Holding Pattern

On By JohnIn aircraft, workLeave a comment

It seems my pursuit of A&P certificates is on hold temporarily–I’ll be in temporary training for Boeing for 30-60 days (?) followed by temporary assignment in Moses Lake for about a year.

I’ve already taken two of my three written exams–General and Airframe–and still need to take the Powerplant written. Fortunately, there’s a PSI test location in Moses so I can take that pending exam. That leaves taking the O&P for each, airframe and powerplant. There are two DMEs in Moses so I can see about taking Orals and Practicals for both airframe and powerplant as time allows.

I just hope that I can retain the knowledge long enough to do well on each O&P.

Khaki Canvas is Black?

On By JohnIn annoyingLeave a comment

This appears to be some strange new variety of the color black with which I was previously unfamiliar:

Khaki Canvas is the New Black?

Alternative Douglas Adams reference: “Every time you try to operate on of these weird black controls that are labelled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up black to let you know you’ve done it.”

Exorcisms On Tap?

On By JohnIn amusingLeave a comment

Having a look at the maintenance manual to order a repair part for a pressure washer. Stumbled across this gem in its troubleshooting section:

Problem: water stream starts and stops by itself. Possible cause: ghost in machine. Resolution: persuade the ghost to leave.

IKEA Furniture Sucks!

On By JohnIn science, sociologyLeave a comment

Somebody the other day was talking about Walmart/Target/flat-pack furniture and insisted that if you want “quality furniture” then you’ll have to buy from _______________ [fill-in some fine-furniture purveyor].

“Oh, I’ve bought their stuff before and it’s complete crap. Breaks. Falls apart. Gets destroyed before you’re done putting it together…”

Uh-huh… do you know why IKEA furniture falls apart?

It’s not because it’s made from cheap particle board.

You don’t want to hear the answer and you won’t like it.

Are you ready?

Are you sure you’re ready?

You.

You are the reason everything that you assemble from IKEA falls apart. You do the assembly. In several ways, it’s higher quality material than is used in the construction of “builder-grade” cabinetry.

2^128

On By JohnIn science, sysadminLeave a comment

Or, put another way, two to the power of one hundred twenty-eight.

2 128

“So, Mister Smarty-Pants, how much is that?”

340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456

Or, if you like it written out, it’s [takes deep breath]…

Three hundred forty undecillion two hundred eighty-two decillion three hundred sixty-six nonillion nine hundred twenty octillion nine hundred thirty-eight septillion four hundred sixty-three sextillion four hundred sixty-three quintillion three hundred seventy-four quadrillion six hundred seven trillion four hundred thirty-one billion [gasps for air] seven hundred sixty-eight million two hundred eleven thousand four hundred fifty-six.

How much is that again?

That’s how many unique objects can be theoretically addressed on the internet.

I’ll stick to non-routable IPv4 on my private network, thanks.