Dear Broadcasters in the San Antonio Metro Area,

You’ve failed.

Your lack of coverage this evening as two tornadic supercells - with one confirmed on the ground at one point - is absurd. You should be ashamed of yourselves. As a broadcaster, you should be willing to set aside financial concerns and start wall-to-wall coverage as it strikes your market. Take a page out of the playbook of your friends in Alabama. They’re doing it right.

I realize that regardless of how much coverage you give a storm, it won’t save every life. That’s just a fact of severe weather. However, to completely ignore your moral responsiblity to inform your viewers and listeners of impending severe weather is wrong on so many levels. The only reason I was informed of the pending situation this evening was due to my own initiative and preparedness. I took the time to look up forecasts and models previously in the day, and I was aware of the atmospheric conditions taht were present.

95% of your audience isn’t even aware these tools exist, and they rely on YOU to keep them informed.

I thank God that no one died tonight (at least, no reports that I’ve heard), because if this changes, then you have crossed a line of apathy that no broadcaster should ever cross.

With great distaste,

Andrew Glenn

So, I consider myself an average fellow. Many would argue this, for various reasons, but that’s how I perceive myself. However, despite the modesty I try to carry, I’m pretty sure my brain works differently than others. Let me explain.

When I’m out and about, I always look at various things along the way. Oh, this stop light has LED bulbs while the one next to it has the old type. There are twenty security cameras overlooking the Walmart parking lot. The register system at Wendy’s is from the same people that handle the ones in Albertsons. Whatever the case may be.

That’s just the way it works, and I have no problem with it. However, when I’m left with very little extra stimulation, such as when I’m visiting my parents in BFE Michigan.. and the nearest neighbor is at least a half-mile away.. my brain decides to do it’s own thing. What occurs when this kicks in, you ask?

I start spelling words. A lot of them. Endlessly.

“That’s an oxymoron”. “O-X-Y-M-O..” You get the idea.

I’ve often wondered if this is the result of reading a lot while I was younger. Or, is it just the way I’ve functioned since I was born. Meaning: what is responsible, external or internal influences. In this case, external influcenses are those that are external to me. My upbringing, my work environment, etc. Internal ones are mine and mine alone - DNA, and so on.

Perhaps the stigma that I quasi-perceive is that by questioning this - the spelling and other such things - in a public setting, to a doctor, I’ll be viewed as a nutcase. (and in some respects, that’s likely true. The negativity that goes along with such a label and stereotype isn’t something I want attached to me. To be honest, I almost didn’t post this. In the end, I realized that by self-censoring, I’m denying all of you - the three readers I have - a view into what exactly makes me, well me. I don’t consider that to be fair either.

I have a cheap clock sitting on the floor here. It was originally intended to be a wall piece, but I don’t see myself putting it up until I actually do something decent with it.

Enter a brain trying to shut down, but not succeeding.

The result? A plan to line each hour mark on the clock with a LED. Multicolored perhaps. Changing colors every fifteen minutes.

This first post on the matter is designed to be a brain dump of sorts. The questions I’m working out at the moment include:

• How many colors do I want?
• Can I get away with 6 LEDs over 12?
• What will I use for timing?
• What will I use for voltage regulation to trigger the colors?
• How much am I willing to spend?

As I like to put in customer-facing ticket updates: Additional details are pending…

Musical instruments travel to my ears. 
The organ donors of our society dispel their works.
Every note is another exercise in courage.
The Man's presence causes a lot of fear.

But fear not, my friends.
In the end the underdog shall prevail.
It'll be a modern day politicial and social match.
The question becomes: Who will be on the wrong end of the catch?

Striking the Match, setting the flame.
Being the spark that unites the oppressed in passion. 
Will it be social injustice, or the latest Macy's Fashion?
It doesn't really matter, you know. 

The flow of gasoline doesn't discriminiate.
Violence is the result of hate. 
Hate for our brothers or mothers... even corporate personhood...
..or just not acting the way that we should. 

Love, not bombs is the way we should look.
Fighting for the overall status of a human being. 
World unity is what we should be seeing.
Instead? Concern shifts towards what food was took.

As I write this, on Christmas Day 2011, I’m sitting in my cubicle at work. “But Andrew, why are you at work?!”, you ask somewhat incredilously. I’m at work becuase I was “volunteered” to work this shift. To moreso answer the question - I work as a Linux System Administrator for a large (read: huge) webhosting company. As with hospitals and fire departments, the internet never sleeps.

I will admit, the queue is rather slow today, leaving my mind wondering. Of course, I’m always multitasking with my brain, but supreme boredom and no shortage of caffiene are assisting such multitaskings. Since today is Christmas, and as such, the birth of Jesus Christ, my thoughts have turned spiritual. Say what you will about Christianity, mind you. I’m not about to shove my beliefs down your through. To each their own.

Now, I realized how Christmas has turned into an over-commericialism of sorts. It’s all BUY BUY BUY. Spend money here, spend money there. In some cases, this has resulted in violence. Before we go on, I realize I am contributing to the problem today, of all days, by being at work. Yes. I just admitted I am a hipocrit.

The point I’m making: is spending money, being rude, and all sorts of unplesantries what Christmas is about?

No. It’s not. It’s a time of joy, visiting with families, and celebration.

What it’ll take for us - as a society - to get our heads out of our rear-ends is anyone’s guess…

This is a first post. I’ve decided to yank my blog away from the -dom that is Wordpress, mainly encouraged by an esteemed friend.

I’ve also decided that it’s a good idea to start over. I haven’t done anything with this domain in quite some time. New technicial stuff, new blog posts.