Land of Oz

Fifth Commandment

Have you ever wondered why? It's not like you have a choice of who your mom and dad are is it? I mean let's face it, they are the ones to blame for bringing you into the world. Nobody asked you if you wanted to be born.

They are the ones who bring you into this world and they are the ones who start you out on the path you end up on. I don't think it's possible to break away from where they start you. I suppose in some cases, you can turn out OK no matter what you're upbringing is, but I think it's the exception rather than the rule.

People don't seem to understand that just because you weren't physically beaten or abused it doesn't mean you're childhood was OK. There's all different kinds of upbringing. I don't know if everything can be tied to your parents training - or lack of it, but why should you honor someone who brings into a lifetime of misery.

It's pretty strange, I've never been hungry or lacked for a place to sleep but as far as I can remember (and I can't really remember that much) life has sucked. I have virtually no friends to speak of that I can trace back more than a few years. Those few years by the way when I finally lived on my own. I was picked on in grade school and high school and life in general was the pits. Emotionally, I'm practically a cipher. I've never had any connection to anyone.

Honor thy mother and thy father? Why? Surely it's not to thank them for the last miserable 50 years. My life sure won't be a "It's a Wonderful Life" screenplay. It's not like I have gone out of my way to help others. I couldn't empathize with someone if my life depended on it.

However, after all the above, I will admit I've finally met a girl who I can relate to. I'm happier with her than anyone I've ever met in my life. Maybe part of the attraction is that she is as far apart from my parents as could practially be. For the first time in my life I'm actually thinking about someone other than me. I'm hoping to soon have a wife. And as much as I care for her, I have no desire to bring any kids into the world and fuck them up as much as I'm fucked up.

2fers: 10 Commandments and Autism

Gas Price Roller Coaster

Have you ever wondered the real reason why the gas prices go up and down so fast? OK, I know that it's supposed to be in relation to the price of crude oil. At least that's what they say. But why is it only gas prices?

Why not bread or bacon? If you live in the country, you're familiar with the farm market report. This is a report that is given over the radio, usually at way too early in the morning. It gives the prices of farm related goods. But when the give the current price of pork or wheat, they're not talking about what you buy at the local Krogers. No, this is the price of the basic stuff; the price of a pound of pig or a bushel of wheat. You know, the price of crude foodstuffs.

Now why, if the price of pork, wheat and corn varies with the market, doesn't the price of bacon, bread and Corn Chex also vary? I mean if the moving picture show on a gas station price sign changes several times a day, why doesn't bread or milk? I can understand price changes reflecting basic ingredients, but why only gas stations? A trucking company raises their price 5% and they have to apologize about it. But when a gas company raises their prices 20% they just say take it or leave it.

2fers: Exxon and Agricultural Marketing Service

Normal Security?

From the news today:

Four Iraq national guardsmen were killed in a car bomb attack in Baghdad.
Three US soldiers were killed in Thursday's raids, which began at dawn, the American military said.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for the US army in Iraq, said security was restored by noon (0800 GMT).

On another page in the news today:

22 June: US says it kills 20 militants in Falluja air strike
21 June: Four US soldiers die in Ramadi ambush
17 June: 41 die in car bomb attacks in Baghdad
16 June: Iraqi oil fields security chief killed in Kirkuk
14 June: 12 die in Baghdad car bomb
13 June: Education ministry official killed in Baghdad
12 June: Interim deputy foreign minister Bassam Qubba killed in Baghdad
8 June: Car bombs kill 15 in Mosul and Baquba

Aren't you really glad BG Kimmitt restored security?

First, let me say that compared with beheadings and car bombs blowing up little kids and moms, having to wear panties on one's head hardly seems to bear comparison. On the other hand, have you noticed that all the memos regarding torture have been disavowed or repudiated? Makes you wonder why they just say it didn't happen. And you need to go to The Smoking Gun website to see what isn't considered torture.

You could be kept hooded, naked, deprived sleep (at least sleeping for no more than 15 minutes at a time), soaked in cold water with large dogs straining to eat your hot dog, forever and it wouldn't be considered torture!!

And, mind you, you don't even have to be accused of a crime or charged or arrested. And we are the good guys.

Stop Loss

Perhaps these words are familiar to you? They've been getting a lot of news time lately. Basically, Stop Loss is what the military calls it when they decide not to let people separate from the military at their normal time.

For a first termer looking to get out after their four years are up, this means that the contract they signed to give four years active duty service is moot. They are in until the military decides otherwise. This is as you may recall, the All Volunteer Force, or at least was. Now it's the Mostly All Volunteer Force.

By the way, here's a quote from the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pete Schoomaker during a 60 Minutes' interview:

But how much longer is the Army going to continue using Stop Loss? "As long as it's necessary as a management tool," says Schoomaker. "But see, I don't look at it as a negative. I see it as a positive management tool. That's the way we've had it and that's the way we've always used it."

What this means is that nayone who is in now, is in for the duration -- whatever that duration might end up being.

If you're out of the service and kicking back at home you don't have to worry - right? Not so. What many may not realize is that they signed up for for active and reserve time. It used to be a six year commitment - if you were active for four years, you still had two more as an inactive reservist. Which meant in the olden days that you filled a paperwork slot for two years with no worries. No more. They are looking at the inactive reserve lists now.

The thing is, this isn't new. I planned on retiring in 1993 after I had my "twenty" in. I was promoted around the 19 1/2 year mark and was going to turn it down. I was told that they only needed an additional six month commitment of active duty to keep the stripe, which would have put me right around 20 1/2 years. (this was true at the time). Up came my 20 years and I put in my retirement request and low and behold, it was turned down. The personnel clerk doing my paperwork said it was the first time in her 16 year she'd seen a retirement turned down. Lucky me.

Supposedly the service had too great a need for my career. An assignment to Iceland soon followed (which I was actually looking forward to). The week before I left (and after my luggage was shipped to Iceland), it was cancelled. Seems they had too many people in my career there! I had to argue quite a bit to get a new assignment -- it seems there weren't any openings for someone of my rank in my career!!!

So for those of you on your second short-timer's calendar, I understand and I hope you get home soon.

2fers: Short Timer's Calendar and USAF Reserve

Workers = Crap

Our company never ceases to amaze me about just how little they value their workers. I mean, I do expect it, it's a big ol' corporation after all. But to see and hear it so bluntly put is rather amazing.

A couple of weeks ago we had a "town hall meeting" over a telephone conference with the CEO. One of the workers asked the CEO what the company was planning on doing for worker morale. The answer was, and no beating around the bush, that the company didn't concern itself with worker morale. That was just a local problem.

That they don't care was quite bluntly hammered in even further the last couple of weeks. First there was an email to the employees that henceforth they would be signing any email correspondence with customers with their first name and login number - Jim 3422 or THX1138 or Winston 1984. Nice and homey for the folks calling in. That was followed by the squelching of a bennie that has been going on for years. The casual Friday, where the kids could wear jeans, sneakers and t-shirts. We only deal with customers over the phone by the way. Actually the email stated we should only wear "denim and tennis shoes." I've not been able to find any denim underwear, so I don't quite know what to do with that.

Today we were treated to an all employee email from management that trumpeted the fact that our company has a really nifty temp hiring group they use. This by the way went to the same employee group that lost around 18% of their workforce over the last couple of months -- and who by the way gained about 25 temps to replace them.

There's been other crap that's been equally annoying as well. A few months ago they cancelled the free monthly birthday cake (they'd put out a few birthday cakes each month for all to partake off) now each birthday person gets their own personal cupcake!

I was warned (in a round about way, I'll admit) about the perils of taking too much sick leave. It's easy to see how I've taken advantage of that bit, after all, I've taken about 5 sick days in the last four years.

But then again, if it was supposed to fun they wouldn't call it work would they (and actually up until a year and a half ago or so it was fun).

2fers: THX 1138 and 1984

Trademarks®

I was reading one of my model magazines today and came across yet another reference to some company hassling a model company over a trademark dispute.

First let me say that I am all for trademark/copyright protection within limits. I tend to be gestapo-like in policing the documents I write at work for trademark use. There's nothing that drives me so crazy as seeing VW's new bug or Winchester's new rifle. Properly done, it should be The new VW® bug, or the new Winchester® rifle (note the lack of apostrophes). Also bad is going Rollerblading® or making a Xerox®. These aren't done.

What really bugs me is when a company gets all over-protective of their trademark. This seems to come up a lot in models, (plastic, not nude). Racing cars have a big problem with this. Look at a NASCAR®. Do you have any idea of the nightmare of getting permission for all of those sponsor decals?

The other problem is when some cottage marketer is trying to make a Conan® figure or Batman® accessory. Usually they can get away with a "barbarian warrior" figure of sometimes a "costumed crime fighter." Other times, this won't satisfy the company and the poor little business either gets legally steamrolled or they have to pay so much for licensing fees, it isn't worth it.

I can understand the need to make sure item isn't going to reflect badly on the company that owns the trademark. What I don't understand is why the company makes it so difficult for a small business that does make good stuff to make a cheap and sane licensing deal. After all, a small cottage industry making a couple of thousand of figures isn't going to hurt the company. In fact, the interest generated by the small product will most likely help the owner in the long run.

What also really riles me in when a company owns a copyright/trademark and rather than do anything with it, actively attacks anyone else who would like to do something with it.

2fers: SM Stirling - Draka and Steve Jackson - Ogre

Dog Gone

While I know I've talked about a lot of touchy subjects, I'll bet this one pisses the most people off. Corral your pets!! Don't let your damn dog or piddly pussy wander around, and if you do, don't bitch when somebody runs it over.

Dogs bite people. Just because you haven't seen yours do it, it doesn't mean it won't do it tomorrow. City streets are not the place to let your German Shepard or Doberman run around free. The neighbors don't think that pile of dog poop in their yard smells good. The little kid walking to school isn't going to think that your slobbering 80 pound mongrel running loose is you exercising your rights. You're letting a potential killer loose.

And then you stupid pet owners have the gall to get mad when someone runs over Fluffy or Rover. If Fluffy is so precious, keep it inside. If you let them outside at night to breed yet more feral animals, don't be surprised when one of them gets squashed by a Ford at 11:30pm.

If I had my way, loose animals would be shot on sight. I'm tired of looking for the nearest fence or tree to climb when I see someone's loose dog down the block when I'm out walking. If you like your pet keep it in the yard. I don't care for it and have no desire to have to decide if it's going to bite me or not. I shouldn't have to worry about things like that. I've got enough to worry about with work, taxes, muggers and earth-bound asteroids without having to worry about if that stupid boxer you let loose is going to use my leg for an hors d'ourves.

2fers: Make a Lawyer Rich and Make a Plastic Surgeon Rich

Parking - barely

Why is it so hard to park? Why buy something huge like a full size 4X4 pickup truck, if you don't know how to drive and park? It happens a lot, not just once in awhile. This weekend was a perfect example. First I stopped at a hardware store and some idiot driving a pickup decided to back into a parking place. I guess it makes them feel important, like they may have to leave in a hurry or something. If that isn't annoying enough, he ends up using 1 and a half spaces to park. Is it really that hard to get it between the lines? They are bright yellow on purpose.

A little while later I stop by at a library. This time it some big dually that decides he needs two spaces. Amazingly enough, there are three lines for a parking space for a reason. I know it's a lot to expect but you really should get your pile of steel inside of all of them.

Naturally those idiots who do park like that, seem to want to take a parking spot as near to the door as they can. If you haven't learned how park, the least you could do is leave the better places for those who have learned how.

The other thing that bugs me is all those lazy bastards who park outside the door of the store. Are you so out of shape that you have to park five feet from the front door and get in everyone's way? Is it really going to kill you to park 50 feet away in a parking place? Of course, I'd guess if you can't be bothered to walk an extra 30 seconds, you probably can't park either.

If I ever get rich enough, I'm going to buy some huge industrial laser, mount it on a truck and fit trucks (and cars) into their parking place. You know, just outline the yellow lines and watch as half the car falls off. Would that be cool or what? And while I'm at it, I'd park near intersections and whack off the front 8 foot of the car that stops in the crosswalk. And while I'm at it, how about those cretins that park in their driveway and across the sidewalk? SideWALK not sidepark.

2fers: Lasers and Not Only Me

Doomsday

Now's a good time to buy that Ferrari on time payments. Seems there this astronomer scientist type guy who's pretty sure the world will end -- this week.

It seems that the military, especially the navy is dispersing all over the world, Tenet just resigned to be with his family, feds are stocking up on cash. Meteors are going to do us in and they're heading in. The military has also expanded their Stop Loss program

Are those enough facts to feed your paranoia? Whenever you read about one of these doomsayer's reports, and find so much fact sprinkled in it, you can't help but wonder, at least a little, way back in the recesses of your mind, is it true this time? Let's face it, the earth has been pounded before - just ask the Flintstones. 65 million years ago, Central America got the crap whoomped out of it by a meteor. And government cover-up not withstanding, who's to say there isn't some big honker of a flat black asteroid swinging around Jupiter's gravity well right now with a bead on Grover's Mills NJ (again). Or how about some super nova or gamma ray burster that went off a couple of thousand years ago -- and that's a couple of thousand light years away? Anyone for a solar flare? There's a pretty "cool" story about some guy seeing the full moon suddenly brighten thanks to a protoplasmic cooking solar flare during the night.

Oh well, I suppose the chances are good that he's just another nutcase. In fact, comments on the first link seem to support that idea, however, what if...

2fers: The Sky is Falling and Splish-Splash