Saturday, December 31, 2005
The Brass Ring
As a child you were taken to Coney Island and enjoyed a ride
on the "Merry-Go-Round".....If you sat on the outer, and
up-down, group of horses you had a chance of grabbing a
"Brass Ring" from a chute or dispenser which entitled you
to another "free" ride......(Some horses on the ride are
stationary.).....
As you went round and round, and up and down, you tried
to grab a "Brass Ring" for its dispenser.......Let's face it a
"free" ride saved your parents money.....Besides it was a sense
of success and accomplishment to present this "prize" to the
ride's operator, for another ride.....
Well the "Brass Ring" is now made in China of white-metal
and painted......The lawyers have filed enough law suits
representing parents who had their child hurt a hand in the
quest of success.....The "Merry-Go-Round" and the
dinosaur are now on common ground.....
Knowledge comes with failure.....Gain comes with pain.....
Too many children are being denied these life's experiences....
Pumps
on the "Merry-Go-Round".....If you sat on the outer, and
up-down, group of horses you had a chance of grabbing a
"Brass Ring" from a chute or dispenser which entitled you
to another "free" ride......(Some horses on the ride are
stationary.).....
As you went round and round, and up and down, you tried
to grab a "Brass Ring" for its dispenser.......Let's face it a
"free" ride saved your parents money.....Besides it was a sense
of success and accomplishment to present this "prize" to the
ride's operator, for another ride.....
Well the "Brass Ring" is now made in China of white-metal
and painted......The lawyers have filed enough law suits
representing parents who had their child hurt a hand in the
quest of success.....The "Merry-Go-Round" and the
dinosaur are now on common ground.....
Knowledge comes with failure.....Gain comes with pain.....
Too many children are being denied these life's experiences....
Pumps
Friday, December 30, 2005
Aruba
I have been sitting on this blog for over 6 months....Here is the
bottom line as viewed by one olde man.....
Natalee Holloway went on a "Spring Break" like vacation
and never came back.....I even suspect that the chaperones
"let their hair down".....Well no Natalee, which resulted in a lot
of bad press for a small island......You can take "three guys and
a girl anyway you want" but that is not the real problem.....
Aruba decided to be "free" and no longer be a part of the Dutch
West Indies.....Accepting Dutch Legal Rule, in the course of
being "independent", they accepted Olde Colonial Rule......A few
upper class control everything.....(Remember your pirate
movies......European law now controls the "peasants".).....
Perhaps the "peasants" did not want the responsibility
of ruling themselves.....(Out source the job.).....
There is currently and internal mess in Aruba.....Colonials vs
Peasants and soon there will be other islands in the
olde Dutch West Indies which will become independent.........
Are there more "Natalees-Boys-Spring Break" scenarios on the
horizon?......You bet there are.......Will any change the world????
No......What has to be changed is ancient colonialism.....Pumps
bottom line as viewed by one olde man.....
Natalee Holloway went on a "Spring Break" like vacation
and never came back.....I even suspect that the chaperones
"let their hair down".....Well no Natalee, which resulted in a lot
of bad press for a small island......You can take "three guys and
a girl anyway you want" but that is not the real problem.....
Aruba decided to be "free" and no longer be a part of the Dutch
West Indies.....Accepting Dutch Legal Rule, in the course of
being "independent", they accepted Olde Colonial Rule......A few
upper class control everything.....(Remember your pirate
movies......European law now controls the "peasants".).....
Perhaps the "peasants" did not want the responsibility
of ruling themselves.....(Out source the job.).....
There is currently and internal mess in Aruba.....Colonials vs
Peasants and soon there will be other islands in the
olde Dutch West Indies which will become independent.........
Are there more "Natalees-Boys-Spring Break" scenarios on the
horizon?......You bet there are.......Will any change the world????
No......What has to be changed is ancient colonialism.....Pumps
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Honesty vs Computer
A programmer "programs" a computer and everything that
computer does is now set in stone......Human thought is
no longer required and human error is now a thing of the
past.....The only human error left to man is driving....They
never did fully computerize the automobile as the promised
at the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.....
Since computers only have glitches instead of mistakes, try
to hit these new electronic devices with honesty.....Since this
human factor has never been programmed into a machine,
it does not know how to handle it.....Next throw in the human
thought, which is operating the computer, and they do not
know what to do either.....Is the honest human right???
Or is the computer right???.....
And if you believe the computer and its glitch another
programmer will come along in two years and find it.....
Guess what, it is still not the computers fault and honesty
once again is in question.....
Honesty is no longer required as a human value......In today's
world, if you can not computerize it, who needs it?.....Pumps
computer does is now set in stone......Human thought is
no longer required and human error is now a thing of the
past.....The only human error left to man is driving....They
never did fully computerize the automobile as the promised
at the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.....
Since computers only have glitches instead of mistakes, try
to hit these new electronic devices with honesty.....Since this
human factor has never been programmed into a machine,
it does not know how to handle it.....Next throw in the human
thought, which is operating the computer, and they do not
know what to do either.....Is the honest human right???
Or is the computer right???.....
And if you believe the computer and its glitch another
programmer will come along in two years and find it.....
Guess what, it is still not the computers fault and honesty
once again is in question.....
Honesty is no longer required as a human value......In today's
world, if you can not computerize it, who needs it?.....Pumps
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Toronto
Canada has enacted the strictest gun control laws on the
American continent.....Yet the city of Toronto has a
disturbing record of gun violence and murder....
Here in the US people are currently complaining about
the possible loss of personal freedoms.....Well it has
been suggested in Toronto that the Canadian Army be
stationed in sections of town for a period of two years
in order to handle the gun problem......Sounds like a
little martial law to me......
There are also a large amount of "knifings" in Canada....
What next the banning of kitchen knives.....And, Oh yes!...
The Canadians say the guns are coming from the United
States....But, in return they are paying for them in
marijuana from their "grow ups".......Pumps
American continent.....Yet the city of Toronto has a
disturbing record of gun violence and murder....
Here in the US people are currently complaining about
the possible loss of personal freedoms.....Well it has
been suggested in Toronto that the Canadian Army be
stationed in sections of town for a period of two years
in order to handle the gun problem......Sounds like a
little martial law to me......
There are also a large amount of "knifings" in Canada....
What next the banning of kitchen knives.....And, Oh yes!...
The Canadians say the guns are coming from the United
States....But, in return they are paying for them in
marijuana from their "grow ups".......Pumps
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Ceylon
My avid daily readers will remember this topic, but I must
once again return to it......Pure Ceylon Tea......
Ceylon does not exist on the map anymore.....The people
who live there changed the name to Sri Lanka......In doing
so I expect that found a national identity and pride....But
could not sell tea.....Who in the world knew what Sri Lanka
tea was?.......
So once again the marketing and advertising guys, there are
in every country, do not change the name of the tea......They
changed the name on their money but in order to make more,
name-changed money, they could not change the name of
the tea.......
The name of the game is "name recognition".....Have you seen
a Bell & Howell camera or a new Singer sewing machine lately?....
No, but you can buy Chinese made items bearing these names
on TV......Like "Ceylon" the name has been changed but is
still needed to make a buck or two......Pumps
once again return to it......Pure Ceylon Tea......
Ceylon does not exist on the map anymore.....The people
who live there changed the name to Sri Lanka......In doing
so I expect that found a national identity and pride....But
could not sell tea.....Who in the world knew what Sri Lanka
tea was?.......
So once again the marketing and advertising guys, there are
in every country, do not change the name of the tea......They
changed the name on their money but in order to make more,
name-changed money, they could not change the name of
the tea.......
The name of the game is "name recognition".....Have you seen
a Bell & Howell camera or a new Singer sewing machine lately?....
No, but you can buy Chinese made items bearing these names
on TV......Like "Ceylon" the name has been changed but is
still needed to make a buck or two......Pumps
Monday, December 26, 2005
NOLA
Every TV news organization will be broadcasting a recap of the
big news stories for 2005 during this week....The retrospective
of the Iraq war, political scandals, economic problems, natural
disasters and the "passing" of our popular celebs etc........
To many the biggest news story was Katrina and New Orleans....
Well readers, (the few I have), we all know what happened
after the storm.....Even the news commentators are now saying
the everybody dropped the ball on this one.....Federal, State
and Local......
I am no news analyst but I do check nola.com every day.....
The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans, just to see
what is going on......My conclusion is that the politics that
prevented the rapid response, after the storm, still exists
and is preventing the city's rebuilding.....
One question's if at the end of 2006 will there be a
retrospective as to why New Orleans still has not "arisen"
from the flood?.......Pumps
big news stories for 2005 during this week....The retrospective
of the Iraq war, political scandals, economic problems, natural
disasters and the "passing" of our popular celebs etc........
To many the biggest news story was Katrina and New Orleans....
Well readers, (the few I have), we all know what happened
after the storm.....Even the news commentators are now saying
the everybody dropped the ball on this one.....Federal, State
and Local......
I am no news analyst but I do check nola.com every day.....
The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans, just to see
what is going on......My conclusion is that the politics that
prevented the rapid response, after the storm, still exists
and is preventing the city's rebuilding.....
One question's if at the end of 2006 will there be a
retrospective as to why New Orleans still has not "arisen"
from the flood?.......Pumps
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah
Well it is all over.....Tomorrow is Boxing Day and the start of
Kwanzaa, for those who celebrate them.....
The retail stores will be open and ready to accept any person
looking for the last remaining bargains of 2005, with or
without the "gift card" they received for Christmas......
It is now time to buy what "you" wanted if you did not get
it or exchange that disgusting sweater that some uncle-in-law
gave you.....
It is part of the year end ritual.....Buy stuff, wrap stuff, give
stuff, unwrap stuff and then buy more stuff.....And for one
day everybody enjoys stuff......Pumps
Kwanzaa, for those who celebrate them.....
The retail stores will be open and ready to accept any person
looking for the last remaining bargains of 2005, with or
without the "gift card" they received for Christmas......
It is now time to buy what "you" wanted if you did not get
it or exchange that disgusting sweater that some uncle-in-law
gave you.....
It is part of the year end ritual.....Buy stuff, wrap stuff, give
stuff, unwrap stuff and then buy more stuff.....And for one
day everybody enjoys stuff......Pumps
Saturday, December 24, 2005
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Nope this is not a review on an ancient movie.....It is a discourse
on internet blog "comments"......
I have come to the opinion that there are a lot of people who
are not happy, outright mean, or are to lazy to earn an honest
living......It appears that the world has produced a multitude
of "Earls"......And very few have a desire to seek "Karma".....
What is missing in a lot of people's lives is the lack of "struggle"...
Just "ask, whine or complain" and it will be given to you....It has
even come down to the fact that "time out" is worth it, in the
long run.....
Tomorrow is Christmas Day and it will be enjoyed by the GOOD....
The BAD and UGLY will just continue to complain, moan, groan,
and miss the joy of the holiday.....After all who needs JOY....Pumps
on internet blog "comments"......
I have come to the opinion that there are a lot of people who
are not happy, outright mean, or are to lazy to earn an honest
living......It appears that the world has produced a multitude
of "Earls"......And very few have a desire to seek "Karma".....
What is missing in a lot of people's lives is the lack of "struggle"...
Just "ask, whine or complain" and it will be given to you....It has
even come down to the fact that "time out" is worth it, in the
long run.....
Tomorrow is Christmas Day and it will be enjoyed by the GOOD....
The BAD and UGLY will just continue to complain, moan, groan,
and miss the joy of the holiday.....After all who needs JOY....Pumps
Friday, December 23, 2005
Tolerance
There is a whole world out there that has used this word with
regard to political correctness....PC is not the subject of this
blog.....
Tolerance in marriage is the topic......Years ago mom or pop
was a drunk or had other social problems....The other half of
the "union" managed and raised the family.....(If you doubt this,
read any autobiography of a famous person raised in the 30's
or 40's.)......This meant that one half of the marriage union was
tolerant of the other half......
Tolerance is the glue that holds a marriage union together......
If you "want it your way" all the time, you will wind up in
a divorce court.....
So in the US today, we can assume that 50% of the population
is tolerant.......Pumps
regard to political correctness....PC is not the subject of this
blog.....
Tolerance in marriage is the topic......Years ago mom or pop
was a drunk or had other social problems....The other half of
the "union" managed and raised the family.....(If you doubt this,
read any autobiography of a famous person raised in the 30's
or 40's.)......This meant that one half of the marriage union was
tolerant of the other half......
Tolerance is the glue that holds a marriage union together......
If you "want it your way" all the time, you will wind up in
a divorce court.....
So in the US today, we can assume that 50% of the population
is tolerant.......Pumps
Thursday, December 22, 2005
The Dash - - -
I will be the first one to admit that I have retained little of the
proper method of punctuation which was taught to me some
60 years ago......This can be attested to by the fact that
I use ....., a series of periods, when I end a sentence..... (I know
there should be one period but it is an habit from using a
teletype machine in my younger days.)......
What gets me is that even today, where it should be used, the dash
is not......Today's computer "scribes" can make it very confusing
when they print fractional numbers in their texts.....Let us take
ten and one half percent as an example......
They will write it as 101/2 percent.....The New York Post
reports pay increases, in the subway strike, as 3/4/31/2 percent.....
Where is the needed "dash"?.......3/4/3-1/2 percent does improve
the text greatly, just as 10-1/2 percent would......Pumps
proper method of punctuation which was taught to me some
60 years ago......This can be attested to by the fact that
I use ....., a series of periods, when I end a sentence..... (I know
there should be one period but it is an habit from using a
teletype machine in my younger days.)......
What gets me is that even today, where it should be used, the dash
is not......Today's computer "scribes" can make it very confusing
when they print fractional numbers in their texts.....Let us take
ten and one half percent as an example......
They will write it as 101/2 percent.....The New York Post
reports pay increases, in the subway strike, as 3/4/31/2 percent.....
Where is the needed "dash"?.......3/4/3-1/2 percent does improve
the text greatly, just as 10-1/2 percent would......Pumps
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Global Warming
Here I sit and it is cold outside.....Some people say it is warmer
outside.....It is 1 degree centigrade* warmer, since the weather
temperatures have been recorded a 150 years ago...And this is
the end of the earth, as we know it......
We have 4000 years of recorded history (forget the hundreds
of thousands before stone carvings and papyrus) without
precise earth temperature measurements, what is the value
of the last 150 in the total equation?.......Nothing......
Since people really can not answer questions, especially if they
are getting paid to do so, they have to produce at least a
theory.....Theory is a nice word for GUESS....But I suspect
if you have gone to a fancy college, you will not pass your
PHD exam if you use the word GUESS.....However use
the word THEORY and it is "magnum cum laude" down the
graduation aisle ........Pumps
* I hate Celsius along with CE and BCE
outside.....It is 1 degree centigrade* warmer, since the weather
temperatures have been recorded a 150 years ago...And this is
the end of the earth, as we know it......
We have 4000 years of recorded history (forget the hundreds
of thousands before stone carvings and papyrus) without
precise earth temperature measurements, what is the value
of the last 150 in the total equation?.......Nothing......
Since people really can not answer questions, especially if they
are getting paid to do so, they have to produce at least a
theory.....Theory is a nice word for GUESS....But I suspect
if you have gone to a fancy college, you will not pass your
PHD exam if you use the word GUESS.....However use
the word THEORY and it is "magnum cum laude" down the
graduation aisle ........Pumps
* I hate Celsius along with CE and BCE
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
NYC Subway
Well it seems that the "Big Strike" is on.....The union worker is
now fighting for "his/her rights".....
Having spent 50% of my life in New York City, I believe I know
the subway system quite well.....In the Transport Workers
Union you DO have a few individuals which work.....Motormen,
Conductors and "Change Booth" Clerks.....For the most part
Porters, Inspectors, Track workers, do not break a sweat......
The "strike" will end, as they all eventually do.....Nobody will
really gain a thing and when it is over the poor Motorman and
Conductor will receive the verbal wrath of the riding public...
Not the union bosses....Pumps
now fighting for "his/her rights".....
Having spent 50% of my life in New York City, I believe I know
the subway system quite well.....In the Transport Workers
Union you DO have a few individuals which work.....Motormen,
Conductors and "Change Booth" Clerks.....For the most part
Porters, Inspectors, Track workers, do not break a sweat......
The "strike" will end, as they all eventually do.....Nobody will
really gain a thing and when it is over the poor Motorman and
Conductor will receive the verbal wrath of the riding public...
Not the union bosses....Pumps
Monday, December 19, 2005
Menu Planning
I have come to the conclusion that a weekly menu dinner plan
does work.....The time taken once a week to fill out all or the
majority of the forthcoming week with supper suggestions
is worth it.....Whether, homemade, take-out, delivery or
leftovers, the time spent does reduce the daily "stress level"....
A "dry-erase" board, chalk board or cork will do just fine for
planning your thoughts ahead of time.....It also helps with the
weekly shopping list....
Yep! Fifteen minutes a week ends that daily ominous question,
"What's for supper????".......Pumps
does work.....The time taken once a week to fill out all or the
majority of the forthcoming week with supper suggestions
is worth it.....Whether, homemade, take-out, delivery or
leftovers, the time spent does reduce the daily "stress level"....
A "dry-erase" board, chalk board or cork will do just fine for
planning your thoughts ahead of time.....It also helps with the
weekly shopping list....
Yep! Fifteen minutes a week ends that daily ominous question,
"What's for supper????".......Pumps
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Big Brother - Again
Well it seems that "Big Brother" and surveillance are once
again making the headlines these days......As if this is
something new......How soon people have forgotten a man
named J. Edgar Hoover......
The real "Big Brother" problem is --- how much are YOU
giving "Big Brother" yourself......Let's face it......You have
a credit card score because three tracking companies know
and maintain your financial history......Your banks have
the same information......Just apply for a credit card and you
can give the information away to whomever you want......
Telephone calls, both land line and cell, can be tracked and
traced.....Cookies and data miners record your internet search
patterns, if not key strokes......Grocery and drug store discount
cards record your purchases.....That is why you get the
discount, they want the information......
So if someone is "tapping" your telephone, I would not be
too concerned about someone else knowing your opinions
of your mother-in-law....But if it prevents someone from
blowing up the Golden Gate Bridge (and messing up rush
hour traffic) then let them listen in.....We all have had our
ear to "a door" at least once in our lives......Pumps
again making the headlines these days......As if this is
something new......How soon people have forgotten a man
named J. Edgar Hoover......
The real "Big Brother" problem is --- how much are YOU
giving "Big Brother" yourself......Let's face it......You have
a credit card score because three tracking companies know
and maintain your financial history......Your banks have
the same information......Just apply for a credit card and you
can give the information away to whomever you want......
Telephone calls, both land line and cell, can be tracked and
traced.....Cookies and data miners record your internet search
patterns, if not key strokes......Grocery and drug store discount
cards record your purchases.....That is why you get the
discount, they want the information......
So if someone is "tapping" your telephone, I would not be
too concerned about someone else knowing your opinions
of your mother-in-law....But if it prevents someone from
blowing up the Golden Gate Bridge (and messing up rush
hour traffic) then let them listen in.....We all have had our
ear to "a door" at least once in our lives......Pumps
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Let's Strike
These words always have seemed to get me.....Here it is Christmas
time and people decide to go out on "strike" from their jobs.....I know
that the union believes that by "striking" at this time of the year
will give them some added benefit to their demands......But.....
Let us face it......The poor union guy has to go out and buy presents
for his family.....Trying to live on "strike fund pay" during the
Holidays just does not seem to "cut it"......"Strike fund pay" usually
provides enough money to get you to the "picket line" each day and
nothing more......
And when you come down to it, the union boss arrives in his fancy
car and tells you to "hang in there".....And, in the end the union
worker has a miserable Holiday and does not get his finances stable
until June.....(By the way there is "heat" in that fancy car and the
picket line can get cold)....It just does not seem fair to me, for some
reason, when you ruin the Holiday Spirit of some hard working
SOB and his family.....Pumps
time and people decide to go out on "strike" from their jobs.....I know
that the union believes that by "striking" at this time of the year
will give them some added benefit to their demands......But.....
Let us face it......The poor union guy has to go out and buy presents
for his family.....Trying to live on "strike fund pay" during the
Holidays just does not seem to "cut it"......"Strike fund pay" usually
provides enough money to get you to the "picket line" each day and
nothing more......
And when you come down to it, the union boss arrives in his fancy
car and tells you to "hang in there".....And, in the end the union
worker has a miserable Holiday and does not get his finances stable
until June.....(By the way there is "heat" in that fancy car and the
picket line can get cold)....It just does not seem fair to me, for some
reason, when you ruin the Holiday Spirit of some hard working
SOB and his family.....Pumps
Friday, December 16, 2005
Good Olde Dinty Moore
I sincerely doubt that there is not a human alive on the North
American Continent, over the age of 18, that has not eaten
a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew once in his/her life.....
For some reason this "gourmet delight" in a can or microwavable
container has provided need nourishment to many a "poor
soul" who was "financially challenged" at a particular time in
their lives....And some continue to enjoy its delightful taste
after receiving monetary riches.....
The reason for this is that it is good food.....Once you get the taste
in your mouth, you remember all the days you had to eat it, now
that you want to eat it......Let's face it, a whole generation of people
have survived by eating pizza, Dinty Moore and mac & cheese.....
And when all is said.....Dinty Moore under candlelight always
works better than the other two.....Pumps
American Continent, over the age of 18, that has not eaten
a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew once in his/her life.....
For some reason this "gourmet delight" in a can or microwavable
container has provided need nourishment to many a "poor
soul" who was "financially challenged" at a particular time in
their lives....And some continue to enjoy its delightful taste
after receiving monetary riches.....
The reason for this is that it is good food.....Once you get the taste
in your mouth, you remember all the days you had to eat it, now
that you want to eat it......Let's face it, a whole generation of people
have survived by eating pizza, Dinty Moore and mac & cheese.....
And when all is said.....Dinty Moore under candlelight always
works better than the other two.....Pumps
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Pump's Indian Friend
Many moons ago, there was a young east Indian gentlemen
who worked in a cipher room for a UN Indian Delegation.....
This individual spent many hours in a small, ex-bathroom,
transcribing text into a coded message for transmission
to his home country.....
As things came to pass, his "tour of duty" was up in New York
City and he was awaiting a replacement and subsequent
transfer back home.....There was one problem, he did not want
to "really" go.....He loved America......
Today we get telemarketing calls from people, in India, who
are working in the wee hours of the morning (their time)....
I hope that cipher clerk is retired by now and not working
at 3AM in the morning....No wonder he did not want to go
back home.....Pumps
who worked in a cipher room for a UN Indian Delegation.....
This individual spent many hours in a small, ex-bathroom,
transcribing text into a coded message for transmission
to his home country.....
As things came to pass, his "tour of duty" was up in New York
City and he was awaiting a replacement and subsequent
transfer back home.....There was one problem, he did not want
to "really" go.....He loved America......
Today we get telemarketing calls from people, in India, who
are working in the wee hours of the morning (their time)....
I hope that cipher clerk is retired by now and not working
at 3AM in the morning....No wonder he did not want to go
back home.....Pumps
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Goodbye Doctor Welby
What ever happened to the Marcus Welbys of the world....
That nice doctor that held you hand and took time to
explain your malady?....Those days and doctors are long gone
unless you belong to the small section of society that pays
the doctor bill without bothering to look at it.....
The vast amount of today's doctors can not spend time
with you....It is not cost productive....Time is money.....
The less time they spend with you, the more time they
can spend with others....Most of these doctors work for
an "Association" or "Group Practice".....They are just one
little cog in a big "financial" wheel.....
And as they say, "If you want to live, then live with it."
If not, there is another option which most people do not
want to think about....Pumps
That nice doctor that held you hand and took time to
explain your malady?....Those days and doctors are long gone
unless you belong to the small section of society that pays
the doctor bill without bothering to look at it.....
The vast amount of today's doctors can not spend time
with you....It is not cost productive....Time is money.....
The less time they spend with you, the more time they
can spend with others....Most of these doctors work for
an "Association" or "Group Practice".....They are just one
little cog in a big "financial" wheel.....
And as they say, "If you want to live, then live with it."
If not, there is another option which most people do not
want to think about....Pumps
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
The Computer Age
Your are NEVER right anymore.....If there is an error or a
human mistake made in any transaction, you are the one
at fault....The computer only makes massive mistakes and
they are called "glitches"......An individual error is YOURS...
As once people hid behind the walls of a castle for protection,
now they hide behind a computer.....A computer never makes
a mistake because no one ever wants to admit to pressing
the wrong key.....It never is done by them.....It is always done
by you.....There is no proof either way.....No tracking
mechanism, only that it is YOUR'S not THEIR'S......
Once it was said you "Can not fight City Hall".....Now it has
gotten worse....."Can not fight the Computer"......Pumps
human mistake made in any transaction, you are the one
at fault....The computer only makes massive mistakes and
they are called "glitches"......An individual error is YOURS...
As once people hid behind the walls of a castle for protection,
now they hide behind a computer.....A computer never makes
a mistake because no one ever wants to admit to pressing
the wrong key.....It never is done by them.....It is always done
by you.....There is no proof either way.....No tracking
mechanism, only that it is YOUR'S not THEIR'S......
Once it was said you "Can not fight City Hall".....Now it has
gotten worse....."Can not fight the Computer"......Pumps
Monday, December 12, 2005
Jabunyaville Christmas Shopping
Yes my friends, there are price reduction sales in Jabunyaville.....
It is about 12 days to Christmas and everything is on sale.....
Everything except Christmas cards......
I do not remember this type of marketing in the "days of
yore".....I guess when you made $1.00 an hour and candy
was a nickel, what kind of sale could you have.....20% sale
on the candy would only be a cent.....And if you could afford
the four cents, you could afford the five cents......
If there were Christmas price reduction sales it was on
slow moving merchandise or damaged returns.....The case
is not true for today......Everything is on sale....."Just get it
out of our store so we can reduce inventories.".......
It has indeed become a buyer's market.......Pumps
It is about 12 days to Christmas and everything is on sale.....
Everything except Christmas cards......
I do not remember this type of marketing in the "days of
yore".....I guess when you made $1.00 an hour and candy
was a nickel, what kind of sale could you have.....20% sale
on the candy would only be a cent.....And if you could afford
the four cents, you could afford the five cents......
If there were Christmas price reduction sales it was on
slow moving merchandise or damaged returns.....The case
is not true for today......Everything is on sale....."Just get it
out of our store so we can reduce inventories.".......
It has indeed become a buyer's market.......Pumps
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Christmas Cards
The following words have nothing to do with "Holiday" cards
or "Winter Solace" cards.....Let some other blogger get into
that political correctness, if they chose.....No, this is about
sending out "Christmas" cards each year......
Every year, snow or sleet, people buy boxes of Christmas
cards to send out.....The United States Post Office hires
additional personnel to sort and direct these cards to the
proper written addresses.....
It seems that once a year, one tells all their neighbors,
close and distant family or friends, business associates -
current or past, that are well and send "greetings"......
Here in Jabunyaville all is well and one awaits the day
after Christmas when next year's supply of "greetings"
can be purchased at 1/2 price......Pumps
or "Winter Solace" cards.....Let some other blogger get into
that political correctness, if they chose.....No, this is about
sending out "Christmas" cards each year......
Every year, snow or sleet, people buy boxes of Christmas
cards to send out.....The United States Post Office hires
additional personnel to sort and direct these cards to the
proper written addresses.....
It seems that once a year, one tells all their neighbors,
close and distant family or friends, business associates -
current or past, that are well and send "greetings"......
Here in Jabunyaville all is well and one awaits the day
after Christmas when next year's supply of "greetings"
can be purchased at 1/2 price......Pumps
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Recipe Names
For those olde enough to remember, there was a dish named
"Chipped Beef on Toast".....A simple dish of canned pieces
of beef in a white sauce, served over toast......To many this
gourmet delight was called "SOS" or "S--t On a Shingle".....
Don't get me wrong.....This dish once fed a multitude of
people and they did not die from its consumption......
Well in this "modern" age, we now have another similar
offering made with chicken instead of beef......Pieces of
chicken in a white sauce, served over toast.....Ah yes!.....
The recipe named "Chicken Divan".....
I wonder if the original was called "Beef Divan" would it
have been better received?.....Pumps
"Chipped Beef on Toast".....A simple dish of canned pieces
of beef in a white sauce, served over toast......To many this
gourmet delight was called "SOS" or "S--t On a Shingle".....
Don't get me wrong.....This dish once fed a multitude of
people and they did not die from its consumption......
Well in this "modern" age, we now have another similar
offering made with chicken instead of beef......Pieces of
chicken in a white sauce, served over toast.....Ah yes!.....
The recipe named "Chicken Divan".....
I wonder if the original was called "Beef Divan" would it
have been better received?.....Pumps
Friday, December 09, 2005
Papyrus
Few individuals, with an I-pod in their ears, even know what
papyrus is, or was.....The world is now in a technical age
of electronics.....Computers, internet-files......Yet.....
When you want to research a subject these days, one
can go to the "internet" to do so......Except if you "really"
want to do research.....Then it is an olde book or
even a papyrus one goes to......
It is a wonder that these pieces of paper with handwritten or
printed text have survived of all these years......One wonders
if the current CD-ROMS and Servers will historically
survive as well?......Let's hope so.....For history's sake....Pumps
papyrus is, or was.....The world is now in a technical age
of electronics.....Computers, internet-files......Yet.....
When you want to research a subject these days, one
can go to the "internet" to do so......Except if you "really"
want to do research.....Then it is an olde book or
even a papyrus one goes to......
It is a wonder that these pieces of paper with handwritten or
printed text have survived of all these years......One wonders
if the current CD-ROMS and Servers will historically
survive as well?......Let's hope so.....For history's sake....Pumps
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The Levees
Well, it is now official......The New Orleans levees did not "hold"
due to "human failure"......It took two groups, one scientific
and one engineering, to finally conclude this fact......
The levees are not a natural formation.....They had to be built
by HUMANS and they FAILED......Thus "human failure".....
How much money was spent to obtain this foregone
conclusion?.......Now bureaucracies, engineers and contractors
will all "run for the hills".....
One day the Leaning Tower of Pisa will fall over.....It well be due
to "human failure".....Improperly engineered, poorly
constructed and not maintained by the bureaucrats.....Pumps
due to "human failure"......It took two groups, one scientific
and one engineering, to finally conclude this fact......
The levees are not a natural formation.....They had to be built
by HUMANS and they FAILED......Thus "human failure".....
How much money was spent to obtain this foregone
conclusion?.......Now bureaucracies, engineers and contractors
will all "run for the hills".....
One day the Leaning Tower of Pisa will fall over.....It well be due
to "human failure".....Improperly engineered, poorly
constructed and not maintained by the bureaucrats.....Pumps
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
December 7, 1941
When you are six years old you do not remember the day.....
At that age you can not fully understand what you are told
or what you heard over the radio......
What you do remember is how the adults react around you....
They are of course the main world in which you live and
what effects them, effects you......To you a soldier was
your own grandfather who wore an helmet and carried
a flashlight.....His duty was "Area Air Raid Warden" and his
responsibility was to make sure all night "blackout window
shades" were down.....A beam of white light would provide
an enemy plane a target to bomb......
It was not until many years later that you fully understood
what "war" was and what the world was like on the other
side of those closed black shades.....Or why no airplanes
ever came.....Pumps
At that age you can not fully understand what you are told
or what you heard over the radio......
What you do remember is how the adults react around you....
They are of course the main world in which you live and
what effects them, effects you......To you a soldier was
your own grandfather who wore an helmet and carried
a flashlight.....His duty was "Area Air Raid Warden" and his
responsibility was to make sure all night "blackout window
shades" were down.....A beam of white light would provide
an enemy plane a target to bomb......
It was not until many years later that you fully understood
what "war" was and what the world was like on the other
side of those closed black shades.....Or why no airplanes
ever came.....Pumps
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
The Audience
Everybody needs an audience.....Everybody wants to be heard
and listened to.....A good audience helps "one's" ego, ask any
stand up comic.....
Whether you are cleric, comic, politician, or an activist you
need an audience......Years ago "one" had to stand on a soap
box and yell to attract a crowd.....Aka, audience......As a
child you were made, to feel good - (ego again), to perform
on a school stage in front of an audience.......
Well the audience has moved to the "internet"......Without
soapbox, podium or rally you can say "your piece or peace"
into cyberspace......Do not expect "clapping" or "applause"....
But who knows what audience a binary code will produce?...
Pumps
and listened to.....A good audience helps "one's" ego, ask any
stand up comic.....
Whether you are cleric, comic, politician, or an activist you
need an audience......Years ago "one" had to stand on a soap
box and yell to attract a crowd.....Aka, audience......As a
child you were made, to feel good - (ego again), to perform
on a school stage in front of an audience.......
Well the audience has moved to the "internet"......Without
soapbox, podium or rally you can say "your piece or peace"
into cyberspace......Do not expect "clapping" or "applause"....
But who knows what audience a binary code will produce?...
Pumps
Monday, December 05, 2005
Jabunyaville Snow
Today the Jabunyaville snow covered the Jabunyaville
leaves.....And panic set in "full time"......Three inches of
wet mush has closed entire school systems or shut some
down two to three hours early.......Snow the scourge of
the South......
I guess this is the last day anyone will be caught dead
in a pair of shorts until March......It may hit 50F degrees
again in mid-January and a "true believer" will adorn
them for a day or two, however......
What really gets me is that the guys who own those
"high wheel - off road - mud covered" trucks think that
the reason they can not drive in the snow is someone
else's fault......(It is really because they are not
wearing their shorts - but do not tell them that)....Pumps
leaves.....And panic set in "full time"......Three inches of
wet mush has closed entire school systems or shut some
down two to three hours early.......Snow the scourge of
the South......
I guess this is the last day anyone will be caught dead
in a pair of shorts until March......It may hit 50F degrees
again in mid-January and a "true believer" will adorn
them for a day or two, however......
What really gets me is that the guys who own those
"high wheel - off road - mud covered" trucks think that
the reason they can not drive in the snow is someone
else's fault......(It is really because they are not
wearing their shorts - but do not tell them that)....Pumps
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Crockpot Liners
Yes crockpot not "crackpot"......What happened to people
cleaning their cooking utensils?......
Now you can go out a buy an "overpriced" package of
"specially sized" plastic bags to place in your crock pot,
no matter what its shape, so you do not have to clean
it after use......How lazy can we get?........
I guess for some people it is a "tool" that works for them....
But remember the use of a fork could destroy all your
hope and dreams for a "clean" cooking utensil.....One hole
in the cooking bag results in double the trouble.....So
people, stir pot with caution.....Maybe there should be a
"warning label" on the package?.......Pumps
cleaning their cooking utensils?......
Now you can go out a buy an "overpriced" package of
"specially sized" plastic bags to place in your crock pot,
no matter what its shape, so you do not have to clean
it after use......How lazy can we get?........
I guess for some people it is a "tool" that works for them....
But remember the use of a fork could destroy all your
hope and dreams for a "clean" cooking utensil.....One hole
in the cooking bag results in double the trouble.....So
people, stir pot with caution.....Maybe there should be a
"warning label" on the package?.......Pumps
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Jabunyaville Leaves
Well the "front yard" leaves have been removed and are no
longer an eye sore for the neighbors to complain about.......
This means Christmas must be coming......
Sometimes keeping up with the "Jones" can be a problem....
I guess if you live in a "retirement community" and pay
a homeowner's fee, you do not have to worry about the
tree droppings.......They become someone else's problem.....
I guess that after Christmas, I will have to start saving up
money, in my olde sock, for the removal of next years
tree crop.......Life's cycle continues.....Pumps
longer an eye sore for the neighbors to complain about.......
This means Christmas must be coming......
Sometimes keeping up with the "Jones" can be a problem....
I guess if you live in a "retirement community" and pay
a homeowner's fee, you do not have to worry about the
tree droppings.......They become someone else's problem.....
I guess that after Christmas, I will have to start saving up
money, in my olde sock, for the removal of next years
tree crop.......Life's cycle continues.....Pumps
Friday, December 02, 2005
Once Upon A Time #14
There was no plastic wrap.....Because there was no plastic.....
It seems that plastic is used these days to enclose everything
you buy......Nothing is no longer unwrapped, sold loose or
unprotected from the public......
A drinking straw is now served to you in a paper wrapper.....
Untouched by any other human hand prior to your use.....
Butter in no long cut from a 3'x3'x3' block but rather neatly
wrapped in four little bars in a package......God help us if a
penny piece of candy does not have a piece of plastic on it.....
When you went to school, you were taught that there were
good germs and bad germs.....It seems that lawyers,
marketing people and right down to the individual human
themself, FEAR A GERM......Everything is anti-bacterial
in this day and age.....Did you ever think that your
ancestors never knew of the word and if it were not for them,
you would not be here?.....Pumps
It seems that plastic is used these days to enclose everything
you buy......Nothing is no longer unwrapped, sold loose or
unprotected from the public......
A drinking straw is now served to you in a paper wrapper.....
Untouched by any other human hand prior to your use.....
Butter in no long cut from a 3'x3'x3' block but rather neatly
wrapped in four little bars in a package......God help us if a
penny piece of candy does not have a piece of plastic on it.....
When you went to school, you were taught that there were
good germs and bad germs.....It seems that lawyers,
marketing people and right down to the individual human
themself, FEAR A GERM......Everything is anti-bacterial
in this day and age.....Did you ever think that your
ancestors never knew of the word and if it were not for them,
you would not be here?.....Pumps
Thursday, December 01, 2005
High Speed Internet
This is not a complaint....I have HSI and I like it....But......
If you ask your provider, who by the way says they are
providing a service at a certain "Kpbs", how you can check
the "speed"?.....They have no answer......The only thing they
will do is give you a "ping test" which means that you are
"on line"
It is what their advertisements do not tell you!....Your "speed"
can be effected by your own computer and the way it is
operating......Or, the operation of the "server" you are trying
to reach.....Distance to that "server" will both effect "download"
and "up" load speeds.....And let us not forget the distance
of that server from your little computer.....
There are many HSI "test sites" out there you can check
the "speed" of your computer on any given occasion.....But I
love the one that tells me that I am running at a DSL speed
and suggests I switch to a HSI provider......Which happens to
be the one I am currently using.....What a joke.......Pumps
If you ask your provider, who by the way says they are
providing a service at a certain "Kpbs", how you can check
the "speed"?.....They have no answer......The only thing they
will do is give you a "ping test" which means that you are
"on line"
It is what their advertisements do not tell you!....Your "speed"
can be effected by your own computer and the way it is
operating......Or, the operation of the "server" you are trying
to reach.....Distance to that "server" will both effect "download"
and "up" load speeds.....And let us not forget the distance
of that server from your little computer.....
There are many HSI "test sites" out there you can check
the "speed" of your computer on any given occasion.....But I
love the one that tells me that I am running at a DSL speed
and suggests I switch to a HSI provider......Which happens to
be the one I am currently using.....What a joke.......Pumps
