Tank turned 49 this year
- Thread starter Paul B
- Start date
Paul B
Well-Known Member
So I had to have a drug test to renew my Coast Guard Captains License. Two weeks ago I made an appointment and went to my Union's medical dept to get it as they have a drug test facility there.
I get the test and make an appointment and hand deliver it to the Coast Guard in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan which is a pain to get to from my house, but I figured if I mailed it, they would say they didn't get it and I would have to do it all over again.
The bubbly 15 year old looking cute girl working there at the Coast Guard tells me the drug test is illegible and they can't read it. OK, I call my union to fax over a better copy. I am on the phone with my union as they faxed it about 8 times but it never came in the the Coast Guard where I am standing.
I ask Goldilox if this is the correct fax number. She assures me that she is positive thats the number. They fax it another 6 times, and nothing comes through so Goldi tells me "you have to leave because they are very busy today". I look around and me and the guy sweeping the floor are the only people there. She gives me a form telling me I have 60 days to fax over the test results.
I look at the fax number on the form and it is one number different from the fax number she was positive was correct.
I call he over and show her, she insists it is the same number. I tell her, well "most" of the numbers are the same but this "4" is a "7" on this form.
"Ooh, I must have made a mistake." No, the Coast Guard made a mistake when they hired you. So I call back my union and they re fax it and to my surprise, it gets there.
Now they look at it and say, it isn't readable. It's blurry.
OK, I go all the way into Queens to my Union and pick up a good copy and fax it to the Coast Guard.
Two days later I get a letter from them saying the drug test is no good for all these reasons, and they give me two sheets of paper almost all highlighted with things wrong. The test results are fine but it's the wrong format, they don't know the doctor, it doesn't have the proper chain of command, they are not a federally designated drug test facility, Ameila Aerheart didn't sign it, Who is Dr Zhivago, etc. etc.
So I make an appointment with a Federally designated drug testing facility and go there this morning. I had an 8:00 am appointment and the place is not in the best neighborhood. There are courts all around and I think they use this place to test the jail inmates before that go to trial as most of them looked like ax murderers, car hijackers, Jay Walkers and those people that remove those tags on new furniture that says "Do not remove under penalty of the Law".
I got there 45 minutes early because I didn't know exactly where it was and I purposely didn't go to the bathroom before I went because this is a urine test and I wanted to make sure I could go there.
Now I am in my car busting a gut because i really have to go. They let me in and I tell the girl to hurry up and give me the cup.
"Oh No we can't do that, you have to be processed in, finger printed, fill out these forms, try speed dating etc. So I say, I really got to go so where's the bathroom. She says "Really" look around. The place is nothing but tiny bathrooms, smaller than my refugium. I run in and try to just go a "little bit". That is hard to do if you ever tried it.
I go to sit down and now I have to go EVEN MORE. I mean I am climbing the walls. The nurse, book keeper, secretary or whatever comes over to me and starts speaking to me in Spanish.
I am Italian but was born in Brooklyn like my parents so the only word I know in Spanish is Ricardo Montalban.
I tell her I only speak English, but she continues in Spanish anyway.
Now I really can't hold it any longer, she hands me the cup and I run and burst into the tiny bathroom anticipating relief. I open the cup and......AND,,,,And...I CAN'T GO. Like REALLY!!
It's not like I can lay down, have a beer and watch TV for an hour, there are people on line. If I could stand on my head, I would. I am trying to think about Niagara Falls, my power heads, my old leaky fish tank, but nothing.
Eventually I manage to fill the cup. Before I come out of this closet my phone rings. I didn't want to answer it because I didn't recognize the number but my house is for sale and I figured it might be someone with a wheelbarrow full of cash outside my house so I answer it.
It's Goldilox from the Coast Guard and she is her bubbly self. She tells me that my drug test that I sent in last week that they said was no good is fine and they are processing my application.
I say "WHAT!!" I just spent fifty bucks on a new drug test and nearly burst a kidney and besides you sent me two pages of things wrong with that test. She says, Oh that. That letter was a mistake. Have a nice day.
I mean, you can't make this stuff up. Is it me? Dealing with the government is like watching Seinfeld and the Twilight Zone at the same time while you are on LSD and Rogain.
I get the test and make an appointment and hand deliver it to the Coast Guard in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan which is a pain to get to from my house, but I figured if I mailed it, they would say they didn't get it and I would have to do it all over again.
The bubbly 15 year old looking cute girl working there at the Coast Guard tells me the drug test is illegible and they can't read it. OK, I call my union to fax over a better copy. I am on the phone with my union as they faxed it about 8 times but it never came in the the Coast Guard where I am standing.
I ask Goldilox if this is the correct fax number. She assures me that she is positive thats the number. They fax it another 6 times, and nothing comes through so Goldi tells me "you have to leave because they are very busy today". I look around and me and the guy sweeping the floor are the only people there. She gives me a form telling me I have 60 days to fax over the test results.
I look at the fax number on the form and it is one number different from the fax number she was positive was correct.
I call he over and show her, she insists it is the same number. I tell her, well "most" of the numbers are the same but this "4" is a "7" on this form.
"Ooh, I must have made a mistake." No, the Coast Guard made a mistake when they hired you. So I call back my union and they re fax it and to my surprise, it gets there.
Now they look at it and say, it isn't readable. It's blurry.
OK, I go all the way into Queens to my Union and pick up a good copy and fax it to the Coast Guard.
Two days later I get a letter from them saying the drug test is no good for all these reasons, and they give me two sheets of paper almost all highlighted with things wrong. The test results are fine but it's the wrong format, they don't know the doctor, it doesn't have the proper chain of command, they are not a federally designated drug test facility, Ameila Aerheart didn't sign it, Who is Dr Zhivago, etc. etc.
So I make an appointment with a Federally designated drug testing facility and go there this morning. I had an 8:00 am appointment and the place is not in the best neighborhood. There are courts all around and I think they use this place to test the jail inmates before that go to trial as most of them looked like ax murderers, car hijackers, Jay Walkers and those people that remove those tags on new furniture that says "Do not remove under penalty of the Law".
I got there 45 minutes early because I didn't know exactly where it was and I purposely didn't go to the bathroom before I went because this is a urine test and I wanted to make sure I could go there.
Now I am in my car busting a gut because i really have to go. They let me in and I tell the girl to hurry up and give me the cup.
"Oh No we can't do that, you have to be processed in, finger printed, fill out these forms, try speed dating etc. So I say, I really got to go so where's the bathroom. She says "Really" look around. The place is nothing but tiny bathrooms, smaller than my refugium. I run in and try to just go a "little bit". That is hard to do if you ever tried it.
I go to sit down and now I have to go EVEN MORE. I mean I am climbing the walls. The nurse, book keeper, secretary or whatever comes over to me and starts speaking to me in Spanish.
I am Italian but was born in Brooklyn like my parents so the only word I know in Spanish is Ricardo Montalban.
I tell her I only speak English, but she continues in Spanish anyway.
Now I really can't hold it any longer, she hands me the cup and I run and burst into the tiny bathroom anticipating relief. I open the cup and......AND,,,,And...I CAN'T GO. Like REALLY!!
It's not like I can lay down, have a beer and watch TV for an hour, there are people on line. If I could stand on my head, I would. I am trying to think about Niagara Falls, my power heads, my old leaky fish tank, but nothing.
Eventually I manage to fill the cup. Before I come out of this closet my phone rings. I didn't want to answer it because I didn't recognize the number but my house is for sale and I figured it might be someone with a wheelbarrow full of cash outside my house so I answer it.
It's Goldilox from the Coast Guard and she is her bubbly self. She tells me that my drug test that I sent in last week that they said was no good is fine and they are processing my application.
I say "WHAT!!" I just spent fifty bucks on a new drug test and nearly burst a kidney and besides you sent me two pages of things wrong with that test. She says, Oh that. That letter was a mistake. Have a nice day.
I mean, you can't make this stuff up. Is it me? Dealing with the government is like watching Seinfeld and the Twilight Zone at the same time while you are on LSD and Rogain.
Pat24601
Well-Known Member
I almost forgot, it's my tank birthday this month. 47
Amazing!!!
Congrats Paul ! Want your thread title updated to match ? 
Tank turned 47 this year
Tank turned 47 this year
Done - the early days - now we need a current one of you and the tank, last one I found was from ReefKeeping Magazine when the tank was 40 
Four Decades of Learning
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/7-paul-baldassanos-40-year-old-reef
Four Decades of Learning
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/7-paul-baldassanos-40-year-old-reef
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Paul B
Well-Known Member
I will have to get my wife to take one. My tank doesn't look great now but it is OK. I have been building furniture and lights for the new house. I almost finished the bed, made 3 of the lights and will start on the tank stand next week. I will have to do some maintenance on the tank before I move but I really am busy. Still trying to sell this place.
Much of my montipora is gone because the large 10 year old hermit crabs fall on it from above and break it. I normally glue it back someplace but I have been just letting it die on the bottom because I doubt it will survive the move as it is very delicate. The pieces I have left will re grow and fill the tank in a year.
One large gorgonian was touched by a sponge and I should have pried it away but I left it and it completely grew over the entire gorgonian. Another thing I need to replace but now I have a gorgonian shaped sponge.
Much of my montipora is gone because the large 10 year old hermit crabs fall on it from above and break it. I normally glue it back someplace but I have been just letting it die on the bottom because I doubt it will survive the move as it is very delicate. The pieces I have left will re grow and fill the tank in a year.
One large gorgonian was touched by a sponge and I should have pried it away but I left it and it completely grew over the entire gorgonian. Another thing I need to replace but now I have a gorgonian shaped sponge.
Paul B
Well-Known Member
Can You Guess How Old This Man Is?
Stay with this -- the answer is at the end.
It may blow you away.
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events.
The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.
The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:
'television
'penicillin
'polio shots
'frozen foods
'Xerox
'contact lenses
'Frisbees and
'the pill
There were no:
'credit cards
'laser beams or
'ball-point pens
Man had not invented:
'pantyhose
'air conditioners
'dishwashers
'clothes dryers
'and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and
'space travel was only in Flash Gordon books.
Your Grandmother and I got married first,.. and then lived together..
Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every woman older than me, "mam". And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir".
We were before computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Bible, good judgment, and common sense We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.
Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege.. We thought fast food was eating half a biscuit while running to catch the school bus
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.
Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as the evening breeze started.
Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.
We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings
We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk.
The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam....
Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.
We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.
You could buy a new Ford Coupe for $600, ... but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.
In my day:
'"grass" was mowed,
'"coke" was a cold drink,
'"pot" was something your mother cooked in and
'"rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby.
'"Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office,
'"chip" meant a piece of wood,
'"hardware" was found in a hardware store and
'"software" wasn't even a word.
And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.
How old do you think I am?
I bet you have this old man in mind...you are in for a shock!
Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.
Are you ready ??
This man would be 70 years old today.
71 years ago was 1947.
I was born in 1948.
This is me and my main squeeze standing in front of my Dads 1947 Pontiac
Stay with this -- the answer is at the end.
It may blow you away.
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events.
The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.
The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:
'television
'penicillin
'polio shots
'frozen foods
'Xerox
'contact lenses
'Frisbees and
'the pill
There were no:
'credit cards
'laser beams or
'ball-point pens
Man had not invented:
'pantyhose
'air conditioners
'dishwashers
'clothes dryers
'and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and
'space travel was only in Flash Gordon books.
Your Grandmother and I got married first,.. and then lived together..
Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every woman older than me, "mam". And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir".
We were before computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Bible, good judgment, and common sense We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.
Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege.. We thought fast food was eating half a biscuit while running to catch the school bus
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.
Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as the evening breeze started.
Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.
We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings
We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk.
The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam....
Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.
We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.
You could buy a new Ford Coupe for $600, ... but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.
In my day:
'"grass" was mowed,
'"coke" was a cold drink,
'"pot" was something your mother cooked in and
'"rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby.
'"Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office,
'"chip" meant a piece of wood,
'"hardware" was found in a hardware store and
'"software" wasn't even a word.
And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.
How old do you think I am?
I bet you have this old man in mind...you are in for a shock!
Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.
Are you ready ??
This man would be 70 years old today.
71 years ago was 1947.
I was born in 1948.
This is me and my main squeeze standing in front of my Dads 1947 Pontiac
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It was sure a different age back then. Although I'd rather be living today rather than back then. Like all ages, there are good things and bad things going on in the world.
Besides I like the new technology, and what can be done with it. Back then you'd read about Dick Tracy and his 2 way wrist radio. Today, you can get a smart phone that does all that and more.
In any case, happy birthday.
Besides I like the new technology, and what can be done with it. Back then you'd read about Dick Tracy and his 2 way wrist radio. Today, you can get a smart phone that does all that and more.
In any case, happy birthday.
Paul B
Well-Known Member
I think I liked it back then better. I liked actually meeting a girl face to face and moving your mouth to speak to her. Then doing things in front of her to try to impress her. Then take her out and actually spend money that was paper and green. I liked it that no one could call and text you all day long to ask if you want to save money on car insurance, clean your chimney, reduce your acne or feed your cat.
I liked to have a car that i didn't need a degree in rocket science to fix and you had to work to eat or you would starve, good incentive. I liked it when you had to buy your own car, wedding and home.
People were actually patriotic and loved and respected the country rather than wanting stuff for free.
I liked it when we respected the police.
I liked it when you had an argument you went behind the school and fought it out like a man and didn't just emoge someone with a sad face like a Sissy, girly wimp. I liked it if you did a bad job you got fired.
Life was better than.
I liked to have a car that i didn't need a degree in rocket science to fix and you had to work to eat or you would starve, good incentive. I liked it when you had to buy your own car, wedding and home.
People were actually patriotic and loved and respected the country rather than wanting stuff for free.
I liked it when we respected the police.
I liked it when you had an argument you went behind the school and fought it out like a man and didn't just emoge someone with a sad face like a Sissy, girly wimp. I liked it if you did a bad job you got fired.
Life was better than.
The 1st Walmart, still open as a museum, a fun tour - Sam opened this 5 &10-cent store in 1950 in Bentonville, Arkansas How things have changed...
Paul B
Well-Known Member
It costs you much more than ten cents to park in front of the place now. I don't think I have ever been in a Walmart. We don't have them here as far as I know.
Where my Daughter lives in Manhattan it is 25 cents for 12 minutes to park. What are you going to do in 12 minutes?
Where my Daughter lives in Manhattan it is 25 cents for 12 minutes to park. What are you going to do in 12 minutes?
$485 billion last year in sales, not bad for a 5 and 10 cent start and 2.3 million employees, starting wage just went to $11 an hour , they are great for soap, shampoo and lots of everyday items best prices around, just not the best steaks, seafood, clothes... not sure why NY does not have them, around 6,400 stores in US, many here are open 24 x 7 / 365
they gave 1.42 billion to charity just in 2017 ... billion a big number and you can camp in there parking lots for free -Walmart Stores offer Overnight RV Camping LOL maybe there no room in NY for that
they gave 1.42 billion to charity just in 2017 ... billion a big number and you can camp in there parking lots for free -Walmart Stores offer Overnight RV Camping LOL maybe there no room in NY for that
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There were some things that I would consider better back then, but on the balance, I'd rather live now.
I like how you can use the net and make friends all over the world. Before that my chances of meeting others in the hobby were low and only if I ran into them at my LFS. I also like how can get good advice on this forum and other forums. Way back when I had to depend on the LFS, and hobbyist written articles that often contained incorrect information, by the standards of the time.
I like how I can use the net to voice chat with someone far away, and not have to pay the super duper high charges the phone company use to charge you for a long distance call.
I like how I can use my cell phone in most places and get help in an emergency.
I like how I can use an ATM to get cash anytime I want. Before, I'd have to write a check to cash and visit the bank, when they were open to get my money.
I like how if I have a problem with unsolicited phone calls I can just block them.
I like having a car that can show me exactly what is behind me so I don't bump into anything or run anyone over. I like how GPS can get me to exactly where I want to go when I'm in an unfamiliar area. I like how cars can play my CDs or MP3 files.
I like how I can order products on the net and get them in a day or two. Before I'd need to "special order" something and I might get it in a few weeks, if the store could even obtain it.
Paul B
Well-Known Member
Nano, I am sure there are Walmarts here, just not near me, we have so many stores they are going to start putting them on top of each other.
Dave, those things are of course great, but we didn't know about them so we didn't miss them.
As a kid us boys used to go out and play stick ball, baseball, touch football or look for tadpoles then as we got older Girls. We were in great shape from climbing trees and running around. Today you don't see kids outside, not here anyway. There are no young girls playing jump rope that they used to do endlessly. Today many kids (and adults) are fat. Kids shouldn't be fat. But if you stay inside all day to text or watch a stupid notebook, you will get fat, fat and stupid.
The "friends" we have on our phones are not real "friends". We think about them but can you call your friend in Yugoslavia to come over and help you move something or text the girl in Nepal to help push your car?
You will get stupid because book smart is great if you are on Jeopardy. But I can fix any part of my car, boat, refrigerator and house. I know how to read but I am also street smart. Street smarts is a much bigger help than book smart although a little of both is the best.
How many kids today can fix their car? plumbing? or anything else. Software is great but it is a virtual thing and won't help you if you are stranded on a desert Island with Natives who only know how to make bathing suit tops out of coconut shells, string Pookoo beads into a necklace while they watch Jeopardy in Swahilli.
I didn't go to college but I also never in my life hired anyone for anything except dentists. My Daughter and Son N Law hire people to hang a picture. No, Really!. There are "professional picture hangers".
In other words some entrepreneur with no job who knows how to get over on book smart people.
I don't know how people live in a house if they can't fix anything. I could not live here if I had to call a plumber for $300.00 an hour to fix a leak. (remember this is NY)
Also remember, when you order something from Amazon, as I do all the time, you are taking away work from the store, the bus driver, the parking meters, the kid who stocks the store, the gas station, the guy who fixes your car and multiple other people which is why here in NY there are no more small stores. I have 5 Home Depots with in 4 miles from my house.
This reminds me of a story. Everything reminds me of a story. Last year I was invited to this small conference at the east end of Long Island for the study of a problem with pollution they are having with this huge salt pond there. The pond is surrounded by some of the wealthiest people in the world like Spielberg and others.
It is about 50 yards from the sea and every year or so they bring in bulldozers to clear a path to the sea to flush it out.
The problem is the pond gets loaded with algae, then the algae dies and it stinks bringing in flies and other nasty things.
This happens because there are no sewers there and all these people have cesspools that eventually end up in the pond and their many acres of impeccable lawns dump loads of fertilizer in the pond every week so the algae can't help but grow.
So every ten years or so these people get a committee going to "study" the problem. I was there I guess as the fish and invertebrate "expert", but there were real scientists, hydrologists, sewage experts, climatologists and a few other ologists.
WE spoke about the problem, the pH, the nitrogen, the algae, the sludge and all sorts of things causing this. But we all knew what was causing it.
There is even evidence that the native Americans knew about this situation a century ago but I am sure it worked itself out then as no one had cesspools or dinner parties on the pond.
So after a few hours "studying" the problem they decided to put another buoy in the pond to "study" the pollution and observe it.
They have been doing this for decades while the problem gets worse.
I stood up and made a suggestion. I said instead of studying the problem which is the same thing as doing nothing, why don't they use this empty few acres near there that isn't used for anything and build a small waste treatment plant. I mean, these are the richest people in the world, a couple of million bucks shouldn't mean much.
It went over their heads as that would fix the problem, but no one wants that because these scientists get paid to "study" things, not fix them. After it was fixed, what would they do?
Dave, those things are of course great, but we didn't know about them so we didn't miss them.
As a kid us boys used to go out and play stick ball, baseball, touch football or look for tadpoles then as we got older Girls. We were in great shape from climbing trees and running around. Today you don't see kids outside, not here anyway. There are no young girls playing jump rope that they used to do endlessly. Today many kids (and adults) are fat. Kids shouldn't be fat. But if you stay inside all day to text or watch a stupid notebook, you will get fat, fat and stupid.
The "friends" we have on our phones are not real "friends". We think about them but can you call your friend in Yugoslavia to come over and help you move something or text the girl in Nepal to help push your car?
You will get stupid because book smart is great if you are on Jeopardy. But I can fix any part of my car, boat, refrigerator and house. I know how to read but I am also street smart. Street smarts is a much bigger help than book smart although a little of both is the best.
How many kids today can fix their car? plumbing? or anything else. Software is great but it is a virtual thing and won't help you if you are stranded on a desert Island with Natives who only know how to make bathing suit tops out of coconut shells, string Pookoo beads into a necklace while they watch Jeopardy in Swahilli.
I didn't go to college but I also never in my life hired anyone for anything except dentists. My Daughter and Son N Law hire people to hang a picture. No, Really!. There are "professional picture hangers".
In other words some entrepreneur with no job who knows how to get over on book smart people.
I don't know how people live in a house if they can't fix anything. I could not live here if I had to call a plumber for $300.00 an hour to fix a leak. (remember this is NY)
Also remember, when you order something from Amazon, as I do all the time, you are taking away work from the store, the bus driver, the parking meters, the kid who stocks the store, the gas station, the guy who fixes your car and multiple other people which is why here in NY there are no more small stores. I have 5 Home Depots with in 4 miles from my house.
This reminds me of a story. Everything reminds me of a story. Last year I was invited to this small conference at the east end of Long Island for the study of a problem with pollution they are having with this huge salt pond there. The pond is surrounded by some of the wealthiest people in the world like Spielberg and others.
It is about 50 yards from the sea and every year or so they bring in bulldozers to clear a path to the sea to flush it out.
The problem is the pond gets loaded with algae, then the algae dies and it stinks bringing in flies and other nasty things.
This happens because there are no sewers there and all these people have cesspools that eventually end up in the pond and their many acres of impeccable lawns dump loads of fertilizer in the pond every week so the algae can't help but grow.
So every ten years or so these people get a committee going to "study" the problem. I was there I guess as the fish and invertebrate "expert", but there were real scientists, hydrologists, sewage experts, climatologists and a few other ologists.
WE spoke about the problem, the pH, the nitrogen, the algae, the sludge and all sorts of things causing this. But we all knew what was causing it.
There is even evidence that the native Americans knew about this situation a century ago but I am sure it worked itself out then as no one had cesspools or dinner parties on the pond.
So after a few hours "studying" the problem they decided to put another buoy in the pond to "study" the pollution and observe it.
They have been doing this for decades while the problem gets worse.
I stood up and made a suggestion. I said instead of studying the problem which is the same thing as doing nothing, why don't they use this empty few acres near there that isn't used for anything and build a small waste treatment plant. I mean, these are the richest people in the world, a couple of million bucks shouldn't mean much.
It went over their heads as that would fix the problem, but no one wants that because these scientists get paid to "study" things, not fix them. After it was fixed, what would they do?
they make for enjoyable reading too...