Jerusalem

I couldn't say it better myself.

http://divineinformation.com/downloads/other.asp?file_name=JerusalemDownloadV_512K_Stream.wmv

God Can Handle It

I belong to a womens group that meets on a regular basis. It's organized by a faction of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico. We talk about the holidays and what's going on in our lives and how it relates to the upcoming holiday.

I got there a little early this time and the Rabbi showed up about the same time so we talked. I admitted to her that I have my doubts about God and she smiled and said "God can handle it".

Oh The Politics

I'm going to start with some GOOD news.

My probation period is over. I can no longer be fired at the drop of a hat.

WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

Now I get to rant.

A certain spa in my area is not being regulated for political reasons. Things got nasty today when a manager from another district started asking about coming up and doing some sampling with them. I agreed but mentioned that the spa wasn't permitted and the program manager had told me to do nothing about them until December. They pushed on and tried to pin down a date to do the sampling. I called the program manager to make sure he was OK with this.

To make a long story short I got caught in the crossfire with both of them complaining to me about the other one. HEY!! I'm just a lowly Environmental Scientist. I'm not a manager. Please!!!!Leave me out of it. I don't want to know. I have enough on my plate.

Nothing But Complaints

Every one is complaining about me.

My managers love it. They finally have someone who isn't afraid to stand up and do what needs to be done.

But I have to admit that it would be nice if people would call with a compliment once in a while. So please!!! The next time you get exceptional service from someone pick up the phone or write an email and let their boss know.

I must be a Masochist

This job is masochistic! Everyone is out to get you. It's unreal. I keep wondering what people will come up with next.

Yesterday I met with a couple at their request. These people have a cesspool (illegal) and wanted to put in a new system but the constraints of their property make it impossible for them to put in a conventioanl system. They don't have the money to put in a conventional system. I told them that I can't ignore the fact that they have a cesspool because cesspools have been illegal in New Mexico since 1976, but, that if they would pick one of the alternatives I suggested and applied for a permit I could say that they are working on solving the problem and back away for a while so they could put together the extra money needed to put in the more expensive system.

Sounds good so far right?

Wrong!

Yesterday they showed up with another couple and started telling me that the contractor they had hired was telling them that they had to replace the system immediately or I would have their home taken away from them. He told them that I was threatening them.

WHAT???????????????

Today I get a call from my district manager. A woman by the name of M.A. from the Chama area (my area) called the Governors office and complained about me. He wanted to know what I had to say. I was at a loss. I had no idea who this person was. He forwarded the email he got from the Governors office and told me to give him an answer on what this was about by the end of the day.

I read the email and was astounded!!!!

"Just wanted to send you an FYI that we got a complaint from Ms. ****** ****** in the***** area, regarding an ED employee named “****”. It was stated that she not only is extremely difficult to work with, as she not only misses appointments, but also is making people in the area “jump through hoops” regarding ED issues. It was also stated that she makes racially insensitive remarks as well as socioeconomic remarks while on the job. This is the commentary that Ms. ****** presented. I told her that I would forward her concerns to you, but that ED regulations are complex and complicated, so if people feel like they have to “jump through hoops” that is just procedure sometimes. Thank you."

I wracked my brains trying to figure out who this woman was. I wasn't working on a permit with that name nor had I issed one with that name to the best of my knowledge. What was going on here? After a few more minutes something started to gel in my brain. I had been working on a permit for a young man whose wifes maiden name was the same as this woman. He had tight clay which limited his options and he had been waffling between two options. That morning I finally approved his permit for a clay system with alternating leach fields. I called him and asked if his mother in laws name was M. He said yes. I've never spoken to that woman and she called the Governors office with all that crap?

What the HELL is wrong with people?

Jewish and Single

So I went to a Jewish singles meet up in Albuquerque that a friend of mine had arranged through the JCC. I didn't meet anyone I would consider for a serious relationship but I had a good time. We're going to get together once a month (the group) and do activities together.

One of the things my friend asked was "does it make a difference that we're all Jewish?" The unanimous answer was "YES!"

I stayed along with a a few other people and we talked some more. We came up with two reasons why it mattered to us to e with a Jewish partner. One was because only another Jew can meet some of our needs (you know the crazy stuff you carry around from your childhood). I also heard someone say "it's cool to be able to laugh at Christians and there's no one around who will get offended".

I told my to tablets joke and it got some laughs.

Do you know why the ten commandments came in two tablets? After all God could have written all of them on one tablet. So why two?

Well, God was looking for a nation to take the Torah.

God went to the French and asked them if they wanted to be his nation and keep his laws. The French asked "what's in it?" and God replied "Though shalt not commit adultery" (the truth is that that isn't exactly what it says but that's a whole other story). The French immediately replied"no, no...we can't do that".

God went to the Germans and asked them if they wanted to be his nation and keep his laws. The Germans asked "what's in it?" and God replied "Though shalt not kill". The Germans immediately replied"no, no...we can't do that".

God went to the Jews and asked them if they wanted to be his nation and keep his laws.The Jews asked "How much does it cost?" God said "it's free" the Jews said "we'll take two".

Leslie, where are you?

My friend Leslie is missing.

I called the police for a welfare check but I haven't heard back yet.

She lives in another state.

I'm worried.

Her phone is disconnected and she isn't responding to emails.

Leslie, PLEASE!!!!!! Be OK.

Stimulating the economy

I get paid on a biweekly basis and this month I'm getting a third paycheck. Since my house deal fell through I went a bit crazy. But I keep telling myself that I'm stimulating the economy.

I just finished putting together my new Gazelle Edge. I wanted to get one three years ago and Ron wanted a swing (I'm not going to spell out what kind of swing you can figure it out). We got the swing. Now I got myself the Gazelle I wanted! And some new DVD's to watch while I'm on it...

I bought a new set of Cuisinart pots and pans. I've never had "nice" pots and pans before. Ron thought it was a waste of money.

I bought a 19 inch LCD-HDTV. No I haven't gone nuts. It's for my exercizing. The sound on the laptop isn't good enough and there's no room in my office to kickbox (or for the Gazelle). I'm not getting any kind of cable TV. This is strictly for exercizing and the occasional movie.

I bought my first set of power tools. A Black & Decker drill, circular saw and flashlight combo.

And last but not least....I bought a Spanish language CD so I can learn Spanish on those long drives to Albuquerque.

I think I've done my share to stimulate the economy.

Top Physicist

18 y/o Hadas Tzaban from Netivot, Israel just won first place in an international physics competition.

Congratulations Hadas!

http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/912/510.html

Israel

http://divineinformation.com/downloads/other_ftp.asp?file_name=/ftp/video/Sh_at_Ha_Efes.mpg

I'm not even going to try and upload that video. It's in Hebrew and I doubt anyone reading this will understand it. I put up the link in case someone reading this does understand and wants to watch it.

In the video there are quotes from two Rabbis who lives 1000 years ago. The uotes give explanations for the Israel/ Palestinian situation. The quotes fit so well it's mind boggling that they were written 1000 years ago. These Rabbis were writing about what would happen when we returned to Israel. we were 1000 years into the diaspora and 1000 years away from returning and they knew. The things they write are based on scriptures.

The video goes through the wars. In the Yom Kippur war things were going badly, Syria was about to go through the border, hundreds of tanks and we had three tanks standing against them. The Syrian tanks stopped and turned back.

The video syas that in an interview with the head of the tank battallion when he was asked why he trned back the answer was "if you saw a host of angels telling you to stop, what would you do?"

What do you make of all this?

With or Without You

An irate Republican made a comment to me today that was meant to get me riled up against Obama. She said "when Iran gets the bomb do you know what the first thing they will do is? Drop it on Israel!"

I didn't get riled up. I very calmly told her that it would never happen. Israel would not let Iran develop the bomb. She retorted that Israel had better make sure to get some support from the US. I very calmly told her that "We didn't ask the US for permission when we took out Iraq, we didn't ask the US for permission when we went into Entebbe to rescue the hostages, and we don't need permission from the US to take out Iran. Israel will do what Israel needs to do to protect herself with or without permission from the US."

I think there's already a plan in place. Don't be surprised if you wake up one morning and hear on the news that Israel bombed the Iranian Nuclear plant.

Just don't count on Israel to take care of North Korea.

Bye Bye Palin

Too bad. She would have ensured another win for Obama.

Other than that she dfinitely will not be missed.

Heres some info you may not have heard.

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/palin_resigns_exit_stage_right

Another One Bites the Dust

I sure can pick them.

Another real estate deal down the drain. The sellers decided that they want more money for the house than we agreed on. Good luck to them. I think the property is more or less worth what we negotiated. Their chances of getting a higher price is pretty close to zero. I'm sure there's something better out there for me.

Cap and Trade

Not surprisingly the right is against cap and trade. They claim that it will "hurt businesses" and "raise taxes".

Cap and trade is an interim situation that will help us move on to better, cleaner, and safer technologies. In the long run cap and trade will help business and lower taxes. No, I'm not halucinating. In the long run these new technologies will give us cheaper better cleaner safer fuel to run businesses and produce. The cleaner safer energy will reduce health care costs.

We are on the verge of a golden age. The GOP and radical right are too blind to see beyond today.

New Student Loan Laws

We wouldn't need these laws if Universities didn't charge so much and there is no reason for the high price tag. The people who make a lot of money in colleges and universities are the ones who have nothing to do with education. They are figure heads who don't deserve the money.

How do we change this horrific situation?

In Israel the dean was one of the senior faculty members voted on by the faculty members. There was no "President" and tuition was less than $1000.00 a semester.

I'm lucky with my student loans. I managed to consolidate at 4.75% and am down to 3.5% now. From whatI'm reading others aren't that lucky.

The system needs to be changed,