Hehe. 'Fraid not.

Believe it or not, I did the phase 1 commissioning (testing to ensure design intent is met) of the second of the Maple reactors in Chalk River back in 2000. I later did the early commissioning of the related processing facility. It became obvious very early on that the processing facility would never function reliably. The design was shockingly bad, and the management even worse. As for the reactors themselves, part of the issue is the interpretation of an international standard on reactor core design regarding 'positive void coefficient'. Linda Keen decided on her own extremely limiting interpretation before she was fired from the CNSC. That, and the fact that AECL was literally forced into the construction of the new facility by their contract with MDS Nordion, for whom they supply the raw isotopes. The Mulroney Conservatives literally gave away AECL's Commercial Products division (a HUGELY profitable one, btw) to MDS Nordion many years ago, and forced them (AECL) into a long term contract for the supply of isotopes. A contract that was not in the slightest favorable to AECL. I have long felt that AECL does not really want to be in the isotope business. That is the indication many of us get from some of the decisions that have been made over the years.

The issue of 'executive bonuses' appeared in that project too. When milestones cannot be met, executives just break the remaining portions of the project into smaller milestones, so that they always get their bonus for meeting them. Eventually, infinitessimally small progress gets made, but is celebrated and spun by management like major progress is actually occurring.

wrt the current Chalk River issues, the calandria vessel of the NRU reactor was originally replaced after the first 15 years of operation. The current one has been in operation for 37 years now. Budgets were cut, and the currently trendy management accounting practice of each department billing each other for services took root. Instead of people working as a company, they start working as small tribes, with petty little low-level managers desperately trying to preserve their little sphere of influence. Money gets wasted, and projects that really need to go ahead fall by the wayside due to 'budget priorities'.

Part of the problem in business today is that every manager seems to feel that the Harvard Business Review is gospel. It's no more than a series of articles published by professors and graduate students who like to see their names in print (or HAVE to to keep their positions). Every once in a while, some daft theory of management takes root in the world and takes about 10 years in the US to become thoroughly discredited. Canada seems to lag behind by several years, both on the uptake and the realization that it should be thrown away.

/end rant

Now you know at least that I come by my nick honestly:D

ah I see, so who does Mulroney know at MDS?
We'll give you a profitable division but AECL will still do the work (supply the isotopes).
Sounds oddly not unlike his extending pharma patents in CA from 5-15 years, with the law firm in MTL he ended up at have the three biggest Pharmas in CA as clients, hmmmm

The big question is: Who does Harper know, and what is his agenda in giving away yet another Canadian icon?

Harper? :lol: The Heritage Front maybe? Near as I can tell most power players don't want anything to do with him.

TJ -- I was going to post a long reply in the same vein, but you nailed this one.. all I have to add is that BOTH drivers & cyclists don't understand how to use the bike lane / dashed line properly at intersections. Drivers SHOULD be all the way over to the right (blocking the "bike lane", assuming a cyclist isn't already occupying it) before making that turn. Funny how they always seem to hug the curb tight when approaching a red (i.e. so that cyclists can't filter past), but rarely are near it when making the right.:notamused:

It's so they can do the cabbie slingshot.

:lol: I shutter to think what that might be.

Gunning it at the green to pass people mid-intersection.

huh? idiot filter is on .. forgive me

Watching that racing action really made me want to get out there... I have to get myself into decent shape to deserve a decent bike.

yeah the crit was great

a lot of crashes at scott/esplanade and the crowed was really supportive of the leader, even counting off his lead times

ah, i didn't know that term eiher. what irks me even more than that is when people who have the right of way slow down to let those drivers cut in. :twitchy:

...

went to 'mass last night for the first time in months. it was the most police marshalling interference that i'd ever witnessed, but despite being forced to stop at red lights (and lots of riders getting ticketed if they didn't) the crowd was surprisingly non-reactive and good-humoured. made the cops look even more like bullies, except for the one that was visibly having a hoot when we did a couple loops between maitland and carlton on jarvis. of course, stopping for lights created waaaaay more traffic havoc with the group getting split up and therefore taking several light-cycles to clear through. it would have been nice to check out the criterium as well but i had to boot it home in time (JUST in time) to get the laundry off the line before the rain started.

bells on bloor tomorrow!

Today is the day... I am going to get my mountain bike together if it kills me.

lawl

Finally got my forks and tires installed on my mountain bike, and even managed to get around to changing the oil in the forks too. :)

I got some racing ralphs... and ended up finally making the switch from UST to Stan's.

I've had this bike 12 years now and it's still the most awesome mountain bike ever



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/...b9177db0_b.jpg

L'il hauler has been working hard the past few weeks too!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/...f98a4c7d_b.jpg

nice ride...youre gonna murdah the trails!

Brad doesn't even look like he rides that judging from the showroom like condition on his bike!

that's a lot of t.p.!

talkin about mountain bikes... anyone in here ever ride the don? I try to stay outta there on the weekends just because of the rediculous traffic everywhere

Not as much as I'd like. I try to go early afternoon.

I was in there this morning between 8:30 and 10 and only saw maybe 10 other riders (and I think at least 3-4 of those were double sightings)

Anyone one what's the model of this saddle?

Hey Krusty, I keep seeing you in the shop but never enough time to say hi before you disappear.. Jeeze!