Categories
People Places Weblogging

Just stuff

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Currently waiting on callback from PT about status of worker’s comp claim. Same old BS.

However, the weather is beautiful again today and I’m off to rent a car at Enterprise. I have Christmas shopping to do this afternoon and I want to go for a hobble along Crissy Field one of my favorite places within San Francisco. Tomorrow if I’m stupid enough, I want to go to Point Reyes for a much longer hobble — most likely ending up 4 miles from nowhere with no one around and knee goes out, resulting in a boy scout troop finding me 4 months later after the local seashore crabs have had a full meal deal off my wasted body. Or something along those lines.

Rageboy got a nice review in USA Today and is in a particularly fine mood. I’m happy for Chris, he’s had a bad week and needs positive book vibes. Positive book buys wouldn’t be bad, either.

You know, the problem with writing computer tech books is that you never get reviewed in something like USA Today. Sigh. However, work is progressing on both my Practical RDF and the Unix Power Tools Third Edition books, and that’s a goodness.

Maybe I should write a book on failing systems, based on my “Why Systems Fail” articles — this might get into the mainstream journals. Nah — probably not.

Categories
Healthcare

More knee problems

I’m barely able to walk today. In fact, my lack of mobility is a bit scary as well as frustrating as walking and hiking are some of my favorite activities. Not to mention essential when you’re living alone. Tomorrow I’ll call the PT and tell her we have to act quickly. In fact, we might be too late for therapy — thanks to the wonderful insurance company that refuses to answer its phone, and sends providers on wild goose chases when getting authorization for payment.

I don’t have medical insurance, so I can’t get treated and then tell the various providers to duke it out between ’em. Neither the Orthopedic surgeon nor the PT will start any treatment without getting pre-authorized payments. Don’t ya love our medical system?

Categories
Legal, Laws, and Regs

Microsoft settlement

Recovered from the Wayback Machine. 

I don’t blame Microsoft for the abysmal settlement that’s ticked off so many states (see States urge Microsoft penalties). Corporations work for themselves — It’s the way of the capitalist world. To prevent corporations from being complete assholes, you have consumer and fair trade protection laws such as the antitrust laws, and legal organizations such as the Justice Department to enforce them.

It’s not Microsoft’s fault that the Justice Department’s decision ranks up there with England’s “let’s increase the tea tax for the colonies” as one of the worst decisions in history.

Categories
Just Shelley

Bad Knee

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Walked to Pier 39 tonight. Weather was very pleasant, and crowd was fun. I got some silly socks for my brother and his family for Christmas.

Walking back, my knee gave out completely and I literally couldn’t walk at first. I managed to hop to a wall to sit until the pain stopped a bit. I grabbed the streetcar and was finally able to make it home, though going was slow.

I hurt my knee when I tripped over computer cables while working at what is now the defunct skyfish.com. The orthopedic surgeon I saw recently thinks I may have broken my knee at the time and have damage now. I’m supposed to try therapy for several weeks to see if we can avoid surgery, but the insurance company is being extremely difficult. As an FYI, If your company has Liberty Mutual for worker’s compensation insurance, all I can say is good luck if you get hurt on the job. Cheap assholes.

Categories
History People Political

Bridge Security

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Hmmmm. Increased security at the old Bay Bridge anchor room today. National Guardsmen in plain view as well as some suspicious black vans with heavy privacy glass parked right next to the barricade on my side of the barricade. I should grab my camera and go down and take some pictures — see what kind of excitement I can generate.

Week before last some poor folks moving out of the Bayview Apartments had their moving van surrounded by four CHP cars and two CHP motorcycles. Reason? The movees were darker skinned, had dark hair, and I think one had a mustache. Ah, folks — I have a hint for you. Darker skinned folks with black hair aren’t that uncommon in California.

Last week a homeless person breached the Bridge security and set up an encampment right next to the bridge. It wouldn’t be so bad but this particular homeless person is scarier than shit as he has a habit of chasing people screaming at them. If he’s there, I can’t go to the only store in the area because I don’t know what he’ll do. When I called the San Francisco police department with the problem I was connected with a Sargeant responsible for San Fran’s vagrancy problem. According to him, the San Francisco police department isn’t responsible for any bridge security in any way. I would need to call the CHP instead.

Okay.

I called the CHP and was connected to Dispatch. I told them a homeless person had violated the Bridge security and was encamped next to the bridge. They said they would send someone out to check it out.

Two days later the homeless person finally just moved away on his own. Today, three days after the homeless person left, Bridge security is stepped up.

There’s a moral to this story somewhere, but damned if I can figure it out.