at exactly the same time "President Bush" "commuted" the sentence of Scooter Libby. We'd been having internet problems, webcasting problems and minor electricity problems. There was no warning for what happened tonight (the elecricity, that is) when just after evening service started the restaurant went dark. I was upstairs (with lights) and noticed an uptake in activity on the terrace around 7:15 GMT. About an hour later our operations and maintenance manager called and informed me of the problem, saying people from LYDEC, the utility, would be coming soon...he hoped before our group of 25 at 8:30. When I came downstairs LYDEC was on hand, they'd restored lights to the 2nd floor and soon all was working downstairs. I started trying to get the computers working and noticed that our server and computer that handles our webcasting were still out. I called Houssein, the ops mgr and we saw that the three multiple plugs which were linked through a surge control/current maintenance apparatus were down. When Houssein connected them to the direct current of the apparatus the lights went out again in all the restaurant! Hmmmm...on to plan B, separating the three multiple plugs and plugging them in three different outlets. This took some time but I knew in the end we would finally get back to the internet and webcasting. Meanwhile I greeted customers, enjoyed my Jameson's at the bar and finally I was just able to log on....ONLY TO SEE THE EVENT WAS THE ROOT CAUSE OF OUR ELECTRICITY BLOWOUT...AN OUTRAGE DONE IN THE TYPICAL ARROGANT BUSH FASHION - A PARDON WOULD HAVE CALLED ON THE "PRESIDENT" TO PUT SOME PHILOSOPHICAL JUSTIFICATION BEHIND HIS ACTION. COMMUTATION, IN MY VIEW, IS JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND ANY SENSE THAT THERE IS A RULE OF LAW WHEN IT APPLIES TO THE "EXECUTIVE BRANCH." I bought a round of drinks for the house the day the verdict was rendered in the Scooter Libby trial - hopefully the next round will be when impeachment proceedings are launched against Cheney, Bush and Gonzales...the Larry, Moe and Curley personifying the lamentable state of US politics. |
