Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Time Warner Cable Internet beats up on Verizon DSL


It was an out of the ordinary and creative day today between work at the Texas City Harbor and taking a couple of hours off in between to assist Nancy obtain a broadband high speed cable hook-up with Time Warner-EarthLink. She already had a DSL broadband connection with Verizon but the customer service was less than desirable and at times obtaining a high speed connection was mediocre. See you later Verizon.

Another problem with Verizon service is that consumers here in Galveston County, Texas are forced to have voice service if they need DSL high speed internet service (bundled). Kind of like being forced to purchase a loaf of bread if you need gallon of milk at the grocery store.

Furthermore, who needs a Verizon landline as a home phone when your home number can be ported to a cell phone. So instead of paying for a home line and a cell phone simultaneousl so …now there is only one phone bill $$$. What do you think? Is that a good idea? Of course this is a novel way in saving a few bucks to go into the gas tank instead of Verizon's warchest . One day the big Telecoms will figure it out and provide for the wants and needs of the consumer instead of the usual earnings per share attitude.




Santa Fe,Texas

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Out in the wild



Here is another hilarious picture I found while blog surfing. lol

Cyber Pinball



Click on the image and it will expand...really neat.

Home Sweet Home


Home Sweet Home
Originally uploaded by it2getting.
Home in Santa Fe

Glass of Milk


Splash 1
Originally uploaded by B, K & G.
A tall cool glass of milk goes well with a barbeque sandwich on a Sunday afternoon

A Tasty Snack

Just finished an excellent barbeque dinner plate that Nancy picked up for me at the Santa Fe Fire Department dinner benefit. The sliced beef was excellent! I was able to make two tasty sandwiches here at home. Then the finished up the snack with a tall glass of cold milk . Its been a busy day figuring out how to streamline the blogging process with a nifty photo utility called Flickr. Once I learn how to compliment it with Blogger then I’ll have more to report on.

Santa Fe Texas Fire Department Benefit Dinners

The Santa Fe, Texas Fire Department is hosting a fundraising benefit on Sunday, 13 November 2005 at the main fire station on HWY 6. There will be barbecue dinners available for a modest fee of $6.00. Hungry residents are encouraged to drop by the Santa Fe fire house for a tantalizing plate of slice beef, sausage, chili beans, potato salad, baked potatoes, with all the fixings.

Plate Bar-Be-Cue plate dinners will be ready for all the hungry Santa Fe residents from 11:00 A.M. -2:00 P.M. The benefit is for a worthy cause supporting the volunteer community fire department whose members include 81 dedicated personnel. Better hurry these mouth watering tasty plates won't last long.

The internet revolution

The internet revolution has arrived here in Santa Fe with Podcasting and Blogging




My girlfriend...the desktop

Texas City BP Accident Investigaton


Regarding the recent story in the Galveston Daily News on November 11 concerning the findings of the Chemical Safety Board it has been determined that plant operators are working long shifts without much rest. This isn't much of a surprise to the thousands of other refinery workers throughout the United States who also work long hours under similar conditions that exist at the Texas City BP plant.

Any finger pointing and blame solely towards BP regarding the unfortunate and tragic Texas City explosion back in March 2005 is uncalled for and is a smokescreen directing attention away from the central problem in a dysfunctional industry that currently is causing concern from both sides of the fenceline whether it be the energy consumer or the blue collar worker who produces the energy. The entire industry is at fault, especially without any proactive protective governmental health and safety oversight. Of course protective regulations do exist...but the manpower for enforcement does not.

OSHA is undermanned and does not have the appropriate congressional funding to remedy the ongoing problem. The only venue for changing dismal working conditions will be a louder public outcry directed toward our elected lawmakers on Capital Hill. Overall it will be long and tedious uphill battle against management in the energy industry which has a stronger presence and overflowing war chest of political capital in addition to resourceful connections in Washington D.C, with its powerful anti-labor lobbyists, lawyers, and marketing techniques on K street.

Besides providing vital energy security for the nation, the main objective of management at the refining plants is a positive return in the quarterly financial statements, which equates to "moving the juice" of petroleum products at all costs efficiently through the various stages of production and eventually loading onto railcars, tanker trucks, barges, and tanker ships for eventual consumption by a diverse and thirsty market. Any hindrance and vocal dissent by plant operators especially outside contractors can slow down the production process.

For example, the academics of properly abiding to the multitude of federal environmental, health, and safety regulations is frowned upon by management. Of course by all outward appearance, regulations are being adhered to but this is only a facade. The careful plant worker will be careful with their choice of words concerning the observance of health, safety, and environmental violations, or he/she might be looking for a new job.
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