Pay Attention, O Those Who Leap To Conclusions
Firstly, Conrad does not mean himself. I may be a law unto myself yet I don't pretend to know more than a smidgeon about English law. South Canadian law, that I know more about thanks to watching lots of Youtube channels such as "Legal Eagle" with the hilariously droll Devin Stone or Glenn Kirschner of "Justice Matters", who has a lot more gravitas.
NOR am I referring to that Lawman Of The Future, Judge Dredd. Art!
This is actually the 'Cyberpunk' skin from that AI generator I use, after having used "Judge Dredd" as the theme. The sharper-eyed amongst you will notice that it isn't quite accurate, just good enough to get the idea across. You should also have noticed that there was no exclamation mark, because Ol' Stony Face always has an exclamation mark after his bold assertion.
So - what law am I talking about? O I thought you'd never ask!
The Law Of Unintended Consequences, is what. Art!
H. G. Wells had it that the Second Unpleasantness began thanks to a raspberry pip, probably the most extreme example. We now relate the story as it was related on Youtube, from a Reddit account. It can also be defined as "Penny wise, pound foolish" si
Art, you bafune! Go sit on the Punishment Bench*.
Okay. Original Narrator is an engineer or mechanic, depending on how you look at it, in a field he was careful to remain coyly unspecific about, which is only common sense when large businesses employ people full time to trawl social media for unflattering employee descriptions. Part of his recurring responsibilities were to travel off-site and operate Big Expensive Industrial Plant. Art!
This might be the kind of machine OP was operating, as it is worth $800,000, which is the total of pennies his machine cost. His company merely leased it, rather than buying it outright, at the tidy sum of $3,000 per diem. So, on this occasion he had a three-hour journey to reach the site, over 240 miles, and he'd have to repeat this schedule the next day.
He rang the office and requested that the company overnight him in a hotel, rather than driving home for 3 hours and then having to do another 6 hours travel the next day. What did his manager reply?
"NO"
OP then asked for travel expenses. This was only $0.55 per mile, true, but he'd be travelling for 960 miles and thus get $528.
"NO"
In fact his boss got annoyed enough to state that, if OP asked again, he'd be replaced.
"Can you overnight me in an hotel?"
Cost per night? $100. Remember that.
Canny OP was thus replaced, meaning he didn't have to do another 6-hour drive on his own dime/nickel/dollar. Yeah, a real punishment, hmmmm?
Well, the next morning OP is in the office, slurping a coffee and doing paperwork when he hears his boss shouting at 120 decibels "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE HIT THE PIER!" Art!
A pier
The replacement sent out in lieu of OP proved to be an utter cack-handed incompetent, who damaged the BEIP sufficiently that it: 1) couldn't be used; 2) Had to be sent away for repairs and 3) Would need to be re-hired another day at an additional $3000.
RUNNING TOTAL EXCESS (Expenditure versus Motel Cost): $3,000
The good news kept on coming. The business that owned the BEIP sent an estimate of what it would cost to repair the damaged unit to OP's company, and it came in at $65,000.
RUNNING TOTAL EXCESS (Expenditure versus Motel Cost): $68,000
The hits kept coming. Because OP's business was contracted by the government, when they found out what happened they told - not asked - the business to have OP and his incompetent workmate get properly certified. The certificates cost $1,000 each.
RUNNING TOTAL EXCESS (Expenditure versus Motel Cost): $70,000
Nor was that all. You see, the training was being done 3 states away, meaning the business had to cover travel expenses (flights and taxis) as well as catering and whilst paying them both their normal wage. That would cost about $700 in return airfares, and say $50 for taxis, and $150 for 3 days of meals, for a total of $900 each. At a bit more than average wage, 3 days salary would be circa $950 each. Plus three nights in an hotel, add another $200 per night for each. That totals $2,450, which we will round up to $2,500, for each. Thus another $5,000.
RUNNING TOTAL EXCESS (Expenditure versus Motel Cost): $75,000
Thus we have a cost x 750 that a motel room would have been. You see what I mean about the consequences being unintended?
Motley! The sun's come out, time to play Dynamite Lawn Darts - you're it!
The Point Of A Crisis
More pictures from our gaming event of last weekend, including one of the benefits of the Village Hall as opposed to the Primary School hall. Art!
Phil and Ron at the hob, where there were four pans of food on the simmer. Conrad has only just noticed the microwave, which I could have zapped that tortilla with. O well. There was also an assortment of cookies, which I was strong enough to avoid, and only indulged in a half-glass of Bitter Shandy, as it's 0.5% proof and I was driving. Art!
The Soviet infantry, under the command of yours truly, have outflanked the Czech defences, and the T-10s are now starting to inflict a lot of damage as they're in range of the opposition.
I should also point out that neither side can just throw meat and metal into the engagement regardless of casualties; "Cold War Commander" posits a 'Breaking Point' on both sides, where you have to roll to see if your side can carry on if they hit a particular number of units lost. The Czechs was 22, the Soviets was 42.
Also, by hideous accident, we the Soviets had lost our Forward Observation Officer. This meant our considerable off-table artillery assets - 152 mm howitzers and Katyushka rocket launchers - couldn't be used. Unlike losing an HQ or CO unit, if the FOO gets scragged, there is no replacement.
"City In The Sky"
The Doctor has just been saddled with an unwanted babysitter clad in military fatgues.
The officer was a tall, rangy female who stood to attention and threw a
smart salute at the Doctor, who blinked and looked nonplussed.
‘I’ve been sent by personal instruction of the Vice President, Doctor
Smith. He’s been over the historical
records and wants to assure everyone that we protect you from any alien
threat.’
Two of the escorting Wardens dropped a big valise to the ground, and a
bulky metal case followed it, both overlaid with stencilled abbreviations and
having an unmistakable military air. The
Doctor’s gaze dwelt briefly on each in turn.
‘How thoroughly splendid!’ he smiled, a touch of acid in his tone. ‘But as I don’t intend to venture within
reach of any aliens, a touch irrelevant.’
Ace’s inspection of the officer’s kit took longer than the Doctor’s, due
to her speculation on exactly what military mischief might be contained
therein.
‘You see, I need to help supervise the internal cross-bracing, the hull
rib reinforcement, the transparency sealing, water stowage, fusion plant
run-down – a whole host of things,’ continued the Timelord.
‘Prof,’ interrupted Ace. ‘We
could use another pair of eyes Downstairs.’
His sidelong glance told her that he knew exactly what she was getting at, that is to say, getting her hands on the hi-tec weapons that Captain Kirwin was lugging along.
O Dorothy!
The Ballfoot Game
Yes, Conrad is still squeezing content from that match between - er - between - ah - between two ballfoot teams in Spain moves hastily along lets have another Comment from the BBC's "Have Your Say" page they opened on it.
This does seem to be a theme amongst fans; that some referees are biased in favour of Team X or League Y, and will tip the balance of the game in their favour by various underhand means.
Yes, you can consider this a conspiracy theory and there's probably material on it online if one cares to look. Which I don't.
On This Day
Your Humble Scribe is anticipating by 24 hours here, because guess what happens tomorrow?
Yes! It's the 24th anniversary of the Giant Sequoia National Monument, established by Prez Clinton in the Sierra Nevada. Art!
Very picturesque, nicht wahr?
Finally -
That's the blog done, the weather is still not rainy, so it must be time to take Edna for a trot.
* Made of cacti.
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