Unraveling the 'secret' code

In the interest of full disclosure this post has nothing very secretive divulged in it.  

In my new position I do work for a major utility company.  As a part of one of our projects we are doing a number of installations around the area that involve unearthing buried pipelines.  I have never done pipeline work in an urban area so I didn't know what it would entail as far as permitting.  One of the major things that we have to do is develop a traffic plan (i.e. how will traffic flow when we rip up the street), but before we can do that we have to figure out where we are going to work.  We have an approximate idea, but often times there are so many other buried things in the area that it pays to do some additional backchecking.  For example, I have a situation where we might have to shut down part of an intersection (not a major one), but we also might able to do the work in the shoulder.  We need to get a better feel of where our line is and as it turns out where other buried things (fiber optic, sewage lines, water lines, electricity, jet fuel, etc.) are located.  It turns out in order to figure out where other things are you call a service "USA".  They are a consolidator that keeps track of who has underground things in what area.  So after you call them they tell their subscriber list that you are going to dig in that area.  You've seen the 'call before you dig' signs?  Well those call USA.  After the call you mark your digging area and then the various other companies send representatives to mark their lines or whatever is underground.  So now we are at the point of this post.  I've always walked around urban areas and seen spray painted markings on the ground.  They are in different colors and almost always have the tag "USA".  I figured they had to do with underground things, but I couldn't figure out the purpose.  They are the markings of other companies notifying people where their stuff is.  White paint is the proposed excavation, yellow is gas/oil/steam/chemical, green is sewer, blue is water, red is electric, and orange is cable.  So now I find myself driving around looking for markings on the ground to see what is going on.  And thus I have unraveled the 'secret' code of underground excavation.  

The hypocrisy of National Geographic

For over 100 years National Geographic has promoted geography, world culture, archaeology, natural science, and environmental conservation.  I take exception with their promotion of environmental conservation while at the same time promoting a 24 day around the world journey by private jet.  I don't understand what part of that is environmentally conscious.  They state on their website that they have converted a jet that normally accommodates 233 people to accommodate 'just 78 people'.  Even if I factor in guides and emergency personnel the fact that they are transporting less than 40% of the plane's capacity is absurd.  Of course the plane uses less fuel (since it is not flying at capacity) and an argument could be made that were all 78 passengers to use commercial flights they would have generated more emissions.  However, those flights would have existed otherwise and this is one flight that exists on a charter basis.  I'm not even going to get into the aspect of how this trip completely misses the local color by affording it's travelers the utmost in luxuries, because I think that is what these travelers seek.  I just think that it is irresponsible and hypocritical for a company that promotes environmental conservation to also promote what is one of the most excessive vacations I have ever heard of.  

Reuniting with the outcasts

I thought I had written a post on a book that I had read courtesy of the HyWy, but I can't seem to find it in my archives.  Anyways a few years ago I read the book Outcasts United, which was about a soccer team of refugee kids in an Atlanta suburb.  They use soccer to bring them closer together and bridge different cultures.  

While traveling Idaho I stayed with a CouchSurfer that was writing a series of articles (and eventually a book) about the experience of ethnic Nepali refugees who were kicked out of their Bhutanese homeland.  Her particular interest in this story stemmed from the influx of refugees into her small Idaho town, Twin Falls.  This was the last story that I expected to stumble upon while traveling around Idaho.  My vision for my trip was one of introspection and rejuvenation, but at the end of it the most memorable part was talking with refugees that have only been in the US for a month.  What struck me was how enthusiastic, positive, and pumped up they were.  Considering their situation; being kicked out of their home more than 20 years ago, spending those 20 years living in a camp while being told that you aren't from Nepal or Bhutan, and eventually moved to a new home in a completely foreign land; I don't think you could find a more charged individual if you looked at a kid starting his first varsity football game and itching to sack the quarterback.  In today's society it seems that we bemoan the immigrant population for stealing jobs, but in all honesty I don't think those that complain the most vocally would want to have anything to do with the work that these people are willing to do.  The standard argument against refugee relocation to the US is, "if we can't help our own people why are we helping others?"  It's a difficult argument to make that if there is a dollar to be spent by the federal government on a school down the street vs. refugees thousands of miles away, which is better.  However, what I do know is that when I saw how much drive these individuals have I know that we are truly investing in the future of our own country as they become permanent residents and eventually citizens.  What scares me is whether the process (red tape, racism, etc.) will drain them of their positivity and leave them jaded.  The other scary possibility is that people see the positivity as naivete and find ways to exploit it.  In the end I guess the only thing to do is hope and connect with other refugees to show them that not everyone is unhappy to see them here.  

Sawtooth Range

The Sawtooth Mountains. You can see where they got their name.

Petit Lake

Petit Lake against the backdrop of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Beastly hike

The view from the midway point of the most beastly hike that I have ever experienced.

Lava flow

I love the texture when it is in black and white.

Lava tube

This is a cave formed by a lava tube at the Craters of the Moon park.