A Dickensian Landscape, in Sepia

I may have mentioned this before, but I work in a shipyard that at times appears to be ripped from the pages of a Charles Dickens novel.  Indeed, Charles Dickens was writing Great Expectations when this shipyard was in its neo-Industrial heyday, and Dickens' father was a clerk at a Navy pay office.

Today we were further blessed to have a nearby wildfire blanket the shipyard in soot, smoke and ash.  Visibility was down to a quarter-mile and the mid-morning sun only managed to turn everything a dirty amber color.  It was like my own personal live-action, old-timey photograph.  I think even Pip would have been depressed.

Tough Times

I figure the construction industry is one of those bellwethers of the economy.  Construction, be it new buildings or renovations in existing buildings, is one of the first things cut from the government budget when money is tight.  Salaries come before maintenance. 

I just found out that one of the superintendents I've worked with for the past year and a half is being laid off by his company.  He has been doing a good job for me, and it pains me a little to see him go.   The guy is at least sixty and has some health problems, so I'm not sure what he's going to do.  No one is hiring these days.

He is just one more in the unemployment line.  I shouldn't take my job security for granted.

Did you notice?

Did you notice the stunningly clever pun in the title of the last post? That's political commentary gold right there.

I ran from Israel as fast as I could

I don't like to post at the beginning of a work day. I usually have something to do (today isn't any different) and it is incredibly bad form to be both reading the comics AND blogging. Multitasking several recreational activities at work is strictly taboo.

But I read this headline next to my morning Dilbert and had to blog:

Report: Israeli Minister Says 'We Will Attack Iran' if Nuke Program Continues<

What?! Israel is retarded. The minister goes further to say that the United States will support Israel during such an attack.

Oh hell no. It is like Israel ran behind us after poking a sleeping bear. A big bear. An angry bear. A bear that may have nuclear weapons.

I understand that Iran hates us for our socioeconomic imperialism. I got that. It is probably not a good thing that our first colony, which we established right on top of the most historically disputed region EVER, is antagonizing the arguably most powerful and certifiably most crazy nation in the region.

I don't know about you, but I advocate dousing Israel (or at least their minister) in honey and running like hell.