Random crap with Uno.

[Buster's Uncle]

Thought you'd enjoy this...

Stick Insect Hatching

Act Wild for Lord Howe Island Stick Insects

[Buster's Uncle]

Uno, why did I think of you?

Report: EPA Staffers Hid Offices, Dodged Security Cameras
By Amy Harder | National Journal – 8 hrs ago..

 
Employees at an Environmental Protection Agency warehouse in Landover, Md., worked out in a makeshift gym while conditions inside the facility “were rotting and becoming potentially hazardous,” according to an EPA inspector general report issued on Monday.

“Deplorable conditions existed in the warehouse,” the report by Inspector General Arthur Elkins Jr. states. “Door jambs were corroded; dirt, dust and vermin feces were pervasive; and several items were rotting and potentially hazardous.”

The report found that the 70,000-square-foot warehouse—one of EPA’s largest—was storing large amounts of expensive, unused equipment, ranging from computers to pianos. It also found numerous security and safety issues.

“Personally identifiable information and agency sensitive files—such as passports and legal files—were located in unsecured open boxes throughout the warehouse,” the report states. “There was a locked office inside the facility for which we could not determine a purpose.”

Employees had created hideaways arranged to be out of the sight of security cameras, the report said. “The warehouse contained multiple unauthorized and hidden personal spaces created by and for the workers that included televisions, refrigerators, radios, microwaves, chairs and couches,” the IG report said. “These spaces contained personal items, including photos, pin ups, calendars, clothing, books, magazines and videos.”

They also created a makeshift gym spanning an area larger than 30 feet by 45 feet. While exercising, employees apparently listened to music and used EPA steno pads to record workouts, according to the report.

“These conditions raise questions about time charges made by warehouse employees under the contract,” the report states. No explanation was offered for the pianos, of which there were three, according to photos released as part of the report.

EPA leases the warehouse for $750,000 a year under a contract that began in 2007.

“Our initial research at EPA’s Landover warehouse raised significant concerns with the lack of agency oversight of personal property and warehouses space at the facility,” Elkins said in a May 31 memorandum to Craig Hooks, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Administration and Resources Management.

The report also includes a five-page letter to Elkins dated May 23 by acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe detailing the action EPA has already taken in the wake of two briefings Perciasepe has had on May 15 and 16 on this matter.

“The EPA is committed to addressing the previous conditions at the warehouse and implementing institutional protections to ensure those conditions do not recur at this facility or any other used by the agency,” Perciasepe said in the letter.

According to Perciasepe’s letter, EPA officials took immediate action on May 17 by visiting the facility and escorting off the premises the employees and issued a stop-work order to Apex Logistics, the company EPA had contracted for the warehouse employment. This was the only contract EPA had with Apex, according to the letter. EPA officials continued its response to the situation throughout the weekend of May 18-19 and into the next week. Perciasepe conducted a meeting on May 21 where he directed officials to evaluate conditions at all warehouses and storage facilities used by EPA.

http://news.yahoo.com/report-epa-staffers-hid-offices-dodged-security-cameras-123518166.html

[Unorthodox]

“Deplorable conditions existed in the warehouse,” the report by Inspector General Arthur Elkins Jr. states. “Door jambs were corroded; dirt, dust and vermin feces were pervasive; and several items were rotting and potentially hazardous.”

I can sympathize.  Been to a few of those. 

Though, why you want to use such a location to exercise boggles the mind. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Because where they worked at boring, unsupervised jobs had plenty of space to do so?

[Unorthodox]

But, you really want to be breathing in more of that than needed? 


Anywho, there may be a good reason the one kind of pumpkins aren't grown here.  The one sprout of it I had and transferred...I've never seen anything like it...almost like the leaves sunburned. 

[Unorthodox]

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23385479/nuke-missile-crews-cite-morale-sapping-pressures?source=rss

[Geo]

Shoot 'm all!
(The missiles I mean...) 

[Unorthodox]

Go on...

Electronics were going wonky yesterday. 

I have one of those little speakers you plug into your ipod, just start up broadcasting SOMETHING without anything plugged into the jack.  Nothing intelligable, just noise, but a structure to it.  I've had a megaphone do that before and managed to track it down, so I have a decent guess what caused it.

The alarm system was going all haywire. 

Strange noises outside.

Bay doors opening by themselves.

Just a strange day. 

It's the first time I've been here in a thunderstorm, so I'm blaming that for now.  They can really mess with crap if you're in "one of those" locations.  Old workplace was 'one of those', and I was nearly struck 3 times by lightning.  Might have been once, was thrown across a room.  The other 2 were close enough I could see the plasma hang in the air after the strike.  Really neat...don't want to see it again.

Ok, I can rule out thunderstorm.  We're going all wacky again today and clear skies.   

Exactly 4 weeks since the last time.  Coincidence? 

[Unorthodox]

Pumpkin update.

The Musquee de Provence (the not grown here french pumpkins) seed transplants are coming along quite well.  2 sprouts and a bunch more that will break through tonight/tomorrow.  The garden one seems to be shaking off the burnt leaves...I'm guessing it didn't like the fertilizer I dumped on at transplanting. 

The Sugar Pumpkins are sprouting all over.  (no surprise, this is a more 'normal' variety)

The Rouge vif D'etempes (sp) aka Cinderella pumpkins and the Lumina pumpkins are being stubborn. 

One more Cinderella seed from the second batch has sprouted, non of the transplanted towel seeds.    But, I already have 3 transplanted outside (which equals the total planted last year), so not too critical anymore.   

Nada from the Luminas so far.  If the Luminas don't sprout by the weekend, I just might go buy a couple from the nursery. 

[Unorthodox]

So, um...


Side project. 

20 years ago I was working with a dual lens reflex camera and doing studio portraits.  Naturally, mom thought this meant I should take her picture for a potential publication (it's a contest, and she knows she's a finalist, but winners won't be announced till end of the month).  But, wouldn't listen to me on when or where I wanted to shoot.  "My schedule is more important than lighting"

I have my pentax with high quality lenses, but it is OLD and not really built for portrait work.  It's slow, only can hold 2 pics in the buffer, and resolution is not the best, plus I have to shoot in full manual with my 60 year old lenses. 

She has a Nikkon with kit lenses I would only know the basics of operation.  My brother has a Sony A5 with kit lenses, we have the same camera at work, and it's a good camera for more general use.  In fact, I nearly bought one, but got to preview my brothers in a low light environment to discover it sucks hardcore in that application. 

Naturally I stuck with my camera...but also took the 60 year old FILM camera. 

Shot in raw, I haven't photoshopped more than a couple into viewable format, going to take a while. 

(Had to DRAG her to this spot, only decent lighting in the location she chose)





The too-harsh lighting most the rest of the places hold:

[Unorthodox]

Sugar pumpkins.

[Unorthodox]

Pumpkin update:

Most the Musquee pumpkins have sprouted, virtually all the sugar pumpkins in the paper towel test, and a couple from the soak for an hour test.  2 new Cinderellas.  First 2 Luminas from the paper towel test. 

It's become quite evident the paper towel in a ziploc is the way to do this next year.

Why all the stressing:

I leave for business travel on Sunday.  Pumpkins take 100-120 days to mature from planting, we're presently 147 to Halloween.  Be down to 130ish by the time I get back from travel, it's kind of now or never. 

[Unorthodox]

So, 30 plants in the ground.  Maybe a couple more tomorrow. 

This should net about 60 pumpkins.  There's at least 20 more pots that haven't sprouted, maybe by the time I get back. 

We have a TON of unused space in the garden.  I'll fill it up with some special maize a little later this year, but it's nice to know I should be able to fill my quota of 100 pumpkins on my own in the future if needed.   

[Unorthodox]

Going to be a tough weekend. 

I joined the local haunters club mostly because it's a great place to sell off my stuff and to get in on group buys.  It's their big party this weekend. 
http://www.rockymountainhaunters.com/2013_RockyMountainHaunter_GatheringSchedule.pdf

They all get together and hold classes on how to do this or that.  My email and facebook is flooded with pics and messages back and forth...and I just can't get over the endless stream of cliche rolling by. 

There's a reason I don't go to these things, there's nothing there for me unless I felt like showing off the Barghest.  It's still hard to be reminded just how much I'm an outsider even among other haunters. 

[Unorthodox]

Reporting in safe from Flagstaff in case anyone was curious.