MY PRE-TRIP THIRST

MY PRE-TRIP THIRST

This'll be a short one. I'm getting ready to attend a NASA Knowledge Management conference in Houston, where I'll be presenting on the history of, and our experience with, an Expert/Expertise location system and knowledgebase that's been used by my company for almost three and half years.

I've been packing (something I'm pretty good at, but still tend to put off 'til the last moment) and am now sitting on the potty (with the lid closed), playing lifeguard, while my four-year-old daughter bathes. Soon I'll have to wash her hair for her and put in the detangler before I try to comb out her hair without having her scream in pain. At this stage of my life, I think I'd rather have a digital rectal exam. At least it would be over in a matter of seconds and my back wouldn't have a chance to seize up on me.

Anyway, before I go I was wondering. With all the money I pay out in taxes and, given that those funds pay for things like FEMA (lest we forget, that stands for FEDERAL Emergency Management Agency), why the hell am I worried I need at least a month's supply of water and food to make sure my family can survive a really destructive earthquake?

Do you have any idea how much water a family of four needs to make it a mere 28 days? At the bare minimum of three liters per day, that's a total of 336 liters. In those big, plastic bottles grocery stores sell, that's 36 of them. At no less than $2/bottle (which is an infrequent bargain), that's . . . well, you figure it out. I haven't included food.

Well, I can afford it. What about my neighbors? People who live within 5 miles of me? Can everyone afford it? I doubt it. What will the folks who can't afford it, or who really didn't see or understand the possibilities, be doing to survive if OUR government, to which we pay tribute in the form of taxes, can't be counted on to provide rapid assistance? And you can't be serious if you think I'm being cynical; not after Katrina. Not with this vindictive, bumbling bunch now controlling the country's purse strings.

I just wanted to get that off my chest. I'll have more to say about what I think I have the right to "expect" (i.e. feel "entitled" to) from my government later, but I'm going to leave it alone for now. I hope to post at least once from my hotel in Houston.

LESS THAN PREFECT

Why do people, perfectly rational in other ways, defend the indefensible? Why do they continue along a path that is demonstrably wrong and easily abandoned? I'm not talking about the barbarous torture being carried out in our name, with our money, by our government. I'm talking about the indefensible butchering of the English language by educated, enlightened people.

I'm talking about people who are scientists, who make their living off understanding and precisely defining physical properties of phenomena in order to reshape the world and our relationship to it. People who demand, and thrive off of, minutiae - accurate minutiae.

I heard three words in a meeting the other day that just drove me crazy. These three words were:

• Libary (for library)
• Ec Cetera (for et cetera), and
• Hierachial (for Hierarchical)

Hearing these words butchered gives me the chills, but I learned a long time ago not to question an Engineer's pronunciation of any word, lest one wishes to be the recipient of a surprised, somewhat pained expression followed by a derisive comment on one's propensity for detail. Something like "Well. You knew what I meant. What are you? A Lawyer?".

Well. Maybe. Maybe I knew what you meant and maybe I am a Lawyer. The latter part of the question is of no real consequence, and can be safely ignored as the silly attack it is, but the former isn't necessarily all that clear. I knew what you meant? Could I be certain?

One of the simpler equations in physics is f = ma (force = mass x acceleration). Would an Engineer complain if I expressed it as f = na in a paper or in an analysis of a design or test results? Would it be OK if I said "Well, it's only off by one letter and, after all, you know what I meant" (hee hee)?

I suppose, to be fair, there is the tongue twist factor to take into consideration. After all, library, et cetera, and hierarchical take a bit of concentration and practice to say properly. But here's the real issue. Language is used to - now get this - communicate. Good, accurate, complete communication requires precision. It ain't horse shoes or hand grenades.

So here's what I have to say to those sloppy speakers who complain about merely being asked to correct their butchered pronunciations and complain they're close enough to being "there".

They're ain't no there their. You're turn to figure out where your going.

TWIST AND SHOUT

"Hello! My name's {enter favorite name here} and I'll be your server tonight. May I get you something to drink?"

How many meals start off with these two innocuous lines? For me they are usually the prelude to the antithesis of what getting that drink is supposed to be, a short, appetite-stimulating moment of anticipatory relaxation prior to enjoying a calm, stress-free meal. I don't know about you, but my week is normally far too hectic for most meals to be truly relaxing. I do the bulk of the cooking in our house, and I have no use (for the most part) for things like shake-and-bake. That means there's prep work prior to, and cleaning during and after, the actual act of eating. Sometimes I eat half my meal while I'm cooking it.

I am also a Scotch drinker; have been for a long time. Scotch is the only type of alcohol with which I can attain the proverbial "three sheets to the wind", yet awaken the next day with no hangover. I have always attributed this to the fact that Scotch is usually (in my case always) imbibed either "neat" (all by its little lonesome) or with water in one form (on-the-rocks) or another (with, what else, water). There is nothing froo-froo about drinking Scotch. Nevertheless, while not necessary, adding a twist (for those of you who do not drink, a twist is a sliver of lemon peel, the twisting of which releases a spritz of essential oils; it is not a wedge of lemon or lime from which the juice gets squeezed into a drink) adds just the right amount of subtle citrus flavoring which, to my palate, goes well with the smoky earthiness of Scotch.

So, here's the problem. Why is it April, or Jonathon, or Heather, or William can never, ever remember I asked for that little twist of lemon? Why am I always put in the position of accusing my server of not being able to do their job as well as I think I have the right to anticipate? Mind you, I'm a good tipper and I'm not really all that demanding. I grew up in and around the food business and have spent a fair amount of time putting up with demanding patrons at eating establishments. I know how difficult it can be and I appreciate someone who does it well. I frequently tip 20% of the total (including drinks and sales tax), even if they forget my twist.

But . . . why can't servers remember this one simple, little thing? Why? Why must I frequently forego it just because it's not really, really that important? Although I'm not usually at a loss for why I think things happen, I don't have a good answer for this one. I'm stumped. I'm coming to accept it as a universal law, like - Hubble's Constant. It's a corollary to another law I've noticed in restaurants; servers will never notice, despite ample opportunity to do so, that I'm left-handed and will invariably place a new drink on my right side. But that's another story.

P.S. - I realize this isn't really that terrible a rant and probably not worthy of a true (and cranky) curmudgeon, but I have too much respect for working people, especially those at the bottom of the heap, to ever get too pissed at them. Call me a softie, but there's plenty enough crap out there to get worked up about. This ain't one of 'em.

CLOSET CHRISTIANS

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Matthew 6:6

(New International Version)

I don't believe in God. I really don't care if others agree with me. I only care that they respect the relationship I have with the Universe, whether it's through a God, a group of Gods, or woven between the interstices of the space-time continuum contemplated by quantum physics. I believe that having convictions, and being secure in those convictions, means not needing to be validated by the acceptance of others.

I have difficulty calling myself an Atheist, only because I can't prove the non-existence, anymore than anyone can prove the existence, of God. However, I don't like referring to myself as an Agnostic, mostly because it sounds rather smarmy to me; like I'm not sure of what I believe. Mostly, I like to say I'm a Quantum Gestalt Humanist. You figure out what it means. I need to get to my rant.

How many times during the day, while driving to and from work, grocery shopping, dropping the kid(s) off at daycare or school, etc. do you see either those little fish (some plain; some with the greek letters for ichthus, or fish) or a window decal depicting a little girl or boy, or both, supplicating themselves in the shadow of a cross? What are these people trying to say? Is it meant to be some sort of secret code, so Christians can recognize each other across the lanes?

If you listen to some Christians whine and complain about how they're persecuted, you'd have to believe this is their secret, vehicular handshake. These people actually think they're persecuted. WTF? The United States of America is what, something like 90% Christian? They permeate every aspect of society and are represented overwhelmingly in all levels of our government. Christmas, the holiday many of them have taken to complaining is being phased out, effectively lasts for well over 10% of the year, the admonition to wait until after Thanksgiving before decorating notwithstanding.

I'll tell you what I think it is. I think it's the very thing Jesus was saying one shouldn't do in the above quote found in Matthew. I think Jesus knew people whose faith was steadfast had no need to brandish it publicly, as though it were a badge of courage or strength. Indeed, I think those people who feel the necessity of advertising their religion are the least faithful of all.

I'm not exactly a religious scholar, but I think it was Paul of Tarsus who made prosyletizing into a competitive sport. I don't think Jesus would have approved. After all, he was Jewish and Judaism teaches that the most important thing one can do is live a "good" life, that is an ethical, righteous life. It is more important than liturgy or dogma and, therefore, it is one's deeds, not one's words by which we are judged. As a Jew, Jesus would not have found it necessary to convert people, or to preach to them. He was a teacher, not a preacher.

I think Paul felt guilty because he had persecuted and killed so many early Christians and, much like Charles Colson or numerous serial killers who, after lives of despicable and heinous acts, find and accept Jesus as their personal savior, he determined to make amends for the damage he had done. I'm not saying it's a bad thing he repented; only that - like so many true believers - he swung that pendulum just as far in the other direction from where it had been and, therefore, avoided any kind of moderation in his pursuits.

In his book "The Wisdom of Insecurity", Alan Watts discusses the difference between faith and belief. He posits that belief is rigid and unyielding, but faith is open and accepting. People who feel the need to wave their so-called religious convictions in our faces are believers. Faith is beyond their comprehension, because having faith requires an openess to things as they are, not as we wish them to be. These people, these cross-wavers - at least the worst of them - are certain they "know" exactly what truth is, and they are not shy in telling us where our faith leads if it isn't in line with theirs.

I really don't care what religion you are. I expect the same from you. Your religion, your belief, your faith are none of my damn business. However, the moment you start pushing your brand of soap as the only way to be clean, as the only way to live one's life, as the only way to what you believe is the ultimate goal of our existence on this planet, then you've made your religion MY business. You open yourself up for criticism and you deserve every bit of scorn and anger dumped on your judgmental hide.

GROCERY SWINE

I think there are numerous ways in which our country's celebration of the individual is unhealthy and counter-productive. One of them is clear to me whenever I go grocery shopping. There are two behaviors of many shoppers who demonstrate this. The first is those lazy jerks who, having either picked something up they no longer wish to purchase, or whose children have grabbed something from the shelf, leave it wherever they are when they change their minds or discover their little darlin's behavior.

Now, if it's a bag of rice or a can of soup, the only damage is it creates extra work for the folks working in the store. I suppose I shouldn't say "only damage" as even the creation of extra work translates into greater cost and, eventually, higher prices. Even worse, though, is the tendency of those who decide they no longer wish to purchase something which needs refrigeration, to leave it next to the potato chips, where they happen to find themselves when their befuddled minds finally comprehend the shallowness of their culinary desires.

Add to that the folks who buy things they don't really want, but wish to "try out", and then return it after they've given it a go, and you've got some large ancillary costs that have to be passed on in order for expected profits to be realized. This "trying out" behavior isn't limited to grocery stores, btw, but we'll stick to that option for now.

There's another thing that truly irks me. I'm not saying I lose any sleep over it. In fact, generally by the time I've left the parking lot I've forgotten about it. That may be why it's taken me years to reach the point where I can remember to say something about it. But it does make my blood boil a little when I see it happening. It's not as egregious, but it's somewhat related to the practice of perfectly healthy people parking in handicapped spots (even if they've managed to con their Doctor into helping them get a handicapped placard).

What I refer to is those who, having transferred their groceries from the shopping cart into their vehicle, now feel it is their right to leave that shopping cart in the parking space next to them. Most of these people are actually thoughtful enough to place the front wheels onto the median strip that divides the parking lot, but some will even leave their carts just sitting next to them, right in the middle of a spot. I suppose this wouldn't matter much in an area which saw little traffic, but in a busy store it can be a bit of a problem.

What bothers me about this is the message, which is "My time is more important than yours. My convenience is more important than yours." I can't figure out how much of this is sheer laziness, outright stupidity, or semi-pathological sociopathy. I'm inclined to think it comes from a culture which is increasingly slanted toward the "me-first, you never" mentality; a belief that life is a zero sum game and you have to grab all you can get or someone else will take it and you'll be left holding the bag.

This is, undoubtedly, a theme I will continue to harp on as I touch on other subjects in my curmudgeonly quest, not to right all wrongs, but merely to anger those who commit these wrongs and - perhaps - spur others to action in calling people to task when they exhibit these piggish qualities.

ROAD HOGS

Here's one of my pet peeves though, truth to tell, I've got a lot of them. I'm no longer the pedal to the metal kind of driver I used to be. Sometimes I get back the urge and take advantage of the fact that the freeway I use to get to and from work generally travels (in the fast lane) at speed in excess of 80 mph. Most of the time, however, I like to hang back in the slow lane and just accept the fact I'll be a minute or two later than if I jammed for the ten miles I need to get to my offramp.

So, here's what really pisses me off. Why is it folks who have been content to drive along behind a truck for the last mile or so, suddenly decide to pull out in front of me, even though there is no one behind me and they have to know they're going to cause me to slow down?

I don't expect them to put together the fact that we're going uphill and I don't exactly have a muscle car, so they're definitely impacting my world. But there's nobody behind me! Why the fuck can't they wait that extra moment for me to pass? This is especially egregious when I'm using my cruise control to conserve a little gas and make my drive even less stressful, because I then have to change lanes (if there's nobody coming up on us), step on the brake, or hold the coast button down. Either way, it's an unnecessary pain in the ass caused by a rude, thoughtless asshole who obviously was the only freaking person on the road.

I find a lot of people are incredibly thoughtless and inconsiderate; frequently rude, selfish, and amazingly unconcerned for the people they share the road (or the planet, for that matter) with. There are no laws against it, of course, though it seems all of our social and religious philosophies decry this kind of behavior. Yet the world is filled with pigs and dickheads. I don't get it. Maybe I never will. I also don't like it and I will never, ever get over it.

I'm going to try and figure out how to better understand why it's so and how to counter it. I hope there are folks out there who can contribute to this effort. Regardless, I want to fight against, and marginalize this kind of behavior, especially when it comes from people who think they are thoughtful and respectful. I'm also going to point it out in every way I see it, whether it's some jerk throwing trash out of his car, or a shopper leaving their cart in the middle of a parking space. More to come.