Brushed: Off The Road
In A Flicker - by Florida Power
An adventure into the Styx, by Jake Err O'Ache.
Jack Kerouac lived in St. Petersburg near 54 Street North.
His book: On The Road is the inspiration for this collection
of short stories written under the pen name: Jake Err O'Ache.
These episodes begin with a classic brush-off by a power company
tree trimmer, and lumber into a learning experience at the Verizon
Telephone office. Two Ehr is human, but 2,000 pounds of helium
ain't so hot when you try to pass gas from the moon.
from Florida Power |
ISONOMIA |
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| When I arrived, the lights were flickering brighter and demurred. I called Florida (Progress) to report that I had measured voltages as high as 150, as low as 90 volts; and watched the eerie flickering of lights that one expects only in a haunted house. A few days later, I called to ask again when the electric repair would be made to the neutral wire? The only part of my report which had been noted, was the flickering lights. This was not urgent. The part about measured voltages which can burn out appliances, televisions, etc., was ignored. [New York Post Friday 30 Jan 04: Jodie Lane was electrocuted 16 Jan. while walking her dogs on the sidewalk, and stepped on a Con Ed connector box cover.] The tree trimmer arrived with a helper and a chipper to convert the limbs into mulch, and they began cutting tree limbs which had grown up around the electric wires that connected to the house. The aluminum neutral wire had completely corroded apart. I saw the frayed ends. I pulled several cut limbs from my back yard, out to the street, next to the chipping machine towed behind the utility company truck. I worked to help while more limbs were cut from the utility easement (alley). |
These limbs were dropped into another brush pile,
located thirty feet ahead of
the brush that I had pulled out for them.
When they completed cutting tree limbs, they started the chipper
engine, and ground up the limbs that I had dragged out.
I was surprised when they shut off the chipper engine, folded up
the hopper,
and started the truck. To drive twenty feet ahead, and
grind up the large brush pile from the utility alley?
"What about this pile of brush?" I axed.
"That's for You!" He said as he drove away. My home-made: Missabe Land Barge: I pulled three loads of limbs and logs to the city brush site. The American flag was proudly waving from a slender stick attached to the wagon. When I lumbered down the street attired in my Paul Bunion clothes, I cut a dashing figure somewhat similar to Mr. Theodore Kaczinski, and began referring to myself as: The Homely Homilies Man. |
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Verizon: Making Sure You Get The Message! |
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| When I went to pay homage (and my telephone bill) at the Verizon office, my Paul Bunion appearance was enhanced by spattered sawdust from cutting another tree from my back yard. One of the Verizon staff was about to leave, when the other fellow said that he was out of balance and needed help. I remarked to confirm his plight - that he did appear to be leaning considerably to one side. I paid my bill including an advance payment for next month, and asked about the internet access service available from Verizon? We discussed the high speed internet service, regular service, and I asked for a telephone directory. After I had looked for a number in their directory, because directories are not available at the Verizon offices to take home; I noticed the computer terminal at the desk I used, and decided to test out their high speed internet service. No one approached during the few minutes that I used the computer to delete several hundreds, of 2,700 spam E- mail messes. | Then another staff member came out to say: "This equipment is not here for people to come in and use all day to read their E-mail." I courteously thanked him for telling me, and was hurrying to delete more of the spam from my account, when the same gentleman returned a couple of minutes later. I must have stayed too long, because he conveyed the urgency of his earlier request to leave. He deserves recognition for his professional dedication and enthusiasm and to make sure that I got the message - to leave. I considered his initial statement about using the computer terminal all day. So I turned and asked as I went out the door: "Can I come back tomorrow ?" His verbal communication skills were evident from the vigor of his response, ass he enunciated the word: "No !" Loud Message Received Clearly. |
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Pounds of Helium - Tons of Coal Science article in Monday 02 February Tampa Tribune asserts that "Scientists say that helium-3 provides 1 million times more energy per pound than a ton of coal." Why not compare equal mess (weight) of each material ? "1 million times" the energy per pound, divided by 2,000 pounds per ton of coal - equals 500 times the energy per pound. Amateurs compare apples to oranges, but "Scientists" comparison of pounds and tons, seems like a flim-flam scheme. What sort of thigh slapper hoax is this proposal to ship helium to earth (liquified by extremely low temperatures and/ or high pressures in thick, heavy, insulated shipping tanks)? Ship 500 pounds of coal to the moon and save energy. Escape Winter to a Warm Topical Asylum? M.B.'s ISLE Return to: Isonomia.US |
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