Home Sales See-Saw

The media is a strange and fickle tool.

For example, do I believe this or this?

.999999999999999999... Equal to 1?

They say:

"0.999… is the same as 1. Not just very close, but precisely identical:

a = 0.999…
10a = 9.999…
10a - a = 9.999… - 0.999…
9a = 9
a = 1

There's no trick here. It's just a mathematical fact that most people find deeply counterintuitive."


But doesn't 9a equal 8.99999999999999?

Habs Podcasts

You can get great post-game analysis provided by CJAD here

Habs Smoke Bruins

What en electrifying game last night in Montreal! Our second most bitter rivals visited and I was worried that Tim Thomas would be minding the net for the Bruins and assist them in continuing their winning streak. However, instead they had Fernandez tending goal, and he allowed 6 in, decisively giving the game to Montreal. Final score was 6-1, bringing Montreal's record to 4-2-2 and ending Boston's streak. Yes!!

SCORING SUMMARY (gracias, NHL.com)

1st Period Scoring

12:14 Christopher Higgins, Assists: Michael Komisarek and Saku Koivu (MTL)

2nd Period Scoring

06:28 Alex Kovalev, Assists: Tomas Plekanec (MTL)
17:48 Steve Begin, Assists: Tom Kostopoulos and Roman Hamrlik (MTL)

3rd Period Scoring

01:45 PPG - Patrice Brisebois, Assists: Tomas Plekanec and Alex Kovalev (MTL)
06:41 PPG - Dennis Wideman, Assists: Peter Schaefer and Marc Savard (BOS)
09:34 Mikhail Grabovski, Assists: Bryan Smolinski and Mathieu Dandenault (MTL)
12:39 PPG - Andrei Markov, Assists: Saku Koivu and Mark Streit (MTL)

Farewell, Tercel

I donated my car to the American Cancer Society, and I saw them take it yesterday. That car meant the world to me, and I'll miss it.

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

These are wonderful pictures of magnificent Cape Breton.

I'm Throwing a Tantrum

This is what I want for Christmas:

It's my favourite sport, my favourite team, it raises money and awareness for cancer research, it's pink and I love caps!

Please, please please can I have it?

:))

Habs End Three-Game Losing Streak

The Canadiens hosted the Buffalo Sabres in Montreal Saturday night and won 4-2. A much-needed win considering the Habs have lost the last three including a 4-3 loss to Ottawa two nights ago.

SCORING SUMMARY (merci NHL.com)

1st Period

02:34 PPG - Bryan Smolinski, Wrist Shot - Assists: Roman Hamrlik and Mikhail Grabovski

2nd Period

04:12 PPG - Paul Gaustad, Tip-In - Assists: Tim Connolly and Brian Campbell
04:21 Derek Roy, Wrist Shot - Assists: Thomas Vanek
07:10 Kyle Chipchura, Wrist Shot - Assists: none

3rd Period

12:38 PPG - Christopher Higgins, Wrist Shot - Assists: Roman Hamrlik and Mark Streit
19:35 Christopher Higgins, Wrist Shot - Assists: Roman Hamrlik

Division of Unemployment Insurance Notice/Maryland Unemployment Insurance Law, Cont'd

Determination:

"It is determined that the circumstances surrounding the separation do not warrant a disqualification under Section 8-1002 or 8-1003..."

Section 8-1002 states,"If the claimant was discharged or suspended for gross misconduct connected with the work, the claimant will be disqualified until he/she becomes reemployed and has earned twenty times his/her weekly benefit amount."

Section 8-1002.2 stats,"If the claimant was discharged or suspended for aggravated misconduct connected with the work, the claimant will be disqualified until he/she has become reemployed and has earned thirty times his/her weekly benefit amount."

Section 8-1003 states,"If the claimant was suspended or discharged for misconduct (not gross) connected with the work, the claimant may be disqualified from five to ten weeks."

Determination: Benefits are allowed, if otherwise eligible.

Earlier question I had: "Can the former employer appeal the decision?"

Answer: The Law provides the right to appeal this determination.

Either the Claimant or the Employer can appeal the determination within 15 days of the date of the determination.

Do I think former employer might appeal the determination? Yes.

But we shall see.

Quote of the Day

[paraphrased]

"Stupidity is a genetic disease that should be treated."

-Jim Watson, Nobel Prize Winner, 1962 (for discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA)

Labor and Employment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland

Discharge - Sections 8-1002, 8-1002.1, 8-1003
I. What is a Discharge?
Before a penalty can be applied under Sections 8-1002, 8-1002.1 or
8-1003, it must be shown that the employer discharged or suspended the claimant. In some cases, it is clear that the employer discharged the claimant, either verbally or in writing. However, in other cases, the actions and words of the claimant and employer are unclear and must be interpreted to determine whether a discharge occurred.

Situation: Fired.

Employer's Story: Let go because refused to work less than full-time (a legitimate fire).

Actual: Fired because promised a raise, not given a raise, confronted employer and filed complaint with HR department. Employer retaliated by reducing hours and responsibilities, and not providing agreed-upon raise.

Findings: Department of Labor and Licensing (DLLR) asked for and received copies of emails, and HR Complaint, wherein employer stated, "You are an at-will employee and I can change your employment status at any time, for any reason. Please accept this email as your formal notice that you are terminated..."

DLLR inquired: "Wait - the employer actually said you are 'terminated'?"

Employee did not refuse to work and was discharged. This does not constitute a voluntary quit under the law, and employee is entitled to unemployment insurance benefits.

Question: Can former employer appeal this decision?

I'll Call Him Jacob

Jacob is a 30-something-year-old man whose obsession with poisons in the air, food and water would drive him to breathe, eat and drink their respective sources religiously, and then turn around and complain about them.
The staff found this to be a nuisance and when turning off the water fountains didn't work, they locked Jacob in a Quiet Room for 48 hours, denying him the right to eat, drink, or use the restroom when he needed to. An investigation resulted in reprimand and "reminders" of patients' rights, and the "education of staff" by their supervisors.
Jacob's most frequent phrase and complaint to me was that the poisons were being placed there by people trying to hurt him, and they were "frying the meninges in my brain".
No amount of reason will ever help Jacob, (you've been here for a year; you appear not to have suffered any harm from the air, food or water - if it's poisoned, why do you think that is?) but proper medications and patience by those who care for him will.

Canadiens Lose Home Opener

Montréal lost to the Carolina Hurricanes tonight after taking the lead 1-0 early in the first period.

A power play goal by the 'Canes in the first period and an empty netter in the last few seconds of the third period gave the win to Carolina and disappointed a full house at the Bell Center tonight.

SCORING SUMMARY (provided by NHL.com)

1st Period Scoring

[Montréal Canadiens] 01:12 Christopher Higgins, Wrist Shot - Assists: Saku Koivu

[Carolina Hurricanes] 15:52 PPG - Cory Stillman, Wrist Shot - Assists: Rod Brind'Amour and Jeff Hamilton

2nd Period Scoring

[Carolina Hurricanes] 19:26 PPG - Matt Cullen, Wrist Shot - Assists: Erik Cole and Justin Williams

3rd Period Scoring
[Carolina Hurricanes] 19:44 Chad LaRose, Assists: Justin Williams

The Canadiens will host the Florida Panthers in Montréal on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:30PM EST.

Mr. Mercedes

Dear Mr. M:

Thanks very kindly for offering me a ride today. While we didn't get a chance to get to know each other, I wonder - did I look like a hooker? Did I appear desperate for a ride? Did you fantasize that the whole thing would play out like a scene from Pretty Woman? Did you see me wearing your white collar shirt tomorrow morning at breakfast?

Or were you a kind man, just trying to help a girl out...

I'll Call Her Lola

Lola is a fake name for a real person I met. She lives at a psychiatric facility and has for the past 12 years. She's fascinating to me and over the past year I got to know her very well, and earned her trust.
Lola suffers from severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It started when she was a young girl and manifested itself in such ways as having to wash her hands for hours and the feeling that she had lost an article of clothing when in fact it was still on her person. For Lola, she has particular issues with numbers, and letters - specifically threes and sixes and three-letter words. She can't even say OCD because it is a three letter word. Lola also associates certain colors with her illness and enjoys some colors and won't go near others.
The last time I saw Lola she told me that I looked lovely in beige. She was wearing her typical worn cardigan sweater, and she seemed aware that it was raggedy and old. She adjusted her hair and apologized for looking the way she did. I assured her she was beautiful as always, and her gray eyes lit up.
Lola is being abused by staff members at the facility where she lives. They don't understand her illness. They think she is just unwilling to do certain things at certain times, and they apply pressure and aggressiveness to her. They think that force will bring submission and then progress from Lola. They're wrong. Lola responds well to kindness, and encouragement, and an understanding ear. She needs more therapy than once a week, and she desperately needs people around her who understand her illness.

I wasn't able to tell Lola that I was leaving. I called her many times, and made sure it was a time she was comfortable with, but she was not able to come to the phone. Lola frequently takes a very long time to leave whatever she may be doing to change to something new. I'll write more about that another time. I won't be able to have peace of mind unless I call her; I just can't shock her like that.

That's Business

I worked for a company that had multiple contracts with the state of Maryland. The company had seven employees. Each contract was for at least $300,000, and the most recent one was for $402,000. When I say multiple, I mean at least five. Of the five, I was working on two. They were Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) contracts, and both contracts had a list of exactly twelve requirements.

Of each dozen, I handled six requirements. So I handled twelve total. You might think that's 50%, but the other six requirements were far fewer in number and took less time. The six (twelve total) I handled were the majority of the workload.

So, if I took two DHMH contracts at the minimum going rate of $300,000 each, that's $600,000. If I'm doing at least 50% of the work, that's $300,000. Of course, it doesn't work that way. I'm not a partner or owner.

After a year of working my ass off, though, I asked for a raise and was promised it. It was a helluva lot less than 50%, of course - a fraction of that. The raise never came, I confronted the boss about it, and was fired.

They loved me there, and I loved my job. But that's business.

Habs lose first of the season against Leafs

Final Score: Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Montreal Canadiens 3
Game went to overtime; game was played in Toronto.

At least we get the point. (Go Habs)

Scoring Summary (thank you NHL.com)

1st Period Scoring

02:43 Mathieu Dandenault, Backhand - Assists: Bryan Smolinski and Steve Begin
04:34 Ian White, Slap Shot - Assists: Alexander Steen and Bryan McCabe

2nd Period Scoring

06:05 SHG - Andrei Markov, Wrist Shot - Assists: Christopher Higgins and Saku Koivu
16:33 Andrei Kastsitsyn, Wrist Shot - Assists: Alex Kovalev and Patrice Brisebois
18:50 Alexei Ponikarovsky, Snap Shot - Assists: Mats Sundin and Nikolai Antropov

3rd Period Scoring

02:55 Alexei Ponikarovsky, Wrist Shot - Assists: Mats Sundin

OT Period Scoring

03:26 PPG - Tomas Kaberle, Slap Shot - Assists: Mats Sundin and Pavel Kubina