ALUM: I like Plaxo for keeping in touch.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Dear Fellow Alumni,

I’m updating my address book using Plaxo. May I have your update?
Plaxo is a great free tool for keeping in sync. If you find it useful and sign up, then we will always be in sync without annoying update messages. Two Plaxo-ites don’t have to do anything to stay in sync. That’s perfect for lazy people like me! Don’t worry about strangers; to get connected in Plaxo, you must have the other person’s email address to start with.

If you don’t want to use Plaxo, I understand. But, please take a moment to share with me with your latest contact info. I try NOT to annoy people with this tool to often. Once or twice a year seems modest. When Plaxo “ages” your record or reports the email address is bouncing, then I have been known to pick up the phone and check up on people.

I hate “losing” people especially “anyone”. But I especially hate “losing” my fellow alums.

I don’t really mind if you decline, you have your good reasons, and that’s what works for you. Even if you decline, here’s my info for your use. If I can be of any help anytime, just yell. I’ve got a big rolodex that you can tap, I have contact information on about 6k of our fellow Jaspers of whom over a 1k read my weekly alumni ezine, about 500 headhunters, 800 LinkedIn contacts, and a slew of others.

I run a “turkey farm” for the unemployed, blog several notes each day, and put almost all all my stuff out on my web site for you to “steal”. My writing projects are just to bad to share. Maybe when I’m dead! Someone will publish my poetry!

Did I mention I’m a notary? Who’s a Type A.

Thanks for your patience and your time reading this. Best wishes.

A fellow alum

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Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Creating an unhijackable plane … Is this like jumbo shrimp?

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23366509-details/Scientists+test++hijack-proof+plane/article.do

News news from The Evening Standard
London, Tuesday 12.09.06
Scientists test hijack-proof plane

***Begin Quote***

Tests have begun on a hijack-proof airliner that will steer clear of tall buildings if taken over by terrorists, according to defence giant BAE Systems.

Scientists are creating a computer system which spots suspicious passenger behaviour and can identify if an intruder is trying to take control.

***AND***

There may also be a computer which, through a sophisticated biometric system, can defy a mid-flight takeover by spotting an intruder and guiding the aircraft to the nearest airport.

***End Quote***

I agree with the prior comment (e.g., arm the pilots).

In the US, back before we went collectively nuts, pilots were REQUIRED to be armed when the plane carried the US Mail. Guess that rule was a hang over from the reaction to Jesse James robbing the mail car on a train.

The joke is that rule, like this story of the computer system to “protect” the plane, is locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen. We need to focus on future vulnerabilities; not past failures.

And it has to be simple, idiot-proof measures. Because we know the Universe just produces smarter idiots.

My vision of this system is that the pilot will be over the pond in a jugundo passenger jet with a thousand souls aboard, he gets a paper cut from his sandwich wrap, the system “detects” a stranger at the controls, and “lands” the plane immediately right next to the Titanic. Remember it was pronounced “unsinkable” by the experts; this detection software will be “foolproof” too!

Please I are an injineer of IT system and stuff happens. Let’s not kid ourselves about how things fail. they fail — when we least expect it, at the most inopportune time, and with the most impact. Or at least is seems that way.

KISS and solve future problems; not past ones. imho

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Posted by reinkefj

RANT: How stupid is prejudice in general and racial discrimination in particular?

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens

Jesse Owens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
***Begin Quote***

Owens was cheered enthusiastically by 110,000 people in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium and later ordinary Germans sought his autograph when they saw him in the streets. However back in New York, after the ticker-tape parade in his honor, Owens had to ride the freight elevator to attend a reception for him at the Waldorf-Astoria. He later recounted:

“When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn’t ride in the front of the bus. I had to go to the back door. I couldn’t live where I wanted. I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, but I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either.”

***End Quote***

I R an injineer.  That means I can’t spell, and hate inefficient processes with a passion. When I read this wikipedia story, it just seemed such a shame. We have wasted the capabilities of so many good men and women that it just astounds me.

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Posted by reinkefj