I'm seeing  billboards here for programs  to feed the hungry  so it
seems the US  still can't reliably feed itself  while arguing about
free college tuition and building more aircraft carriers.

At  least the  Army had  the good  grace to  tell Congress  that it
didn't need more Abrams tanks  even if the congresscritters refused
to hear it.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

                                                      Slot end West



The wife and  I have survived the trek across  North America to the
right-hand shore.  After more than  two months of living  in hotels
and other  misadventures we've  rented a  house with  strange floor
plan  and more  space than  we need.  We got  the obligatory  First
Plumbing Failure  out of the  way and also the  First Non-emergency
Plumbing Issue.  All of our stuff that made in one  piece is out of
Pod-land  and in the house,  some still in boxes - it seems we were
pretty fortunate on the breakage front thus far.

The wife's health is still marginal and she refuses to see a doctor
(long story).

I have found a truck to replace  Sonja  who sadly had to be donated
before we left the PNW (she wouldn't have made the journey).

The  new  employer  is  already  beginning to  talk  about  how  to
'consolidate roles' and a  potential workforce reduction. Meanwhile
there is  a greater  than 25%  rejection rate  of product  at final
inspection. Management is disengaged. I am continuing to spread the
message  that they  need to  stop and  fix problems  and get  their
processes  under control  rather than  focus  like a  laser on  the
current day's shipping schedule.           Cultural change is hard.



Act from reason, and  failure makes  you rethink and  study harder.
Act from faith,  and  failure  makes  you blame  someone  and  push
Act from harder.



NO CARRIER