The only reason that a retail establishment does something: they do it to divert your attention whilst they reach into your pocket.  But the self check-out machine is expensive…  Right???  Sure, but it doesn’t eat and is not on the payroll!  So, Now that I figured out why the retailer wants the self-check, I just need to weigh the positives for me…  So, I don’t have to talk to cashier, okay; I can check-out quickly and go, super…  Or so you might think…  Those are the only 2 things I ask of the self-check-out transaction.  I agree to pay you just as much for the crap I’m buying by checking it myself as I would if one of the ever-so-pleasant cashiers you employ had done it and in exchange, I don’t have to speak to said cashier and I can hurry through as if I were saving based on a good check-out time.  This my friends, is not the case.  At BJ’s you must wait for every, individual item to run down the belt before scanning the next, So I got to wait for someone to notice the blinking light and reset the machine…  BAM!  Total deal-breaker…  Now I’m waitng and meeting your staff…  Big Time Fail…

When I accept something like this so you can put someone out of work, at least let me have the efficiency that I’m expecting!

M~

DelDOT Snow Removal Equipment

I could understand a complaint about the Interstate or SR-1 Expressway if there were 4″ or more of accumulation and no effort expended, but this is less than 2″ of snow that won’t be here for long and DelDOT, based on the threat of impending snow spent much of yesterday systematically pre-treating arterials with salt brine.  Since this is a Saturday Snow-Event…  Saturday, has no defined rush-hour(s) and hence, no defined time that the snow must magically disappear…

Enter Facebook…  Everybody that had to go someplace, totally lost their shit and bitched about an insignificant coating of crystallized precipitation.  If accidents ensue after the snow begins to fall, let’s keep in mind that as much as DelDOT has a responsibility to dispatch plow crews to keep the roads PASSABLE, (clear is an unfair expectation) each and every one of us who venture out during the event have a responsibility to know the limitations of our vehicles that are caused or exacerbated by the snow and adjust or curb our driving accordingly.  I personally feel that this is just common sense, many feel that our government(s) should shield us from everything that requires personal responsibility to conquer.

Please return to the Facebook posts about the bars and the Hollywood stars and the food you ate and as much as I hate them, posts about your bathroom breaks…  (This happens, I’ve not only heard the legends, I’ve seen and don’t care to or need to see it again…)  While you’re at it try to keep in mind that this is Delaware, we get a few feet each year on average, and until its more than 2″, you should shut up and deal with it rather than act as if this is as foreign as snow in Southern Arizona…  Either learn to drive on snow or stay home…

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,300 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 38 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

If you’ve been around the lab, you may have heard me mention one of my favorite Presidents, Ike.  Ike is oft credited with the Interstate Highway system as we know it.  Even in industrial trade publications that led up to the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System, Ol’ Dwight gets the lion’s share of credit for the concept.

EisenHower's Highway System

This  isn’t to say that he wasn’t instrumental; and certainly not to take away from the story that he related of how he was impressed by the Autobahns he found in Germany as a Colonel and ultimately General, and how he thought that a similar system of highspeed, high-occupancy roadways could be of great advantage back home in the states.  He was not the only one with these thoughts of big, wide roads that could support military convoys and peacetime commerce; he was just in the right oval-shaped office at the right time.

This Link, will take you to a nifty artical that I recently found that enlightened me to some things that popular history has left out.  Always remember that History is only as good as the historian you get it from.  It is important to continue to look for the truth beyond the first telling of the story as history is oft romanticized as a means of making it more interesting or propping up a key-player as the singular hero.

Questionable Content

I’ll Be going now but as usual, I promise to be back soon with more crap for you to consider.

More Crap for Your Consideration

M~

I’m thankful that all of the things have aligned in my life as they have.  I’m thankful that the mistakes I’ve made haven’t been catastrophic and that I’ve not been gun-shy to make a seemingly impulsive choice that turned out to be the right one.  I’m thankful that I was able to latch onto the love of my life and had the good sense to hold on when everyone else thought I was losing my mind.

While I mourn the losses I’ve had, I’m grateful for them as well.  They’ve taught me the importance of living and the importance of being close to those who you love and letting them know why they are important in your life.  Moreover, the losses have forced me to focus on who I want to be in the limited scope of human existence.

Here’s to the people I’ve learned from and the things I’ve learned:

-Life can suck sometimes, wear a helmet.

-Give everyone a chance regardless of age, size or any attribute that might otherwise sway an opinion.  Most times you won’t be very surprised, but sometimes it’s striking and very much worth it.

-People screw up sometimes -OR- Mistakes, everybody gets one, if you’re smart, you’ll save it ’til you need it…

-Doing things for other people can be gratifying.  This is especially true when you can make a difference in a life, no matter how small.

-We all deserve some kind of happy; it’s our responsibility to find it, recognize it and keep it.

-Family is forever and you are bound to it forever, we all are, it’s the burden of not being a solitary species.  Learn to appreciate it all, even the stuff that is a pain in the ass.

-Friends are chosen.  Learn to choose wisely and keep the good ones.  Remember, potential friends tend to have families, remember those pains in the ass we just mentioned?  So there is no need to feel guilty about not choosing everyone you meet as a friend.

-Sometimes, family can turn out to be a great place to make friends, this is handy if you like your family like I do…

-Shit Happens…

-Every day on this side of the grass is a good one.  <– This one is BIG.  I still have to remind myself of that at least twice a week.

That’s not nearly all I’ve learned, but I think it covers some important points worth sharing on this made up holiday of food, family and fun that is a remnant of our past celebrations of harvest.  If anyone is interested, President Barry O. did, in his proclamation of Thanksgiving 2011, tie it back to the American Origin of Thanksgiving, a day of remembrance and thanks to those fighting and those who have fought on behalf of us all in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Filed under: Entertainment, Experiments, General, Oddities... Tagged: cattle, cow, mike litoris, mrpeco, peco, r/c car, stupid human tricks ]]> http://ieii.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/puttin-cowboys-out-of-work/feed/ 0 proflitoris http://ieii.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/the-things-that-you-find-on-the-internet-without-even-trying/ http://ieii.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/the-things-that-you-find-on-the-internet-without-even-trying/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:05:11 +0000 Prof. Mike LiToris http://ieii.wordpress.com/?p=509 ]]> On occasion the internet seems to be filled with idiocy and oddity, this is no exception, however it rides the line between useful and good for a laugh.  The science and production value are quite high even though the topic is one that is rarely discussed outside our toilet training as toddlers…  It’s a How-To piece on pooping and I’m sharing it so that we all poop better…  LOL

M~

Overall, I was glad that I was able to be there for my brother from another mother when he was in need.  Remember those you’ve lost and take care of the ones you love; life is short; be there when you can.

M~