The education system in the U.S. is in dire straits, and if we don’t fix it Obama’s “shovel ready jobs” they will be the only jobs they can find, maybe. Digging a ditch.

One more thing, kids don’t read books anymore, that’s a huge problem.

Bottom line, we need to fix the teachers first, but that will be a huge task.

This is right before she put it to the heat. Lots of garlic and herbs from our garden. Been marinating for a while. I’m gonna build a couple of casseroles. Some people say we have it backwards, I say we’ve got it down.

Anticipation

I should go into the Doxie training business, because they are as stubborn as stubborn can be. So am I.

The point of this blurb is: I have a good friend who is Australian, and is in the Australian Defense Force. He’s a financial guy, has two passports, one regular and one diplomatic. He was over here for years overseeing the C130-J project. They were buying a bunch of the new and improved “Super” Hercules that were being built by Lockheed Martin at DAFB. I got the internal tour of the production line a couple of times, and it was just plain way too double damn cool. The place is so clean, you could eat off the floor. Security, yes, they have some major security.

Added benefit:That’s also where the built the F-22 Raptor. I couldn’t get under the wing close, but they let me get pretty close. I was able to get right next to the millions of dollars titanium (or stainless) mock-down they used for wind tunnel testing. Very interesting. So, he was able to get me a back stage pass for the F-22s (repost) first flight (09/07/97). That’s a big plane, and dwarfed the F-16 chase plane.

Very cool, I like jets.

She does the four season Fairies, and they’re all different…everytime…for every season. People really like ‘em…many request another one. We had someone who wanted all four seasons. This is way too sweet, nice glass, different. Well, the glass is different every time, but this one is really really sweet. It’s 14.5 X 10.5. As I’ve said before, stained glass is hard to photograph, but this one is way cooler than the photo. Gotta hang it, and you’ll know what I mean. It is for sale. I’m not trying to jam anyone, but this one is really nice. Something about this glass really caught my eye.

If one of my two readers wants it packed and shipped for 300 bucks, I’ll send it your way. Otherwise, I’m taking it to the selling store this WED night, as we’re doing a week long road trip beginning THU. It will sell. They’ll get 450 easy, but then I’ll have to give them about 100. I was just giving y’all a first shot. I’d buy it. For you boys out there, you give it to your woman, and you’re gonna get some major good thing. And for you girls out there, you’ll love it, and tell your boys to pay closer attention.

Like I said, glass is a bitch to photograph. The glass color is not the same as in the photograph. It’s much cooler…way more transparent, and looks magnificent in the sun.

Yes I was.

Yesterday, the Juju Woman won a sweet little card deck sized camera in a “job related” deal. Sweet little camera. Anyway, it died after she took about fifty pictures. Damn lens was stuck in the “out” position. Would not retract. This is made by a major company, so we called customer service.

Excuse my language:

The Juju Woman calls customer service. I overhear the call, and I could tell she was pissed. Really pissed. So after about an hour, I asked her to give me the phone, before she started talking like I do in circumstances like this. She’d been going around and around with this piece of shit for over an hour. She was a tad bit frustrated, to say the least.

I get the phone.

I’m polite, at first. Hell, I’m born and raised in the South. I believe in respect. This guy was a dick. He probably has a small dick, and I told him so.

Here we go in a nutshell:

Me: We have this camera we just took out of the box. It worked for about an hour, and then the lens was stuck extended. It will also not power off. It will not function.

Him: Did you drop it?

Me: No, it was not dropped.

Him: Are you sure?

Me: Yes, I’m sure

Him: I think you dropped it.

Me: It was not dropped.

Him: I think your wife dropped it.

Me: I told you it wasn’t dropped, it is broken…a problem with the lens. It will not retract, and it will not power off.

Him: That is very unusual.

Me: Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?

Him: Yes I do, your wife must have dropped it.

Me: She didn’t drop it, we need to move forward. What is the next step?

Him: Do you have a receipt?

Me: No I don’t…it was a gift, kinda like a Christmas present, but I do have the serial number, and all the other numbers on the box it came in. Can you track it with these numbers?

Him: I’m not sure.

Me: Find out right fucking now. I’m about to get really pissed. I give him the serial number and other information off the box.

On hold for twenty minutes.

Someone else: Someone gets back on the line and I can’t understand a fucking word they’re saying. Him is back on as well.

Me: What is your name?

Him: My name is Steve.

Me what is your last name?

Him: I cannot give you that information.

Me: Let me talk to your supervisor.

Him: She is not available.

Me: Let me talk to her supervisor.

Him: He is not in the building.

Me: Is his name Elvis? Is he in the building? He didn’t get it.

This fucker was Indian, for sure.

Me: where are you?

Him: I’m on an island off the coast of San Diego.

Me: Just what island might that be?

Him: Off the coast of San Diego.

Me: Fuck you, you don’t know where you are, you’re in India, and don’t try to bullshit me. I want to talk to someone who can make a decision.

Him: I have to run the serial number and if it is out of warranty, our company policy is we cannot provide warranty service for equipment when the warranty has expired.

Me: I opened the box five hours ago. It was brand fucking new from the store.

Him: Sorry, that doesn’t matter.

Me: So you’re telling me that the warranty begins when the product is shipped, not when it is purchased?

Him: Yes

Me: Give me the mailing address of your corporate headquarters.

Him: I am not allowed to do that.

Me: Fuck you.

Him: there is no reason to be so difficult:

Me: I’ll find it, and whats you name again?

Him: Jim

Me: Twenty minutes ago it was Steve, so what in the fuck is your name.

Him: Steve

I’m really really pissed by now…fuck the camera. I do not care at all.

Me: I’ll tell you what Steve Jim, I’m going to take this camera outside and take a photo of it. Then, I’m going to smash it with a sledge hammer, and take another photo of it with a camera that works. Then I’m going to set the motherfucker on fire, and take another picture. Then I’m going to email a nice letter praising your excellent customer support and all photos to your corporate office. I will also send a certificated package of same. I want to ensure it is received. I’m going to ruin your day. Trust me on this, I will follow up. You are an asshole. Pay attention, because I’m right behind you, and I going to to do whatever is necessary. Do not fuck with me.

Him: Click

She can one arm this thing while drinking beer. I kid you not.