(GIGO)

Several years ago, probably about 1986, I was living at 204 Johnson Blvd. in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I had only been back in town for a little over a year, and was now working for the New River Baptist Association, overseeing their “crisis ministry,” called “The Hem of His Garment.” The operation involved running a thrift store, a food pantry, and performing client intake. The churches and community donated second-hand items, clothing, furniture, toys, and food items. Volunteers, and a few paid staff, sorted through the donated items, throwing out the worthless, tattered, moldy things, and organizing the rest and putting it out on display in the thrift store. The thrift store was located in the old part of town, just a block or so from the Salvation Army’s thrift store, and diagonally across the street from the old Jacksonville train depot.

Mary Bell Jarman was one of the paid staff at the Hem, and one day she came up to the front counter and handed me a paperback book. I don’t recall her exact words, but I knew from what she said that she thought the book might contain “questionable” content and she wasn’t sure she should put it out for the public to purchase. I took the book, looked at the cover and the back, and slipped it on a shelf beneath the counter. The book’s title was “The Red Dragon” and the author was Thomas Harris. I hadn’t heard of either at the time.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3a/Drag01big.jpg/220px-Drag01big.jpg

I’m not sure if I took the book home with me that day, but eventually, I began to read it. It was captivating, but as I read it, I realized at some point that I had seen a movie, probably just a few months prior to getting the book, that at least had the same plot, if not characters. The old “Iwo Jima” theater was, by that time, a $1 movie theater, and I had seen “Manhunter” there. Many years prior, I had also seen “Planet of the Apes” and “The Godfather” there, or at least that is the way I remembered it.

“Manhunter” was captivating, involving an FBI agent, Will Graham (a young, skinny, William Petersen of CSI-Las Vegas… probably why he got the latter part), and a serial “whole family + the pet” killer, that was operating in the Southeastern United States. Graham knew he was on a time schedule before the next family would be hideously killed and then posed for display. I don’t even remember Hannibal Lecter being a standout character in the story, but of course he was. Will had been attacked by Dr. Lecter, and almost killed, but had survived and triumphed. Dr. Lecter was in prison, and Will was recovering, more from the emotional injuries, rather than the physical ones inflicted by Lecter, with his young family (wife and son) in Florida (at least that is where I think the beach house was located). Because of the time constraints of the new case, Will returns to the FBI, and the dark haunts of his inner self, and bolds himself to confront Dr. Lecter again, asking for the Doctor’s insights into “the killer.” The Doctor’s insights that the killer was staging his victims so that they could see what he was “becoming” draws Will closer to the killer. And, the creative insight that Will finally has, regarding the families’ home movies, brings him to the burning doorstep of the serial killer. But, if you have a watch, or are watching the movie on television, you realize that the movie can’t be over, and surely there must be a plot twist. And, that does occur.

NOTE: “Manhunter” suffers from an honestly procured “Miami Vice” sound score. Perhaps by attrition, when there are none that remember the distinctive “Miami Vice” opening theme, then “Manhunter” will be a hit again.

So, now just a few years shy of thirty, I recorded the first two episodes of “Hannibal,” a new NBC TV series. And, there is Mads Mikkelson (a wonderful Bond nemesis – LeCheffreeeee “Casino Royale”), as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. I watched the second episode first (only because I didn’t realize it was the 2nd episode… which seems to be the SOP with me and Scandinavian cinema – I watched the “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” trilogy, in complete reverse order.). The second episode has a serial gardener who works as a drug dealer, “No,” that’s a pharmacist that preys upon diabetics, because they are easy targets for his sweet tooth. He subverts their medications, which puts them in a coma, and then plants them and transfuses them to grow his mushrooms, because as everyone knows, mushrooms are more empathetic than human beings. Well, they are more responsive than comatose diabetics when it comes to serial killers.

So, as I’m watching, I know all of this is a prequel to Lecter’s attack upon Will Graham. I also know that the red headed journalist, who doesn’t mind driving a Mack truck through a crime scene, and ignoring all etiquette & protocols, to get the story, is already high on Dr. Lecter’s “menu.” In fact, he has already told her she was “rude” and rude people don’t last long in Dr. Lecter’s world.

I do not know the actor that is playing Will Graham in the series, but his mannerisms remind me of those of Sherlock Holmes in “Elementary” and Kevin Bacon’s character in “The Following.”

NOTE: So, our society has descended quite far in just a brief period of time. If you ring up the gorey body count of the television shows that I like to watch, “Justified”, “The Following”, “Hannibal” then it has to be at least 20 victims a week (possibly more, but I’ve become numb, and lost count).

I haven’t seen much use for Twitter, until now. It started last week when I was trying to think of ways that the students and faculty could post or view information about our Blackboard System. Maybe students could post to a specific Twitter hashtag ( e.g. #uncfsubb ) when they wanted to report a system availability problem, or look to see if others were having a similar problem, or see if there was official info regarding what was causing the problem and how much longer the system might be unavailable. *So, I might put the above hashtag in a mailto link on an alternate Bb web page. The viewer could both search on Twitter for postings under that hashtag, and they could also easily post using that hashtag.

Okay, so that is what had gotten me looking at Twitter recently. So, yesterday, I was crossing I95 just north of Lumberton, NC. As I did so, I saw that both lanes of north bound I95 traffic were at a standstill, looking both north and south, as far as the eye could see. It was then that I thought, it would be useful if there were a standard Twitter hashtag for people to use when they were on a specific road and they encountered a problem, or were looking for info about a slowdown, etc. So, “#I95NCTraffic” would be a nice Twitter hashtag to use if you were anywhere along I95 in North Carolina and either saw an accident, had to make a detour, wanted to know why traffic was backed up on I95, etc.

I’ve also thought that Twitter hashtags would be great for sharing info during an emergency situation (if the power wasn’t out to your mobile device). Maybe you’re having to evacuate “the island” and you would like suggestions for the best route away. That would be in addition to the posted signs by the State (or Federal Govt.). Maybe you are looking to see if you want to go to Raleigh, or if it would be best to detour elsewhere.

The State could post these Twitter hashtags on roads and then, if it was needed, you could check there.

Tweets about "#uncfsuoutages"
//

Thomas Kuebler does great work! It is both captivating, in it’s detail, and creepy, and that is a compliment. I came across the artist’s work, “The Mythical Menagerie of Doctor Baltus Bagoon” when I was going from antiques store to antiques store in Selma, NC. It was the perfect location, unless I had found it in an old store in some bleak mountain town.

I am so glad that I was alone when I found this art displayed amongst the old items of the store. If it had only been later in the day, when the late afternoon shadows had fallen, minutes away from twilight, and moments away from the darkness of night. Oh, boy, I would have probably ran out of the store, “screaming like a little girl.” Well, actually, I did find myself looking closer and closer at the detail of Baltus, and asking myself, how can this not be real.” And thinking, “If he moves (Baltus), I’ll jump six feet.” It is that good.

The Mythical Menagerie of Doctor Baltus Bagoon (by Thomas Kuebler)

http://www.thomaskuebler.com/gallery/beggars_freaks/baltus_bagoon/index.htm

The artist reveals his process for “The Mythical Menagerie of Doctor Baltus Bagoon” via the “Smooth-On” art supply site:

http://www.smooth-on.com/a99/Hyper-Realistic-Silicone-Artworks-From-The-Wild-Imagination-of-Tom-Kuebler/article_info.html

I’m not sure how much something like this is worth, but it would be great in a museum, where it could be appreciated by many people.

Archie Campbell was a riot on "Hee Haw" when he did his "Rindercella" story.

Archie Campbell’s "Pee Little Thrigs"

Open a Mind, Touch a Heart

Storytellers continue a North Carolina tradition (Margaret Buranen )

http://www.carolinacountry.com/index.php/carolina-stories/carolina-life/item/open-a-mind-touch-a-heart

Written version of one of these:

Loldygocks & the Bee Threars

By Susan L. Adams

I sent the following email to all the NC Senate and House legislators regarding NC Fracking (their email addresses, as of today on their website are listed at the bottom of this post):

—

The Governor isn’t going to veto a NC Fracking bill, since he has been representing the Energy Industry long before he was elected Governor… so, if you guys/gals don’t protect the Citizens of NC by putting in strict laws and guidelines at the start (unless you vote fracking down in NC), the Energy Industry surely isn’t going to protect the people of North Carolina.

You don’t need to be taking safeguards out of fracking legislation because it will scare away the Industry. You should hold them accountable at every turn. They should have to reveal what toxic chemicals are being pumped down, and brought back up. You better darn well not allow them to leave those toxic chemicals in NC, and you should probably care where those chemicals get hauled off to. Someone, somewhere will be left with that toxic waste.

You should add a tax for the fracking industry, up front, that will go toward clean-up, infrastructure repair and related health issues that might occur “down the road”. Don’t tell me, “But if we put too many rules on them, they will go elsewhere.” You put strict laws on them, and they’ll still come for that oily dollar of profit.

Rather than “fast tracking” the legislation on this, you all need to be slowing it down, and “making sure it is done right” and will both benefit and protect the people of North Carolina.

Thanks.

Bill

—

NC Senate Email Addresses (from web site on 02/27/13)

Austin.Allran@ncleg.net; Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net; Chad.Barefoot@ncleg.net; Tamara.Barringer@ncleg.net; Phil.Berger@ncleg.net; Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net; Dan.Blue@ncleg.net; Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net; Harry.Brown@ncleg.net; Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net; Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net; Ben.Clark@ncleg.net; Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net; Bill.Cook@ncleg.net; David.Curtis@ncleg.net; Warren.Daniel@ncleg.net; Don.Davis@ncleg.net; Jim.Davis@ncleg.net; Joel.Ford@ncleg.net; Thom.Goolsby@ncleg.net; Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net; Rick.Gunn@ncleg.net; Kathy.Harrington@ncleg.net; Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net; Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net; Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net; Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net; Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net; Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net; Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net; Gene.McLaurin@ncleg.net; Wesley.Meredith@ncleg.net; Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net; Buck.Newton@ncleg.net; Earline.Parmon@ncleg.net; Louis.Pate@ncleg.net; Ron.Rabin@ncleg.net; Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net; Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net; Gladys.Robinson@ncleg.net; Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net; Norman.Sanderson@ncleg.net; Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net; Josh.Stein@ncleg.net; Jeff.Tarte@ncleg.net; Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net; Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net; Trudy.Wade@ncleg.net; Michael.Walters@ncleg.net; Mike.Woodard@ncleg.net

====

NC House Email Addresses (from web site on 02/27/13)

Alma.Adams@ncleg.net; Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net; Dean.Arp@ncleg.net; Marilyn.Avila@ncleg.net; Nathan.Baskerville@ncleg.net; John.Bell@ncleg.net; Larry.Bell@ncleg.net; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net; John.Blust@ncleg.net; Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net; Marcus.Brandon@ncleg.net; Robert.Brawley@ncleg.net; Bill.Brawley@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net; Mark.Brody@ncleg.net; Brian.Brown@ncleg.net; Rayne.Brown@ncleg.net; Rob.Bryan@ncleg.net; Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.net; Justin.Burr@ncleg.net; Becky.Carney@ncleg.net; Rick.Catlin@ncleg.net; George.Cleveland@ncleg.net; Jeff.Collins@ncleg.net; Debra.Conrad@ncleg.net; Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.net; Carla.Cunningham@ncleg.net; Leo.Daughtry@ncleg.net; Ted.Davis@ncleg.net; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net; Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net; Jerry.Dockham@ncleg.net; Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net; Beverly.Earle@ncleg.net; Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.net; John.Faircloth@ncleg.net; Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net; Susan.Fisher@ncleg.net; Elmer.Floyd@ncleg.net; Carl.Ford@ncleg.net; Valerie.Foushee@ncleg.net; Jim.Fulghum@ncleg.net; Rosa.Gill@ncleg.net; Rick.Glazier@ncleg.net; Ken.Goodman@ncleg.net; Charles.Graham@ncleg.net; George.Graham@ncleg.net; Mike.Hager@ncleg.net; Duane.Hall@ncleg.net; Larry.Hall@ncleg.net; Susi.Hamilton@ncleg.net; Edward.Hanes@ncleg.net; Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net; Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net; Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net; Yvonne.Holley@ncleg.net; Mark.Hollo@ncleg.net; Bryan.Holloway@ncleg.net; Craig.Horn@ncleg.net; Julia.Howard@ncleg.net; Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net; Frank.Iler@ncleg.net; Verla.Insko@ncleg.net; Darren.Jackson@ncleg.net; Charles.Jeter@ncleg.net; Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net; Bert.Jones@ncleg.net; Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net; Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net; James.Langdon@ncleg.net; David.Lewis@ncleg.net; Marvin.Lucas@ncleg.net; Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net; Chris.Malone@ncleg.net; Susan.Martin@ncleg.net; Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net; Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net; Deb.McManus@ncleg.net; Allen.McNeill@ncleg.net; Mickey.Michaux@ncleg.net; Chris.Millis@ncleg.net; Annie.Mobley@ncleg.net; Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net; Rodney.Moore@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Tom.Murry@ncleg.net; Garland.Pierce@ncleg.net; Larry.Pittman@ncleg.net; Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net; Joe.Queen@ncleg.net; Nathan.Ramsey@ncleg.net; Bobbie.Richardson@ncleg.net; Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.net; Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net; Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net; Jason.Saine@ncleg.net; Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net; Jacqueline.Schaffer@ncleg.net; Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net; Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net; Michael.Speciale@ncleg.net; Paul.Stam@ncleg.net; Edgar.Starnes@ncleg.net; Bob.Steinburg@ncleg.net; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net; Michael.Stone@ncleg.net; John.Szoka@ncleg.net; Evelyn.Terry@ncleg.net; Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net; Paul.Tine@ncleg.net; Joe.Tolson@ncleg.net; John.Torbett@ncleg.net; Rena.Turner@ncleg.net; Ken.Waddell@ncleg.net; Harry.Warren@ncleg.net; Andy.Wells@ncleg.net; Roger.West@ncleg.net; Chris.Whitmire@ncleg.net; Winkie.Wilkins@ncleg.net; Michael.Wray@ncleg.net

Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Perceptis Helpdesk first level techs, and whatever training process the company provides, or fails to provide have been a constant source of irritation to me for the past couple of years. Simple problems were escalated to me by numerous Perceptis Helpdesk T1 (first level) techs, and their management never figured out how to correct this problem.

Over, and over, and over, and over, and over (and over, repeated many more times) tickets came to me without the basic info included so that I could start working on the problem, without having to contact the user (faculty & students) to get the basics of a problem. The T1s were excellent at stating problems in “generalities”, but failed repeatedly to provide enough specifics for me to not have to cold call the user. “The student can’t download an assignment,” to which my mind screamed, “WHICH ASSIGNMENT, in WHICH COURSE.” “The student isn’t able to view a podcast,”… “WHICH ONE?” *I hope this isn’t a generational problem. A generation of people that can generalize, but doesn’t have a clue about getting to “specifics”.

The user can’t do this,… or the user can’t do that… and I would have to ask, “Which course”, or “which assignment”, or go checking to see if the person was enrolled in more than one course. Many of the T1s just didn’t show that they had a clue as to what was needed to solve a user’s problem.

I came to hate the phrase by Perceptis management, “We will coach the tech.” If you had a good training system, you wouldn’t have to keep coaching your new techs on how to solve basic Bb problems.