Author: Bill

Things are moving along, albeit not at the warp speed I had in my mind. I suppose it’s like trying to sprint in flip-flops—possible, but not ideal.

Just yesterday, I hung out at Write Associates (which, by the way, is totally not the sinister lair its URL, http://www.right.com/, might suggest). Discovered a bit more about myself there—I’m always game for a mental tune-up. It’s like doing yoga for your psyche, especially handy for those days when you feel a bit like an odd duck. For anyone navigating life’s big changes, this spot’s a gem.

On the homefront, my desktop computer has been officially declared redundant. So, it’s getting boxed up today and will soon be on the market. If anyone’s thinking of beefing up their tech game, hit me up before my old faithful finds a new home via eBay for a steal.

Breakfast is on its last legs, and I’ve got to shift gears back to packing. I’ll drop a timeline update once my plans aren’t as murky as a London fog. Stay tuned!

In between planning and tying up loose ends, I managed to get out to Maltby Lakes with Marcy to get in a photo shoot. Marcy was great. All I said was “ACTION” and she performed. It’s good practice, as you all know I have a hard time taking pictures of people and animals.

In a press release titled April 1, Google has announced that it is providing a free email service to customers called Gmail which includes 1 gigabyte of free email storage space and a search facility. The content of the emails would be automatically scanned for keywords in order to deliver targeted, content-based advertising to users.

Google has claimed the move is not a joke – its competitors, including Microsoft and Yahoo!, will surely be hoping that it is. After all, Microsoft’s free Hotmail service only provides people with 2 MB of storage space. Gmail’s capacity allows for 500 times that amount. Inevitably, people will have privacy concerns if Google is to be scanning the content of emails for keywords. But if users click on the text ads, advertisers will not be able to uniquely identify them, Google said, and email contents will remain private. The whole thing is still in test mode, but Google hopes Gmail will be available to the mainstream soon.

Internet Magazine

gmail.com

An experiment originally designed to fly on the International Space Station (ISS) led a team of researchers to develop a completely new type of glass, a material formed while floating in mid-air in a NASA laboratory on Earth. Using static electricity fields to levitate the material, scientists were able to construct a pure glass, free of any contamination typically associated with containers. It could serve as the centerpiece for new medical and industrial lasers, as well as have broadband Internet applications. “I think there”s a lot of potential for this glass,” said Rick Weber, director of the Glass Products Division of Containerless Research, Inc., which invented a whole family of the new transparent material. “We”ve got a wide composition field, so one [glass] can be tuned for a particular use.” Weber told SPACE.com that new the glass is currently being put through its paces in several validation projects for applications in high-density lasers, and as the glass components for low-cost, compact broadband devices. Levitating glass The new material, known as REAl glass — short for Rare Earth Aluminum oxide — was first developed at NASA”s Electrostatic Levitator (ESL) laboratory at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Scientists there routinely use static electricity to allow their experiments to defy gravity inside a vacuum chamber, then zap them with lasers to turn them into floating molten balls of material that can later cool without any interference from a crucible or container. “The ESL is a very pure way to look at what a material does,” said Jan Rogers, a facility scientist for the ESL. “In an oven or container of any sort you have contact with the container wall, and at high temperatures a sample can interact with those walls, absorbing specks of dust and having a chemical reaction with the container.” By melting and cooling a levitated material, scientists can understand not just its formation, but its inherent physical properties. Surface tensions keeps molten samples together which, when cool, coalesce into tiny spheres. At the most fundamental level, making REAl glass uses the same method used by glass-makers for centuries, namely mixing materials together, melting them, then cooling them into a solid. But it’s the levitation that gives REAl glass its kick. The process allowed researchers to imbue their glass with a number of attractive properties, such as chemical stability, infrared transmission and laser activity. “Other glasses tend to have just one of those properties, and at least one weakness,” Weber said. “They could be really good at infrared transmission, but dissolve in water so you wouldn”t want a window made out of it.” Laser applications are key for REAl glass, since the material could serve as the “gain medium,” a component that amplifies light into a concentrated beam capable of cutting metal for car assembly or human tissue during surgery. REAl glass laser gain mediums could provide a range of available wavelengths to give surgeons more control of beam intensity, depending on tissue type and surgery, he added. Consumer glass Once Containerless Research scientists understood the basics of REAl glass formation, they were able to adapt the technology away from its dependency on electrostatic levitation. The step was a crucial one for commercial purposes, since NASA”s ESL facility is only powerful enough to levitate tiny sample materials up to three millimeters wide and 70 milligrams in weight. “So we”re not talking about golf balls and pineapples here,” Weber said of the ESL”s production capabilities. “For commercial purposes, we needed at least rods and plates of the glass.” Weber”s team was able to devise a small-scale production plan that uses platinum crucibles to melt REAl glass and cooling forms that shape into commercial rods and plates, all without taking away the materials positive properties. A glassy side project Containerless Research scientists did not originally seek to develop REAl glass outright when they approached NASA with a proposed space station experiment. That proposal, which used the Marshall lab as a proving ground before reaching the orbiting outpost, sought to explore the properties of molten oxides and aluminates. “Most of my customers are space flight candidates,” said Rogers of the researchers who use the ESL facility. “Some of them have experiments for the ISS, where they would be using the next generation levitator.” That instrument, an electromagnetic levitator for space-based material science studies, is being developed for the European Space Agency”s Material Science Laboratory aboard the Columbis module of the ISS. The module was scheduled to be launched via space shuttle in October 2004, though NASA does not expect another shuttle flight until at least March 2005. “When the appropriate instrumentation is available, we still hope to conduct that flight experiment,” Weber said. Other scientists have used some form of levitation, though not exactly Weber”s approach, for glass making, both on Earth and in space. Delbert Day, a NASA-funded researcher at the University of Missouri-Rolla, for example, used sound waves to levitate glass samples in order to study higher-quality glasses. He also designed microgravity experiments for the space shuttle.

Tariq Malik, SPACE.com

Just rolled in from a jog around Maltby Lakes. Spent the day on tenterhooks, waiting for FedEx to drop off my updated “Covenant Not to Sue” doc. Got it, signed it, and bam, that’s a wrap on my Sikorsky saga. Also wrestled with taxes and a mountain of paperwork for this new chapter I’m flipping to. Tonight, fingers crossed, Lisa hits me up for movie night (hello, discount tickets!). If not, I’ll kidnap my roommate for cinematic adventures. Now, it’s shower time followed by an Instagram photo dump session. Catch ya later, folks!

Uploaded new pics at Bill’s Photo Oasis! Walked at Maltby Lakes, capturing swans, geese, water, and island scenes. Added some unique shots too. Check them out, rate, and leave feedback. Your opinions help me choose bestsellers. Thanks!

Alright, strap yourselves in, fellow Stratford folks, because things are about as cheery as a raindrop on a picnic blanket here at Sikorsky. That Comanche helicopter program bit the dust faster than a free pretzel at the company picnic, and guess who’s left holding the empty mustard packet? Yep, us.

A cool hundred engineers got the pink slip on Thursday, leaving them wondering if their next project will be building sandcastles with their severance pay. Word on the street is, more cuts are on the way, like a rogue squirrel stashing acorns in your car. Apparently, there’s more people wandering the halls than pigeons at the park, and their only current project is contemplating the existential dread of unemployment.

The presidential helicopter contract, our potential knight in shining armor, got delayed longer than a teenager’s curfew. Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into the plan! Now, everyone’s pointing fingers faster than you can say “political football.” Some folks are blaming the White House for playing election games, while others are muttering about the Navy taking a leisurely cruise on the decision-making boat.

Meanwhile, our local heroes in Congress are promising to fight for us like Rocky Balboa in a helicopter hangar. They’re vowing to overturn the Comanche cancellation, secure new contracts, and basically put everyone back to work faster than you can say “Sikorsky strong!” Here’s hoping they have more luck than a lottery ticket with one number off.

So, yeah, things are a little tense here in Stratford. But hey, at least the Oronoque Shopping Plaza is still open, right? Maybe we can all go there and commiserate over bargain-bin sunglasses and questionable discount hot dogs. Just remember, even when the Comanche goes bust, the Sikorsky spirit never truly lands. We’ll weather this storm, one slightly-burnt hot dog at a time.

Well, wouldn’t you know it? Just got pink-slipped from Sikorsky Aircraft at 11 AM sharp this morning. Guess even helicopters with names like “Comanche” can’t outrun Uncle Sam tightening his belt. Feels like I just got ejected from the cockpit, with only the emergency chute of unemployment to break my fall.

Next steps? Buckle up, because it’s gonna be a bumpy ride. Unemployment paperwork first, then the thrilling adventure of finding a new home (suggestions welcome, unless you want me crashing on your couch – and let’s be honest, my snoring is basically a mini-Blackhawk taking off). Speaking of crashes, gotta offload some stuff I can’t take with me – trusty computer, comfy bed (perfect for existential naps), and my mountain bike (because who wants to cry into their pillow when you can cry into the wind?). If anyone knows someone in the market for slightly used dreams and adrenaline machines, hit me up.

As for Sikorsky’s big cheese, Steve Finger, he sent us a fancy email this morning that basically said, “Sorry, folks, gotta let 100 of you go. But hey, at least 200 got lucky and just got shuffled around like deck chairs on the Titanic!” It’s like they ripped the rug out from under us, then tried to sugarcoat it with a sprinkle of “redeployment.” Newsflash, Steve, being “reassigned” to a different deck chair on a sinking ship doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

So, yeah, that’s my life story for the next chapter. Wish me luck, folks, and maybe send some pizza my way. This unemployed pilot is gonna need some serious emotional refueling.

P.S. If anyone’s got any leads on a job that doesn’t involve flying paper airplanes or dodging budget missiles, I’m all ears (and eyes, and probably my nose at this point).

This morning, I woke up feeling like a mix of tired, under the weather, and, let’s just say, not in peak physical form. I got an email from a pal who used to clock in at Sikorsky. Turns out, Doug was a piece of work to her too, treating her pretty much like I’m getting treated now. It’s tough not to take what he said yesterday to heart. I still feel down in the dumps. How did I go from being a mountain bike champ and local hero to feeling like yesterday’s garbage in the eyes of a whole corporation? Beats me.

Honestly, I’m not even sweating the small stuff like raises or the threat of getting canned anymore. It’s the words that were said, and the sting of betrayal from someone I thought had my back, that really cut deep. But hey, there’s a silver lining—I’m actually getting pumped about the idea of moving back to Montana. The more I think about it, the more places like Billings or even Roundup start to sound like home. It’s time to confront the ghosts I left behind, to ditch the fair-weather friends and the endless chase for their approval.

More Bad News Hits Sikorsky

“Touchdown Sikorsky, and guess what? More bad news than a Kardashian reality show marathon. Turns out, the presidential chopper project’s taking a detour to next year’s election cycle. Sounds like someone’s worried about optics, am I right? So, what does this mean for your friendly neighborhood employee? Buckle up, buttercup, ’cause it means layoffs are about as imminent as a Kardashian meltdown” ~unknown

Now, don’t get it twisted, I was already plotting my grand exit. A part of me, the one that’s eternally wearing rose-colored glasses, was kinda holding out for a moment of glory, a chance to prove the naysayers wrong. Maybe even a “reassignment” over a “don’t let the door hit ya.” But you know what? The mountains of Montana are calling my name, serenading me with promises of peace and quiet—a siren song that’s music to my ears compared to the latest office drama.

So, here I am, parked at my desk this fine morning, and lo and behold, they haven’t made off with my computer yet. Hence, I’m penning down this little memento.

Over the weekend, this relentless ticking noise – Tic Toc, Tic Toc – was my not-so-gentle reminder that my days at Sikorsky Aircraft are numbered. I pondered jumping ship earlier, but honestly, when does one stumble into a gig as riveting as the Comanche program? It’s like the space shuttle’s drama, but on steroids – and yes, we’ve got ex-NASA folks here to vouch for it. Despite my boss being a thorn in my side, the crew here has been nothing short of stellar. It’s a mixed bag of feelings, really.

Feeling queasy this A.M. – is it the looming uncertainty of my tenure on Sikorsky turf, or perhaps it’s the dread of today’s performance review (as if it matters now… my ship’s sailed). Maybe it’s their peculiar farewell ritual here: a walk of shame escorted by armed guards, clutching your belongings like a scene out of a heist movie. Faced with the prospect of losing face before my comrades, I’m torn – do I stand my ground with grace, or simply strut out, head held high, proving I’m not just talk?

Either way, I’m all jittery, heart racing, and feeling utterly shell-shocked. As folks trickle in, it looks like the show’s about to kick off shortly.

Just hopped off the Zoom merry-go-round, and what’s the scoop? Feels like I’ve been flung back to that dreaded high school class, except now it’s dubbed “Professional Letdowns 101”. The gist? It seems my knack for weekend shenanigans paired with my lackluster weekday hustle has earned me the title of MVP in the corporate doldrums. And here I was, thinking weekends were reserved for Netflix marathons and breaking personal records on the bike, not for drafting up dreary reports.

Talk about déjà vu! It’s like reliving those high school days, except now, adult me is starring in “The Rumor Mill: Part Deux”. The narrative? I’m the underdog-turned-villain, allegedly skating through college on a cushion of easy A’s and snagging bike race victories by skirting the rules (insert dramatic score and a sarcastic slow clap). But, now that the cat’s out of the bag, it’s time to wear my slacker badge with pride. Here’s to kicking back, soaking in my liberation from all expectations, and basking in the glorious sound of not giving a hoot.

In 2004, Coca-Cola, which had faced a contamination scare in Europe just five years earlier, was forced to withdraw its controversial Dasani brand of bottled water from the UK market on Friday. This action was taken after the company discovered that Dasani contained illegal levels of bromate, a potentially carcinogenic chemical. The embarrassing voluntary recall came just weeks after Dasani’s turbulent UK launch, during which Coca-Cola was criticized for using tap water instead of a natural spring as its source.

Dasani, which had been sold in the US since 1999, is essentially treated and bottled tap water. Coca-Cola had claimed to be able to improve the water’s purity through a process perfected by NASA, the US space agency, before adding “a perfect balance of minerals.” However, on Friday, Coca-Cola admitted that the much-vaunted manufacturing process had inadvertently introduced illegal levels of bromate, a chemical known to increase the risk of cancer through long-term exposure.

While the UK’s Food Standards Agency stated that there was no immediate risk to public health, the incident served as a painful reminder of a poorly handled 1999 health scare in France and Belgium that had become a public relations problem for Coca-Cola.

So, two thoughts are doing the tango in my brain today, and it’s quite the show.

First up, the Grand Opening of my Virtual Gallery. That’s right, I’ve sprinkled some of my latest creations onto my online store like fairy dust. Feel free to hop in, have a look-see, and share your two cents. Most items won’t break the bank, and hey, every little bit helps keep the lights on around here. But whoops—scratch that! The digital curtain has fallen; the online shop has joined the choir invisible.

And now, for something completely different: “Operation Comanche – We Hardly Knew Ye”. Last night, in what felt like a scene straight out of a bureaucratic thriller, we were handed our walking papers by the U.S. Army. Yep, come 8 am EST on the 19th of March, it’s curtains for the Comanche gig. Later today, the powers that be will dish out a couple of Program Management Instructions, kinda like fortune cookies that tell us how to pack up our desks and exit stage left with dignity. We’re to eyeball these instructions like they’re the secret to eternal youth, understanding every jot and tittle before we’re shuffled off to, hopefully, greener pastures. HR is supposedly gearing up to play musical chairs with us, handle our tech gear, and let the Data Management folks know we’re changing lanes. The golden rule? Don’t lift a finger until Big Brother says so.

It’s like they say, when one door closes, another opens… or in my case, when one website closes, an army program gets canned. What a day, huh?

Just heard through the grapevine that a “stop work” order is looming over us, set to hit today. Apparently, we’ve got a mere five days to whip things into shape before the curtain falls. And if we’re not scooped up and re-deployed by then, it’s adios amigos! So, keep your eyes peeled for updates!

Just rolled back from a visit to the Bridgeport facility, where I got an up-close look at the Comanches mid-assembly. Let me tell you, I had no idea how jaw-dropping these machines are. Crafted from carbon fiber and titanium, they’re like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. Honestly, these beauties deserve a spot in the Smithsonian, no question about it.

Meanwhile, I stumbled upon the not-so-shocking revelation that my boss could really use a lesson or two in coolness. The vibe in other departments? Absolutely electric, a stark contrast to ours. Well, you win some, you lose some, right?

Lately, I’ve been lounging around more than usual, which might be a sneaky sign of the blues setting in. I’ve been reaching out to pals and family, only to be met with the sound of crickets. It’s a strange vibe, getting the boot from your job. Suddenly, it’s like you’re ghosted until you’re back on your feet. Talk about a reality check!

Just took a trip down to the Bridgeport facility to check out the Comanches being pieced together. Holy guacamole, I had no idea how epic the Comanche was! Crafted from carbon fiber and titanium, it’s nothing short of a technological marvel. Honestly, it deserves a spot in the Smithsonian, stat.

And here’s the tea about my old boss – total letdown. Turns out, other departments were living the dream. They’ve got a vibe down there that’s just chef’s kiss. Guess you live and learn, right?

Oh, the thrill of the 2004 EFTA Race Schedule has landed! Dive into the digital realm at efta.com to get the scoop.

The schedule’s out, and it’s wearing the “tentative” tag like a badge of honor. We’re not anticipating a rollercoaster of changes to this lineup. However, keep your eyes peeled – as the season’s starting line approaches, we might sprinkle in a few more events. So, make sure to circle back here and hit up the new EFTA forum for all the juicy, late-breaking updates!

It’s 3/14!

Well a week is over and I still have a job. Work is ultra stressful. I get headaches every day. The latest word is that we are getting a stop work order tonight. Then we will be kept around till the end of the month. After that is anyone’s guess. Well the weekend is here so I guess I will relax and try to keep my mind off of it. I have a lot of work to do at my cyber shop.