Virus Alert at Airport

I was stuck at the Cincinnati Airport yesterday during the FAA computer system meltdown. This was on one of the departure information screens in the terminal. It makes you wonder if it really was a router that went bad. I also wonder what idiot designed their network so if one router goes down it takes down the whole system. Haven't they heard of redundant systems?

Some Pictures from Montreal

I had some spare time while in Montreal so I went to check out one of their main landmarks, St Joseph's Oratory.

This is the view of the bottom.

This is the view from half way up. (I couldn't get all the way to the top doors due to construction)

Inside one of the lobbies they had this shrine for the founder. Yes, that is his real heart.

This is inside the chapel.

This is their pipe organ. I didn't get to hear it, but I'm sure it sounds awsome.

Some Thoughts from Montreal Canada

I was in Montreal for a business trip to help our new dealer setup four test sites. I work for a company that makes radar sensors that monitor traffic flow (nothing with law enforcement). Our dealer was having issues with these sites so I flew up there to train them on how configure the sensor and help them get these four test sites working. The setup was a little trickier than our normal installations so the help they needed was understandable. Due to the rules in Canada and the locations where the sensors were mounted, we had to do all the work at night so they could close an on-ramp and an off-ramp. I was able to help them get all fours sites working to their satisfaction, so I’m pleased with the results of the trip.


I won’t bore you with all the details, but the picture below reminds me of two questions I often ask myself when driving through constructions zones.

1. Why is the road closed and no one is working?
2. Why are all those people standing around doing nothing?



Well, now I have some answers. They aren’t good answers but at least they are answers.

1. One of our test sites was located near the end of an on-ramp. The only way we could safely work there was to close it. We didn’t know how long it was going to take to configure that site so they went ahead a closed the off-ramp where the last site was located at the same time they closed the on-ramp. It ended up taking us about two hours to configure the site on the on-ramp (the other sites were about 30 minutes). So that off-ramp was closed for 2 hours with no one even there to do any work. I bet that was annoying for anyone that needed to get off there. I know I would have been annoyed.

2. In the traffic industry everyone has a specialty. There was a total of 6 people working with the sensors. There was one person from MTQ’s project department, two people from their planning department, two people for our dealer, and myself. The guy for the project department was there to operate the bucket truck and make any adjustments to how the sensor was mounted. The two planning people were there to make sure we got it working. I was there to make sure our dealer knew how to get it to work. We had important roles, but could not all do our jobs at the same time. However, it was more efficient for us to be there together. I’m sure the same thing is true for other construction work and that is why you often see people just standing there.

Defening Marriage

I would normally post this on my other blog that covers political views, but this is too important.

Today I ran across this opinion article on The Washington Times website:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/28/attacking-the-defense-of-marriage-act/ about how members of the Obama Administration think marriage has no value. Here are few highlights, but you should read the whole article.

Apparently, the administration doesn't much care about public opinion or electoral consequences. On Friday, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. delivered a lecture at the University of Maine where he reiterated President Obama's intent to push for repeal of the law defining marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of federal laws. In August, Justice Department spokesman Tracy Schmaler said much the same thing, arguing the "act is discriminatory and should be repealed."

What?!? But it gets worse...

Cass Sunstein, Mr. Obama's powerful "regulatory czar," is equally out of touch. In a new edition of his book "Nudge," coauthored with Richard Thaler, the authors call marriage an "anachronism" and its benefits "surprisingly low." The book goes on to complain that marriage, "produce* unnecessary polarization. ... the most obvious difficulty is that religious organizations insist that they should be permitted to define marriage as they like, while same-sex couples insist that they should be able to make long-term commitments without having a second-class status."

So, because the federal government does not recognize marriage of homosexuals, Mr. Sunstein's solution is that we shouldn't recognize traditional marriage. There's more. An Obama nominee to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chai Feldblum, claimed in 2005: "I, for one, am not sure whether marriage is a normatively good institution."

Who are this people?!?

The article goes on to point out that marriage has a proven track record for offering society positive benefits.

Okay, so remember 14 years ago when a Prophet declared:

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. (see here)

So on one hand you have a group of people who want to destroy marriage and on the other hand we have a strong warning that marriage and families are essential to a strong nation. The scary part, is that the group that wants to destroy marriage is actually part of our government.

We can not let these evil men destroy marriage!!! It is our responsibility to stand up and send a clear message that these views are not acceptable for members of OUR government. Contact your representatives and make it very clear that they must not support any efforts that weaken marriage. Make it clear that failure to represent your views will result in you firing them. We must be proactive or these evil men will win.

The time to stand up is now!!