Oh, you expect US to train them?

An interesting look at the facts behind companies claims they can't find qualified workers. From the Wall Street Journal.

The long and short of it is this: Employers want employees who are fully trained to do the job they are being hired for, immediately, with years of experience already behind them. They don't want to spend any time or money training new hires even though there is an ample amount of trainable people for the jobs.

Interesting read.

We Come in Peace (Shoot to Kill)

Not that anyone important (or more probably anyone at all) cares about my opinion, but when has that stopped me before?

The US attempts to portray itself to the world as a champion of democracy (assuming a democracy would elect our guy), freedom, and human rights.

However, I don't see how we can do that with any hint of honesty as we continue to carry out raids, both human and drone on foreign soil without any sort of permission.

We claim its in the "War on Terror" and that we are killing "bad people." Ok, maybe we are. Maybe we are killing Al Qaeda terrorists one at a time.

But at what expense? We've pretty much destroyed our relationship with Pakistan (as tenuous and full of lies on both sides as it was), Yemen holds no love for us as we continue to kill on their soil, Iraqis have been ready for us to go home for years. How many future terrorists are we creating by killing in this manner?

Look at it this way, if a terrorist group was based in the US and was giving attacks in another country, would we be ok if that country flew a drone in or dropped a Special Operations team in to kill them? Of course not!!! (The most recent drone attack in Yemen killed ~7 people. This is [i]roughly[/i] equivalent to 80 odd Americans.)

Even if it was "justified" we'd be outraged at foreign attacks on our soil!

Apparently, its ok because the countries we do it to can't fight back. Might makes right.

I must say I'm greatly saddened by the Obama administration continuing the Bush policy of "screw other nation's sovereignty, we're the US." Granted, the killings are on a far smaller scale of magnitude, but that does not make them any more right, just slightly less horrible.

How can something as simple as "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you" be so difficult for us to grasp? I'm not saying we shouldn't do anything about the terrorists, merely there is a right way to do it and our way of doing it. We're only continuing the cycle of violence and adding to their real and imagined reasons on why we're evil.

Americans: Exceptional in Our Minds

Great article on the (mostly) mythic idea of American Exceptionalism. Its the same story nationally, we think we're better as a nation than we really are, as it is personally for people when they are asked if they are generally a good person.

USPS-A Fascinating Expose

The USPS is failing!!! The headlines have been screaming this and I, like probably most other Americans, believed this to be true to some extent.

I couldn't exactly figure out how it was losing as much as it was, I knew pensions, less letters being sent, etc. were all hurting it, but the numbers were pretty staggering.

Well, this article explains the REAL reason the Postal Service is facing such huge deficits, tricky Washington accounting.

The USPS is being forced to make payments for the next 75 years of health coverage over the next 10 years. Yes, the next 75 years in 10 years. The money is being siphoned over to help out with the Federal deficit. Money can go from the Postal Service, but not too it.

The article points out if it wasn't for the insane payments, the Postal Service would've posted a $1 billion profit instead of a loss last year.

A fascinating read and a nice honest look at why this venerable institution is struggling.

RIP- Steve Jobs

Today, a man who's vision and ideas impacted millions of people around the world died. Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple, the man who was turned to again later to revive a struggling brand lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jobs, as many brilliant and powerful people are was often a polarizing figure. If you have even a passing interest in computers you've probably run into a moronic Mac v. PC argument on a forum.

I grew up using Apples. My family had an Apple IIe around 1988 or 89 and I used Apples and Macs almost exclusively until the early 90s.

While I haven't cared for Apple's ad campaigns or their turn to pushing consumer products people are supposed to replace on a yearly basis, the impact of the brand, and their CEO and founder, Jobs, can't be overstated in the American market.

All cancer is horrible, and sadly pancreatic cancer is worse than most, being unbelievably difficult to treat and defeat. Mr. Jobs fought hard and survived much longer than many who battle the disease, perhaps a testament to the will inside a man who took a company from a garage, to the top of the industry, and years later returned to bring it from the brink of collapse to one of the most powerful corporations in the world.

RIP Steve Jobs

Two Wrongs are Not Right.

I'm not sure when America started believing two wrong make a right?

After 9/11 we certainly did, starting two wars in our anger over being attacked. One passed the "ok" test, if war is ever ok, on a slim end around technicality.

The other, as unjust as Iraq's invasion of Kuwait a decade before.

No, we've long believed two wrongs make a right, even though it goes against anything the Bible states. And you know, we are a country founded on Christian values.

The "war against terror," much like any other war, has proven once again why you don't want to fight wars. Stories about war are nice and simple. There are good guys and bad guys. Heros and villians. Good versus evil.

Lies.

Real war is horrific. Instead of dark and light its mostly a muddled field of gray, occasionally stained with the blood of innocents and warriors alike.

True war is murky, and try as "civilized" man might to put rules towards it, they are cast away in the heat of battle. Adrenaline fueled brains reacting on impulse and fear. The basest of human emotions bared daily, causing scars both physical and mental on all normal people who touch it.

Do not think I'm attempting to equate us with those who attack civilians around the world. The cowards who kill and maim in some twisted believe their "god" desires this.

However, I cannot and will not be silent when my country does wrongs. President Obama ordered as singular a wrong as possibly any President has: he ordered the cold blooded murder of an American citizen.

Don't think I find Anwar al-Awlaki a sympathetic figure. The man incited violence and hatred that has contributed to scores if not hundreds of deaths.

However, what kind of a country do we live in where the President can order a citizen of this country killed, without trial, without due process, without any legal proceeding whatsoever, merely because of "treasonous" acts against our nation?

If we are supposed to be an example to the world, an image of what nations should be (and trust me, I don't think we are that at all) what does this show? That due process, a judicial system, laws, are nice? EXCEPT when things are dirty and inconvient. Then its ok to just kill the person because well, they are "bad."

I'm not a crazy talking conspiracy nut now. I don't think government death squads are going to be formed hunting down dissenters. No reliving of the "Red Scare" only with suspected insurgents gunned down instead of taking to court.

But the precedent, to say nothing of the havoc we've been creating in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, set by this is bad. Very bad.

Being President has to be one of the most difficult jobs on earth. However, no matter how difficult it was to say yes to the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, apparently saying "no" was even harder. President Obama needed to say no. He needed to uphold the ideal that American law is sufficient (though we still kill our citizens yearly in a highly inequitable legal system) no matter how imperfect it may be.

Killing begets more killing. While a nation cannot turn the other cheek, it does not have to respond to a slap in the face with a machine gun.

I don't know where or when it will end, but a line needs to be drawn somewhere.

Relaxation Day- September 27

We woke up at 6:45, a late morning so far. Today we decided to take a rest day. Between the Hermit's Rest hike and the bike ride, a break for our flatland muscles was in order.

We had a nice breakfast at the Cafeteria and relaxed at the campsite for a little bit.

We then took the Blue Route to the Visitor's Center and caught the Orange Route out to the Yavapai Geological Museum. It was pretty interesting.

To me, the majesty of God is not lessened a bit if it took billions of years and the formation of the canyon took millions. Its still awe-inspiring in its majesty.

We had an Englishman (or at least spoke English natively with an accent) take our picture. He asked where we were from and we said Peoria, IL. He'd been to Chicago (of course) and asked how far it was.

We said about 2.5 hours. He laughed and said "You American's measuring things in hours. In two and a half hours I'd be out of the country."

We walked the Rim Trail, nice and paved and smooth, back to the Visitor's Center a caught the shuttle out to Yaki Point.

I sat on a rock and jotted some notes as a squirrel begged for food. (I didn't give him any.)

It was a beautiful view of the canyon. I'm not sure language, at least English, can capture the beauty of the canyon anymore than a camera can capture the true beauty of the sunset.

After doing some laundry and reading for a bit we caught the shuttle back to Yaki Point to watch the sunset. We walked out to some rocks and as we sat waiting for the sun to set some packrats kept attempting to get into our backpacks. They obviously thought something tasty was inside.

The sunset was gorgeous, though I get gipped with the whole "colors" aspect of it. Katrina learned a $200 digital camera can't begin to capture the beauty of a sunset.

We got back to camp after dark and I cooked up some Dinty Moore beef stew for supper. Its amazingly tasty when you are camping. Not really any other time though. Bed happened around 8:30.

The Bike Ride- September 26

This day we rented a couple of bikes from the rental place at the Visitor's Center. We headed out towards Hermit's Rest, a 21 mile round trip. We had the bike's rented for 4 hours.

It started out mostly downhill to the Blue/Red transfer and then greeted us with a 6% grade for about a half mile. After that, it wasn't too bad out to Hermit's Rest, this was a bit of a warning for the return.

I admit that I lied to Katrina when she kept saying "Won't it be harder coming back?" I said "No" knowing full well it would be. What were our options? I hadn't realized that she wasn't thinking that "relatively flat" routes at 7000 feet up on a plateau is different than "relatively flat" in Illinois.

Coming back was pretty brutal. The Haro bikes we were given were just 7 speeds, but it wasn't from a lack of gears that made things hard. It was a lack of oxygen and the fact we'd had a difficult hike the day before. Katrina was struggling but making it and it was far from a walk in the park for me.

We stopped at the Blue/Red transfer to rest and I inquired about putting the bikes on the shuttle buses as each had a rack in the front. It was allowed and we rode back to the Visitor's Center in comfort, exhausted.

Katrina kept trying to apologize for not making it, but I assured her I was not looking forward to the climb back. I wasn't exhausted, but I was tired.

All told we rode ~14 miles with plenty of hills.

We headed back to camp. cleaned up and had hot dogs and mac & cheese for supper. Katrina crashed out around 6:00 or so and I probably made it until 7:30.

I did have a couple of very tasty brews, Grand Canyon Brewing Co. of Williams, AZ, makes some wonderful beers. So far I can attest to the tastiness of their American Pilsner, think in the style of a Budweiser or Miller, except it tastes good, and the Sunset Amber Ale. Both are excellent brews.

The Nimbus Brewing Co. from Tuscon, Arizona, had a great English Style Ale called Old Monkey Shine. I didn't drink much of it as it was 8.2% abv (i didn't realize this until after I opened it) but it was delicious.

First Hike- September 25

We got up about 6am, make a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs and prepared for our first hike. We'd looked at the Guide and decided to do part of the Hermit's Rest trail. Walking up to the shuttle stop we climbed aboard the Blue Route shuttle and rode to the Blue/Red transfer below the Bright Angel trailhead.

Transferring to the Red shuttle we rode out to the Hermit's Rest trailhead and overlook. A cute little curio/gift shop designed by Mary Coulter sits there. She was an architect for the Fred Harvey company and while I didn't get any books on her while out there, I do want to do a bit more reading as she seems like a very interesting person.

The trail was exceptionally rough. Its an unmaintained trail, very rocky, both big and small rocks, and fairly steep. It changes 1000ft of elevation in 1.5 miles.

We pushed hard and did a 3 mile round trip in about 3 hours. We noticed that we descended about the same speed we climbed. Mainly because descending is harder on our joints while climbing is harder on our lungs and muscles. Lungs recover, muscles can be stretched, aching joints, well, those are just miserable.

We did a bit of shopping in the visitors center and at the General Store. I'm interested in learning more about the history of the canyon. Both the Native Americans who lived in and around the Canyon (the Havalupai for one lived in the Canyon, hence Indian Gardens rest area on the Bright Angel Trail) and the early white settlers to the area.

Hermit's Rest gets its name from Louis Boucher, "the Hermit." Who lived in the area apparently.

Its interesting, I'd say 40-60% of the people at the canyon are foreign. Its so cool hearing all the languages and accents. Germans were thick, but I could hear French, both France and Quebecois varieties, various Asian dialects, various eastern European dialects and even some Middle Eastern language. Plenty of various accented English speakers as well, England, Australia and probably other places as well.

Two English sisters in their early to mid 20s flew into Portland and drove to Las Vegas before heading to the Canyon. They were on their way to Phoenix see their uncle. The younger was going to be driving back to Portland to fly back so she could go to school.

A German couple flew to Phoenix and the biked up to the campground! It was interesting as their bikes had internal rear hubs. I hadn't seen touring bikes that used those before, but I suppose it makes as much sense. I'm just a luddite who is scared of internal stuff I can't fiddle with. Sure, if my rear derailleur goes out, I can't shift, but I can at least have one gear. If that breaks, you're sort of toast.

This night had the first fire of the trip. It was small, but nice.

The Drive- September 23-24

The plan was I get off work at noon, Katrina wakes up and packs the car, I get home and we leave.

Well, does anything ever go as planned?

Katrina had a million screenings the night before (actually both Wednesday and Thursday) and so things moved a bit slower than planned.

While, running to the store to pick up a few last minute food items, Katrina locked herself out. Fortunately work took pity on me and allowed me to leave at 11:30 instead of 12:00.

When I got home it didn't take us long to get loaded and we were on the road by 1:30. We forgot a few items, bowls, butter knife, can opener, sandwich bags, etc. but it was nothing insurmountable.

The drive was LONG. We drove straight through with minimal stops for gas and breaks. The longest stop was ~1 hr for breakfast in Tucumcari.

Breakfast was at a Denny's in a Love's Truck Stop. The pay at the pump was disabled so even with a credit card you had to guess how much fuel you were going to put in, and then they'd credit back if you went over. Strange.

Katrina caught a couple hours sleep in the back (4 hours total) and another 2 hours up front.

I caught about an hour's worth of sleep in the back and maybe one more up front After that point, I didn't get to drive anymore.

Prior to that I'd driven most of the way from Oklahoma, across Texas' panhandle, and through pretty much all of New Mexico. Since it was night traffic wasn't bad and there wasn't even too much road construction.

We got into Grand Canyon's Mather Campground about 3:00 and quickly set up camp. We were using my parent's tent that they were so kind to lend us and it was easy to set up. Its roomier than my tent and better suited for a week of camping. After spending $2 a piece for showers (8 minutes of as hot water you want) we went up to the Yavapai Cafeteria for supper as we were too exhausted to cook.

A young kid from E. Peoria was manning the register. What a small world it is!

Getting back to camp we headed to bed about 6pm and slept straight through until 6am. Nothing like 12 hours of sleep after a long long drive.

All told it was about a 27 hour trip. It would've been a bit less except for the extended breakfast and a little bit of time lost in Flagstaff due to missing a sign.

Vacation! Grand Canyon

The next few posts are going to be versions of my daily journals of Katrina and I's recent trip to the Grand Canyon. It was a wonderful trip, beautiful weather and traveling was great and getting to spend it with my lovely wife!

Pictures may be forthcoming, but some will eventually be up on Picassa or G+.