Saturday, March 21, 2009
Stunning logic
If slugs are "snails without shells" and a snails home is it's shell, then one must assume that slugs, in reality, are homeless snails!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ya try to be a nice guy......
Today... checking my email, two letters from Suddenlink (my Internet and cable provider) show up. So I open the first and just kinda scan it to see what it's all about.... what the.... I have an appointment to have services added?? Something ain't right here, I already have some of those services and didn't order any new ones.... I read it again, paying more attention... wait a minute... that's not my name!! They (Suddenlink) have sent me an appointment confirmation for someone else... some guy named David so and so in blah blah North Carolina... this is weird. Curious, I open the other email from Suddenlink.... another appointment confirmation for the same guy... different services.... I start hearing the theme song from The Twilight Zone... totally weird now. In the email it states that if no adult is home they will not hook up the services and He, this David guy, will have to call and make another appointment date. Now.... being the nice guy that I am... I think... that poor guy is gonna miss the appointment and not know why... so I call Suddenlink to tell them about the mix up.... Here's where things go horribly wrong!
After negotiating the press one for this service, enter your 7 digit phone #, I get to listen to that "catchy" little Suddenlink ditty while I'm on hold.... not that bad... yet. Finally a human comes on the phone... I explain the deal about the emails, then she asks me "Is this a business account?.... Nope.... "well it's listed as one".... well it's not..... "I'll transfer you to the department that can fix that for you"..... back on hold... more of the little ditty, over and over and over... 5 MINUTES I have to listen to that stupid song... finally, another human..... I explain why I originally called (the emails) and why I was transferred to his department (the listed type of account)... "I can't do anything about the emails, but I can fix the account listing".... several questions and some intense typing on his part (I could hear the keyboard) and "Okay, that's all taken care of. Is there anything else?".... Ya... the email thing.... "I can't do anything about that, I'll transfer you to someone who can"..... back on hold..... more of that God Awful Song..... after about three more minutes of "IT".... another human.... "how can I help you today".... You can tell me how to get that damn song out of my head!..... "excuse me"..... never mind... I explain about the emails... "I"ll check it out".... "I see what happened, some one addressed the emails wrong" ..(duh).... Did Mr. so and so get emails that were supposed to come to me?.... "hold on, I'll check".... BACK on hold and more of that song, after an agonizing three minutes ... "Mr. Romick, there were no emails to be sent to you"..... Okay.. good... what about Mr. sos and so's appointment information... he might want that.... " We'll take care of that Mr. Romick, thanks for your concern".... end of phone call.
A short time later while watching TV... what comes on.... a Suddenlink commercial.... and that song...... I hate that song now.... and all because I tried to be a nice guy!
After negotiating the press one for this service, enter your 7 digit phone #, I get to listen to that "catchy" little Suddenlink ditty while I'm on hold.... not that bad... yet. Finally a human comes on the phone... I explain the deal about the emails, then she asks me "Is this a business account?.... Nope.... "well it's listed as one".... well it's not..... "I'll transfer you to the department that can fix that for you"..... back on hold... more of the little ditty, over and over and over... 5 MINUTES I have to listen to that stupid song... finally, another human..... I explain why I originally called (the emails) and why I was transferred to his department (the listed type of account)... "I can't do anything about the emails, but I can fix the account listing".... several questions and some intense typing on his part (I could hear the keyboard) and "Okay, that's all taken care of. Is there anything else?".... Ya... the email thing.... "I can't do anything about that, I'll transfer you to someone who can"..... back on hold..... more of that God Awful Song..... after about three more minutes of "IT".... another human.... "how can I help you today".... You can tell me how to get that damn song out of my head!..... "excuse me"..... never mind... I explain about the emails... "I"ll check it out".... "I see what happened, some one addressed the emails wrong" ..(duh).... Did Mr. so and so get emails that were supposed to come to me?.... "hold on, I'll check".... BACK on hold and more of that song, after an agonizing three minutes ... "Mr. Romick, there were no emails to be sent to you"..... Okay.. good... what about Mr. sos and so's appointment information... he might want that.... " We'll take care of that Mr. Romick, thanks for your concern".... end of phone call.
A short time later while watching TV... what comes on.... a Suddenlink commercial.... and that song...... I hate that song now.... and all because I tried to be a nice guy!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Resistence is futile !
Not working I don't get to drive the Mustang as often as I was when working. Thinking that It needed to be driven before it began feeling neglected I took it out for a little "carbon cleaning" and "corner carving". My usual routes for this are a quick run up 101 to Orick, or a little jaunt up to Willow Creek and once in awhile a run south to Myers Flat or so. Each has it's uniqueness. 101 north to Orick has long open stretches with short sections of some really tight curves, south to Myers Flat is mostly long sweeping curves good for really "opening it up". The run up to willow creek is more curve intensive, some long hard curves coupled with sections of almost shacane sections. This time I chose south... felt like just really blowing the carbon out. The run down was pretty good, not much traffic and no CHP for the most part. Just an enjoyable little drive. Coming home started the same. I was just "grovin" on driving and not paying real close attention to my rear... I know what your thinking.... no, it wasn't the CHP. What snuck up on my was one of those little modified rice burners. I probably would have been just fine if he had kept on going and zipped on ahead. Nope.... he got along side and did the revving thing... he had challenged me, and I had to decide if he was worth the chance of a ticket or not.... then as I glanced over, the little twerp sneered at me with contempt..... Clutch in.... gas to the floor... shift from fifth to third in the blink of an eye... dump the clutch and the Mustang literally jumped as it took off and began to wind up. I'm not sure what this kid was expecting me to do... but after a second or two it was obvious he didn't expect that. I could see him accelerate but it was way to late by then... the v8 had reached it's stride... up into fourth....and by the time I was ready for fifth the Honda was becoming a speck. I went on for about another two miles and backed off...
It wasn't for about another five minutes and here he comes again... Did he just pass me by and go his merry way.... nope.... pulls along side and does the revving thing again. and he looks mad. I learned years ago that if you time it right and wait till they let up when they do the revving thing and then hit it you'll always have an edge.... wait.... clutch in.... gas to the floor.... grab third.... dump the clutch.... same result. I think he just didn't have the top end to stay with or catch the Mustang.... like before... after a short while I backed off again as I approached Rio Dell. Here he comes again... Me, I'm thinkin', I've already shut his guy down twice... I don't have to prove it a third.... but this time he doesn't pull along side, he goes on just a flying by, and his buddy "flips me off" as the go by. Made me chuckle... proceeding on home past Fortuna... up Lolita hill and then the flat before CR.... about half way through the flat is a CHP with this little Honda pulled over... had to chuckle again and tried, really tried, but could not resist... I honked and waved as I went by.
It wasn't for about another five minutes and here he comes again... Did he just pass me by and go his merry way.... nope.... pulls along side and does the revving thing again. and he looks mad. I learned years ago that if you time it right and wait till they let up when they do the revving thing and then hit it you'll always have an edge.... wait.... clutch in.... gas to the floor.... grab third.... dump the clutch.... same result. I think he just didn't have the top end to stay with or catch the Mustang.... like before... after a short while I backed off again as I approached Rio Dell. Here he comes again... Me, I'm thinkin', I've already shut his guy down twice... I don't have to prove it a third.... but this time he doesn't pull along side, he goes on just a flying by, and his buddy "flips me off" as the go by. Made me chuckle... proceeding on home past Fortuna... up Lolita hill and then the flat before CR.... about half way through the flat is a CHP with this little Honda pulled over... had to chuckle again and tried, really tried, but could not resist... I honked and waved as I went by.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Time to do something I haven't done in over 30 years
Looks like the "Mill" isn't going to start back up any time soon (see article below)
So I'm gonna have to look for employment elsewhere.... I havent' had to look for/apply for a job in 32 years. This will be an experience.... Wish me luck!
Pulp mill start-up aims dim
John Driscoll and Thadeus Greenson /The Times-Standard
Posted: 03/14/2009 01:28:50 AM PDT
The Samoa pulp mill -- at least in its current state -- will not run again anytime in the near future.
Owner Freshwater Pulp said that it now believes that there are not enough wood chips, from which the mill makes pulp, available in the region to supply the plant. That's due to protracted poor market conditions for lumber and widespread sawmill curtailments.
”I've always said that by May 1 we would know whether there is an adequate chip supply,” said Freshwater Pulp's Bob Simpson. “Well, what I'm telling you today is we know there's not an adequate supply.”
Unless the lumber markets unexpectedly rebound and sawmills begin operating at high levels in 2009 or 2010, it's unlikely the mill will start up again, he said. In that case, Simpson said, the company would pursue plans to convert the facility to a pulp and fine-paper mill, which would produce toilet and tissue paper. But Simpson said that conversion would take two years and $400 million.
Still, Simpson insisted the facility would not die.
”We look at it much differently,” Simpson said. “We look at it as not a case of if the pulp mill will run again -- it's a case of when.”
Samoa Acquisition Corp. bought the mill from Evergreen Pulp in early February after the plant was shut down on Oct. 15. That put some 215 employees out of work. Samoa Acquisition, renamed later Freshwater Pulp, at the time expected to fire up the mill within 90 to
180 days. But Friday Simpson said a chip supply was uncertain.
Simpson said that Freshwater Pulp's payment of a $51,000 bill Evergreen owed to the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District is evidence that it is committed to eventually restarting the operation.
Recently, workers have been heeding the recommendation of their union, the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 49, to look for other work and take advantage of retraining. Some of those workers may have missed a deadline to state their interest in retraining, said Local 49 President Tom Reilly.
”They're realizing it's not going to restart, or that the hopes of it restarting are slim,” Reilly said.
Reilly questioned the feasibility of Simpson's plan to convert the facility to a pulp-and-paper plant, especially given the $400 million in financing Simpson is seeking. As for Reilly, he said he's been looking for work out of the area.
The mill would face other battles even if it had a reliable chip supply. It needs to negotiate another contract for water with the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and a permit for its effluent -- pumped into the ocean -- with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, which would include discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The effects of eliminating the mill's contribution to the water district's costs would likely increase regional wholesale water costs 22 to 25 percent, as laid out in the district's Thursday meeting. That cost would be passed on to ratepayers. The district has been planning for a future without the mill.
Freshwater Pulp intends to plug its effluent line into the ocean while it works on plans to convert to a pulp-and-paper operation. Simpson said that Freshwater and neighboring DG Fairhaven Power are working on a valve system that will allow the power plant to get rid of its own waste water, which flows through the mill's effluent line.
One of the most immediate effects will undoubtedly be on the local economy with the possible elimination of many well-paying jobs at the mill. The aged workforce earned substantially more than the average for Humboldt County. Now many are looking for work elsewhere, including at another mill in Everett, Wash., said employee Richard Marks.
”I'm really disturbed for my fellow workers, and I've talked to enough of them who are not going to return,” Marks said. “I think we're going to lose a lot of people from the area.”
So I'm gonna have to look for employment elsewhere.... I havent' had to look for/apply for a job in 32 years. This will be an experience.... Wish me luck!
Pulp mill start-up aims dim
John Driscoll and Thadeus Greenson /The Times-Standard
Posted: 03/14/2009 01:28:50 AM PDT
The Samoa pulp mill -- at least in its current state -- will not run again anytime in the near future.
Owner Freshwater Pulp said that it now believes that there are not enough wood chips, from which the mill makes pulp, available in the region to supply the plant. That's due to protracted poor market conditions for lumber and widespread sawmill curtailments.
”I've always said that by May 1 we would know whether there is an adequate chip supply,” said Freshwater Pulp's Bob Simpson. “Well, what I'm telling you today is we know there's not an adequate supply.”
Unless the lumber markets unexpectedly rebound and sawmills begin operating at high levels in 2009 or 2010, it's unlikely the mill will start up again, he said. In that case, Simpson said, the company would pursue plans to convert the facility to a pulp and fine-paper mill, which would produce toilet and tissue paper. But Simpson said that conversion would take two years and $400 million.
Still, Simpson insisted the facility would not die.
”We look at it much differently,” Simpson said. “We look at it as not a case of if the pulp mill will run again -- it's a case of when.”
Samoa Acquisition Corp. bought the mill from Evergreen Pulp in early February after the plant was shut down on Oct. 15. That put some 215 employees out of work. Samoa Acquisition, renamed later Freshwater Pulp, at the time expected to fire up the mill within 90 to
180 days. But Friday Simpson said a chip supply was uncertain.
Simpson said that Freshwater Pulp's payment of a $51,000 bill Evergreen owed to the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District is evidence that it is committed to eventually restarting the operation.
Recently, workers have been heeding the recommendation of their union, the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 49, to look for other work and take advantage of retraining. Some of those workers may have missed a deadline to state their interest in retraining, said Local 49 President Tom Reilly.
”They're realizing it's not going to restart, or that the hopes of it restarting are slim,” Reilly said.
Reilly questioned the feasibility of Simpson's plan to convert the facility to a pulp-and-paper plant, especially given the $400 million in financing Simpson is seeking. As for Reilly, he said he's been looking for work out of the area.
The mill would face other battles even if it had a reliable chip supply. It needs to negotiate another contract for water with the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and a permit for its effluent -- pumped into the ocean -- with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, which would include discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The effects of eliminating the mill's contribution to the water district's costs would likely increase regional wholesale water costs 22 to 25 percent, as laid out in the district's Thursday meeting. That cost would be passed on to ratepayers. The district has been planning for a future without the mill.
Freshwater Pulp intends to plug its effluent line into the ocean while it works on plans to convert to a pulp-and-paper operation. Simpson said that Freshwater and neighboring DG Fairhaven Power are working on a valve system that will allow the power plant to get rid of its own waste water, which flows through the mill's effluent line.
One of the most immediate effects will undoubtedly be on the local economy with the possible elimination of many well-paying jobs at the mill. The aged workforce earned substantially more than the average for Humboldt County. Now many are looking for work elsewhere, including at another mill in Everett, Wash., said employee Richard Marks.
”I'm really disturbed for my fellow workers, and I've talked to enough of them who are not going to return,” Marks said. “I think we're going to lose a lot of people from the area.”
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Stranger things have happened !
Being "unemployed" I seem to have what some people call... to much free time, but I have taken it as an opportunity. Take yesterday as an example. Sitting at my computer around 10 am, I hear an odd noise... sort of a cross between an un-tuned VW and a Semi's jake brake. Leaping from my chair, I go to the sliding glass door in the family-room and behold a UFO landing in the pasture next door. Now I don't know if it was curiosity or fear but I could not move, I was transfixed! All these thoughts raced through my head... they're going to abduct me and do all kinds of wierd experiments..... It's an invasion ala War of the Worlds.... or they want to give us, the human race, unlimited energy technology in exchange for a glass of water. As I stood there, transfixed, three figures emerged from the craft, looked about and then one of them spotted me and pointed. Oh My God... I'm gonna die, I thought. The three beings then seemingly floated towards me... as they neared I was overwhelmed with a strange, pungent odor... it was the stench of .....petuli oil.... and then I noticed... these "beings" have dreadlocks. Turns out, these "aliens" were just some lost, wayward intergalactic Rastafarians looking for Garberville., and some spare change to buy some Di lithium crystals. So I told them to go south, following US 101 and gave them some Crystal Lite, (it was the only crystals I had in the house) and sent them on there merry way. I was able to snap this pic as they flew off.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Guess Who?
This sultry movie star of the 30's and 40's later went on to star in a 60's sit-com. Anyone know who she is? and what was the sit-com?
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