Archive for January, 2012

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Comments Off on Such a true quote

Such a true quote


2012
01.30

Posted in Battlestar_Galactica, life politics truck stop life, Politics | Comments Off on Such a true quote

So… okay, I read the news. Things like the TSA and “Homeland Security” worry me. And we have people who cry for more. They want more “protection” and less freedom…  WTF? They’re sheep. Here’s a quote that is SO true, I don’t know why it isn’t in stone (well, I do, it’s from a TV show, but it’s awesome).

There’s a reason you separate military and the police.
One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people.
When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.

So, what can I say, it’s DEAD on, but since it’s from Battlestar Galactica, everyone will ignore it. 🙁 Still, I think it’s dead on. Don’t agree? So what!

Ende

Comments Off on Ice, BS, Life (not neccesarily in that order)

Ice, BS, Life (not neccesarily in that order)


2012
01.23

Posted in Corrupt Government, life, Living Life, Scumbags, trucking, weather | Comments Off on Ice, BS, Life (not neccesarily in that order)

So, we now haul freight on some runs. One of my former runs was a on-way Mail route (one of the P.O.’s grand “genius” ideas) and now, after many years, we are hauling freight back. NOT even my run anymore… And sure, I understand it. Makes sense, but alas, they (guys now managing it) have no one there and ends up, MY guys have to deliver it >:-( My one guy normally can do it, he likes it and the money (he’s ALL ABOUT MONEY), but on Mondays, he’s off. EVERYONE needs a day off. Everyone. My two relief drivers don’t want to do it because:

  1. They’re both over 70 years old
  2. The other day, my young driver had to unload furniture (not to happen again)
  3. They get paid differently than on Mail… less as they don’t get the health and welfare part that Mail pays.
  4. Did I say they were both over 70? 74 and 73…

Now, both of these older guys also don’t like each other and feud like my two dogs, wildly mad over some perceived insult or that one might get away with more than the other. What they don’t get is that this WILL happen and since they won’t help w/ the freight, then they WILL alternate on Sunday so my young driver can be off. Not a “maybe” or a “might” a “WILL DO.” Ya gotta love people.

Don’t get me wrong, these guys are both really good guys, hard workers etc. but they have this perception of the job and unfortunately, that job has changed 🙁 Not my fault, not my desire, but we have to deal w/ it. Still, their feuding is going to end up costing one or the other, their job. I don’t think they realize just how hard that will be. In today’s world, most companies will not hire older workers. My Dad had to deal w/ this after he retired. They don’t say it, but companies will not hire older workers. Age discrimination does exist. Here, we have them, they do a good job. Mainly because these runs are low intensity. I doubt it would work on one of my NJ runs at night, w/ a 3-4 hour layover. Those are rough on younger guys. I don’t have a solution, other than trying to explain to them. AND, if one quits, the other will have to take up the slack. What about when the younger guy goes on vacation?? SOMEONE will have to do the freight. Maybe rotate and do in AM other guy do Mail in afternoon, I don’t know.

Why Freight Hauling Sucks Shit

I detest freight. Delivery places treat drivers like shit “You’ll have to wait 4 hours” and shit like that. In our case, the answer is “We have a Mail run after this — if you won’t unload, we are leaving and you can reschedule your product another day.” Hasn’t quite come to that harsh an answer, but it’s there. All y’all wonder WHY there are so many truck accidents — this is part of it, shippers delaying drivers (most of whom get paid by the MILE, vs. by the hour) and the drivers trying to get caught up. Also, they not only don’t usually get paid while they’re cooling their heels at these places, they also are “on duty” which means they HAVE to log off 14 hours form the time they logged on, no matter how man hours they have driven, nor even if they’ve had a 4 hour nap. No. 14 hours, off duty. Used to be you could take and push your time out w/ a break but stupid, dumb-ass politicians and lawyers and dumb mothers-against-truckers_driving or whatever screwed that up. Hell, get this: for teams, you used to be able to do 5 and 5 forever. Worked well — 5 hours and you were off. Guess what… NOW you have to drive 10-11 hours before that can happen. Pretty bright huh? These are the dumbshits that are causing accidents and killing people. Know-it-all (well, know-NOTHING) “experts” get it wrong EVERY time. They pass laws, then there are huge court cases over this. Why can’t there be any common sense? WHY? Anyway, this is why the industry is screwed. Worse than that because there is already a driver shortage and it’s getting worse. Plus the new CSA system is weeding out scumbag drivers and there is no replacement. Young people are not coming into the industry. Old shitty, big, mongo freight hauling companies (whom I will not mention here) take new people and work the shit out of them, paying them peanuts to live on the road — not coming home, but MAYBE once a week, IF they are lucky. New people don’t want that — they want a life. Companies don’t care. Really, they act like they do, but the answer from “on-high” is “If they don’t like it here, get rid of ’em.” Sure. Where will we find another driver? This ain’t the ’80’s. The driver shortage is real and getting worse – good drivers can pick and choose and ya know what, they are increasingly picking not to drive for scumbag companies. C’est La Vie!

The Good News

Driver wages will surely go up as these companies will not be able to hire drivers to run stuff. Even w/ hiring new drivers, their accident rates will go up, as will maintenance costs. D’OH! I foresee a time not to far off where drivers will be making $50. an hour and owner operators, maybe $100. — well they should. Sure, your groceries will cost more. Got a better solution? Drivers deserve health benefits too. Cheating them on their pay is getting harder too with on-board log and monitoring computers (though they still find ways to do this) and someday, maybe trucking will be a decent profession again.

Ice

Yeah…. today, is freezing rain. Gott sei DANK it happened today, on my day off. What a mess. A kid spun out and got stuck right by my house. His buddies were trying to pull him out w/ an ATV, but that didn’t work. I wandered over looked and went and got Blue. They had a come along and w/ that, I had her in 4-lo and didn’t even gun it, just tightened up the cable and out he came. Peoples done wonders why ah gots me a foah wheel drives now. :-p

Trips Today and Saturday’s Unpleasantneß

Current weather radar

Current weather radar (1.23.2012 -- Happy Birthday Erin and Ericka!)

I have one run out and going. I am sure they will salt the Pike and highways. The snow sure made things out of whack — mainly out in the Midwest. They were all WAY late the other night, then when it got rolling, there was a neat tanker accident right into Pennsyltuckey. Finally getting all those runs straight.

Anyway, here, to the left, is a radar from my phone a little bit ago. Sorry the text here touches the caption frame, but I couldn’t figure out how to rem that. Ever the A-R layout dork, I am! 🙁 So… it looks mainly just rain, so he’ll probably be alright. We hope. Now, I know, someone is going “But Marsh, you are an evyil, icky bastard to send out trips in this weather.” My answer is: “Doofus, ‘Through rain, through sleet, through dark of night’ AIN’T a marketing gimmick… it’s what we do.” How the HELL do you think you get your Mail on time? Fed Ex and “Buster Brown” (UPS) do it too. Don’t be naive.

Tech Thought

As a side note: ain’t technology grand? I love the weather radar on my phone and Weatherbug seems to do it really well. Okay, the ads kinda suck, but I have read their “pro” version is real buggy, so I will stay with this one. Koonta seems to like Weather Channel, but I haven’t had the joy with it.

Damn, it’s almost 2PM, where did my ONE day off this week go? I am not counting the day I had my tooth yanked as that was not particularly fun. Days off should be lounging around in the official uniform of the Internet (your underwear) and surfing or web building or facebooking or… whatever. Damn, wish I had money for a pizza (ha-HA, I could make ANOTHER driver go out in this weather).

Ende

Comments Off on A day, what a day

A day, what a day


2012
01.22

Posted in life | Comments Off on A day, what a day

Snow in the morning. Dug the car out, but… it was already damned by the fact that both West Bound drivers were meeting trips that were HOURS late. HOURS! 😮 One, did not have his cell on or something and he logged in. That means he HAD to be off 14 hours later, NO MATTER WHAT for 10 hours. Told him to go on. He ended up having to stop on way back and wait for driver I brought out to him. Other trip, well I caught the driver and told him to wait until they left the center leg and then called him. That worked, Still a trip to leave at midnight, left at 8:30 am and got back around &:30 PM. Are ye still w/ me??

My trip was late inbound from the snow. I had to take a driver out to the other one to get him back. There was a big accident w/ a upside down tanker that looked as if someone had stepped on a grape, so I had to detour through Pittsburgh on way back. Other WB trip, well the guy bringing it from NJ got the call his mom had passed away (he was expecting it) and it was late due to snow, etc. That’s okay, the guy HE WAS TO MEET, was like 3-4 hours late coming back. So, my driver gets back to Willow Hill about 3 hours late.

So, all this complication, well it’s kinda what I do every day, I take what is like a puzzle where all the pieces move and i plug my pieces in to make it work. It is what it is, but sometimes it’s a lot. :-Þ

G’Nite

Comments Off on Much better

Much better


2012
01.19

Posted in dentist | Comments Off on Much better

So, my tooth is out and, as usual, the lead up to the dentist was way worse than it was. Plus, he gave me some Vicodin to take and that is making me all, well not loopy, because I am already kinda loopy, let’s say loopier :-Þ Actually, it went quick – way better than last time I had a tooth yanked which had the dentist straddling me in the chair and yanking away, with my head flopping back and forth — my wife had went in that time and she was way horrified. Anyway, it’s done. Yaaaaay!!!!! Just thought I’d throw that update in. 🙂

Comments Off on Don’t you hate how some people act?

Don’t you hate how some people act?


2012
01.19

Posted in Dental Pain, dentist, Dirtbags, Living Life, loyalty and honor, Owwwwwwwwwww | Comments Off on Don’t you hate how some people act?

I get irritated at people who willfully try and cheat me. Especially when they then sit there and pretend they are doing nothing. Gotta love it. Anyway, it’s just a minor morning irritation. They’ll get theirs in the end. I don’t mean at some ethereal point int he afterlife, either. I prefer Haydukian Intervention.

Today’s the Day

Going today to get my bad tooth out! No, i do not like dentists — they freak me out. Much of it comes, as I have already said, from having braces as a child. I doubt they’ve improved the process, but back then it was worse. I HATED going to the orthodontist and while I am sure they all have the best intentions, I KNOW I didn’t have that bad of teeth. My parents were trying to do something good for me. However, I can tell you it, it was years of mouth pain and it has created the situation of me not going to the dentist unless I have to.

Anyway, this tooth will get yanked out today. 🙂 Maybe then I can get on w/ life. W/ this, often, it’s all I can think of. Owwwww.

RIB (Romans in Britain) — Visit it!

What can I say, it’s a good resource and I hope you’ll visit it. I find the Romans SO interesting because it was so long ago. So much we just don’t know. Give the site a look and if there’s something we need to add or do, etc. PLEASE, let us know. We will be updating things as we go. Right now, we are STILL trying to convert all the old pages to the new template — so much work. Worth it. Enjoy.

Comments Off on Don’t Mess with the Ocean…

Don’t Mess with the Ocean…


2012
01.18

Posted in A Tragedy, bad service, Dirtbags, lazy shitheads, loyalty and honor, Scumbags | Comments Off on Don’t Mess with the Ocean…

Wow, it truly DOES seem that history can repeat itself. Well, sorta. Most of us have now heard about the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia hitting a reef and sinking. Okay, not sinking like the Titanic, but rolling over and coming to rest right close to shore. Still there’s been a death toll of 11 so far with 20-some STILL missing. WHY? HOW? Mainly, it looks like, incompetence. The Captain, trying to do something nice, went off course and hit ye olde reef. Ship loses power, dirfts into bay, he drops anchors, Prob does save lives, BUT, is a dumb-ass and a coward and, like most of his officers it seems, abandons the ship BEFORE many of his passengers and crew, even refusing orders from the Italian Coast Guard on scene to go back aboard and help rescue people. Wow! What a black eye for Italy!

Foreign Crew

By “foreign crew” I mean largely Asian (and non-English/Italian/German/French speaking, it seems)… Still, it was people like cooks and stewards who saved the day. Wow, most crew and the officers bugged out. Sorry, isn’t it sort of part of the deal wherein they let you wear the cool uniform and drive the big toys, that YOU have to be the last one off. That YOU have to do your utmost to ensure safety? Whacky! They need to take a big stick and “whack his pee-pee!” I bet that would make people feel better.

Women and Children First?!

Uh no, sadly, unlike the Titanic, in this case, many of the men and crew pushed past the older cruisers and women (even a PREGNANT WOMAN) to get in the boats themselves. And really, big pussies, WHY do you need a life boat? The damned shore is like 50 feet away, AT MOST.

 

Poor Carnival 🙁

I kind of feel for Carnival, the ships owner. Well, they own the company that owns the ship, so same thing. I really doubt they want this to happen and you KNOW the ambulance-chasers are lining up already. You cannot control people and employees, I have found, do what they want, even with explicit orders. Still, safety is (or should be) their FIRST business. One good thing is Italian law is different and it appears that we won’t have any cases filed HERE by OUR ambulance chasers.

The Captain

I could rant on about this dipshit, but it seems he has stepped on his penis and his life and career are pretty much over. DUMBASS! A: you let it happen. B: You ran away and C: when caught, you REFUSED to go back and help. That makes you an ASSHOLE! At least in my book. I know I am not alone. I need to go to bed.

Ende

Comments Off on Another Friggin’ Day Shot

Another Friggin’ Day Shot


2012
01.15

Posted in Adobe SUCKS, ancient_periods, Computerly Scheiße, Dogs, history, life, Roman, The Romans, Web Work | Comments Off on Another Friggin’ Day Shot

Most of today was spent in pain. Also, as the back is Effed up, I couldn’t get much done, hence spending the day sitting at the “devil box” as Herrn Steiner calls it. Mostly, it has been the Roman site. Ack, none of the fun things, no. And when I tweak one little thing, something else major pops up. Alas, much of it is in the original code. Some of what I call a “poison pill” — a bit of code that makes your whole page crash and your efforts turn to shit in front of your eyes. A lot of the problems have to do w/ the menus, of course, and so, after it craps out once, I tend to make a solid backup to work from. I KNOW what is wrong… just have to do one thing, then when it blows up still, you do the next thing. Like the old days. Do something, hit “save.” Do another, hit “save” again. Ack!

Evil Adobe

I am not even going to rant about Adobe. I use some of their products and they USED to be great — however, they have chosen, once again, like before, to leave their customers behind and force you to use something shittier — I won’t. Just have to use a workaround and right now, I cannot find my manuals for GoLive to figure out a problem. Of course, knowing them, there might not be an answer, but we’ll see. No, I don’t want, nor need to hear you babble on about how I should switch to Dreamweaver — it sucks shit and I detest it. It has to do with left-brain and right-brain… guess what I am. I’d rather use frigging Microsoft FrontPage.

WordPress Works!

At least this works. I can rant and vent. Hell, my new house is leaking for some reason, right by my desk. The builders, who do an AWESOME job and really DO care, will be here tomorrow to look at it. I had to leave the other day and really, how will it work w/ them being here and the PoD. For that matter, PoD juniorette and Angus would also be trouble… Nah, I gots ta be here fo’ dat. Anyway, I haven’t really eaten today, nor taken my meds, so I guess I need to hobble upstairs and do both. Maybe I will make some tea as I will have a SCREAMER of a headache in the AM since I have had no caffeine today.

Ende für jetzt!

Comments Off on Still working on Roman Site…

Still working on Roman Site…


2012
01.15

Posted in ancient_periods, Dogs, Owwwwwwwwwww, Roman, Web Work | Comments Off on Still working on Roman Site…

It’s becoming a drag. Mainly because there are still about a hundred pages to convert. I am having problems w/ GoLive in that pages that are bigger than the template, while showing okay, will not let me edit the content that overflows the template regions, without cutting all the template window out and then pasting it in an edit doc >;-( Dumb, but real. W/ over 400+ pages, things like this really make it harder. Boring to you, a pain the ass for me.

My Back Too

Somehow, on ride home form work, I managed to make my back go out?! Still hurts today. Kent tried to pop it, but didn’t work (I had to go back over and take checks as I forgot last night, as i didn’t see them on floor of car). C’est La Vie! Would like to take down Xmas lites and put some exhaust clamps on my pickup, but is unlikely as it is butt-ass cold (a technical term) and my back hurts too much for that. Plus, when I breathe, the damned tooth lights off. I am sure happy that will be coming out on Thursday.

Roman Banner Question

Here are two banners I was going to start using… which do you like better? E-mail me at marsh@reenactor.net and tell me your fav.

Romans in Britain banner 1

Romans in Britain banner 1

Romans in Britain banner 2 for website www.romanobritain.org

Romans in Britain banner 2

So, what do YOU think? Neither are quite what I want, but I like bright, full colour, vs. “graphic-designer muted” which doesn’t work in drawing-in many people. The link, BTW, is www.romanobritain.org.

Dawgz

I prob should take them for a walk, but they are calm right now, laying all about me and the desk and besides, like I said, it’s butt-ass cold out. Right now,  Zoey is laying on my foot (it’s a dog thing). Angus, behind, snoring. Zoey’s in the midst of Pon Farr right now, so the two of them are acting like dorks. Ummm, full-colour doggy porn. Oh the joys :-Þ

Ende

Comments Off on Owwwww

Owwwww


2012
01.11

Posted in life, Living Life, meds, Owwwwwwwwwww | Comments Off on Owwwww

So, I have a tooth that needs to come out. It EFFING HURTS! Like in a road flare jabbed in the side of my head hurts. OF COURSE, the dentist cannot get me in until the 19th (today is the 11th for you that can’t count). I tel them: IT HURTS! They recommend aspirin. Oh joy, I am eating FOUR acetaminophens at a time. Ain’t working. Tried Orajel… ain’t doin’ it. I have taken to grabbing the tooth and tugging on it — that ACTUALLY seems to work and MAYBE the damned thing will come out. I keep tugging and twisting and rocking. Eff it — when it goes, it HURTS. If you’ve had a bad tooth, you know. >:-o

Why are medical people like that? They seem to be jaded and forget you are in pain. Probably because they are around it all the time. I surely cannot function like this, so we will see what’s gonna happen. I am tempted to take a week off on vacation (yeah, waste it again Marshie) and try and get a RX for Vicodin or something. Yeah, it hurts that much. Any ideas from out there?

Tooth Pain

All my life, I have had teeth pain. When I was a child, my parents got me braces. OWWW! If you’ve never had the fun of this, think of your mouth burning all the time. Back then, they didn’t glue the damn things to your teeth, they HAMMERED bands on and wired you up. It sucked SHIT. Then headgear and rubber bands to twist your mouth and head around. Later, a retainer. No WONDER I was an asshole from about 10 years old, until, well… NOW. Hmmmmm…. And yes, I have tried Sensodyne and other shit. Ain’t it. I cannot touch my teeth w/ metal, EVER. Ack. Cold stuff, hot stuff, both just light my teeth off and that’s when they’re “good, not all Effed-up , like now. I hate it and really, if I give it much thought, it is damned irritating. No wonder i am the way I am. Grrrrrrrrrr.

BTW, this bad tooth feels much the same. If I could go back, I’d tell my parents NOT to waste the money. I asked why my brother Jim didn’t have to do that and my mom says “He flatly REFUSED.” WTF? How come I couldn’t “flatly refuse”? Parents out there, unless your child has “British teeth” (like Austin Powers) do NOT do this to them…. it’s torture. Of course, in today’s shallow world, people will do it. Is horrible. “Ma child is ‘special’ and deserves the ‘best.'” Idiots!

Sharks?

How come we waste tons of money on dumb research and not on something like figuring out how to replicate what sharks have: the ability to grow new teeth. That sure as Hell would be something worthwhile… Use the stem cells for that dammit.

Ende

Comments Off on Health Care and some problems

Health Care and some problems


2012
01.06

Posted in Corrupt Government, Dammit, Governmental Corruption, Health Care, ignorant shitheads, Real America, Ungrateful assholes | Comments Off on Health Care and some problems

I just read an article on yahoo about Doctors going Bankrupt http://finance.yahoo.com/news/small-business-doctors-going-broke-101200127.html… It’s craxy, but it’s happening because of our Effed up health care system and our truly HORRIBLE legal system; we need Tort Reform NOW!!! Anyway, here below was my ranting answer about this and I feel it’s true still:

Blame EVERYONE wanting a free ride. Blame ambulance-chaser scumbags who file frivolous lawsuits. Blame scammers. However, it’s back to blaming everyone for greed.

There’s no reason we couldn’t have a good health system. Something “like” the UK, Germany, Canada, France or Switzerland have. Yes, I know, say the doubters… it’s baaaad, but what we have is worse. And the joke called “Obamacare” well sorry, but that is INFINITELY worse.Have an answer? I’m waiting. We don’t need perfect, we just need something that works and won’t really screw us — sorry dumb politician scumbags, but telling me I HAVE to buy insurance is a dumb, A$$HOLE thing for you people to do. If I could afford health insurance now, don’t you idiots think I would? Really Barry? Really???

And no right wing, know-it-all nods and crap, about how I don’t know. SOME kind of socialized medicine might be good, but guess what? It needs to be made to work, not by corrupt scumbags in Congress… nor a bloated bureaucracy that is rife w/ corruption. Last, we need to PUNISH cheaters and thieves… how? Oh, for starters, flogging would be a good way to bring down the number of cheats, thieves and scammers. That and fining them to within an inch of their life. Oh, wait, better, why not sell them into indentured SERVITUDE for a set number of years. LOL, THAT WOULD work too. But you all lack the fortitude to make this happen. You think you are entitled, right?!

Ende

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