Jul 27, 2007

Jul 25, 2007

Jul 21, 2007

Closure.

By Saturday, July 21, 2007 ,
DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE NO SPOILERS.

Today was the first day in a very, very long time that I had the day to myself. Daughter#1 left for a week long vacation last night and Daughter#2 has been and will be at summer camp until the end of the month. So, I had the entire day to spend with my imaginary wannabe son, Harry Potter.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows I got up early today and true to my promise I went and purchased JK Rowling's final installment of the series. The bookstore offered a few comfy chairs and a cafe to dive immediately into Harry's world, but I knew that once started I wouldn't be able to tear myself away and Husband and my in-laws were expecting me for lunch.

I did cheat a little however. A few days ago scanned pages of the book's epilogue were being passed around the Internet and not showing any will power whatsoever, I read the last page, to brace myself for the end. Rumors on the web said that the scannings might be a hoax so while I was stroking the hardcover of the book wondering if it was true or not. I whipped open the last page and satisfied my curiosity.

I started reading at 2.00 p.m., a couple of bathroom breaks, four ice-teas (which is why I'm still awake and blogging) and three laundry washes later, at almost midnight, with puffy eyes and a very wet handkerchief I sighed, hugged the book and said my good-byes.

JK Rowling knows her closures, that's for sure.

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Jul 20, 2007

#18 Feel-good Flick for Friday

By Friday, July 20, 2007
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Manic Street Preachers with Nina Persson from "The Cardigans" as guest female vocals.


...
But your love alone won't save the world
You knew the secret of the universe
Despite it all you made it worse
It left you lonely it left you cursed...

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Jul 17, 2007

Back when computer mice had balls

By Tuesday, July 17, 2007 , , ,
Here's a great bit of Internet jokelore that's been circulating in and out of e-mails since 1989. It might or might not be true, having started as an "in-company" joke. This supposedly was a memo sent out by IBM to its employees in all seriousness. It went to all field engineers about a computer peripheral problem. The author of this memo was quite genuine. The engineers rolled on the floor! Especially note the last couple of sentences.

Re: Replacement of Mouse Balls.

If a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Mouse balls are now available as FRU (Field Replacement Units). Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, replacement of mouse balls should only be attempted by properly trained personnel.

Before proceeding, determine the type of mouse balls by examining the underside of the mouse. Domestic balls will be larger and harder than foreign balls.

Ball removal procedures differ depending upon the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop off method. Domestic balls are replaced by using the twist off method. Mouse balls are not usually static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge. Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse may be used immediately.

It is recommended that each person have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum customer satisfaction. Any customer missing his balls should contact the local personnel in charge of removing and replacing these necessary items. Please keep in mind that a customer without properly working balls is an unhappy customer.

Jul 13, 2007

Greek railroad woes

By Friday, July 13, 2007
train collisionYesterday's accident regarding the collision between an urban rail-bus and a freight train in the heart of Athens brought to light - once again - the Greek National Railroad's (OSE) dysfunctional policy and management. In the last 10 months alone there have been 17 (!) railroad accidents, 14 of which were derailments, luckily with no casualties.

In a rush to make an impression and dazzle the public/voters, the Ministry of Transportation, its Railroad Company, OSE and its subsidiary, Proastiakos, added more routes and itineraries this summer, BUT forgot to pencil in safety regulations on their agenda.
Railroad traffic, therefore, is NOT regulated by automatic signaling systems and electronic means, because the Railroad Company hasn't quite gotten around to that part yet. Rail-traffic control is handled the good, old-fashioned, unreliable way: solely by humans, the dispatchers. Hence, the human-error factor OSE officials are blaming.

The fact that yesterday a major railroad calamity was avoided can only be attributed to the rail-bus driver's 3 life-saving acts. As soon as he saw the oncoming freight train he engaged the emergency brakes, opened all doors to relieve the pressure of the oncoming collision and ran back to warn the passengers to move away from the front part of the rail-bus and brace themselves.

OSE and government officials in charge of Greek National Railroad holler "human-error" to the media, putting the blame only on the workers and never assuming responsibility of the many, re-occurring accidents. The Greek railroad has mourned the death of 3 train drivers and 1 paralyzed for life in last few years alone.
What's and who's to blame?

Lack of adequate safety measures and inexcusable hold ups regarding infrastructure maintenance and upgrades. One of the most crucial of these necessary improvements is instalment of automatic warning signals to minimize the human-error factor. Using dispatchers solely as railroad traffic regulators, without the backup assistance of electronic means, does not ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

Overworked railroad work force because of the severe lack of personnel involved with train circulation (engine-drivers, switchmen, and dispatchers) which has resulted in 10-12 hour shifts, for 30 consecutive workdays. We're not talking 9 to 5 shifts, Internet. We're talking crazy, round-the-clock graveyard shifts that make a person's biological clock go cuckoo, which I can attest to since I've lived with a train driver for 20 years.
To top that, OSE hasn't hired any new train drivers for over 15 years. The majority of train drivers are in their early 50s, all near retirement, since the nature of their vocation is considered heavy-duty and are ousted for mandatory pension at 55-57.

So, why doesn't OSE hire new blood?
Ah, well, this is Greece. And there is a system to the system. We don't fill in public service employment gaps without making a big, humongous, pre-electoral deal. How else will the voters know that the party in power cares about its citizens? Huh?

more statistics in Greek
BBC news report

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Jul 12, 2007

Just another loooooooong week at work (geek la-la land)

By Thursday, July 12, 2007
cartoon
It's always the same story.
Computer crashes.
User whines, "Oh nooooo, now what????"
I tell them not to fret since they kept a backup of their most wanted files, right? RIGHT?
The User whimpers a moan, shrugs surrender and tears well up in his/her eyes.
I shake my head in disbelief ONCE AGAIN.

I'm tired of reminding people the OBVIOUS. Computers will crash, so keep a backup of the files that are important to you.
And don't start up on the "why me, Oh Lord, why me"... it's not like you just found out you have cancer so get a grip. Sure it's hard work, but obviously you didn't regard it as such otherwise you would have made BACKUP COPIES YOU FOOL!

[phew, rant is over, Zen mode re-initiated]

Jul 6, 2007

Jul 5, 2007

Jul 2, 2007