New kiln. Another deep thought brought to you courtesy of good old NPR. On the People's Pharmacy they were interviewing Dr. Ed Hallowell on his latest book "Dare to Forgive". He brought up a statement that said "Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past would be different." Maybe it is me, but that is a pretty cosmic idea. The mind is certainly not a simple object. We are very often our own worst enemies.

So, I had a really nice day Friday and it was probably due to a few occurrences that included the minimal exercise I did, five laps of power walking (almost two miles). Minimal because I have basically gotten no exercise, so any expenditure is an increase.

The other thing that made Friday so nice was installing a new kiln in the Hobbycraft department. It cost $2,000, and, no, you do not get a "Thank You" since no taxpayer money is used for recreation equipment. All funds are from the inmate trust fund which is the proceeds from the commissary, telephone calls, etc.

Speaking of telephone calls, they are raising the per minute rate to 23 cents to help raise funds! Quite a rip off when you consider it is really a pre-paid system. What do those prepaid cards go for? Two to three cents per minute?

Whatever - I am babbling.

So the thing about the kiln is treating it as a high tech piece of equipment when all the people around you want to ruin (run would be too kind a word) it like a plug-and-go system. While the kiln itself has few parts, the temperature of 1,900 to 2,000 degrees does require some sort of intelligence, which is in short supply around here. The point is, if we were to properly install the kilns, not only would they last longer, they would produce better glazing.

The kiln thing is really bugging me. It is sort of like the old game of telephone where you still get the message at the end of the line, and it may even still have the essence of the original statement, but it is not the original.

The problem presents a unique opportunity to see how one can gather support for procedures that may actually be a benefit, but the desire of the various parties to learn the proper procedures is nil.

The question is: do I try to raise the knowledge base, and if so, then how does one surgically make the right moves to gather support for the effort?

The outcome is doubtful, and can even end up causing friction.

So I have just answered my own question.

The hell with it.

Let us move on.
  ¶ 8:52 AM