A proper cup of tea should not be chunky.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Sunday, August 29, 2004
People I should be allowed to flog.
- Aggressive drivers.
- People who drive under the speed limit in the left lane.
- Tailgaters.
- People who drive while engrossed in their cellphone conversations.
- People who turn, then signal.
- People who run red lights.
- People who change lanes without signaling.
- Drivers who do not yield to emergency vehicles.
- People who do not polish their presentations and make their point clear.
- People who do not label their data.
- Whoever created the sales policies at this housing development.
- Neighbors who whine about ants and yet neglect to trim their yards and sweep up after their cats.
- Neighbors who take all the parking spots because they have too much crap in their garages.
- Neighbors who stuff my trash can because they have too much crap.
- People who do not pick up after their dogs.
- Coworkers who do not fess up when they break the code.
- Coworkers who abuse the budget, making it impossible for people like me to get the machines they need. Worse still, making it so we have to justify every pencil purchased.
- Coworkers who unplug my machines because they are too dumb to ask for help.
- Coworkers who do not respond to requests in a timely manner. (6 days is timely. 6 weeks is not.)
- Ambulance-chasers.
- People and their trial laywers who bring frivolous cases to court.
- Bigots.
- Political bigots. (You know, the Democrats who claim all Republican ideals are evil, and vice versa, thereby eliminating all possibility of civilized debate.)
- Politicians.
- NBC, for their coverage of the Olympics.
- PBS, for repeating their endless nostalgia musical marathons over and over again.
- Whoever thinks redoing reality shows over and over again is a good idea.
- ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, for their reality shows.
- CNN, Fox, MSNBC, CNBC, and all the major networks except PBS, for failing to provide worthwhile news coverage.
- Geraldo Rivera, for failing to provide any news coverage.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Tell me when you've had enough.
I think the left contact lens may be inside-out. Theoretically, one can tell whether a lens is inside-out by looking at it.
I can't tell the difference.
I spent a few minutes this morning flipping the right one in and out. It seems that flipped one way, it holds its shape more easily than the other way. This probably made it easier to install. Also, the left one seems to be having more trouble focusing this morning. But I am not keen on reinstalling my lenses today.
Contact lenses are definitely not a good choice for those grey, increasingly dark mornings.
I can't tell the difference.
I spent a few minutes this morning flipping the right one in and out. It seems that flipped one way, it holds its shape more easily than the other way. This probably made it easier to install. Also, the left one seems to be having more trouble focusing this morning. But I am not keen on reinstalling my lenses today.
Contact lenses are definitely not a good choice for those grey, increasingly dark mornings.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Not the one about letting me flog people, although that would be nice, too.
The world would be a much better place if only all engineers were forced to study technical writing and presentation skills. With an additional course covering data presentation. I have seen many rules broken these past few weeks. Here is a sampling of what the presenters did not do.
1. Speak up over the drone of the air conditioner and other assorted fans.
2. Address the audience instead of the laptop or screen.
3. Plot data intuitively.
4. Add descriptive titles to their axes.
5. Put descriptive titles on their slides.
6. Explain their plots and data.
7. Use fonts and font sizes that are legible on the big screen.
8. Cut off people with long annoying questions.
9. Talk to their foils instead of reading them.
I should be allowed to flog them.
The world would be a much better place if only all engineers were forced to study technical writing and presentation skills. With an additional course covering data presentation. I have seen many rules broken these past few weeks. Here is a sampling of what the presenters did not do.
1. Speak up over the drone of the air conditioner and other assorted fans.
2. Address the audience instead of the laptop or screen.
3. Plot data intuitively.
4. Add descriptive titles to their axes.
5. Put descriptive titles on their slides.
6. Explain their plots and data.
7. Use fonts and font sizes that are legible on the big screen.
8. Cut off people with long annoying questions.
9. Talk to their foils instead of reading them.
I should be allowed to flog them.
Monday, August 23, 2004
My new theory about the missing contact lens.
I think I ingested it somehow.
This theory comes from what happened this morning. After I put the left one in, the world was clear for a few moments, then suddenly fuzzy again. Despite carefully plugging up the sink prior to installing the lens and an extensive search of counter, sink, mirror, and floor after everything got fuzzy, there was no sign of the lens. I even swept the eyeball with a finger (rather painful) and came up with nothing. So I abandoned installation of the right one, put on my glasses, and headed off to assemble breakfast.
Suddenly my left eye started stinging. Looking in the mirror, I found the contact lens, slightly askew, in said eye, and the world was suddenly clearer. (Incidentally, I took off the glasses before looking in the mirror.) This is very disturbing. Where did the lens go? Under my eyelid? Is it possible the other missing lens (it was for the right eye) was also under my eyelid and eventually got absorbed?
In light of all of this, and given the fact that contact lenses aren't as good as glasses (contact lenses don't fix astigmatism), I still prefer to wear glasses most days.
This theory comes from what happened this morning. After I put the left one in, the world was clear for a few moments, then suddenly fuzzy again. Despite carefully plugging up the sink prior to installing the lens and an extensive search of counter, sink, mirror, and floor after everything got fuzzy, there was no sign of the lens. I even swept the eyeball with a finger (rather painful) and came up with nothing. So I abandoned installation of the right one, put on my glasses, and headed off to assemble breakfast.
Suddenly my left eye started stinging. Looking in the mirror, I found the contact lens, slightly askew, in said eye, and the world was suddenly clearer. (Incidentally, I took off the glasses before looking in the mirror.) This is very disturbing. Where did the lens go? Under my eyelid? Is it possible the other missing lens (it was for the right eye) was also under my eyelid and eventually got absorbed?
In light of all of this, and given the fact that contact lenses aren't as good as glasses (contact lenses don't fix astigmatism), I still prefer to wear glasses most days.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
K's wedding was a lovely event. It was also very efficient, making it one of the more enjoyable weddings I've ever attended.
The ceremony itself was the shortest one of those I've ever attended. My kind of ceremony, with very few religious references out of respect for the bride and groom's beliefs and the diversity of the people in attendance. What few references were there were non-denominational, and it cut right to the chase. All in all, it lasted maybe 20 minutes tops. The prayer came after the rings and lasted about 15 seconds. The bride and groom didn't write their vows, which is good, because vows written by the bride and groom, in my experience, are never that great anyways. The only problem was it went by so fast, we were a little confused and missed the opportunity to toss the flower petals at the newlyweds as they exited. Some people opted to toss the petals at the bridegrooms and bridesmaids instead.
The ceremony and reception were all held a few blocks away from the bride's parents' home, so there was no rounding up everyone into their cars and getting lost on the way to the restaurant or banquet hall.
The meal itself was half salmon, half beef, making it a surf n' turf for everybody. No need to wonder whether you checked beef or fish on the RSVP card! I'm not sure what would have happened to the vegetarians had any been in attendance, though. The only other weddings I've attended where you didn't need to mark your preference have been the Chinese ones, where you get the full banquet and your choice is whether to sample every dish that comes your way.
Heck, even the weather held out. It was gloriously sunny, but not too hot, with just a hint of breeze.
All I can say is I wish K and P all the happiness in the world. And to everyone else, here are the lessons to be learned for your respective weddings.
The ceremony itself was the shortest one of those I've ever attended. My kind of ceremony, with very few religious references out of respect for the bride and groom's beliefs and the diversity of the people in attendance. What few references were there were non-denominational, and it cut right to the chase. All in all, it lasted maybe 20 minutes tops. The prayer came after the rings and lasted about 15 seconds. The bride and groom didn't write their vows, which is good, because vows written by the bride and groom, in my experience, are never that great anyways. The only problem was it went by so fast, we were a little confused and missed the opportunity to toss the flower petals at the newlyweds as they exited. Some people opted to toss the petals at the bridegrooms and bridesmaids instead.
The ceremony and reception were all held a few blocks away from the bride's parents' home, so there was no rounding up everyone into their cars and getting lost on the way to the restaurant or banquet hall.
The meal itself was half salmon, half beef, making it a surf n' turf for everybody. No need to wonder whether you checked beef or fish on the RSVP card! I'm not sure what would have happened to the vegetarians had any been in attendance, though. The only other weddings I've attended where you didn't need to mark your preference have been the Chinese ones, where you get the full banquet and your choice is whether to sample every dish that comes your way.
Heck, even the weather held out. It was gloriously sunny, but not too hot, with just a hint of breeze.
All I can say is I wish K and P all the happiness in the world. And to everyone else, here are the lessons to be learned for your respective weddings.
Friday, August 20, 2004
How M uses the rule of 50
I don't consume books nearly as quickly as my pals J and Z do, nor do I consume them nearly as quickly as I should. But I do get through at least a half dozen worthwhile books in a year, and many more not so worthwhile ones, including rereads of various favorites. It's comforting to revisit the classics, sort of like catching a rerun of a particularly entertaining television show when you could be watching "Amish in the City" or something equally improving. At any rate, there are enough books to warrant a classification system. There are six categories of books.
1. Finished.
2. In progress.
3. Being reread.
4. Started then given up on.
5. Purchased but feel guilty about not starting yet.
6. Cookbooks.
At any given time, I generally have one book close to entering state #1, two or three books in state #2, and one or two books in state #3. I estimate there are currently four books in state #4. There is also one book in state #5. There were two, but I started "Home" as of last night. In addition, state #2 has two subcategories.
2.1. Being read during my lunch hour at work. These books must be very carefully selected so as to be intellectually engaging, quick enough to read while distracted by food, and quirky enough to impress my coworkers who inevitably wander down to join me when I've planted myself at a table outside.
2.2. Being read outside of work. Heck, I can read whatever I want in my own bed.
There are currently two books in state 2.1.
State #6 has three subdivisions.
6.1. Has at least one good recipe in it.
6.2. Has no good recipes in it, and therefore I feel guilty for acquiring it.
6.3. Haven't had the chance to try any recipes in it.
A friendly acquaintance of mine says that if a cookbook has one good recipe in it, then it's worth the price. Incidentally, no cookbook goes unread in my home, so you'll notice that state is missing. And no cookbook gets purchased unless there was an intriguing recipe in it already, so there is no cookbook with recipes that I have not or do not intend to try.
If I ever become dedicated enough to have a lot more books to classify and invoke the Rule of 50, then there should be two more categories.
7. Invoked the Rule of 50 on for justifiable reasons.
8. Invoked the Rule of 50 on, but feel guilty about it.
I'd draw you the state diagram, but that would be horribly geeky. Maybe next time.
Incidentially, I finally finished "Trading Up", which J very kindly gave me for Christmas. It's an interesting read and neatly summarizes the traits of each success story. But there seems to be a sinister undercurrent implying that the new, fresh guys always win and the old players are always too conservative for their own good. I'm sure there are plenty of examples of old players who have adapted well to the trading up phenomenon. Just give me a little time to think of a good example.
1. Finished.
2. In progress.
3. Being reread.
4. Started then given up on.
5. Purchased but feel guilty about not starting yet.
6. Cookbooks.
At any given time, I generally have one book close to entering state #1, two or three books in state #2, and one or two books in state #3. I estimate there are currently four books in state #4. There is also one book in state #5. There were two, but I started "Home" as of last night. In addition, state #2 has two subcategories.
2.1. Being read during my lunch hour at work. These books must be very carefully selected so as to be intellectually engaging, quick enough to read while distracted by food, and quirky enough to impress my coworkers who inevitably wander down to join me when I've planted myself at a table outside.
2.2. Being read outside of work. Heck, I can read whatever I want in my own bed.
There are currently two books in state 2.1.
State #6 has three subdivisions.
6.1. Has at least one good recipe in it.
6.2. Has no good recipes in it, and therefore I feel guilty for acquiring it.
6.3. Haven't had the chance to try any recipes in it.
A friendly acquaintance of mine says that if a cookbook has one good recipe in it, then it's worth the price. Incidentally, no cookbook goes unread in my home, so you'll notice that state is missing. And no cookbook gets purchased unless there was an intriguing recipe in it already, so there is no cookbook with recipes that I have not or do not intend to try.
If I ever become dedicated enough to have a lot more books to classify and invoke the Rule of 50, then there should be two more categories.
7. Invoked the Rule of 50 on for justifiable reasons.
8. Invoked the Rule of 50 on, but feel guilty about it.
I'd draw you the state diagram, but that would be horribly geeky. Maybe next time.
Incidentially, I finally finished "Trading Up", which J very kindly gave me for Christmas. It's an interesting read and neatly summarizes the traits of each success story. But there seems to be a sinister undercurrent implying that the new, fresh guys always win and the old players are always too conservative for their own good. I'm sure there are plenty of examples of old players who have adapted well to the trading up phenomenon. Just give me a little time to think of a good example.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50
To preserve the copyright, here is the reference.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001952705_nancypearl10m.html
And because I'm a little geeky, here is the C-style pseudocode. (Truer geeks than I would use ML, Lisp, etc.)
if(age <= 50){
required_min_pages = 50;
}
else{ // age > 50
required_min_pages = 100 - age;
}
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001952705_nancypearl10m.html
And because I'm a little geeky, here is the C-style pseudocode. (Truer geeks than I would use ML, Lisp, etc.)
if(age <= 50){
required_min_pages = 50;
}
else{ // age > 50
required_min_pages = 100 - age;
}
Revenge of the Avocadoes
I guess it's a good sign that two of my most pressing thoughts are 1) getting this work project off the ground, since this thing runs a long time before I can take a checkpoint, and 2) what to do about the avocadoes.
I purchased a bag of four organic Hass avocadoes. The cost per avocado was about $1.12 or so, making them relatively inexpensive for avocadoes around here. One of them went into last weekend's California roll. The other three should be perfectly ripe by now. Don't get me wrong. I love avocadoes. Normally they are a precious commodity, purchased on sale and one at a time, so I only have the opportunity to eat them plain or in a lovely BLTA made with vine-ripened tomatoes and Niman Ranch bacon.
Three avocadoes make for a lot of BLTAs.
Guacamole is a fine option, but a little normal. Previously frozen avocado halves from Trader Joe's freezer case would probably work fine in a guacamole.
Food Network has a recipe where you stuff something into the cavity and bake it. That sounds wrong. Avocadoes shouldn't be cooked, should they?
I don't have a blender, so avocado milkshakes are out. Incidentally, I wonder if avocado ice cream would taste any good.
Chopped salad sounds like a lot of work. It also sounds like a lot of chopped salad, which would wilt, turn brown, and not be good for lunch during the week.
I once had a recipe for a savory cheesecake. It had a water biscuit (I think) crumb crust and was garnished with avocado and smoked salmon. I no longer have the recipe. Good riddance, because that sounds like work.
Guess it's guacamole after all. Perhaps served with chips, salsa, and chicken quesadillas.
I purchased a bag of four organic Hass avocadoes. The cost per avocado was about $1.12 or so, making them relatively inexpensive for avocadoes around here. One of them went into last weekend's California roll. The other three should be perfectly ripe by now. Don't get me wrong. I love avocadoes. Normally they are a precious commodity, purchased on sale and one at a time, so I only have the opportunity to eat them plain or in a lovely BLTA made with vine-ripened tomatoes and Niman Ranch bacon.
Three avocadoes make for a lot of BLTAs.
Guacamole is a fine option, but a little normal. Previously frozen avocado halves from Trader Joe's freezer case would probably work fine in a guacamole.
Food Network has a recipe where you stuff something into the cavity and bake it. That sounds wrong. Avocadoes shouldn't be cooked, should they?
I don't have a blender, so avocado milkshakes are out. Incidentally, I wonder if avocado ice cream would taste any good.
Chopped salad sounds like a lot of work. It also sounds like a lot of chopped salad, which would wilt, turn brown, and not be good for lunch during the week.
I once had a recipe for a savory cheesecake. It had a water biscuit (I think) crumb crust and was garnished with avocado and smoked salmon. I no longer have the recipe. Good riddance, because that sounds like work.
Guess it's guacamole after all. Perhaps served with chips, salsa, and chicken quesadillas.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
I dropped a contact today. I am extremely annoyed that this happened. I thought the right one was in, and it seemed to be for a bit. Then it wasn't there and I was trying to decide whether things looked blurry because my eyes were tearing up or because something more sinister had happened. It may have stuck to my fingers and then washed down the drain when I washed my hands.
Sigh.
Sigh.
Monday, August 16, 2004
And you thought banana bread couldn't be geeky
After years of tasting and baking the stuff, I have decided that while walnuts are the classic addition to banana bread, chocolate chips are much more interesting, especially after they have gotten all nice and oozy in the oven. A slice of banana bread with chocolate chips is especially nice after nuking in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Future banana breads will contain a 1:1 ratio of chocolate chips to some other ingredient, like chopped dried apricots. Dried apricots lend a lovely texture to the bread.
The next few breads will contain the following:
1:1 ratio chocolate chips to dried apricots
chopped dried figs
fresh/frozen blueberries
3:1 ratio chocolate to crystallized ginger
n:1 ratio chocolate to orange zest (where n is more or less 5 < n < 10)
I have already tried the following:
3:1 ratio chocolate chips to dried apricots (good, but not enough apricot)
chocolate chips (makes a happy breakfast)
currants (good)
raisins (good, but raisins can get too big)
walnuts (would have been good had I stored the nuts properly)
plain (meh)
Any other ideas are welcome. There has got to be another ingredient that goes all nice and oozy that isn't chocolate. The best entries, of course, will probably find their way to the 3S. Which is why not everything can have chocolate. We have to pretend to be healthy once in a while, after all.
I have also discovered that banana bread tastes best when it is spontaneous. That is, you didn't intend to let those bananas go all brown and squishy and uneaten at the end of the week. This could pose a problem for the 3S.
The next few breads will contain the following:
1:1 ratio chocolate chips to dried apricots
chopped dried figs
fresh/frozen blueberries
3:1 ratio chocolate to crystallized ginger
n:1 ratio chocolate to orange zest (where n is more or less 5 < n < 10)
I have already tried the following:
3:1 ratio chocolate chips to dried apricots (good, but not enough apricot)
chocolate chips (makes a happy breakfast)
currants (good)
raisins (good, but raisins can get too big)
walnuts (would have been good had I stored the nuts properly)
plain (meh)
Any other ideas are welcome. There has got to be another ingredient that goes all nice and oozy that isn't chocolate. The best entries, of course, will probably find their way to the 3S. Which is why not everything can have chocolate. We have to pretend to be healthy once in a while, after all.
I have also discovered that banana bread tastes best when it is spontaneous. That is, you didn't intend to let those bananas go all brown and squishy and uneaten at the end of the week. This could pose a problem for the 3S.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
I've visited quite a few optometrists in the decade or so I've worn glasses. At one point, one of them was quite honest and admitted that optometry is part science and part art. The science comes from the measurement of things like degree of astigmatism and the prescription in a current pair of lenses. The art comes from interpreting the results: even though the patient sees clearly with a range of prescriptions, which is really the best one for long-term wear? After all, 5 minutes of reading lines from the wall isn't at all indicative of how well a pair of glasses goes from car to classroom.
I say this because my prescription has been constant the past few years. (This is a blessing, since it indicates good overall health and that I've been taking good care of my eyes.) The latest optometrist downgraded my prescription, claiming I can see just as well without putting so much stress on one of my eyes.
I'm not so sure about that. It could be the contacts. I'll just have to get the glasses to be certain.
I say this because my prescription has been constant the past few years. (This is a blessing, since it indicates good overall health and that I've been taking good care of my eyes.) The latest optometrist downgraded my prescription, claiming I can see just as well without putting so much stress on one of my eyes.
I'm not so sure about that. It could be the contacts. I'll just have to get the glasses to be certain.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
At one point, a couple of friends and I figured out vacation strategies. We determined that if we were to take one three-day weekend every month, we would use up 5 vacation days for the months that don't already have three-day weekends. Assuming one obligatory week between Christmas and New Years, that leaves one week of vacation to play with. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Then why do we feel fried all the time?
I mention this because I am in the middle of a Sanity Weekend, and it's great. During a Sanity Weekend, I have decided, you are not allowed to travel. Not even a road trip, unless it's spontaneous and less than a day (like going to Santa Cruz). I got contact lenses yesterday. I can't even remember the last time I had clear peripheral vision. Today, I baked banana bread (with dried apricots and chocolate chips) and made sushi (tuna roll). For some reason, making sushi is much easier than I remember. This means the next dinner I host will have to be a sushi night. (I also did a little job fishing. Shh...it's a secret.)
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
I mention this because I am in the middle of a Sanity Weekend, and it's great. During a Sanity Weekend, I have decided, you are not allowed to travel. Not even a road trip, unless it's spontaneous and less than a day (like going to Santa Cruz). I got contact lenses yesterday. I can't even remember the last time I had clear peripheral vision. Today, I baked banana bread (with dried apricots and chocolate chips) and made sushi (tuna roll). For some reason, making sushi is much easier than I remember. This means the next dinner I host will have to be a sushi night. (I also did a little job fishing. Shh...it's a secret.)
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Friday, August 13, 2004
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
I don't get it. There's a hot water dispenser on this floor that supposedly dispenses boiled water. The past few days there's been an "Out of Service" sign taped to it. At one point the sign was taped to cover the spout.
Water from a broken dispenser might not be fully boiled, right? Or the filter could not be working? In which case the water may be crawling with microbes. Or at least many more microbes than are usual. As a result I haven't been consuming water from this dispenser. The dispenser is somewhat sanitary at the best of times (it's in a public place, after all) and probably extremely unsanitary now that it's not working.
And yet my coworkers continue to flip the sign up and use the dispenser. I figure at least one of the following must apply:
1. They have iron-clad stomachs.
2. The dispenser isn't actually broken. Perhaps the sign was originally attached to the vending machine and it got moved.
3. They are morons.
Water from a broken dispenser might not be fully boiled, right? Or the filter could not be working? In which case the water may be crawling with microbes. Or at least many more microbes than are usual. As a result I haven't been consuming water from this dispenser. The dispenser is somewhat sanitary at the best of times (it's in a public place, after all) and probably extremely unsanitary now that it's not working.
And yet my coworkers continue to flip the sign up and use the dispenser. I figure at least one of the following must apply:
1. They have iron-clad stomachs.
2. The dispenser isn't actually broken. Perhaps the sign was originally attached to the vending machine and it got moved.
3. They are morons.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Monday, August 09, 2004
Speed-detecting road spikes are just the beginning. After some consideration, I've decided that the first few vehicles affected by the spikes would be amusing, but subsequent ones would be a pain. One can call the towing company only so many times before it gets old.
My new invention: electrically varying road surfaces. It gets very sticky when an oncoming vehicle travels too quickly. Many drivers will smack their foreheads against the steering column. A few may spin out and hit a sign post. Most will just stop or slow down dramatically. This would be very amusing without having to call the towing company.
On the plus side, there appear to be fewer panels tonight. And the cones along the main road are gone.
My new invention: electrically varying road surfaces. It gets very sticky when an oncoming vehicle travels too quickly. Many drivers will smack their foreheads against the steering column. A few may spin out and hit a sign post. Most will just stop or slow down dramatically. This would be very amusing without having to call the towing company.
On the plus side, there appear to be fewer panels tonight. And the cones along the main road are gone.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
My next purchase for the kitchen will be a splatter guard.
My next invention will be road spikes that activate when an approaching vehicle is going too fast. If the road crews can't fix the road in a timely manner and remove the obnoxious planks, the spikes should solve the noise problem that's giving me a headache. Slow down, folks, you are not important enough to be in such a hurry.
My next invention will be road spikes that activate when an approaching vehicle is going too fast. If the road crews can't fix the road in a timely manner and remove the obnoxious planks, the spikes should solve the noise problem that's giving me a headache. Slow down, folks, you are not important enough to be in such a hurry.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
The fun lighted speed limit sign is switched off on the weekends. During weekdays it seems reasonably accurate and appears to have a range starting around the crosswalk and ending more or less at the first driveway past the mailbox.
Now all they need to do is attach a camera to catch all those people who still exceed the speed limit, and we'd have some real results.
Now all they need to do is attach a camera to catch all those people who still exceed the speed limit, and we'd have some real results.
Friday, August 06, 2004
Over lunch a little while ago, I came up with a storyline which somebody said would work well on an episode of "The Simpsons". It could fit in assuming there's a way to fit in the Simpson family.
The idea grew from trends in sponsorship. Namely, there are one or two folks who would sell the rights to name their newborn children. The story starts 30 years in the past with a couple of parents selling the rights to their child's name. Suppose the Coca-Cola company decided on the name "Coke". The child's middle name has the initial J, and the child goes by "C.J." all of his life. He uses C.J. so much nobody learns his first name. He eventually makes it to the board of directors of a Fortune 500 company. He eventually lands a position at PepsiCo. And there's a sinister plot to learn this from his top-secret personnel file.
There's a similar episode in which we learned the real owner of the nuclear plant is Canary M. Burns.
Not exactly an engineering drama, but it could have potential all the same.
The idea grew from trends in sponsorship. Namely, there are one or two folks who would sell the rights to name their newborn children. The story starts 30 years in the past with a couple of parents selling the rights to their child's name. Suppose the Coca-Cola company decided on the name "Coke". The child's middle name has the initial J, and the child goes by "C.J." all of his life. He uses C.J. so much nobody learns his first name. He eventually makes it to the board of directors of a Fortune 500 company. He eventually lands a position at PepsiCo. And there's a sinister plot to learn this from his top-secret personnel file.
There's a similar episode in which we learned the real owner of the nuclear plant is Canary M. Burns.
Not exactly an engineering drama, but it could have potential all the same.
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