I know it’s a boring old book review…but here it is anyway…for the record, the book was boring…boring and important.  So read it.

Book Review: Marginal Man: The Dark Vision of Harold Innis

I’m getting my case ready for new parts today and decided to wire in a set of three switched cooling fans to keep things down to a humane temperature inside the ‘ol pc box.  So here’s some pictures for everyone out there who is nerdy like me…

Before all the work started…

Front view of installed fans and switch…

…and the inside of the compy with newly installed fans…

The third fan is actually in the bottom and it cools my hard drives.  That’s all for now, I’ll post some pictures once I get my main board and CPU installed.

Virginia and I dug through the whole damn house to scratch up the 22.34 so we could buy some Swiss Chalet delivery!  Thank goodness for couch cushions and the basket by the door.

Naturally I’ll be using the remainder of my academic award to purchase dinner tonight.  I’m sharing this because I think it’s funny that Virginia and I live this way.  Life is good.

The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was quite serious at its time and written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II - a mere 58 years ago! Obviously, the intent was not to be “funny,” but by today’s standards, this is hilarious!

There is no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.

Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject:

1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters. They are less likely to be flirtatious. They need the work, or they would not be doing it. They still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses that would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.

5. Stress, at the outset, the importance of time; the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

6. Give the female employee a definite daylong schedule of duties so that they will keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they cannot shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.

11. Get enough size variety in operator’s uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point cannot be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

As you may know, I received a 1000 dollar scholarship for school this year!  Well, I went to pick it up this morning and have $2.10 left from it 20 minutes later!

I think I’m going to buy an Oreo Cookie Ice-Cream Sandwich!

In 1981, the 50 dollars I got from my grandma is worth the equivalent of 111 dollars now.  You can calculate this here:

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html

So how do our wages reflect this figure?  Well, minimum wage was $3.50 in 1981 which means that at the rate of inflation, being as it’s $8.00 now, our burger flippers and gas jockeys in Ontario have gotten a little over 23 cents in the last 26 years.  These figures are here:

http://srv116.services.gc.ca/wid-dimt/mwa/menu.aspx

Now, these figures being as closely linked as they are can only mean one thing:  Fast food chains control the rate of inflation.

(it’s Francisco Franco…)

326 WATTS Body Battery Calculator - Find Out How Much Electricity Your Body is Producing - Dating

Some people have very high expectations of themselves.  I for one trespass into the realm of gnosticism at times hoping for nothing more than happiness in my life.  I wanted to build a bicycle wheel, sharpen a pair of skates, get married, see the clouds from above and many other dreams of the sort.

I’ve seen things in this world that make me cry, but so much more of it makes me happy.  Like my wife, my family, my sisters…who transcend the borders of family.

Some ignoramus accused me of being too old to be in school at 26 while I share the classroom with 70+ students and 17 year old students alike.  It made me realize, if I could have one more dream fulfilled, it would be the idiot rednecks keep their unintelligent opinions to themselves.  We each have our own paths and attacking the aspirations of another doesn’t make yours any more sound.