Thursday, December 27, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Plan Now for Office Snowstorm
I live in Minnesota, so it is just common sense to have a basic plan of what to do in a snow emergency. For instance, what would you do if you got stuck at work and the snow was too deep or the roads were impassable? A little planning now could prevent disaster!
It is good to make sure that you can sleep at your desk (or wherever your workspace is). I suggest practicing sleeping at work at least twice a week to be prepared. There is also the issue of food. If you happened to be stuck at work for a long period of time, it is possible that your food sources (i.e. the crackers in your desk drawer, etc.) could run out. That could spell disaster!
I suggest that you scout out your coworkers ahead of time--to see who may be suitable to eat if things really became desperate. When choosing a coworker to eat, I suggest not picking anyone too old. They will unfortunately, be tough--even though they may be less useful on the job than a younger, stronger coworker. It might seem logical then to pick the youngest; but remember, it may be good to have someone around who is less experienced, and strong--if you need to convince someone else to shovel your way out. A good choice is the office (or workplace) "unpleasant" person. This is the person who is mean and nasty--who no one will miss if they become dinner. Often times this might be your boss.
So remember, a little planning ahead of time could make for a much more enjoyable disaster--should the unfortunate event ever happen.
It is good to make sure that you can sleep at your desk (or wherever your workspace is). I suggest practicing sleeping at work at least twice a week to be prepared. There is also the issue of food. If you happened to be stuck at work for a long period of time, it is possible that your food sources (i.e. the crackers in your desk drawer, etc.) could run out. That could spell disaster!
I suggest that you scout out your coworkers ahead of time--to see who may be suitable to eat if things really became desperate. When choosing a coworker to eat, I suggest not picking anyone too old. They will unfortunately, be tough--even though they may be less useful on the job than a younger, stronger coworker. It might seem logical then to pick the youngest; but remember, it may be good to have someone around who is less experienced, and strong--if you need to convince someone else to shovel your way out. A good choice is the office (or workplace) "unpleasant" person. This is the person who is mean and nasty--who no one will miss if they become dinner. Often times this might be your boss.
So remember, a little planning ahead of time could make for a much more enjoyable disaster--should the unfortunate event ever happen.
Dumb People at the Top
One of my programmer friends put this 'comment' in his last release script as a joke to the other programmers. He didn't create the image; he just copied it in--to provide a little humor. It is clearly commented out to anyone who knows anything about programming.
That said, one of his (several) bosses has mistakenly decided that not only did this innocent joke waste time, but it also caused the release to be in error. So, she is now making a big deal out of it and wasting much time and causing much morale damage in the process.
So... why do dumb people end up in charge of things???
That said, one of his (several) bosses has mistakenly decided that not only did this innocent joke waste time, but it also caused the release to be in error. So, she is now making a big deal out of it and wasting much time and causing much morale damage in the process.
So... why do dumb people end up in charge of things???
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
What Can we Learn from Connecticut Shooting?
Whether you believe in gun control or if you believe that more people (like armed teachers) having guns is the answer, everyone in America should be embarrassed that we live in a country where children are gunned down in their elementary school. This is completely unacceptable in a country where the general attitude is that we are somehow more civilized than much of the rest of the world.
The fact is, to many Americans, having guns without restrictions, is more important than if people (especially people they don't know) get killed. Politicians know that the issue of gun control can easily end their political careers because of the political power and financial backing of the National Rifle Association. If a fraction of that financial power could be used to increase security in our schools, how great would that be?
Most schools are "protected" by having only the front door unlocked and a sign that tells visitors that they must sign in at the office! Some may also have an unarmed person at the front door. Much of this gets down to how much money will be allocated to security--when statistically, the chances are that it really won't be needed anyway.
We as citizens of the USA should be asking what we collectively can do about preventing cowards with guns from going to schools, shopping malls, political rallies and such things--and killing innocent people. Will giving everyone a gun make us safer? Are our educators capable of taking on the role of armed security? If two people get into an argument on the street, is it really less likely that there will be deadly violence if both of them are armed? Who should have a gun and who shouldn't? Who makes sure the guns people buy are secure?
When do we as a nation worry about our children as much as we worry about having our guns? When do we say we've had enough of gun violence? Is it too much to ask that a gun owner should account for his gun(s) annually to their local law enforcement agency? Is there a reasonable limit to how many guns one person should be allowed to own? Is it so unreasonable that gun owners should be asked to be responsible and accountable?
The murders of the people... of the children in Connecticut last Friday, makes me ashamed of our stand on gun control in our country. I'm embarrassed that children were killed in their elementary school. I don't want to ever hear of such a thing again. I'm upset that the media sensationalizes it and gets the story wrong ten times along the way. I'm upset that the shooter is given publicity. I'm sad that those little children died and I want something to change so it doesn't happen again.
So am I just a bleeding-heart liberal? So be it! I wish we could protect our children. What could be more devastating than to bury your baby before the holidays because a filthy coward shot him or her?
-KJC
The fact is, to many Americans, having guns without restrictions, is more important than if people (especially people they don't know) get killed. Politicians know that the issue of gun control can easily end their political careers because of the political power and financial backing of the National Rifle Association. If a fraction of that financial power could be used to increase security in our schools, how great would that be?
Most schools are "protected" by having only the front door unlocked and a sign that tells visitors that they must sign in at the office! Some may also have an unarmed person at the front door. Much of this gets down to how much money will be allocated to security--when statistically, the chances are that it really won't be needed anyway.
We as citizens of the USA should be asking what we collectively can do about preventing cowards with guns from going to schools, shopping malls, political rallies and such things--and killing innocent people. Will giving everyone a gun make us safer? Are our educators capable of taking on the role of armed security? If two people get into an argument on the street, is it really less likely that there will be deadly violence if both of them are armed? Who should have a gun and who shouldn't? Who makes sure the guns people buy are secure?
When do we as a nation worry about our children as much as we worry about having our guns? When do we say we've had enough of gun violence? Is it too much to ask that a gun owner should account for his gun(s) annually to their local law enforcement agency? Is there a reasonable limit to how many guns one person should be allowed to own? Is it so unreasonable that gun owners should be asked to be responsible and accountable?
The murders of the people... of the children in Connecticut last Friday, makes me ashamed of our stand on gun control in our country. I'm embarrassed that children were killed in their elementary school. I don't want to ever hear of such a thing again. I'm upset that the media sensationalizes it and gets the story wrong ten times along the way. I'm upset that the shooter is given publicity. I'm sad that those little children died and I want something to change so it doesn't happen again.
So am I just a bleeding-heart liberal? So be it! I wish we could protect our children. What could be more devastating than to bury your baby before the holidays because a filthy coward shot him or her?
-KJC
Friday, December 14, 2012
Can We Protect Our Children?
Fellow Americans,
We cannot continue to lose our children to madmen with guns. We need to know that our schools are safe. We need to find a way to stop the violence. Oh my God! Kindergarten children killed at school! I am very sad right now.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Curtis
We cannot continue to lose our children to madmen with guns. We need to know that our schools are safe. We need to find a way to stop the violence. Oh my God! Kindergarten children killed at school! I am very sad right now.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Curtis
Cowards with Guns
To anyone who has ideas about shooting unarmed people (especially children) and then fooling yourself into thinking you're somebody special when you kill yourself like a filthy little wuss-ass coward, skip a step and just kill yourself and leave everyone else out of your warped fantasies. Has anyone else had enough of these cowards yet???
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"Latin America" an Andy Rooney Tribute
I miss Andy Rooney and his rants and observations. I thought of him when I was thinking about how no one in Latin America actually speaks Latin. They speak Spanish. Of course, modern people are very concerned about how easily offended everyone is. To call someone "Spanish" would be an insult to anyone whose ancestors were conquered by the Spanish; hundreds of years ago. Being a "dead" language that no one uses except scientists--to categorize and name everything, I suppose it was "safe" to call the people in Spanish speaking places (not in Spain) Latino. Confused? Yeah well it's totally worth it if we can avoid having history offend someone.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Snow!
The Twin Cities got over a foot of snow this weekend. By (this) Monday morning it was mostly plowed out. One has to be impressed at how quickly we can dig out.
Our snow blower (at home) didn't want to start and I hadn't gotten gas for it until Friday. Therefore it couldn't get it started until after I had shoveled the whole driveway by hand once. After I finally got it going, it has worked fine for me twice since.
Our snow blower (at home) didn't want to start and I hadn't gotten gas for it until Friday. Therefore it couldn't get it started until after I had shoveled the whole driveway by hand once. After I finally got it going, it has worked fine for me twice since.
Friday, December 07, 2012
Thursday, December 06, 2012
Too Close
As we contemplate the passing of one of our elders, I am unfortunately reminded of some horrific events from the past. The treachery of sadistic and jealous cousin(s) from long ago.
In an alternate history, my mind paints me a picture of my brother (who has become one of the finest men I know) and I impaled or horrifically disfigured from the pitchforks that were strategically placed beneath the cushion of hay below the bales we all jumped off of--in the old barn on the farm.
Had the younger of them not warned me, we may be dead or maimed right now. Would they think about the treacherous and murderous thing they had done (today)? Bad enough it was when they sabotaged the mini bike trail or when he made pinholes in my new toy so it would deflate later after they left our house. But how could he or they plot to kill us when we were just children playing in a barn?
Of course most of the adults refused to believe it at the time; and I would have gladly forgotten it myself--but the mere sight of them has brought back the horrors and left me wondering at the blackness in the hearts of children who could kill and torture animals out of their own fears and insecurities and then booby-trap the farm to kill their relatives and playmates.
In an alternate history, my mind paints me a picture of my brother (who has become one of the finest men I know) and I impaled or horrifically disfigured from the pitchforks that were strategically placed beneath the cushion of hay below the bales we all jumped off of--in the old barn on the farm.
Had the younger of them not warned me, we may be dead or maimed right now. Would they think about the treacherous and murderous thing they had done (today)? Bad enough it was when they sabotaged the mini bike trail or when he made pinholes in my new toy so it would deflate later after they left our house. But how could he or they plot to kill us when we were just children playing in a barn?
Of course most of the adults refused to believe it at the time; and I would have gladly forgotten it myself--but the mere sight of them has brought back the horrors and left me wondering at the blackness in the hearts of children who could kill and torture animals out of their own fears and insecurities and then booby-trap the farm to kill their relatives and playmates.
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Royal Baby
It's not that I don't care about the royals having a baby...
...wait a minute... that's exactly what it is...
Monday, December 03, 2012
Acting Chalant
Outwardly I was acting all chalant, but inside I was
completely unconcerned that my pair-of-pants was actually
only one pant.
Sunday, December 02, 2012
GoodBye Uncle Harry
Uncle Harry has made his last stand. So long and best wishes. I hope 'they' allow wood cutting in heaven!
Be Tall and Get a Good Job!
I've been noticing that the most important trait to getting ahead in the business world, seems to be: being tall! Seriously, checkout who is up on the 'corporate ladder.'
I'm 6' 12" when standing on a chair, so I'm just going to take a chair with me from now on and stand on it when I'm at the office or if I go on a job interview...
I'm 6' 12" when standing on a chair, so I'm just going to take a chair with me from now on and stand on it when I'm at the office or if I go on a job interview...