Hi there,
Sorry that it has taken me nearly a month to update this blog. I have been back here in Nigeria for the past two weeks and was in Yellowknife for a couple of weeks before that - going from the sublime to the ridiculous, as it were!
Things are going well here, I think. It will be a helluva lot better in exactly 9 days when the World's Greatest Geophysicist joins me. Not sure why she wants to visit Lagos, certainly isn't my charm, but I am pining for her company and so looking forward to seeing her!
As to my long term plans, well, I will be finishing up here either on the 27th of this month, the 9th of April, or the 2nd of July. Sound confusing? Welcome to Nigeria! My company's current contract extends until the 9th of April, one year from when I re-engaged in Nigeria, but we are only paid up until the end of February. Assuming our last invoice get's paid then we will remain engaged to early April with me here until the 27th of February and then returning the 22nd of March. There is also discussion of us extending until June but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. No matter what, however, this project will end by the start of Q3 2010! Hopefully, I will get to spend a bit of time in Canada's Arctic this summer but I must admit that I am looking forward to time at home with the WGG and my sons!
A couple of things on the news update front - Sister Sarah and the ongoing jokes of American Politics.
You know, on my facebook page I describe myself as an "Evangelical Athiest". True enough I suppose but not actively "Evangelical". I am not out to convert anybody unless they try to convert me. The religious right in the US has nothing to fear from me unless they piss me off. Unfortunately they continue to try to do that through their whole health care debate! Look guys, you take care of your fellow citizens, live longer, pay less for health care and I won't take away your belief in a fictional sadistic deity, ok? I mean really guys, I don't want to turn Dell Ammo on you (http://www.kopubco.com/tjc_trade.html)!
Seriously though, if our cousins to the south want to do it right, a single payer system is the way to go. What you have proposed is a poor imitation of a comprehensive health care system but it is better than nothing. Pass it and move on!
NASA. Well, my annual prediction for NASA was that they would follow the Augustine Committee recommendations adopt the "Flexible Path" approach. In that I was correct. What I am sorry about is the cancellation of Constellation. While I think the US should stay in the manned space launch business and I regret their decision to get out of it, I can accept that between the private sector, the Europeans and potentially the Japanese, there are alternatives. I can live with this but would like to see a revise plan and we have yet to see that plan developed.
Canadian Politics. Steven Harper is an idiot. Can't say much else.
OK, if you insist...
Perogation was a mistake and typical of the kind of arbitrary decisions this government makes. Same with this poor Canadian kid tortured by our cousins to the south - "Bring Him Home".
I am ranting. I really dislike Steven Harper!
As per Sister Sarah... Well, I just can't go their right now, other than the fact that the more we learn about her, the less likable she is.
OK. I promise to update this blog more often and will ensure that I once I know about my schedule here in Nigeria, I will let you know about my running plans. "Hey Fatso..." will be getting its next chapter real soon! Promise.
Paul
