Last week I wrote about my misgivings on the move to Newport. Most of our apprehensions began after we applied to bring “L”s son to America. Concerns were about public schools there. A primary school had been shut down due to budget constraints. Of course, such issues are not isolated to Newport but all across the country in these challenging times. However, the spin to justify it's closing by some local citizens through blogs were quite preposterous. One had mentioned that Newport really did not need the school due to declining enrollment of children. The fabrication was that Newport was a retirement community and that the school can reopen once NOAA brought families to the area. I am sure where local governments are flirting with bankruptcy, it is going to have the resources to reopen a school.
The other issue was that both “L” and her son, once he arrives, can get medical diagnostics on their own language through our health insurance in Seattle. This was a relief to her when she first arrived. There are those who believe in assimilation or push the “English only” concept to us if she and her son were to live here. Most of those who push that have very little if any exposure to immigrants. Was our concern ever heard by NOAA or did anyone in the higher echelons care? Of course not, why should they care? Their accolades excel since they “saved” Uncle Sam money with this ridiculous move.
As I said last week it was all about money. If I didn't like it their decision, then tender my resignation was the attitude I perceived. “L” and I visited Newport last summer after the announcement was made about the selection. At first we were indifferent and in some ways thought it was a nice community. But the day we were there, the weather was good and having lived in the Pacific Northwest for over a dozen years knew that such good weather lasts only two months out of twelve. In addition, we were leaving Monday morning for Seattle so we knew we were going home.
After returning to Seattle last August, I was probably in the minority of not opposing the move, though I held my endorsement because I had mixed feelings about it. I liked the concept of having a “home” since the Independence Day fire at the Seattle facility four years ago and nothing was really done to rebuild it. For those of you that have sailed in the Pacific Northwest during fall and winter knows what it is really like here and understand my reluctance to believe that the bar in Newport is open nearly all year.
Most of my private industry counterparts say I am lucky to be working and that my employer is willing to move me to a new location instead of giving me the pink slip with the middle finger. That is the reason I went back to work for Uncle Sam. I knew I was getting a steady paycheck every two weeks. I made the mistake once in believing fairy tales about making more money in private industry. That applied to the political appointees who would leave when there was a change in administration or a re-election called for a change. Would I quit this job because of the move? It would be feebleminded to walk away from a six figure salary just because I do not want to go back to a small town. If I accepted a shore position, I would be looking at almost a thirty thousand a year pay cut. Of course majority of this is earned working overtime at sea.
Unlike what you hear on Fox News during one of their numerous anti-federal employee rants, it is not a basic salary and I earn every penny of it. The price I pay is much time away from home and I know I can continue as long as my health holds up. I am not getting any younger. Good part is I would be home every night and this blog would be out of business but such talk for now is just plain foolish. Plus, I want to deny someone down there a job and I am sure the economic development folks were banking on me to quit so one of the locals could have my slot. Sorry Sherlock, but it isn't happening with me.
After I returned from sea, I joined the world of Macs and said goodbye to Windows. I am in the learning curve process and some things I liked about Windows I do miss such as the full screen on some programs and the right click. But I do not miss the liabilities and handicaps that come with it. For current users you know what I am talking about and for former users, well, you know what I am talking about. Do I believe that Macs are free from virus attacks? Having been in this business for nearly three decades, I would say NO. I did purchase a Norton anti-virus program for the Mac and as it's popularity grows, I am sure that someone out there is just waiting to cause havoc with some mischief. Unlike Microsoft though, I believe Apple will be ready for such and respond quicker than the PC.
I view Apple as innovative and it seems Microsoft has been playing catch up to do so. I did do some work with Windows 7 but came away unimpressed and started to toy with the idea of migrating to Apple then. Like it's XP predecessor, Windows 7 is fast at first but when you start to add required updates and security features it too will slow down and as with any Microsoft operating system after several years, you are back to square one with speed. One of my XP workstations on the ship had over 1600 security and operating system updates since it's inception. I have been playing with Linux as well and if I do buy a power supply for the Dell 4700C Dimension computer, I will convert it to full time Linux but the fan on that machine is very noisy, despite replacing it with a new one. It took no time to get used to seeing web pages on the Mac without the loud fan noise in the background.
Take care and see you next week.
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