Odessa

Today, there were many people without power due to damaged equipment and downed power lines from storms that went through the area yesterday. Then today we were oppressed with 90+ F temperatures. Between a weakened infrastructure and higher than normal demand, someone had to pull the short straw and lose power.

My city pulled that short straw and at 11 am National Grid plunged it deep into our rectums while they plunged us into non-air conditioned darkness without so much as warning or advisory on how long they expected it to last. At City Hall, new police cadets were being sworn in. Businesses, who struggle in this post-industrial city and rely on daytime customers, were getting ready for lunch rush.

My gripe isn't that we had to lose power for the greater good - my gripe is that the arrogant bastards at National Grid decided to pull the plug without even a courtesy call to the city mayor and the larger office buildings. Its not like this was an outage caused by outside factors - it was a conscience decision.

No one should ever be willfully forced into an "emergency" situation. If they had given a mere hour's notice to officials: The city could have gotten police to direct traffic at affected lights. Larger commercial structured could have removed the less mobile out of the buildings more safely. Area businesses could have prepared by sending home unneeded staff and food establishments could have made less food. Their careless act could have endangered our community's safety and cost businesses money in a town were times are tough.

A big fat boo to you National Grid!

I shop at Walmart frequently, more due to convenience than adoration. My neighborhood Walmart has a "No Solicitation" sign posted prominently on the two main front doors. Clear enough, not that I am selling anything. However this sign obviously means "Solicitation with management's approval only" since I am frequently accosted, especially on weekends, by this or that local charity on my way in. This afternoon was no different. It was yet another kids sports group asking for donations. Call me a crumugen if you like, but I am not inclined to donate money so little suburban kids can walk around in professional looking uniforms. My money, my prerogative and I find the local homeless shelter a more deserving charity. What was different about this afternoon was that two of these little darlings, gazing pleadingly with big blue eyes, were flanking the door. Flank is a generous statement, I nearly had to turn sideways to get through the pig-tailed gauntlet.

I quickly said "Sorry, no" as I scurried into the store. Then as if my entrance wasn't bad enough, I had to repeat the process on the way out (I knew I should have went the long way and checked out the at the garden center). My emotions were somewhere between guilt and annoyance. Guilt for not throwing in a few cents, annoyance for having to deal with it every weekend I go to pick-up a few things.

My question is: Walmart, who are you trying to prevent from solicitation? Seems to me you let every freakin group in the area come and beg on your door step. I can understand, if you let one you must let them all, but can ya give us a break????

On 6/24/07, U235 discussed SUV's backing over of children in "No Sympathy, None Whatsoever". I am finally reading April's issue of Reader's Digest and low and behold - an article about just that - the tragedy of kids getting crushed by SUVs.

Guess what? There is a web-site: kidsandcars.org ; that asks you to go to another website to support legislation: safecarsforkids.org

Like all legislation, there are portions that I support, like windows that won't just keep closing even if there is an obstruction. My answer would be to remove the one-touch closing feature on many cars. Then it is up to the operator (driver or passenger nearest the window being closed) to know if there is an obstruction. Wait! That's right! This is for people who don't want the responsibility to think.

And anti-rollaway? Does that mean my beloved standard transmission will become a thing of the past? People with standard transmissions accept rolling as a fact and use it to their advantage at times.

I modified my message to read:

Since 2000, over 1,100 children have died and thousands more have been seriously injured in non-traffic incidents involving vehicle backovers and power window strangulations. And this is a tragedy.

Many vehicles have large and dangerous blind zones, power windows that can inadvertently close on necks, hands, and fingers, and brakes that can easily shift out of gear. These are issues of which consumers need to be aware, but legislation that increases consumer vehicle costs considerably are not needed. I am writing to ask your to modify the bi-partisan child safety legislation, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007.

This legislation would require the federal government to issue a rear visibility standard to ensure a driver can detect the presence of a child when backing up - Rather auto retailers should be required to offer this equipment to people who wish the convenience as an alternative to getting out and looking behind their vehicle.

The bill would also direct the government to consider a safety rule on the need to require power windows to automatically reverse direction if there is an obstruction in the path of a power window or panel. This is similar to technology already mandated by the federal government in automatic garage doors to stop children from being killed or injured - Rather, automatic closing windows should be banned and the responsibility of knowing if the window can be safely closed placed on the operators shoulders

Another provision in this commonsense legislation will save lives by preventing vehicle rollaway that occurs when a child easily shifts a parked vehicle into gear. Finally, the legislation calls for data collection and a consumer information program alerting the public to these dangers.

While it is a tragedy when a child dies, much can be done through education.

Perhaps, you too, wish to participate in the political process.

We recently got voice mail in my office. We have still been instructed to only give out our secretary's phone number. I work for a state agency and we are a bit behind the times. Somehow, some numb-nuts from a federal agency got my desk phone number - Correction - OLD desk phone number, where I haven't sat in about four months. Perhaps there is logic to only using the secretary's number!

The numb-nuts asked the guy who is now sitting there to transfer him to MY supervisor (not to be confused with the guy who is in my old cubie's supervisor, since we don't even work for the same people). The guy in my old cubie tells me numb-nuts called when I get back to my desk. I asked if numb-nuts left a last name or phone number, to which the guy shakes his head no. I guess numb-nuts thought that he was so memorable that I would remember him merely from his first name and agency he worked for, so memorable that he would stand out from the hordes of people I must deal with daily. Later, I get an e-mail from a person who I deal with frequently that originated from the numb-nuts (well, same first name, same agency anyway) - so at least I know what he was calling about.

What is the point of this rant?
1) Don't assume you and I are so tight that you can just call my desk when ever you want. We're not that tight unless I tell you we are. Otherwise, call the secretary - that is why I give people that number.
2) I may have given my direct line to you for a conference call or something. I also told you to loose the number after the call. I meant it!
2) Don't assume that the person who answers my phone, or in this case OLD phone, is my secretary and is ready, willing and able to transfer you call to whomever else you want to talk to in my absence.
3) LEAVE A PHONE NUMBER! Don't think you are so charming that I remember who you are. Unless I talk to you a couple times a week and/or you look like Johnny Depp and/or you have a voice like Barry White, I probably won't. Even if I do remember who you are, I probably can't find your phone number in the shambles I call a cubicle. Furthermore, I'm not psychic. If I was that good, I've have a stint in Vegas, baby, making way more money than I am making now and not sitting in a lousy windowless cubicle. Why you are calling would be really nice, too, but not quite as necessary.