What Lies Behind Us and What Lies Before Us Are Tiny Matters Compared to What Lies Within Us
THE FRIDAY BURRITO Vol. VIII #19 June 3, 2005 Deep Throat Sings
"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2005 Gary B. Ackerman. All Rights Reserved. The
Burrito contains the personal views and food for thought of Gary Ackerman and does not reflect the views of any other person or organization.
Get ready for instant body scans at airport security. Really. It is being tested as we speak, or read, or whatever it is we do. See that man in the photo? That is what I call a travelin’ dude packing a pistol. He looks like the road warriors that often sit in the middle seat next to me on over-booked airline flights, and he knows where to put the heat. In fact, I wonder if he knows it is there? “Oh, is that where I put my plastic gun! I’ve been looking for weeks. Thanks, fellahs, for finding it for me.” We believe in open and transparent markets. Therefore, I propose that all CAISO market design documents should also be put through one of those beta-test scanners to see if there are any funny things going on. When I hear our grid operator announce something is going to be “open and transparent”, two things immediately occur: I grab my wallet to see if it is secure, and an alarm goes off at the HCWSTUN department at SCE headquarters in Rosemead. “Yeah, this is the HCWSTUN calling about an alarm we just received – red lights flashing and buzzers going off like we hit the damn jackpot in Vegas. What should we do?” Instructions from a corner office on the fourth floor go down to the HCWSTUN, and before you can say “just and reasonable,” an advice letter filing appears at the CPUC requesting immediate implementation of a new nonmarket mechanism to protect ratepayers. You think I’m kidding? We are currently engaged in a great debate regarding SCE’s general rates. It is a massive proceeding, and we are objecting to a minor little piece of it. The utility wants ratepayers to fork over $9
"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2005 Gary B. Ackerman. All Rights Reserved. The
Burrito contains the personal views and food for thought of Gary Ackerman and does not reflect the views of any other person or organization.
Get ready for instant body scans at airport security. Really. It is being tested as we speak, or read, or whatever it is we do. See that man in the photo? That is what I call a travelin’ dude packing a pistol. He looks like the road warriors that often sit in the middle seat next to me on over-booked airline flights, and he knows where to put the heat. In fact, I wonder if he knows it is there? “Oh, is that where I put my plastic gun! I’ve been looking for weeks. Thanks, fellahs, for finding it for me.” We believe in open and transparent markets. Therefore, I propose that all CAISO market design documents should also be put through one of those beta-test scanners to see if there are any funny things going on. When I hear our grid operator announce something is going to be “open and transparent”, two things immediately occur: I grab my wallet to see if it is secure, and an alarm goes off at the HCWSTUN department at SCE headquarters in Rosemead. “Yeah, this is the HCWSTUN calling about an alarm we just received – red lights flashing and buzzers going off like we hit the damn jackpot in Vegas. What should we do?” Instructions from a corner office on the fourth floor go down to the HCWSTUN, and before you can say “just and reasonable,” an advice letter filing appears at the CPUC requesting immediate implementation of a new nonmarket mechanism to protect ratepayers. You think I’m kidding? We are currently engaged in a great debate regarding SCE’s general rates. It is a massive proceeding, and we are objecting to a minor little piece of it. The utility wants ratepayers to fork over $9