Life in Balance

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are you're not going to be very happy. If someone bases their happiness on major events like a great job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn't going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness. - Andy Rooney

Are You a Genius?

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, I like to tell people, “Yeah, I made a mistake once.  I thought I was wrong.  Turned out I was right”.

Watch Your Back!

Several years ago a colleague applied for professional status in a member organization.  He had passed all of the exams and completed all of the requirements but still needed to provide three references.  It seemed logical to approach his manager at the time for one of the references.  The manager gladly agreed.

Neat Guys

Driving home after work through downtown Buffalo one afternoon, my three workmates and I pull up to a red light.  Some thug on the corner yells,

Slow Motion Bullets

Believe it or not, sometimes engineering can be entertaining.  An ultra slow motion camera is someone's engineering marvel at one million frames per second.  The entire video of bullets piercing steel is about ten minutes long, but if you make it through the first two minutes, you may find yourself compelled to watch the remainder.  The bullets shattering into molten metal at about the 6:20 mark are almost artistic in their aftermath!

Stuttering Tips

One of the trainees from Buffalo stuttered when he spoke.  I can’t pretend to know what it might be like to go through life with that affliction, but he managed very well.  I didn’t know he stuttered and when I first met him he gave me instructions on photocopying. 

Buffalo Forge

Photo © 2003 Stephen Corbett

I walked the same hallowed halls that Mr. Willis Carrier did when he invented the first air-conditioner!  The building was razed in 2006.  I don't know how many were employed at Buffalo Forge in 1982 but I know there were several hundred.  Land being at a premium also made parking a premium as well.  There was a lot right across the street where all the employees parked bumper to bumper.  No getting out at anytime during the day.  At precisely 5 o'clock (or was it 4) every employee would leave the building and go to their car.  Anyone being more than a few minutes late could hold up hundreds trying to leave for home.  This meant....no overtime!!!  Them was the good ole days!

Fan Diameter?

Right out of university I worked for a manufacturing company in southern Ontario.  The start of the recession in the early 80’s slowed down business.  Fortunately (or unfortunately) the company kept the young grads on staff

Right or Left Brain?

I’m a right brain person working in a left brain world.  I take some comfort in the fact that I’m not alone in this circumstance as I have met others following the same path.  I guess I only have myself to blame since as a teen I never really knew what I should do when “I grew up”.