Publius & Co.

Oooops.

My bad...I let this thing get a little empty. Sorry.

The gf and I did all our travelling on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We went 413.5 miles, for just under nine hours (including stops)...to get more rats from a friend of ours in Nazareth, PA.

Imagine that.

First, our new boy, Oliver, a standard-coat beige hooded:

Oliver was the alpha rat amongst the boys, up until early September when we adopted four of his brothers. Sadly, he began to bully the only remaining boy our friend had and she seperated him out. She rescued another boy (who was about five days old at the time!) who has become good friends with the other rat in Pennsylvania, and Oliver was an alone rat. Our friend hoped he could be reunited with his brothers, and it seemed to go well at first...

...but Mr. Ratburn decided he didn't like Oliver, and began to bully him. Blood was drawn (from both of those boys) in some subsequent fights, and Oliver is now living by himself, again. We have hopes to try to intro him to our older rats, but as they're all over two, they are in the twilight of their years.

Introductions of the new girls to some of our old girls. Until early September, these girls were all living together, and it seems they remembered each other. There were very few squabbles during the introductions, and they're all getting along very well. At one time, all of the girls were all piled into the same hammock in their new cage! From left to right, they are Roo (double-rex), Kanga (hairless dumbo), Zoe (standard-coat hooded), and old girl Ohana (standard coat agouti berkshire) is jumping into the box, looking for food.

Another picture, taken during intro's. This is Roo getting her butt sniffed by Ohana, and Kanga walking by like she sees not-tink!

I still don't want to have kids.

Mama Karen has a heart-to-heart with a three-year old.

(UPDATE: Link fixed! Thanks, sweetie!)

My job is (probably) worse than your job.

The November, 2004 issue of Popular Science lists the seventeen Worst Jobs in Science: The Sequel. Somewhere between such jobs as Anal-Wart Researcher (number one, and I don't doubt it for a minute) and Television Meteorologist (number seventeen), is number eleven: Computer Help-Desk Tech. PopSci's commentary nails it:

These are people who love the subtle power and intricacies of computers, yet who must spend their days incarcerated in windowless rooms telephonically holding the hands of 16-bit blockheads.

.
Amen, brother.

For the record, it should be noted that, according to Popular Science, both Joanie and Azygos have a worse job then I do.

2001: Space and the Next Generation

I go thru phases. I've had my depression glass phase, my shave-with-a-straight-razor phase, my work-on-my-own car phase, and I've been in several comic book phases (to be honest, I wish I still was, but when my habit started approaching $100/week, I decided to quit cold turkey. Does anyone know what's going on with Alpha Flight?). Right now, I'm in another science-fiction phase (which includes The Prisoner, which I'm re-watching, but that's for another day).

Heinlein and Niven are my favorite authors, though I don't read them as regularly as I used to (re-read the bejeebers out of 'em, though), followed by Alfred Bester, Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke.

Oh, and some guy named Asimov writes some good stuff, too.

Anyhoo, right now I'm re-reading E.E. (Doc) Smith's Lensman series, which I discovered has been re-printed when I went to see if David Gerrold has finished writing the fifth book in his latest trilogy, which I've been waiting for for quite awhile. I think he wrote book four ten years ago, and no, I'm not kidding).

Lensman is a six-book space opera, filled with space pirates, an heroic Galactic Patrol, damsels in distress, and ethereal beings of pure energy--both an Evil race and a Good race. I read the first three or four books of the series when it was reprinted ten or fifteen years ago; the new reprints (by Old Earth Books) recreate the original hardback covers and internal illustrations, as well as the typefaces for that full-on retro look. I've been listening to Tommy Dorsey while reading the first book, just to keep in the mood. They're absolutely delightful, and you really should give them a shot.

But that's not the real point behind this post. For reasons unknown to me, I decided to look up the imdb entry for 2001: A Space Odyssey, and I discovered, in the "Trivia" section, the instructions for operating the zero-g toilet, which I've cut and pasted below:

"ZERO GRAVITY TOILET PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED TO READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE

"ZERO GRAVITY TOILET PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED TO READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE 1. The toilet is of the standard zero-gravity type. Depending on requirements, System A and/or System B can be used, details of which are clearly marked in the toilet compartment. When operating System A, depress lever and a plastic dalkron eliminator will be dispensed through the slot immediately underneath. When you have fastened the adhesive lip, attach connection marked by the large "X" outlet hose. Twist the silver coloured ring one inch below the connection point until you feel it lock. 2. The toilet is now ready for use. The Sonovac cleanser is activated by the small switch on the lip. When securing, twist the ring back to its initial-condition, so that the two orange line meet. Disconnect. Place the dalkron eliminator in the vacuum receptacle to the rear. Activate by pressing the blue button. 3. The controls for System B are located on the opposite wall. The red release switch places the uroliminator into position; it can be adjusted manually up or down by pressing the blue manual release button. The opening is self adjusting. To secure after use, press the green button which simultaneously activates the evaporator and returns the uroliminator to its storage position. 4. You may leave the lavatory if the green exit light is on over the door. If the red light is illuminated, one of the lavatory facilities is not properly secured. Press the "Stewardess" call button on the right of the door. She will secure all facilities from her control panel outside. When green exit light goes on you may open the door and leave. Please close the door behind you. 5. To use the Sonoshower, first undress and place all your clothes in the clothes rack. Put on the velcro slippers located in the cabinet immediately below. Enter the shower. On the control panel to your upper right upon entering you will see a "Shower seal" button. Press to activate. A green light will then be illuminated immediately below. On the intensity knob select the desired setting. Now depress the Sonovac activation lever. Bathe normally. 6. The Sonovac will automatically go off after three minutes unless you activate the "Manual off" over-ride switch by flipping it up. When you are ready to leave, press the blue "Shower seal" release button. The door will open and you may leave. Please remove the velcro slippers and place them in their container. 7. If the red light above this panel is on, the toilet is in use. When the green light is illuminated you may enter. However, you must carefully follow all instructions when using the facilities duting coasting (Zero G) flight. Inside there are three facilities: (1) the Sonowasher, (2) the Sonoshower, (3) the toilet. All three are designed to be used under weightless conditions. Please observe the sequence of operations for each individual facility. 8. Two modes for Sonowashing your face and hands are available, the "moist-towel" mode and the "Sonovac" ultrasonic cleaner mode. You may select either mode by moving the appropriate lever to the "Activate" position. If you choose the "moist-towel" mode, depress the indicated yellow button and withdraw item. When you have finished, discard the towel in the vacuum dispenser, holding the indicated lever in the "active" position until the green light goes on...showing that the rollers have passed the towel completely into the dispenser. If you desire an additional towel, press the yellow button and repeat the cycle. 9. If you prefer the "Sonovac" ultrasonic cleaning mode, press the indicated blue button. When the twin panels open, pull forward by rings A & B. For cleaning the hands, use in this position. Set the timer to positions 10, 20, 30 or 40...indicative of the number of seconds required. The knob to the left, just below the blue light, has three settings, low, medium or high. For normal use, the medium setting is suggested. 10. After these settings have been made, you can activate the device by switching to the "ON" position the clearly marked red switch. If during the washing operation, you wish to change the settings, place the "manual off" over-ride switch in the "OFF" position. you may now make the change and repeat the cycle."

BTW, if you've read this far, I've a little story about going to the bathroom in space. In the sixties, when my father was in the Navy, somehow he and other sailors were on a tour of NASA when one of them asked, "How do you go to the bathroom?" According to my father, the guide got a look on his face, said, "I knew one of you was gonna ask that," and explained. I don't remember what the instructions for tinkling was (probably a hose and bottle, but I honestly don't remember), but the under 10-year old boy in me remembers the instructions for going number two: Open up a piece of paper, hold it in your hand, then crap in your hand, basically. Much easier then pressing a lever and attaching the plastic dalkron eliminator to the adhesive lip.

I think that was when I decided I didn't want to be an astronaut no more.

99 Red Balloons Go By

Anyone know where I can buy those balloons?

(Click for a bigger version)

Metro Crash Update

Since I knew the suspense was killing you...

I already had Friday off, but I'm sure there were still delays on the Red Line. Over the weekend and this morning, WMATA reported the wrecked trains had been cleared from the tracks but rail alignment needed to be performed. I took a chance anyway, and I'm happy to report there were no delays on the Metro this morning (at least, not when I rode it). While I was stopped at Woodley Park/Zoo, an empty train rolled through the station on the track on which the collision had occured, without incident.

Also this morning, both Fox 5 and the Washington POST have reported Richard White, chief executive of the Metro system for more than eight years, will use public transportation to get to work.

Well, it's about time. The Post reports that Mr. White will now drive, "...from his Fairfax County home to the Vienna or Dunn Loring stations, parks, [get] on the Orange Line, [take] it to Metro Center and [transfer] over to the Red Line for one stop to Gallery Place," as do thousands of others. The article continues, "He said it's not so bad on early morning trains -- he can usually snag a seat then -- but in the evening, the crowding is pretty severe."

The cynic in me wonders how the chief executive--the man in charge of the product that is Metro--has been selling his product if he hasn't used it for half of his tenure as The Boss. The rest of me wonders why I'm surprised.

In additional Metro news, Metro will have a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday the sixteenth. Metro proudly states it will be its first Town Hall meeting, but neglects to point out the system is more than thirty years old.

Blogs in the news

I've mentioned in the past I watch the local Fox affiliate in the morning. As I stepped out of the shower, I noticed they had a live Google screen onscreen, and as I watched, Jill Sorenson was walking anyone watching thru the steps of creating a Blogspot blog. Of course, I had to check out her blog; heck, I even commented.

The worst part is that I had to register a Blogspot blog in order to leave a comment. Don't expect Life with Rats to have a lot of content in the future.

Metro updates

News services report 20 people were injured in yesterday's collision. When I first heard of the collision on WTOP radio yesterday PM, the spokeswoman emphasized there were no injuries.

Apparently an out-of-service train lost its brakes (why was it out of service? Brake or other problems?) and rolled backwards into a stopped train at approximately 30 MPH. The collision was horrific and I'm amazed only 20 people had minor injuries.

(Of course, some wags on one of the local FM stations joked that it looked like the two Metro cars were trying to make a lot of Metro cars. I switched the station because DJ's who crack each other up annoy the bejeebers out of me.)

The Washington TIMES article on the collision also lists the many problems Metro has experienced lately. Those recent problems include:

• Breakdowns during heavy-use times (in this case, the Marine Corps Marathon)
  
• Not running enough trains during heavy-use times (in another case, after a Redskins game)
  
• Cracks in the rails
  
• A Metro worker ignored alarms that the fire sprinkler system had activated at a station, resulting in a flooded station
  

In spite of all of these problems, and despite my constant moaning and groaning about Metro, I still feel it's not a bad system at all. The trains and stations are clean, and delays don't occur all that often. To be honest, delays are most likely to occur only when my gf is riding Metro. The rest of the time it's fine.

I do have problems with how the system was constructed and run. Stations running underneath Rock Creek were not waterproofed, and neither are the escalators. Training for station managers seems to be inconsistent (of course, some of the reported problems with station managers may stem from the people themselves and not the training).

Management is short-sighted at best and incompetent at worse--I offer their proposed restriction of the sale of SmarTrip cards (since rescinded) as evidence of short-sightedness, and their ignoring of warnings that parking attendents stealing money from the cash drawers as evidence of incompetence.

In the final analysis, the Washington Metro system is just a reflection of the city it serves. It's wonderful to look at and it usually works pretty good, but it's run by idiots.

UPDATE: Forgot to mention...I drove to work today. In fact, I've got to feed the meter in about ten minutes...

Metro disaster, but I'm not angry.

There was a train collision at the Woodley Park/National Zoo Metro station this afternoon. Four people were injured and the station was closed to passengers for hours, although trains single-tracked thru on the opposite track. The station may well still be closed at this time and I bet it will be closed tomorrow. The Washington POST has an article with a picture here (registration may be required--sorry). Take a look and you'll see why the station might still be closed tomorrow.

In the face of this disaster, Metro did something right. First of all, they were running shuttles from Dupont Circle--a very busy station just south of the Woodley Park station, and where I catch the train to go home. I didn't take the shuttle; instead I took a cab to the first full-service station north of the collision, Van Ness-UDC (and getting the cab was another adventure. The cabbie didn't want my fare.).

At Van Ness-UDC, a station manager yelled up at the people (including me) on the escalator to take any gate no matter the direction you were going. Translation for tourists: It's a center-platform station. Also, as I got to the turnstiles, the Farecard slots were taped over with paper--no fare was required:

I only got one picture of the turnstile, because a Metro manager came toward me, telling me I couldn't take pictures. "Sir," I explained, "I'm an independent journalist and I'm trying to document the experience," but he didn't want to hear it. No pictures allowed, he told me, so I stopped taking pictures.

Funny thing is, is that was the fourth or fifth picture I took in the station. The Metro cop with the big gun I was standing next to didn't say a word when I took several pictures of the crowd on the platform:

Go figure. The train in the station was headed south. It wasn't my train.

I thought I'd be stuck for awhile, and that when a train did show up, I suspected it would be packed to overflowing. I'm happy to report I was wrong on both counts. A train arrived within five minutes of my arrival at the station, and it wasn't packed because it was an eight-car train!

One thing Metro does that confounds me is run four or six-car trains during rush hour, when it's clear they had designed most of the stations for eight-car trains. The evidence is clear to anyone who has ever used a station that has the rails running between the platforms.

If you should ever find yourself in a station with center rails, take a look at the opposite platform. Just below the edge of the platform, you'll see little green signs with a number on them: 2, 4, 6, or 8 (on some short-platform stations you'll see a 6/8 on the green signs at the ends). Those signs actually tell the train operator where to stop their train; the numbers refer to the number of cars in the train. Savvy Metro passengers use those signs as a guide telling oneself where to stand on the platform, if you want to be next to where a door should open.

The signs reading "8" clearly state, to me, Metro planned to introduce 8-car trains at some time. Apparently, today was as good a time as any, as an 8-car train pulled into the station.

My ride home was very comfortable (Savvy Metro passengers also know the cars on the ends have fewer passengers on them than those in the center of the train). I had a seat for the entire ride home.

I arrived at Shady Grove only about ten or fifteen minutes later than usual. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement.

So I lied...

OK, so I won't find out who won today. At least I didn't lose any sleep staying up to not get a result.

Tonight...

Haven't voted yet. I plan to leave work a little early and take care of it on the way home. After that, it's dinner, play with some rats, and maybe watch an episode of The Prisoner, or maybe a Joe Don Baker movie.

I'll find out who won tomorrow.

UPDATE: I'll be playing with one fewer rat than I thought I would be when I typed that. Nic returned home today to find Olie had passed away in his sleep. He was curled up in the little house in the cage, curled up with his half-sister Leather.

Leather to the left and Olie to the right. This picture was taken on the 24th of October.