SPUTNIK-I'm publishing this because of sleep deprivation..... yeah.

I like the name "

Sputnik," 

Because . . . 

. . . This benign inanimate object, 

became personified in the 

⚇ eyes ⚇ 

of the American people during the 

Cold War 

era. 

Sputnik was a name that instilled fear and anxiety in the citizenry as they gazed above them as though they would see the satellite overhead at any moment, 

watching their every move.  The Americans had become vulnerable as the result of what this object represented.  

Sputnik was not sentient.  

Sputnik did not have the intent to do harm to any

 particular region.  Sputnik 

was the means to an end 

and in and of itself, quite 

insignificant.  I think that 

the fear of this new 

technology 

did more for the Soviet 

Cause than the actual 

data obtained.

A satire by Jonathan Swift seems entirely appropriate, as this tends to agree with my style, some cynicism balanced with some dry humor and sarcasm for any occasion.  I tend to be a pessimist as I imagine my friend, Jonathan here, was as well.  This seems 
like a depressing at first thought 
at first, however, it allows me to see past the rose colored glasses (no pun intended with the
pink background), observe 
and work within the parameters 
of reality as it presents itself in my life, and hopefully do something that benefits at least one person besides myself, in the long-run.  I do not have a warm fuzzy place where the puppies and rainbows exist in my psyche, but this does not mean I'm all gloom and doom.  I'm simply here.  Doing what I can, when I can, because I truly believe that we are either a negative influence on this universe, or a positive one, we can't be neither, though we can (and always do) vacillate on this spectrum of "yin/yang" energy dynamic, for lack of a better description (look at it like a Look at the Lightwave spectrum, ranging from the shortest of wavelengths to the longest).  

My career allowed me (at least persuade myself) to believe that I was helping the community and sacrificing and making a difference in at least a couple of peoples lives.  With the unexpected (I was the one that resigned, but it was still very unexpected and somewhat traumatic) resignation of my job as a probation officer, I found myself waking up a couple days later, staring at the ceiling.  Now what?  I commited the greatest sin that one can commit during a recession — the number one rule I whole-heartedly urged probationers not to break during a recession (or anytime):  IF YOU'RE GOING TO QUIT YOUR JOB, ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE A NEW JOB ALREADY SET UP AND CONFIRMED WITH A START DATE.  I left without even a resume.  Just the diploma on the wall and a faxed copy of my certifications from the HR department.  This is all I know.  

The Code Red Manual had the rare ability to make me laugh out loud each time I read it.  Rarely do I laugh whole-heartedly at an email, but I can't remember the last time I re-read something 3, 4, or 5 times and I still laugh.  I have tended toward a melancholy mood for my entire life and any opportunity to break the dysthymic feelings of "generalized blue-ness" and lack of motivation, is always welcomed.  This is why I value laughter so much.

Ironically, I now find myself utilizing the very same resources that I provided my probationers time and time again to assist them on their journey through the war-torn "looking-for-employment-zone."

*PHOTO by Taylor Hartnett - UAE City & State of Dubai.