greg3d

I don't even know what to say

My friend Morrie in Sydney Australia posted this story of the devastation in southern Australia. Its hard to imagine the scope of the fires that are going on down there.

untitled

Well the election is over and I'm happy to say every candidate I voted for and every issue I supported (in Washington) was elected. I'm not real happy with Florida right now and disappointed in California. Arkansas isn't much of a surprise. Arizona either.

Katrina relief

I'm gratified to know a majority (however slight) of my co-workers have a social conscience.

We keep a box of snacks in our breakroom, the profits from which go back to the group in some form, such as going out to lunch or breakfast or funding a party. This week, one public spirited co-worker suggested we donate the current proceeds to a Katrina relief fund.

We had a some objections from people who didn't feel the need to use the money that way, so we decided to have a secret ballot to decide. The tally came in 9 for, 8 against and one abstention.

So we are looking for a legitimate fund to donate $200 to.

I haven't written about this yet. I'm still processing. Everytime I read about it I get sick. It's hard to believe something of this magnitude can happen here.

just stuff

Amazing what some decent sleep will do for you. I’m feeling fairly perky today.

Last night was a low key pizza and a movie night. Took a long nap while the dough was rising, made the pizza and settled down to watch Van Helsing. It was a bit over the top, but fun mind candy. Lots of effects and silly jokes and enough references to old movies to keep me laughing.

I’m not satisfied just pushing buttons on an instrument. I want to know how it works. I want to know what each setting does and what effect changes make on the result. Putting samples in one end and getting numbers out the other is not analysis. A good analyst understands his instrument and knows how to get the best performance out of it. Learning the characteristics of a new instrument takes time and sometimes the powers that be don’t have patience with the process, though it really pays off in the long run.

Ok, so maybe it wasn’t the best idea in the world. When you work at a sewage treatment plant, make sure you know which way the wind is blowing when you take your lunch outdoors to eat.

There is an article in today’s Tribnet about the Urban Waters marine research facility, which is where our laboratory will be located in just a few years.

something different

Here's a piece the local newspaper has done on something that makes Tacoma special. Point Defiance Park.

burgeoning activism

Things have got to change. That is all there is too it. I cannot sit around and let religious fundamentalists dictate how I live my life.

I am really pissed off. Now we have just gone and encouraged them and it's only going to get worse. Bigots on Parade.

I'm still processing all this. I have not yet accepted it. I think I need to stay mad for a while.

the electrical college

Well, I have my election day story.

We went out to dinner this evening at a small restaurant here in Tacoma. The TV is of course on the election coverage and we're eating our catfish and black-eyed peas listening to Dan Rather total up the Electoral votes, when this codger pops out with "What are these here Electrical votes? I never did understand these Electrical votes! You guys know what these Electrical votes are?" Arthur did his best to explain, but I'm not quite sure he got through.

later...

Even the Alateens were focused on the election. These are young kids too; 10 and 12. It was a relief to get the meeting underway and put it out of our minds for a while.

On an entirely different topic - Someone has a Toshiba 3D Camcorder for sale on EBay and are aking $6000 starting bid, $12,000 Buy it now! The last one I saw only went for $1800, so I don't know how well they are going to do. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

I should wait till the morning to check the election results, but I know I won't. Time for more indigestion. I need another meeting.

a quick post before bed

Full day today. I drove down to Olympia this morning for a four hour Alateen sponsor workshop. It featured Beth, our Area Alateen Coordinator, who is a diminuative fountain of energy who never ceases to inspire. Came home, puttered a bit then picked up my two faithful service teens A. and S. and headed up to Kent, (same distance as Olympia but in the opposite direction), so they could do some fundraising for their conference at the Kent Men's group annual gratitude banquet. S. was also the featured Alateen speaker and he did a wonderful job. (They also made almost $300.)

We go back to standard time tonight thank goodness. As far as I'm concerned we can get rid of daylight savings.

Peggy and Dolores are coming over tomorrow. Yay!

San Francisco

This is amazing...

classic headline

This just can't be an accident...