was done at the judge's bench and out of hearing of the audience.)
Now it's back to the regular routine of life, which in my case, will mean on to the next crisis. There is now an overtime situation at work. No, my absence didn't cause it, and my presence wouldn't have prevented it. It's frantic at the customer end as well as ours.
I don't know when my next post will be.
In all honesty, I need a vacation to the planet Vulcan, but there's a slight problem.
Zefrem Cochrane hasn't invented the warp drive yet.
I've been away on jury duty these past few weeks. Now that we have rendered a verdict, the State of Arizona, represented in Pima County Superior Court, has released me and the other jurors from service. By state law, we are exempt from jury duty for the next two years, but that's for matters belonging to the Superior Court.
I am free to discuss this case, but I made the decision about two weeks ago that I wouldn't. It is for reasons that I won't go into. Maybe in five years or so I might break my silence, but I might not.
It was to say the least, an interesting experience. I served once back in San Jose and that was for a DUI case. This matter was something completely different. All I'm willing to tell you is that we had a good camaraderie on the jury. We enjoyed each other's company, but the reality is that we will never see each other again. There will be no "reunion".
My employer didn't like it and neither did my wife. I didn't try to get on. I was under oath. I played it straight down the middle. I didn't try to get on and I didn't try to get off. They were made aware of my prior service so many years ago. They asked a question that had me reveal the armed robbery to them, (that was done at the judge's bench and out of hearing of the audience.)
Now it's back to the regular routine of life, which in my case, will mean on to the next crisis. There is now an overtime situation at work. No, my absence didn't cause it, and my presence wouldn't have prevented it. It's frantic at the customer end as well as ours.
I don't know when my next post will be.
In all honesty, I need a vacation to the planet Vulcan, but there's a slight problem.
Zefrem Cochrane hasn't invented the warp drive yet.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
On Hiatus for a Few Weeks
I have to announce that this blog is going on hiatus for a few weeks. At the end of those few weeks I will be able to explain why. I will not go into very much detail........it will be obvious to the readers (if I have any) when that emerges.
See you then.
See you then.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Odds, Ends, and Random Thoughts.....8/12/18
I got a phone call from my employer a few days ago. Some work is coming my way, starting in two weeks, give or take a few days. I forgot to ask who the client was but it isn't the same one that I had before. They were based in Oro Valley and although it was a longer commute than I would have liked, I really enjoyed working there.
As it is, I've been in touch with a friend of mine that I made while I was there. We're heading out for lunch tomorrow. His gut feeling is that they are going to be asking for my services again in a few weeks, which I'm good with. They're just going to have to work it out with my boss.
The one thing I like about the new gig is that I can work out of our business office, which is on my side of town. I won't have to leave the driveway at 6:15. I can leave at 7:30, and be home in time to support the ham radio traffic net that I've gotten involved with somewhat recently.
There will be some travel associated with this. I presume it will be to Phoenix metro which is where a lot of aerospace components are qualified using environmental chambers which subject the units under test to extreme conditions involving temperature and humidity. My experience in qualification test procedures was for electromagnetic environments as well as mechanical shock and vibration, but I'm familiar with climatic testing.
I won't say that having all this time off has been easy. I am simply not ready for retirement. I might be ready in five years. I might not be ready at all. Solar conditions as of late have not been great for amateur radio activity, but when the sunspots come back in a few years then maybe that will be time.
I've been following the political scene from a comfortable distance. That means listening to talk radio and online reading, but not letting that dominate my daily routine. Organized Media and their sycophantic followers have three things on their mind these days. Those three things are Russians, Russians, and Russians.
It's gotten so bad that incumbent Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who is facing a tough re-election fight with challenger Rick Scott, claimed this week that he has evidence of Russian hacking in some of Florida's counties. Governor Scott has already asked for proof of this statement, but no one should hold their breath waiting for it. Senator Nelson knows his chances of losing are excellent, thus he needs to get his excuse ready.....knowing that Organized Media will harp on this for a while.
Here in Arizona, we have former Tucson City Councilman Rod Glassman running for the Arizona Corporation Commission......as a conservative Republican. I had forgotten all about him. He got on the City Council, to use as a stepping stone for the U.S. Senate, but lost to Senator Benedict McCain. (excuse me, that was a typo). Back then Glassman seemed to think he was entitled to that job. After his defeat, he disappeared as far as I was concerned.
It turns out he moved north, and became acting Town Manager of Cave Creek. I can find no evidence that Cave Creek was in any way dissatisfied with him. He appears to have switched parties to Republican upon moving to Cave Creek.
His credentials and experience are impressive. He may make a good commissioner. My problem is, is that I'm not sure I want a career politician in that slot. I have no beef with the Arizona Corporations Commission as I write this. I'm just not sure I want a McCain Democrat to be elected to it, and I'm not sure if that's what he is.
Weatherwise, we're in the monsoon season. Last weekend we had excessive heat warnings and I was outside last Saturday way too long. I was useless the next day and for part of the day after that. Yes, I should have known better, now having lived here for 19 years, but I was enjoying myself on the back patio with my ham radio setup and didn't want to quit.
Monsoon season doesn't really wind down until Labor Day. Some years we're treated to a grand finale, with intense bullet rain and cars sliding off the freeway. There's already been a fatality here in Tucson due to the weather.
Finally, I have received a jury summons, my third since moving to Tucson. I doubt that I'll be selected. I served once in San Jose, back in 1985, for a DUI trial. We returned a verdict of guilty. California law at that time (and probably still does) states that refusal to take a blood alcohol content test is evidence of guilt, and that's what happened.
However, that wasn't why I voted guilty. I initially joined one other person in voting not guilty so that a discussion was forced on the issue, which we had. I ended up voting guilty mainly based on the testimony of a subject matter expert on alcohol and toxicology that the prosecution brought in, and I told the prosecutor that if it hadn't been for that expert I would have voted not guilty as that there still may have been reasonable doubt.
Anyway, because of that, there's no way a defense attorney will want me. My NRA membership would also get me off, especially if a gun crime is involved. And if it's an armed robbery, there's no way I'm getting on since I've already survived one, even though it's now close to 40 years ago since that happened.
I would willingly serve if for some reason I got on. It's an interesting experience.
Thing of it is, it's hard to want to do this since there's no way a defense attorney would let me on, and that it's a waste of my time to show up in the waiting room.
As it is, I've been in touch with a friend of mine that I made while I was there. We're heading out for lunch tomorrow. His gut feeling is that they are going to be asking for my services again in a few weeks, which I'm good with. They're just going to have to work it out with my boss.
The one thing I like about the new gig is that I can work out of our business office, which is on my side of town. I won't have to leave the driveway at 6:15. I can leave at 7:30, and be home in time to support the ham radio traffic net that I've gotten involved with somewhat recently.
There will be some travel associated with this. I presume it will be to Phoenix metro which is where a lot of aerospace components are qualified using environmental chambers which subject the units under test to extreme conditions involving temperature and humidity. My experience in qualification test procedures was for electromagnetic environments as well as mechanical shock and vibration, but I'm familiar with climatic testing.
I won't say that having all this time off has been easy. I am simply not ready for retirement. I might be ready in five years. I might not be ready at all. Solar conditions as of late have not been great for amateur radio activity, but when the sunspots come back in a few years then maybe that will be time.
- . . . -
I've been following the political scene from a comfortable distance. That means listening to talk radio and online reading, but not letting that dominate my daily routine. Organized Media and their sycophantic followers have three things on their mind these days. Those three things are Russians, Russians, and Russians.
It's gotten so bad that incumbent Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who is facing a tough re-election fight with challenger Rick Scott, claimed this week that he has evidence of Russian hacking in some of Florida's counties. Governor Scott has already asked for proof of this statement, but no one should hold their breath waiting for it. Senator Nelson knows his chances of losing are excellent, thus he needs to get his excuse ready.....knowing that Organized Media will harp on this for a while.
- . . . -
Here in Arizona, we have former Tucson City Councilman Rod Glassman running for the Arizona Corporation Commission......as a conservative Republican. I had forgotten all about him. He got on the City Council, to use as a stepping stone for the U.S. Senate, but lost to Senator Benedict McCain. (excuse me, that was a typo). Back then Glassman seemed to think he was entitled to that job. After his defeat, he disappeared as far as I was concerned.
It turns out he moved north, and became acting Town Manager of Cave Creek. I can find no evidence that Cave Creek was in any way dissatisfied with him. He appears to have switched parties to Republican upon moving to Cave Creek.
His credentials and experience are impressive. He may make a good commissioner. My problem is, is that I'm not sure I want a career politician in that slot. I have no beef with the Arizona Corporations Commission as I write this. I'm just not sure I want a McCain Democrat to be elected to it, and I'm not sure if that's what he is.
- . . . -
Weatherwise, we're in the monsoon season. Last weekend we had excessive heat warnings and I was outside last Saturday way too long. I was useless the next day and for part of the day after that. Yes, I should have known better, now having lived here for 19 years, but I was enjoying myself on the back patio with my ham radio setup and didn't want to quit.
Monsoon season doesn't really wind down until Labor Day. Some years we're treated to a grand finale, with intense bullet rain and cars sliding off the freeway. There's already been a fatality here in Tucson due to the weather.
- . . . -
Finally, I have received a jury summons, my third since moving to Tucson. I doubt that I'll be selected. I served once in San Jose, back in 1985, for a DUI trial. We returned a verdict of guilty. California law at that time (and probably still does) states that refusal to take a blood alcohol content test is evidence of guilt, and that's what happened.
However, that wasn't why I voted guilty. I initially joined one other person in voting not guilty so that a discussion was forced on the issue, which we had. I ended up voting guilty mainly based on the testimony of a subject matter expert on alcohol and toxicology that the prosecution brought in, and I told the prosecutor that if it hadn't been for that expert I would have voted not guilty as that there still may have been reasonable doubt.
Anyway, because of that, there's no way a defense attorney will want me. My NRA membership would also get me off, especially if a gun crime is involved. And if it's an armed robbery, there's no way I'm getting on since I've already survived one, even though it's now close to 40 years ago since that happened.
I would willingly serve if for some reason I got on. It's an interesting experience.
Thing of it is, it's hard to want to do this since there's no way a defense attorney would let me on, and that it's a waste of my time to show up in the waiting room.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Universal Basic Income
Universal Basic Income found its way into the news again today. The city of Chicago is considering legislation to give 1000 families a stipend of $500 per month, no questions asked. As far as I know, the bankrupt city of Stockton, California has a similar program, and I've heard that San Francisco gives out $300 per month to the homeless with no questions asked. Finland is said to have been experimenting with this. I believe it's only a matter of time before the state of California tries to get a program going too (I'm surprised I haven't heard of them talking about it yet......but give them time!).
Universal Basic Income is not exactly a new idea. I first heard about it in 1980 while attending a political science class at San Jose State University. The instructor, who I will state was fair and lectured from the center, mentioned this. He pointed out results from a survey that had once been taken of legislators. United States Senators were more likely to favor this than United States Representatives. It should be pointed out that in 1980, the Democrats were in power, and had owned both houses since the 1954 elections. That was the first I heard of that idea, and I never heard of it again until two years ago.
The 1980 version of UBI that I heard about was everyone getting a guaranteed minimum income. It wasn't stated in the lecture that the "rich" would be ineligible for it, but it was implied that they wouldn't get a payout. If for some reason your income fell below a certain threshold, that the government would send you a check to bring you up to that minimum level that would somehow be what you needed to survive. If you couldn't find work, or didn't want to find work, you would be brought up to that level.
Now today's version of UBI isn't quite that way, which begs the question of why this is called "Universal", but I'm sure of the reason for this. For this idea to gain mainstream acceptance, it's brought in incrementally. Baby steps at first. Find 1000 families that are about to get their electricity cut off or something like that, come to their rescue, and manufacture some success stories. Those at the edge of skepticism will climb on board for the idea, after which the proponents then look to run the number up to 5000 families......10,000 families.....keep expanding it until it's too big to be legislated out of existence.
So what do we have here, really? First of all, it's a vote-buying scheme. You get a monthly check, no questions asked, and you vote back in the politician who helped legislate this for you. In other words, that politician is trying to bribe some folks into voting for him while simultaneously guilting the more well-off constituents into voting for him too.
Second, it's a means of dividing people. If you create a welfare class that's separate from the working class, you have driven that wedge between them. The welfare class will think they're entitled to what the working class earns, and the working class resents the welfare class. The elite class who created that wedge remains in power, fostering dependency and division in order to remain in power.
This suggests that an equilibrium of sorts is reached, and it is, but that point of equilibrium doesn't remain fixed. It floats. The welfare class will incrementally expand. The working class will incrementally contract. Eventually a tipping point is reached. The tax users will outnumber the tax payers, and then there isn't enough money to go around. Sure, the elite class can manufacture money out of thin air, but that inflates the currency. You get more money that is worth less and you're no better off.
It can be surmised that I am extremely critical of this idea. Yes, I know of the "tax the rich" argument, but if you tax the rich in your city more they're going to get up and leave. Yes, I know that the State of Alaska pays residents revenue of oil money, but that's intended to keep people in the state, and the money is coming out of the ground. I think if implemented, it will fail if it doesn't destroy society first.
That said, in one way, I want to see Chicago do this. Let's go ahead and have that experiment. My prediction is that the proponents will within a year or so will say that it's working, but we need to expand this to work out the bugs in the system. At that point Chicago starts losing corporations and rich folks, and they'll have to abandon it.
I sure would rather have it happen there than here in Tucson.
Universal Basic Income is not exactly a new idea. I first heard about it in 1980 while attending a political science class at San Jose State University. The instructor, who I will state was fair and lectured from the center, mentioned this. He pointed out results from a survey that had once been taken of legislators. United States Senators were more likely to favor this than United States Representatives. It should be pointed out that in 1980, the Democrats were in power, and had owned both houses since the 1954 elections. That was the first I heard of that idea, and I never heard of it again until two years ago.
The 1980 version of UBI that I heard about was everyone getting a guaranteed minimum income. It wasn't stated in the lecture that the "rich" would be ineligible for it, but it was implied that they wouldn't get a payout. If for some reason your income fell below a certain threshold, that the government would send you a check to bring you up to that minimum level that would somehow be what you needed to survive. If you couldn't find work, or didn't want to find work, you would be brought up to that level.
Now today's version of UBI isn't quite that way, which begs the question of why this is called "Universal", but I'm sure of the reason for this. For this idea to gain mainstream acceptance, it's brought in incrementally. Baby steps at first. Find 1000 families that are about to get their electricity cut off or something like that, come to their rescue, and manufacture some success stories. Those at the edge of skepticism will climb on board for the idea, after which the proponents then look to run the number up to 5000 families......10,000 families.....keep expanding it until it's too big to be legislated out of existence.
So what do we have here, really? First of all, it's a vote-buying scheme. You get a monthly check, no questions asked, and you vote back in the politician who helped legislate this for you. In other words, that politician is trying to bribe some folks into voting for him while simultaneously guilting the more well-off constituents into voting for him too.
Second, it's a means of dividing people. If you create a welfare class that's separate from the working class, you have driven that wedge between them. The welfare class will think they're entitled to what the working class earns, and the working class resents the welfare class. The elite class who created that wedge remains in power, fostering dependency and division in order to remain in power.
This suggests that an equilibrium of sorts is reached, and it is, but that point of equilibrium doesn't remain fixed. It floats. The welfare class will incrementally expand. The working class will incrementally contract. Eventually a tipping point is reached. The tax users will outnumber the tax payers, and then there isn't enough money to go around. Sure, the elite class can manufacture money out of thin air, but that inflates the currency. You get more money that is worth less and you're no better off.
It can be surmised that I am extremely critical of this idea. Yes, I know of the "tax the rich" argument, but if you tax the rich in your city more they're going to get up and leave. Yes, I know that the State of Alaska pays residents revenue of oil money, but that's intended to keep people in the state, and the money is coming out of the ground. I think if implemented, it will fail if it doesn't destroy society first.
That said, in one way, I want to see Chicago do this. Let's go ahead and have that experiment. My prediction is that the proponents will within a year or so will say that it's working, but we need to expand this to work out the bugs in the system. At that point Chicago starts losing corporations and rich folks, and they'll have to abandon it.
I sure would rather have it happen there than here in Tucson.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Maxine Waters and The Red Hen
The Red Hen is a restaurant in Lexington, Virginia. Like most of you, I had never heard of them before, until recently. I have visited Virginia a few times, and once lived there while I was in high school. There weren't any Red Hens where I lived and I'm not sure if it's a local chain. Google search results are focussing on what happened there this past weekend and are not geared towards facilitating research to find out what they are really all about.
Anyway, they are in the news......and bigly, I might add. President Trump's press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, was told to get the hell out and to not come back by one of the owners....or the owner (I'm not clear on that fine detail). So Sarah got up and left. When someone doesn't want your business, then don't give it to them.
As can be expected, this is all over talk radio today. In addition to this, we have discussion on Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi being bullied at a movie theater over the weekend, and we some very vocal activists calling for more of this behavior. As I am sometimes wont to do, I will ask you to hold that thought, because I am not done with The Red Hen yet, and I haven't even gotten to that most lovable Maxine Waters.
Now what I'm about to say may surprise you. As far as I know I'm going in a different direction than you might expect of me from someone who resides where I do in the political spectrum. I might even be diverging from what talk radio is saying about this.
I think The Red Hen had every right to demand Sarah Sanders to leave. I'm also glad that they did just that.......not because I think it was the right thing to do, which I don't. I have my own reasons for this and I ask that they be given more consideration than The Red Hen gave to Sarah Sanders.
I think a business owner has the right to refuse service for any reason they so choose. A business is a private enterprise. If a business chooses to discriminate, it's their right to discriminate. If they make a business decision that a certain part of their clientele is not welcome, then they should execute that decision.
If they do that, they had better not damn well complain about any repercussions encountered if they make that decision. An upscale eating establishment isn't going to want a bunch of tattooed bikers in there (not that tattooed bikers would want to go there in the first place). Some establishments don't want noisy children on their premises. Many of them didn't want smokers in there (before the state involved itself into the matter of smoking in restaurants).
The Red Hen is already experiencing repercussions. There's an online civil war going on about this on their Yelp page. They have made their decision to discriminate against Trump administration officials. And I want them to go further.
I want them to establish a policy of not serving Republicans. I will even help pay for a sign reading "REPUBLICANS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE". So if any of you Red Hen people end up reading this, please contact me, and advise me of how much this sign would cost. I'll pay for half of it; you pay for the other half. I don't think Republicans will want to eat there anyway, but I will help you let them know that you don't like them.
Now we will move on to Maxine Waters, the honorable member of Congress from southern California. Maxine Waters has called upon her supporters to continue to harass Trump staffers. That really is of no surprise. A member of Congress, who on MLK day praises his nonviolence approach, is agitating her supporters into bullying. That may, or may not, lead to violence. I think the potential for violence is very much there.
There is one thing for her supporters, and for the modern day Brownshirts, to consider. Their targets are those who support the Second Amendment. They may have concealed weapon permits. They may be carrying. Will she call on her supporters to martyr themselves, so that more federal gun control can be enacted? Or will it be one of her supporters to fire the first shot? Is it a matter of if some violence of the gun type happening, or a matter of when?
That said, I have one more thought on Maxine Waters to pass along.
I want the Democrats to appoint Maxine Waters as their spokesperson. I want the major networks to give Maxine Waters thirty minutes of airtime on the eve of the midterm election. I do not want the major networks to allow equal time for a Republican response. Let Maxine Waters address the nation on the eve of the election. She can ask us if we're better off than we were two years ago, or she can lecture us about how the Trump tax cuts are hurting us. Hell, she can even say that Trump should have left things with North Korea well alone, and criticize the efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. I don't care. Just get her on the air, and let her speak for thirty minutes.
Did I say thirty minutes?
Maybe I meant sixty.
Either way, I don't care. As long as she spends most of the time calling Trump and his supporters a bunch of Nazi thugs, especially while his supporters are bullied at restaurants and movie theaters.
Anyway, they are in the news......and bigly, I might add. President Trump's press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, was told to get the hell out and to not come back by one of the owners....or the owner (I'm not clear on that fine detail). So Sarah got up and left. When someone doesn't want your business, then don't give it to them.
As can be expected, this is all over talk radio today. In addition to this, we have discussion on Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi being bullied at a movie theater over the weekend, and we some very vocal activists calling for more of this behavior. As I am sometimes wont to do, I will ask you to hold that thought, because I am not done with The Red Hen yet, and I haven't even gotten to that most lovable Maxine Waters.
Now what I'm about to say may surprise you. As far as I know I'm going in a different direction than you might expect of me from someone who resides where I do in the political spectrum. I might even be diverging from what talk radio is saying about this.
I think The Red Hen had every right to demand Sarah Sanders to leave. I'm also glad that they did just that.......not because I think it was the right thing to do, which I don't. I have my own reasons for this and I ask that they be given more consideration than The Red Hen gave to Sarah Sanders.
I think a business owner has the right to refuse service for any reason they so choose. A business is a private enterprise. If a business chooses to discriminate, it's their right to discriminate. If they make a business decision that a certain part of their clientele is not welcome, then they should execute that decision.
If they do that, they had better not damn well complain about any repercussions encountered if they make that decision. An upscale eating establishment isn't going to want a bunch of tattooed bikers in there (not that tattooed bikers would want to go there in the first place). Some establishments don't want noisy children on their premises. Many of them didn't want smokers in there (before the state involved itself into the matter of smoking in restaurants).
The Red Hen is already experiencing repercussions. There's an online civil war going on about this on their Yelp page. They have made their decision to discriminate against Trump administration officials. And I want them to go further.
I want them to establish a policy of not serving Republicans. I will even help pay for a sign reading "REPUBLICANS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE". So if any of you Red Hen people end up reading this, please contact me, and advise me of how much this sign would cost. I'll pay for half of it; you pay for the other half. I don't think Republicans will want to eat there anyway, but I will help you let them know that you don't like them.
Now we will move on to Maxine Waters, the honorable member of Congress from southern California. Maxine Waters has called upon her supporters to continue to harass Trump staffers. That really is of no surprise. A member of Congress, who on MLK day praises his nonviolence approach, is agitating her supporters into bullying. That may, or may not, lead to violence. I think the potential for violence is very much there.
There is one thing for her supporters, and for the modern day Brownshirts, to consider. Their targets are those who support the Second Amendment. They may have concealed weapon permits. They may be carrying. Will she call on her supporters to martyr themselves, so that more federal gun control can be enacted? Or will it be one of her supporters to fire the first shot? Is it a matter of if some violence of the gun type happening, or a matter of when?
That said, I have one more thought on Maxine Waters to pass along.
I want the Democrats to appoint Maxine Waters as their spokesperson. I want the major networks to give Maxine Waters thirty minutes of airtime on the eve of the midterm election. I do not want the major networks to allow equal time for a Republican response. Let Maxine Waters address the nation on the eve of the election. She can ask us if we're better off than we were two years ago, or she can lecture us about how the Trump tax cuts are hurting us. Hell, she can even say that Trump should have left things with North Korea well alone, and criticize the efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. I don't care. Just get her on the air, and let her speak for thirty minutes.
Did I say thirty minutes?
Maybe I meant sixty.
Either way, I don't care. As long as she spends most of the time calling Trump and his supporters a bunch of Nazi thugs, especially while his supporters are bullied at restaurants and movie theaters.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
The Guy Who Danced in Church
Sheila and I were up in Portland, returning late two evenings ago. The trip, aside from the air travel, went well. Our early morning flight out of Tucson was delayed, but there was enough buffer in the layover that meant we weren't going to miss our connection in San Jose. However, the flight from San Jose to PDX was also late, and Alaska Airlines for some reason had us exit at some slipshod gate where we had to walk a quarter mile or more to get into the terminal, and then another quarter mile to get our checked bag. Budget Rental Car didn't get on our good side either but that was likely not of their own doing as that Portland was having their Rose Parade later on in the week, and demand was high.
There is more that I would like to write about, as far as Portland and Oregon goes. Before getting into the topic at hand, I want to mention that this was Sheila's first time getting to meet Ken and Gillian, who hosted us after we were done spending time in the Columbia River Gorge.
While I was in Portland, I was reminded of something I saw on TV several years ago. It was some years back; long before I had to suffer exile in Trashcan (excuse me, Las Vegas). I'd guess that this was something that I saw one Sunday afternoon in 2012. I was channel surfing, dwelling into territory that I rarely visit. I was looking at what the religious channels were running, wondering what kind of crooks would be asking for money so that the Lord would in turn make me into a millionaire.
I stopped when I landed on the start of a church service from one of the charismatic churches. I can't recall the name of the church or the name of the small town in Georgia that the church was based in. The congregation was all black, and a rather fiery lady preacher who was the surviving spouse of the previous senior pastor was leading the worship.
It was, shall we say, Pentecostal in nature. Now I don't personally believe in the present-day speaking in tongues, I don't believe in getting carried away and overcome with outward emotion in a service, I like order and a reserved audience. That is just me and the personality type that I suffer from, and my statement of preference here should be taken as just that and not as a statement that my way is the better way. To each their own.
As I'm watching this, and as the camera panned over the audience, they really got going. This one black gentleman who had to be around 75 years of age or so got up and started dancing! I found that fascinating.....I mean, he was really moved, and he got up and danced! No, he wasn't trying to pull one over on Michael Jackson. He was overcome with joy and felt no self-constraint in letting those around him know about it. And I'm thinking, more power to you! It was his way of thanking the Good Lord for his blessing, and I think that in the eyes of the Lord that his form of worship is just as much accepted as mine is.
I had occasion to think about this while I was on my trip. I won't pass along any detail of what reminded me. Maybe I saw someone dance on a street corner. Maybe it was in that movie that we watched with Ken and Gillian. Maybe I woke up from a dream.
As I was reminded of that black gentleman, I also thought of what some other people might have thought of that guy getting up to dance. There might a lot of people out there that would make fun of him. There might be some others who would criticize that form of worship; thinking that dancing is "improper" for one reason or other. There might even be a lot of people out there who think that the dancing septuagenarian is a fool.
There's one thing in common that these detractors would all likely possess: not one of them will be explain why they are a better person than the guy who danced in church.
There is more that I would like to write about, as far as Portland and Oregon goes. Before getting into the topic at hand, I want to mention that this was Sheila's first time getting to meet Ken and Gillian, who hosted us after we were done spending time in the Columbia River Gorge.
While I was in Portland, I was reminded of something I saw on TV several years ago. It was some years back; long before I had to suffer exile in Trashcan (excuse me, Las Vegas). I'd guess that this was something that I saw one Sunday afternoon in 2012. I was channel surfing, dwelling into territory that I rarely visit. I was looking at what the religious channels were running, wondering what kind of crooks would be asking for money so that the Lord would in turn make me into a millionaire.
I stopped when I landed on the start of a church service from one of the charismatic churches. I can't recall the name of the church or the name of the small town in Georgia that the church was based in. The congregation was all black, and a rather fiery lady preacher who was the surviving spouse of the previous senior pastor was leading the worship.
It was, shall we say, Pentecostal in nature. Now I don't personally believe in the present-day speaking in tongues, I don't believe in getting carried away and overcome with outward emotion in a service, I like order and a reserved audience. That is just me and the personality type that I suffer from, and my statement of preference here should be taken as just that and not as a statement that my way is the better way. To each their own.
As I'm watching this, and as the camera panned over the audience, they really got going. This one black gentleman who had to be around 75 years of age or so got up and started dancing! I found that fascinating.....I mean, he was really moved, and he got up and danced! No, he wasn't trying to pull one over on Michael Jackson. He was overcome with joy and felt no self-constraint in letting those around him know about it. And I'm thinking, more power to you! It was his way of thanking the Good Lord for his blessing, and I think that in the eyes of the Lord that his form of worship is just as much accepted as mine is.
I had occasion to think about this while I was on my trip. I won't pass along any detail of what reminded me. Maybe I saw someone dance on a street corner. Maybe it was in that movie that we watched with Ken and Gillian. Maybe I woke up from a dream.
As I was reminded of that black gentleman, I also thought of what some other people might have thought of that guy getting up to dance. There might a lot of people out there that would make fun of him. There might be some others who would criticize that form of worship; thinking that dancing is "improper" for one reason or other. There might even be a lot of people out there who think that the dancing septuagenarian is a fool.
There's one thing in common that these detractors would all likely possess: not one of them will be explain why they are a better person than the guy who danced in church.
Friday, May 25, 2018
A Vacation of Sorts...or Two of Them?
A week and a half ago Sheila and I flew to San Jose to visit my parents. It was a long overdue visit and while there we had some time to play tourist. We visited San Juan Batista, which I hadn't been to since March 1991, and then it was over to Monterey and their Fisherman's Wharf, which I hadn't been to since the day I bought my truck which was in November 1995.
We also got to visit with family and friends. Sheila has now finally met Franz and his wife. Circumstances did not allow for a visit with Chip and Gabriela but we plan on being up there again in a few months so hopefully we can get that done.
Upon returning home and returning to work, some news came my way. Our client's customer has delayed a design review by a few weeks. This affects me in the sense that my services are restricted to that specific program, so I'm on hiatus. I think what will happen is that I will be on furlough until things pick up in about a month. Maybe sooner, or maybe later. So I've got another "vacation" on my hands.
I don't really feel like I need any more time off, but I may as well enjoy it. I plan on getting my Morse Code proficiency up greater than or equal to 15 words per minute. I may build an antenna or two and experiment with them. I've recently gotten involved with one of the public service aspects of amateur radio.
As for work, it's likely I'll return to what I was doing within one month. That's plan A. It's always prudent to have a plan B, which I do, and no one will hold it against me if I execute that plan in the even that the first doesn't materialize.
I really enjoyed that gig; it was my first exposure to commercial aircraft systems. It's a different set of challenges to satellites, circuit cards, and missile payloads.
The only downside here is that with the lull in sunspot activity, radio conditions on the higher frequency bands aren't what they could be, but I'll still manage to have fun.
We also got to visit with family and friends. Sheila has now finally met Franz and his wife. Circumstances did not allow for a visit with Chip and Gabriela but we plan on being up there again in a few months so hopefully we can get that done.
Upon returning home and returning to work, some news came my way. Our client's customer has delayed a design review by a few weeks. This affects me in the sense that my services are restricted to that specific program, so I'm on hiatus. I think what will happen is that I will be on furlough until things pick up in about a month. Maybe sooner, or maybe later. So I've got another "vacation" on my hands.
I don't really feel like I need any more time off, but I may as well enjoy it. I plan on getting my Morse Code proficiency up greater than or equal to 15 words per minute. I may build an antenna or two and experiment with them. I've recently gotten involved with one of the public service aspects of amateur radio.
As for work, it's likely I'll return to what I was doing within one month. That's plan A. It's always prudent to have a plan B, which I do, and no one will hold it against me if I execute that plan in the even that the first doesn't materialize.
I really enjoyed that gig; it was my first exposure to commercial aircraft systems. It's a different set of challenges to satellites, circuit cards, and missile payloads.
The only downside here is that with the lull in sunspot activity, radio conditions on the higher frequency bands aren't what they could be, but I'll still manage to have fun.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Sunday, 4/22/18
It seems that as of late I haven't had the time or the motivation to be checking in here. Sometimes it's both. Like a lot of people out there I'm scratching my head over the Fresno State professor who is screaming for attention in a most horrible way, and I'm wondering if former FBI director James Comey played football without a helmet when he was in college. I could comment on that, and even thought about it doing just that, but it's not that there's very much I can add to these two grotesque little plays going on on the world's stage. It's no bother to me if both of these continue acting the way that they are, but if they get too much attention then the Hildebeest is going to inject herself back into the news.
That said, all is pretty much well with me. I am continuing in the assignment for that company on the other side of town. I'm having a blast developing test procedures to verify performance of specialized aerospace equipment when subjected to shock, vibration, magnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation. A job that makes you think is a good job as far as I'm concerned.
The client has let go two contractors, which I think is their way of getting the skill mix that they want. A lot of us are concerned about the impending departure of a well-liked and well-respected senior manager. From what I'm able to tell the replacement will be a hand-picked successor and I don't see things changing very much. Change is inevitable and can be scary, but it must also be realized that it can be good.
On the personal front, I am still busy with amateur radio, but have slowed things down quite a bit. One reason was a desire to vary what I like doing in my spare time. Another reason is that conditions haven't been the greatest, though with today's solar numbers it's possible I will disturb the ether later on this afternoon to see if I can get through to Japan. Nebraska, Michigan and Ontario all had "QSO parties" this weekend so I made contacts with all three. I'd love it if some more the Canadian provinces would have QSO parties, as that it's an opportunity to bag those that are more difficult to work.
Anyway, that's pretty much it. I'm hoping for a quiet pleasant Sunday afternoon, where I can catch up on some yardwork and some laundry. And some reading as well.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Javelina, the IRS, and More
This past Sunday afternoon I was in my garage, programming a new ham radio that I purchased (I'll get to that shortly). I was testing out repeater frequencies and subaudible tones when I heard some animal footsteps nearby. I'm thinking OK, the neighbor's dog got loose again. I've met the dog, she's a real sweetie but shy, and can wander whenever she feels the urge.
Well it wasn't.....(dang it, what is her name? Lola? Lulu? I think Lola). I looked up in time to see two javelina, one of them halfway inside the garage and the other just about ready to enter too. We ended up spooking each other, though one of them stopped to turn his head to get one more look at me.
It was captured on video. Sheila installed a security camera last November. We've captured videos of these interesting denizens of the Sonoran Desert, and this one is the best. Enjoy!
VIDEO
The Internal Revenue Service is after me. Well, someone out there wants me to think that. I've once again gotten the robo-call from the robotic female, informing me that four serious charges are against me, and that "local cops" will take me into custody if I fail to return the phone call within 24 hours.
I've gotten two, maybe three of these calls before.
So far failure to return their phone calls has not resulted in me being granted long-term accommodations at Leavenworth.
As you've just read, I'm still busy in ham radio. Last week I purchased a mobile 2 meter rig, though I'm using it as a base station. Ham Radio Outlet had a special on this make and model, and 30% off of a newly introduced radio will capture my attention. No, I'm not in the market for another rice box for HF (high frequency) work, but I have been wanting a 2 meter base station for some time as that my handheld on some nights won't hit the local repeaters well.
I'm pleased as punch with the purchase, even though 2 meter operation can make you feel like a CB operator at times. Yes, some of us hams look down on CBers, and I've been one of those hams more times than I can remember. That said, when the CB craze of the mid 70s got going, some of the more technically inclined CBers went on to get ham radio licenses and swelled our ranks.....which is a good thing.
Anyway, there were some GREAT conditions on the 20 meter band a few weekends ago. In one session, I worked 19 different countries, or more accurately, DX entities which are counted as "countries" for awards purposes. Hawaii counts as a "country" due to its distance from the mainland, as does Alaska. I worked Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, but I also got Asiatic Russia, Japan, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, and some others. This past weekend I was again able to work Russia, Japan, and Ecuador.
One local ham told me there was a sporadic E opening on 10 meters to South America, which I think helped out on 20. The openings to the Far East though was good old fashioned daylight propagation. I think maybe the equinoctial period we're in right now had something to do with it too.
That said, that's a wrap, and time now for a cold one.
Well it wasn't.....(dang it, what is her name? Lola? Lulu? I think Lola). I looked up in time to see two javelina, one of them halfway inside the garage and the other just about ready to enter too. We ended up spooking each other, though one of them stopped to turn his head to get one more look at me.
It was captured on video. Sheila installed a security camera last November. We've captured videos of these interesting denizens of the Sonoran Desert, and this one is the best. Enjoy!
VIDEO
* * * * * *
The Internal Revenue Service is after me. Well, someone out there wants me to think that. I've once again gotten the robo-call from the robotic female, informing me that four serious charges are against me, and that "local cops" will take me into custody if I fail to return the phone call within 24 hours.
I've gotten two, maybe three of these calls before.
So far failure to return their phone calls has not resulted in me being granted long-term accommodations at Leavenworth.
* * * * * * *
As you've just read, I'm still busy in ham radio. Last week I purchased a mobile 2 meter rig, though I'm using it as a base station. Ham Radio Outlet had a special on this make and model, and 30% off of a newly introduced radio will capture my attention. No, I'm not in the market for another rice box for HF (high frequency) work, but I have been wanting a 2 meter base station for some time as that my handheld on some nights won't hit the local repeaters well.
I'm pleased as punch with the purchase, even though 2 meter operation can make you feel like a CB operator at times. Yes, some of us hams look down on CBers, and I've been one of those hams more times than I can remember. That said, when the CB craze of the mid 70s got going, some of the more technically inclined CBers went on to get ham radio licenses and swelled our ranks.....which is a good thing.
Anyway, there were some GREAT conditions on the 20 meter band a few weekends ago. In one session, I worked 19 different countries, or more accurately, DX entities which are counted as "countries" for awards purposes. Hawaii counts as a "country" due to its distance from the mainland, as does Alaska. I worked Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, but I also got Asiatic Russia, Japan, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, and some others. This past weekend I was again able to work Russia, Japan, and Ecuador.
One local ham told me there was a sporadic E opening on 10 meters to South America, which I think helped out on 20. The openings to the Far East though was good old fashioned daylight propagation. I think maybe the equinoctial period we're in right now had something to do with it too.
That said, that's a wrap, and time now for a cold one.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
SITREP for Sunday, 2/18/18
Lately I have been overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in a good way. Overwhelmed with the amount of blessings that I am currently on the receiving end of. There seems to be a break from the "buzzard luck" that I've had off and on over the past six months. Well, that was more blessing than buzzard luck, as that the surgery worked well, I'm working locally, and I get to sleep in my own bed with my own lady.
The job itself is intense. I am constantly busy from the moment I arrive to the moment it's time to close up shop and go home. I get going, and I look at my watch, and I think, has two hours gone by already? There is some pressure at the client company. In the past they've suffered from turnover as engineers have left to find something less frantic so that they can have their nights and their weekends off. I have noticed that everyone is going home at 5:00ish. They also have a new policy. If the managers ask for their people to come in over the weekend, then they have to come in too.
In my case they have to pay me overtime if I come in, as that I'm on a contract with the client company. I could use some extra shillings to catch up on some bills, but I'm not going to volunteer for it. My projects are being done on time and yes, I have to be innovative to keep them on time. I'm allowed pretty much to do things the way that I feel they should be done, but I also have to adapt to changing priorities as the design of the equipment gets under way and matures. Working on hardware intended for commercial aviation is new to me and interesting. Yes, it would be great to go back to satellite engineering, I'll admit that, but I would have to relocate to do that and if I have my way I'm staying in Tucson.
Aside from work, I have been active in ham radio and having a lot of fun in spite of the low sunspot numbers affecting propagation on the higher frequency bands. Most of the other hams I talk to are stateside or in Canada, but I get the occasional "DX", which means Caribbean, Oceania, Asia, Europe, or South America. I was able to talk to France a few weeks back. Yesterday I QSO'd Curacao. QSL cards from foreign countries have also arrived. I got a really neat card from Costa Rica last week. I'm saving the envelopes for these. I'm not a stamp collector, but these foreign stamps can be and are, artwork.
I think at this point I'm going to sign now. I have a long intense week ahead of me that starts tomorrow. But the best part of that is being home with Sheila seven nights a week.
The job itself is intense. I am constantly busy from the moment I arrive to the moment it's time to close up shop and go home. I get going, and I look at my watch, and I think, has two hours gone by already? There is some pressure at the client company. In the past they've suffered from turnover as engineers have left to find something less frantic so that they can have their nights and their weekends off. I have noticed that everyone is going home at 5:00ish. They also have a new policy. If the managers ask for their people to come in over the weekend, then they have to come in too.
In my case they have to pay me overtime if I come in, as that I'm on a contract with the client company. I could use some extra shillings to catch up on some bills, but I'm not going to volunteer for it. My projects are being done on time and yes, I have to be innovative to keep them on time. I'm allowed pretty much to do things the way that I feel they should be done, but I also have to adapt to changing priorities as the design of the equipment gets under way and matures. Working on hardware intended for commercial aviation is new to me and interesting. Yes, it would be great to go back to satellite engineering, I'll admit that, but I would have to relocate to do that and if I have my way I'm staying in Tucson.
Aside from work, I have been active in ham radio and having a lot of fun in spite of the low sunspot numbers affecting propagation on the higher frequency bands. Most of the other hams I talk to are stateside or in Canada, but I get the occasional "DX", which means Caribbean, Oceania, Asia, Europe, or South America. I was able to talk to France a few weeks back. Yesterday I QSO'd Curacao. QSL cards from foreign countries have also arrived. I got a really neat card from Costa Rica last week. I'm saving the envelopes for these. I'm not a stamp collector, but these foreign stamps can be and are, artwork.
I think at this point I'm going to sign now. I have a long intense week ahead of me that starts tomorrow. But the best part of that is being home with Sheila seven nights a week.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Back in the Workforce!
After being out of the workforce for 27 days, not that anyone is counting here, I am now officially back in the workforce. The job that got away from me came back, due to a red tape issue with the client company. The arrangement is that I'm owned by one company and assigned to another. I know the client company very well. Without going into details, I will be in a systems and test engineering role, and gaining experience within the commercial aerospace industry. After this assignment is done, it will either be extended or I'll get some other work if that becomes available, and from what I know of the industry, odds are that it will.
This will not have me on the road as much as my last gig did. I may have to go up to Phoenix a few times, which is OK. I don't mind company travel every now and then. I have been in situations where I have been away from home more than I have been at home, and that can take its toll.
The new company is treating me very well! If I heard them correctly, I will be working on some tasks from their business office. I was delighted to hear that. I mean, I can do the commute every day if I have to (the medical device firm that I worked for is up the road from the client) and if I can set my hours for a 7:00 AM start then the commute isn't that bad. Coming home might be a bear at times, especially if there are wrecks, and I have taken alternate routes more times than I can remember.
It's nice being back in the saddle again. It took some patience on my part to deal with the delay (I had honestly thought that it was going to fall through).
What's also nice is that I am gaining experience on a product line that I haven't worked on before, and that in itself will help my marketability. If I have my way, retirement is still some years off, and as long as engineering is fun I'll stay in the workforce.
This will not have me on the road as much as my last gig did. I may have to go up to Phoenix a few times, which is OK. I don't mind company travel every now and then. I have been in situations where I have been away from home more than I have been at home, and that can take its toll.
The new company is treating me very well! If I heard them correctly, I will be working on some tasks from their business office. I was delighted to hear that. I mean, I can do the commute every day if I have to (the medical device firm that I worked for is up the road from the client) and if I can set my hours for a 7:00 AM start then the commute isn't that bad. Coming home might be a bear at times, especially if there are wrecks, and I have taken alternate routes more times than I can remember.
It's nice being back in the saddle again. It took some patience on my part to deal with the delay (I had honestly thought that it was going to fall through).
What's also nice is that I am gaining experience on a product line that I haven't worked on before, and that in itself will help my marketability. If I have my way, retirement is still some years off, and as long as engineering is fun I'll stay in the workforce.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
The Situation Report as it is on Saturday, 1/20/18
It is coming up on three weeks on being out of work. During that time an interview has taken place, and a job offer that soon followed, but I am not back to work. I was to have started last Monday, being contracted out to one of the local aerospace firms, but that is now on hold. So I'm out pounding the pavement so to speak, and trying to deal with that situation as best as I can.
I could write a few pages on it. I mean, it was a letdown. It was a great offer with better benefits. And the start date has been "postponed". I haven't heard anything since I got that news, and to be on the safe side the search is continuing.
As for the old job, I was told by the customer that when the new company takes over that contract, that they hope I'll be back. I am open to returning to that position, but I can't wait the six months or however long it's going to take until the work is transitioned over to the incoming company. I have already applied there but there are legal issues that have to be worked out between the winning contractor, and the losing contractor (not my former employer). My best information is that this won't be settled until mid-February at the earliest, and even then that doesn't mean that the task will be funded right away.
That said, I went ahead and applied to that new company. Their reputation is good.
What this is teaching me is that I am not ready for retirement. Yes, a sabbatical every now and then is nice, and there are things I need to do around the house. I'm already doing some of them and catching up on some things. I enjoy my ham radio activities. I enjoy writing and I'm re-reading some science fiction novels from Isaac Asimov. I did one book review several years ago and I should do another while I'm on hiatus from work.
As you might well now if you've been a regular reader of this blog, radio has been a passion of mine for several years. As in over forty years. As since high school. And I've been enjoying ham radio again, even though conditions aren't the greatest.
Conditions haven't exactly been the greatest. The bands don't seem to be as crowded.
That said, I've been having a great deal of fun.
I am overdue for a Pat DiNizio tribute post. It's something I want to do.
In the meantime, here is one of the best songs ever recorded:
Drown in My Own Tears
I could write a few pages on it. I mean, it was a letdown. It was a great offer with better benefits. And the start date has been "postponed". I haven't heard anything since I got that news, and to be on the safe side the search is continuing.
* * * * * * *
As for the old job, I was told by the customer that when the new company takes over that contract, that they hope I'll be back. I am open to returning to that position, but I can't wait the six months or however long it's going to take until the work is transitioned over to the incoming company. I have already applied there but there are legal issues that have to be worked out between the winning contractor, and the losing contractor (not my former employer). My best information is that this won't be settled until mid-February at the earliest, and even then that doesn't mean that the task will be funded right away.
That said, I went ahead and applied to that new company. Their reputation is good.
* * * * * * *
What this is teaching me is that I am not ready for retirement. Yes, a sabbatical every now and then is nice, and there are things I need to do around the house. I'm already doing some of them and catching up on some things. I enjoy my ham radio activities. I enjoy writing and I'm re-reading some science fiction novels from Isaac Asimov. I did one book review several years ago and I should do another while I'm on hiatus from work.
* * * * * * *
As you might well now if you've been a regular reader of this blog, radio has been a passion of mine for several years. As in over forty years. As since high school. And I've been enjoying ham radio again, even though conditions aren't the greatest.
Conditions haven't exactly been the greatest. The bands don't seem to be as crowded.
That said, I've been having a great deal of fun.
* * * * * * *
I am overdue for a Pat DiNizio tribute post. It's something I want to do.
In the meantime, here is one of the best songs ever recorded:
Drown in My Own Tears
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