Working hard

Technical Details:

Part of my job as the Director of Quality Control is to process GPS points collected in the field to check the Aerial Laser Survey data.  The Field Operations Specialist (Defense) mounts a survey grade GPS antenna on a vehicle, measures the antenna height and drives around the project area.  The resulting data is processed to a very high degree of accuracy (2-4cm) and compared with the Laser points collected in the aircraft to make sure they are accurate.  When the accuracy of the points is good, these charts show them in green.

Just imagine my satisfaction when i checked these GPS points and found they were all of very high quality and in the shape of a cock and balls.  I can just imagine the smile on Defense's face as he charted his path through the central valley, thinking of me in the office, sitting in my cubicle, processing GPS points, taking screen shots and making IFS posts.  Meanwhile the heavy pelican case for the GPS equipment sits atop the shattered sacred documents. A giant green shlong and a job well done sir.  The client will be pleased.

Picture Day

Ministers and Rabbi,

    Although we have had lots of fun at various informal gatherings since Chico, the fact of the matter is that we have some serious business to take care of.  Numerous loose ends need to be tied up and I am looking forward to a very business-like meeting. 

    We will be inducting a new member and as usual it is very important for the organization to maintain our code and conduct.  The new member will be fully endorsed by all necessary parties and will have the paperwork completed before the meeting.
    I propose every member have something to bring to the meeting, no matter how small.  I personally will be bringing numerous items, including the member of the year trophy for the best member of 2007.  Remember what is at stake here.  I implore you, "If you have a responsibility within the group please carry out your required duties."  If you cannot perform your duties, find a minister who can and is willing to help.
    I also proposed a picture day in which we will be taking personal photos for the website and filling out personal bios.  I have prepared the bio forms and will be handing them out at the meeting.  For those members not present, the forms can be filled out and emailed.  It is my vision to work these personal biographies into the website.  So either wear something nice or IFS gear, or both.   
    Sorry about the serious business post.  Do good work,  love your beer, love your flapjacks, honor your organization, honor your country and be good ministers.  That is all.

A Russell for Every Season

Ministers, it's time.  It's time to transform an exciting idea into a harrowing reality.  On October 27th, we will unite to become the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL.  Most of you know about this concept, and hopefully you are excited to be a part of it.  For those of you who are out of the Russell-loop (Shwayne), here's a few reasons why we will soon be uniting to become the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL:

1) Kurt is HANDSOME

2) Kurt is STRONG:

3) Kurt is NICE:

So, now that you know the WHO (KURT RUSSELL) and the WHY (ABOVE), here's the WHEN, the WHAT/WHERE and the HOW:

WHEN: October 27, 2007.  The Saturday evening before Halloween.
WHAT/WHERE: Halloween Party at Amanda's home in Los Feliz.  Call me for directions.
HOW:
1) Choose one of Kurt Russell's roles (some costume suggestions included as well): Stargate (buzz cut, army fatigues), Tombstone (strong mustache), Backdraft, Escape from New York (eye patch), Escape from LA (eye patch, surf board), Soldier, Captain Ron (hawaiin shirt, speedo), Breakdown, Poseidon (tuxedo, step in the shower), Big Trouble in Little China, 3,000 Miles to Graceland (Elvis costume and machine gun), Miracle, Death Proof, and many more - full listing and pictures here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000621/. 
2) This has to be an organized process, otherwise, we'd have 8 Captain Rons showing up to the party.  So, when you have selected your Kurt Russell role, please comment on this post with your name and your desired role.  This will be a first come, first serve basis; if someone has picked Captain Ron, then you CANNOT be Captain Ron.  Maybe you can be Stargate or Vanilla Sky instead.
3) Create your costume and wear it to the party.   All costumes will require strong hair (some of you have this, some of us will need wigs - modified mullet wigs should work).
4) Take pictures with the other Kurt Russells at the party.  These pictures will be very strong.

The more Kurt Russells, the better, so I hope that all of you can make it.  Please comment with your picks, and with any questions that you may have.  Hope to see you all there.

- Rousing

Fricker is going back to school!

As many of you may have heard, I have been accepted to the PhD program at UCLA in Geography.  I recieved official confirmation this morning, and I didn't want to make any announcments before I had a letter in hand. So... I'm going back to school next fall.  The last remaining hurdle is a financial one, so we'll see how high I can jump and if I get any help from the great state of California.  Cross your fingers.  But don't worry, I'll still be availble for any questions regarding lasers and or laser maps from now into the future, hopefully moreso. 

I can also legitimately rep UCLA basketball for their game versus Flordia on Saturday. Go Bruins!!  I'd like to thank all of my brothers for their support. I love you all.  -Fricker

UCSB Laser Map Quiz

Here are ten 3D images taken from the LiDAR signature from an airborne laser scanner flown over our beloved UCSB. There’s a bit of noise in these models and it’s not like looking at an image, so interpret wisely. It seems the going rate is 2 bottles of ale to the winner. First person to comment with the correct answers (or the most correct answers) gets two beers and the respect of their peers:

There are 10 Laser Maps, all on the main UCSB campus.  For those who didn't attend UCSB, get a campus map and guess anyway.

 

 

I Have the Coolest Job of the Group!!!

Here is an average day in the life of Scott Baumann, laser extraordinaire (in training):

First, fly across the country and use satellites and computers to find the laser hole.

Then, after using satellites and computers to find it, reach through ice and water to finger the laser hole.

After the laser hole and been thoroughly fingered, go directly to Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY, the place where Teressa Bellissimo invented Buffalo wings in 1964.

Finally, eat as many wings as you can.  These are quite simply the best wings your humble Minister of Not Writing the Defense Report has ever seen and/or eaten.  They were huge and tender and perfectly fried.  The bleu cheese was so creamy and tangy that I thought for a moment I was giving Mark a blow-job.  The celery and carrots were pretty much the same as they are anywhere else.  Oh, and to boot, we also had pitchers of McSorley's beer, which is beer that is brewed for and by McSorley's Old Ale House, the oldest and most bad ass bar in all of New York City.  Jordan will confirm this for me.  They have a $2 cheese and raw onion plate that is to cheese plates what Anchor Bar wings are to wings.

Living the dream.  Sorry about your face.

-Boomann-

P.S.-  Thank you Fricker for getting me this job.