I Cry Everytime We Go Here (Ludlow Massacre)

We stopped at the site of the Ludlow Massacre north of Trinidad, Colorado, off Interstate 25, today. We stop here everytime we decide to return to Texas from Colorado via New Mexico.

Click on the picture for a larger view, and click on the title for a brief story of the massacre. I'll write more later, and post a picture of the names of the murdered -- of the 20 killed at Ludlow, most were children -- some as young as 3 months old. Yeah, they were a real threat to Rockefeller (J.D. Jr.), the owner of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.

Playing with the camera what is smarter than me

(click on the pics for better detail)
O.K. O.K.! I know these are horrible, but they were my "test" pictures -- the first pictures taken on that particular camera and downloaded wirelessly. I was expecting much more grief, but it was really quite effortless for my first attempt at anything like this. (although in retrospect, I'll probably go back and change the configuration from using our wireless network to an Ad-hoc profile -- camera to computer -- which was recommended "for first time users of wireless networks", which I am -- well, except for setting up the AirPort last night. (which ran into a minor glitch because I, or perhaps SRI, had gotten it partially set up either 6 months or 1 year ago, and the computer couldn't find the network, and then I realized, "Hey, I'll bet if the base is reset this will work," and it did!) (You gotta love the Macs -- intuitive AND logical.)

The real reason we wanted a digital camera was to take cute pictures of the cats and put them all over the internet. And now that said camera is ready to go, there is nary a cat in sight. Perverse little critters anyway.

These pictures are of our entry hall. They look a bit more orange than the actual color, and of course there is the flash in the midst of the drawing (by a man named Mike Bear (R.I.P) -- my mother bought this years ago when he showed up at the doorstep with some of his art and a need for money.) The small mirror on the left was a wedding present from Lucinda -- it incorporates some small red stained glass. (It is supposed to be moved to the other side of the hall, but that hasn't happened yet.) From Korea are two gifts from Spence -- a Buddha plaque/relief and a bell -- the bell is supported by a dragon breathing fire, and at the end of the flame is the mallet that rings the bell. Oh, and a couple of pics of my nephew who is graduating from (home)highschool this year. (What? Is he both the valedectorian and salatutorian? As well as last in his class? What was his prom like? Did he ever have to stay after school?)

SRI really prefers white walls, but I really, really liked this red foyer. (the rest of the house has more muted colors.) I just love looking at that red wall for some reason.

Hey, I got an e-mail that said Rove got indicted on Friday, but I haven't seen anything in the media about it. Just a rumor or wishful thinking? Heh, heh, I've got a couple of Rove stories from my days in the Government dept. at UT, but I really can't repeat them. Rats.

The Office

Well, not "THE Office" -- just mine.

Two funny/weird things happened today:

1. Got an e-mail from a mathematics professor with whom I work: "Susan, I just got your voicemail." (that I left two weeks ago.) "There is something wrong with my SmartVoice." (our voicemail client.) "SmartVoice doesn't tell me when I have new messages. It should be referred to as the Dumbest of the DumbVoice. So, if you leave me a voicemail message, make sure that you e-mail me to tell me that you left a message."

2. When I opened my office door, I was greeted with the sight of 4 or 5 acoustic ceiling tiles and two big fluffy slabs of pink insulation strewn across my credenza and the Norfolk pine which are on the east side of the room. (Don't eat the insulation no matter how much it looks like cotton candy.) We had a horrendous storm last night, but I couldn't quite figure out how THAT could have happened since we are on the ground floor of a 17 story building. RLM! RLM! I also notice a rather large "ell" air conditioning duct piece on top of my bookcase. WTF? WTF?

So, I call maintenance and they dispatch someone to look at it. In the meantime, Jesse comes in and opens the conference room door and notices water all over the carpet. We open the other advisor's office, and it too is soaked. Since the other office, the conference room, and my office are all on the north side of the building, we think, "uh-oh" -- perhaps my office is wet, too. Sure enough -- our offices have wall to ceiling glass and the seals on the lower third must have given way what with the wind and all.

The maintenance crew comes with an extractor and attack the soggy carpets. Another crew comes to put my ceiling back together. Eying the a/c duct part on my bookcase, I ask, "Uh, are we going to be without air conditioning today?" The crew leader says, "No, because that duct piece wasn't attached to anything -- it was never hooked up to the system and it doesn't belong there." Gee, that's the way to get rid of spare parts -- just stash them on top of the acoustic ceiling tiles which are strong enough to hold, oh, nothing heavier than the Des Moines, Iowa phone book.

The other advisor's office smelled, so I wafted a stick of lavender incense around and Jess sprayed some disinfectant spray. We'll have to see what it looks like on Monday (or rather smell what it's like.)

The crews worked quickly, and we were able to be back at our desks by 10:30.

Never a dull moment in the RLM. (Robert Lee Moore Hall)

No Pants Day is Almost Here!

And sadly, the Underpants of Science Museum in RLM @ UT Austin hasn't returned:

http://underpantsofscience.blogspot.com/

It's No Pants Day; the Cinco de Mayo; and the last day of classes at UT -- PARTY!

Why I Haven't Posted Much Lately

Two words: Google Earth. (click on the title)

I'd been playing around with google maps for several months, and I was bummed that there wasn't a google earth for the Mac, and I even wrote them and said, "hey we want google earth, too!"

Google Earth (for Mac) has probably been around for a few months, but we've been pretty busy at work since January, and the last thing I wanted to do at home was to sit in front of the computer, but now that the semester is winding down. . .

Thank You Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert left the (mostly) fawning sycophants speechless at the White House Correspondents Dinner. What was so delicious about it was that Colbert roasted the administration and press over their own words and talking points.

"I believe that the government that governs best is the government that governs least and by that standard we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."

I Had a Really, Really Fun Time This Weekend. . .

I had a really, really good time this weekend, but I don't feel so hot today. . .


FRANK ERWIN CENTER, 1701 Red River

Public Intoxication (2 Counts) / Resisting Arrest (1Count):  Two subjects were reported yelling profanities and disrupting other patrons that were watching the performance in section 81.  Officers assigned to the event located the subjects and observed that both appeared to be intoxicated. Officers observed the following signs of intoxication: both had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on their person, each had watery glassy eyes, and slurred speech.  Each subject was supporting the other to keep from falling.  During the investigation, the subjects became argumentative with the officers and refused to leave the building.  When being escorted out, one subject began flaying her arms back and forth and refused to comply with the officers commands.  Both were transported to Central Booking.  Occurred on 4-28-06, at 10:30 PM.
******

But I'm with the band! 
 
Public Intoxication: A subject attempted to get on stage during the performance.  UT staff removed the subject from the stage area and requested assistance from the UT police.  During the investigation, the subject was combative and insulting to patrons walking by.  Officers observed the following signs of intoxication: very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person, unsure balance, and slurred speech. Officers also discovered that the subject had a 2X8 oz. binocular flask around her neck that still contained a small amount of alcohol. Subject was transported to Central booking.  Occurred on 4-28-06, at 11:00 PM.
******

I lost my shoes:

FRANK C. ERWIN SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER, 1701 Red River

Public Intoxication: A subject was reported as having run through a reserved suite into the suite’s restroom to begin the most expeditious method of removing alcoholic beverages form one’s stomach. The subject was found on the restroom floor hugging her new found porcelain friend. The subject was not aware of her surroundings or the location of her shoes. The subject needed assistance with standing and walking. The subject was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point she was a physical endangerment to herself.
******

Also had fun with an art project:


SAN ANTONIO PARKING GARAGE, 2420 San Antonio Street

Graffiti: Words were discovered painted in red, peach, and pink paint in the south east stairwell of the parking garage. Loss value: $100.00.
******

Got in a little target practice:

100 BLOCK WEST 21ST STREET

Assault with Bodily Injury: A UT student reported that he had been shot in his left arm with a pellet gun by a subject inside a red vehicle. The pellet had left a three inch welt. A vehicle matching the description was observed driving near the area and the driver was stopped and identified. During a search of his vehicle a silver metal BB gun was located under the front passenger seat. During the investigation the driver identified a second accomplice that he had just dropped off at the San Jacinto Dorm. Officers located the second suspect and located a second Air Soft BB gun and tracer rounds. Both subjects were transported to Central Booking for Assault with Bodily Injury.
******

Tried to get something to eat:

Public Intoxication: A subject was observed pounding on the glass door of a closed local business. When stopped the subject stated that she was trying to get in to eat, but no one would open the doors. Officers were informed that she had received the same treatment at another local business. During the investigation officers detected a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person and determined that she was intoxicated and a danger to herself. The subject was taken into custody and transported to Central Booking.
******

I am not, however, "friends with Rick Perry":

Criminal Mischief / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: A subject was observed throwing a jar of grape jelly at the door of another resident. The reporting person stated that the subject appeared to be intoxicated. The student fled to a room when UTPD was notified of the incident and refused to open the door when officers arrived. Approximately an hour later, officers were again summoned to the same room for a medical emergency after several subjects inside the room were believed to be intoxicated to the point that they were unresponsive. One subject initially refused to respond to stimulus and became verbally aggressive with the officer and EMS. While EMS was attempting to treat the subject, the officer observed in plain view a 3 foot filtering device by a bed. The device contained the odor of burnt marijuana. Subject declared that she was friends with Rick Perry and that she would "have fun getting some cops fired." In addition to other law enforcement action taken, the subject was issued a field release citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Occurred on 4-30-06 between 2:02 AM AND 3:17 AM.


susan "i was not representing the MPA advising center during this time" brown