Thursday, January 24, 2008

Sleeveface, assface.
Just go:

http://www.sleeveface.com/

Ulam cooked @ 2:38 PM

 0 of the headscratch variety

Friday, January 18, 2008

More Tiger Stuff
This article popped up onto the Mercury News site today with some experts claiming that taunting a tiger could but would not necessarily CAUSE a tiger to climb a 12-foot high enclosure and then stalk and maul its taunters.

The article doesn't give much of a definite lean towards anything (which I guess is finally a solid journalistic effort by the authors - finally), but assuming that this is true.. and that smug asshole Official Zoo Spokesperson ______ Silver, who, on a video shown this morning on Kron 4, smirked in his smug allusion that the taunting from the boys and man somehow gave merit to their being attacked. Actually, what he said was, "I don't know if taunting the tiger would absolve the zoo from liability. I'm not an attorney. But [this is where he inserted the smirk and some resounding aura of victory] it sure does paint a different picture from what was said in initial reports." That is somewhat paraphrased. Anyway, this proves again that:

1) the Zoo is spinning info as much as they can because they know their going to be up against some major lawsuits

and

2) the story that's selling is about FAULT and LIABILITY versus moving forward towards securing future safety of the animals and zoo patrons... and of course.. it's again not about the family, the death of a young man, and the financial burden that's going to not hit places like AT&T Park... but the schools, parks, and other necessary services.

AND, this story, seemingly valid, shows the Zoo, by their own saving-face campaign, look like idiots. IF the they are experts at Tiger handling, THEN they'd know that taunting of the tiger would not necessarily lead to an escape of a 12-foot high enclosure and subsequent mauling.

I mean, if the Zoo's tiger handlers are experts (and I'm sure they are), then wouldn't they know that their PRIME defense has major holes? Why would the Zoo publicity campaign go for this? Why would they throw their people under the bus like this? I know. I know. Lawsuit impending. Need to get as much leverage in public opinion before going to court. But still, this article, and the fact that these quoted tiger handlers state that the only real preventative measure was a higher enclosure wall, is going to more evidently expose the Zoo's incompetence.

Ulam cooked @ 4:37 PM

 1 of the headscratch variety

Thursday, January 17, 2008

stupid stuff and serious tiger talk
World's a miss - over and over.
By the way, I was driving the other day and lamenting (aggressively, aka angrily) about some knubnuts who was driving aggressively and all that the other day. I was procaliming, "you know.. if EVERY person in this world would be more considerate.. if they took a few extra seconds to be less selfish and judgemen.... tal.. like me right now, this world would be a much better place."
It's alright, man. I'm a hypocrite, but at least it's genuine.

OKAY.

Serious stuff.

I woke up to the tapes of the 911 calls regarding the tiger attack at the Chronicle. I've also been following the story somewhat closely enough to catch on the trends the media is spinning on this story (and, I think more importantly and sadly, what the city of San Francisco and the Zoo is doing to protect themselves in a future lawsuit.)

Theme One: The three victims, including the youngster who died, taunted the Tiger.
Theme Two: The two brothers who survived the attack are shady individuals who have a record of drug/substance abuse (which is relevant in this case since they were supposedly high or drunk on the day of the attack).
Theme Three: The Zoo did not have the proper safety precautions expected of a Zoo that resulted in the death of a person and a tiger.

So, after the smoke has cleared, this is the basic chronological coverage of the incident:

Week 1: Teenager dies. Tragic story. Brothers are questionable. Zoo fucked up. Oh, right, the family of the teenager who died is distraught. I forgot they were on national TV.

Week 2: Teenager is still dead. Zoo is under MAJOR scrutiny including a report that two other animals were "close to" escaping just within the past two weeks since the incident. Family is hurt and wants answers. Two brothers still conspicuously silent.

Week 3: Brothers are totally shady. Brothers are totally shady. Brothers are totally shady.

Week 4: Brothers are criminals. Proof that the brothers are not trustworthy. Brothers are totally shady.

So, if you see the real theme here in the media coverage, is that the brothers back story is evidently not only MORE IMPORTANT than the family's restitution but is almost like "probable cause" in being GUILTY for being mauled by a tiger.

Was the taunting stupid? Yes. But, I'll guarantee that they're not the only wayward (and probably high) folks who have done stuff like that. BUT do their prior actions and after attack actions still forgive the Zoo for not complying with the minimum safety protocols?

Blame is all on the zoo. Stupidity doesn't ever deserve being mauled by a tiger when you're in a metropolitan zoo. Maybe it's okay if you're out in the wild.

I do understand the fear though. The Zoo isn't a for-profit institution and this is going to come back to the city funds somehow. So whatever reparations they have to pay is coming out of the pockets of the schools, transportation, and other deeply underfunded needs in the city.

The people who rely on such services (and I definitely mean RELY ON) and the Souza family are paying for such avoidable oversight.

Ulam cooked @ 6:14 PM

 0 of the headscratch variety

the ficks
Not sure if "fick" is an actual word, but given the red line under the word right now, I'm pretty sure it isn't. Nonetheless, I'm referring the word "fick" as a nickname to my good friend, Fickleness. (Maybe he's more consistent than good.)

Not sure if it's a bout of fickleness or the transitions here at the workplace (new staff, lost staff, new energy or lack of energy, definite lack of synergy and symbiosis) but I've been considerably disenchanted here. I'm used to the turnover in nonprofworld - my coworkers who have left recently are still a text message away from good times, but realizing that I am the "last on on the hill" as my other colleague termed me really, really sucks. The crew I work with is pretty tightly knit. Most of us, if not all on some occassions, can spend time with each other outside of work and enjoy it. Actually, I've felt extremely blessed to have had the crew I worked with. My first few months here were very isolated, but as we grew as a program, so did the fun (and the synergy and symbiosis). But, of this crew, the ones who were stationed with me here in my office, I am the only one left. Two have fled to San Francisco based jobs. The other, my former boss and still mentor, is off on the coast.

I know, of course, that I am very fortunate to have my job because any employment is a blessing. This job has also been very rewarding personally. My agency is very supportive. I have a good niche in the community and work with many wonderful people. But, though I acknowledge the transition is getting smoother, a few weeks ago I found myself stressed and worrisome on a Friday evening or Saturday morning about coming into work on Monday morning. That, in any light, is troublesome.

I have transferable skills to other industries. How I market them is a challenge I find daunting enough to ponder hiring a consultant. I've found myself in various meetings lately utterly fed up with the people I was working with (not personally, but energetically). I'm sure they're all a bag of fun outside of those meetings but I am definitely going through the motions on many aspects of my job.

I'm pretty sure this is just a part of my psychological developmental stage.

Or maybe I'll be forever phobic of commitment.

I want to write. (Maybe I should stop wanting are just do, right? Yes, I'm a dumbass, but you already know this.)

I want to write for a living - even if it's not as a writer.

I'm now on a tangent.

I talked with some of my coworkers/buddies earlier today and am happy (for me) that I am not the only one feeling a heavy burden carrying this transition through to a (hopefully) brighter future.

Ulam cooked @ 5:37 PM

 0 of the headscratch variety