Merry christmas and a happy new year to all of you...

... Outage finished, Unit recommissioned, Site demobilized... Good bye, Stassfurt...

... and here some Stassfurt photos, random shots...

On my way back home from Monaco to Menzingen I experienced a wonderful situation trying to pass the Gotthard Tunnel. Unfortunately there was an accident and the traffic was jammed - more than 10Km - and I have been in the middle of it. A wonderful 3 hours break almost doubled the travel time...

... I was driving and found myself in Italy... and it was hot, 43degC. I continued driving and found myself in Monaco - tired, hot and humid... and definitely needed a shower!!!

Today I decided to go to Mount Titlis in Switzerland just to relax a little. It was the first sunny day here in Switzerland for a long time!!!

WHEN YOU CHECK OUT OF A HOTEL THAT USES THE CREDIT-CARD-TYPE ROOM KEY, THE
CLERK OFTEN WILL ASK IF YOU HAVE YOUR KEY(S)TO TURN IN...
OR THERE IS A BOX OR SLOT ON THE RECEPTION COUNTER IN WHICH TO PUT THEM.
THIS IS GOOD FOR THE HOTEL BECAUSE THEY SAVE MONEY BY RE-USING THOSE CARDS.
BUT, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU, AS REVEALED BELOW.

FROM THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS ASSIGNED TO DETECT NEW
THREATS TO PERSONAL SECURITY ISSUES, DISCOVERED WHAT TYPE OF
INFORMATION IS EMBEDDED IN THE CREDIT CARD TYPE HOTEL ROOM KEYS USED
THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.
ALTHOUGH ROOM KEYS DIFFER FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL,A KEY OBTAINED FROM A WELL KNOWN
HOTEL CHAIN THAT WAS BEING USED FOR A REGIONAL IDENTITY THEFT PRESENTATION
WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

A.. CUSTOMERS (YOUR) NAME
B.. CUSTOMERS PARTIAL HOME ADDRESS
C.. HOTEL ROOM NUMBER
D.. CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT DATE
E.. CUSTOMER'S (YOUR) CREDIT CARD NUMBER AND EXPIRATION DATE!

WHEN YOU TURN THEM IN TO THE FRONT DESK YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS THERE
FOR ANY EMPLOYEE TO ACCESS BY SIMPLY SCANNING THE CARD IN THE HOTEL
SCANNER. AN EMPLOYEE CAN TAKE A HAND FULL OF CARDS HOME AND USING A
SCANNING DEVICE, ACCESS THE INFORMATION ONTO A LAPTOP COMPUTER AND GO
SHOPPING AT YOUR EXPENSE.

SIMPLY PUT, HOTELS DO NOT ERASE THE INFORMATION ON THESE CARDS UNTIL AN
EMPLOYEE RE-ISSUES THE CARD TO THE NEXT HOTEL GUEST. AT THAT TIME, THE NEW
GUEST'S INFORMATION IS ELECTRONICALLY "OVERWRITTEN" ON THE CARD AND THE
PREVIOUS GUEST'S INFORMATION IS ERASED IN THE OVERWRITING PROCESS.

BUT UNTIL THE CARD IS REWRITTEN FOR THE NEXT GUEST, IT USUALLY IS KEPT IN
A DRAWER AT THE FRONT DESK WITH YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!

THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
KEEP THE CARDS, TAKE THEM HOME WITH YOU.
NEVER LEAVE THEM BEHIND IN THE ROOM OR ROOM WASTEBASKET,
AND NEVER TURN THEM IN TO THE FRONT DESK WHEN YOU CHECK OUT OF A ROOM.
THEY WILL NOT CHARGE YOU FOR THE CARD (IT'S ILLEGAL)
AND YOU'LL BE SURE YOU ARE NOT LEAVING A LOT OF VALUABLE PERSONAL
INFORMATION ON IT THAT COULD BE EASILY LIFTED OFF WITH ANY SIMPLE SCANNING
DEVICE CARD READER.
FOR THE SAME REASON, IF YOU ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT
AND DISCOVER YOU STILL HAVE THE CARD KEY IN YOUR POCKET, DO NOT TOSS IT IN
AN AIRPORT TRASH BASKET.
TAKE IT HOME AND DESTROY IT BY CUTTING IT UP, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC
INFORMATION STRIP!
INFORMATION COURTESY OF: PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT - SEND TO ANYONE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HELP!

http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/police/media/MediaReleases/HotelCardKeyUpdate

1) New York City has 11 letters
2) Afghanistan has 11 letters
3) Ramsin Yuseb [The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993] has 11 letters
4) George W Bush has 11 letters
This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more interesting:
1) New York is the 11th state
2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number 11
3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers
9 + 2 = 11
4) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65
passengers
6 + 5 = 11
5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known.
9 + 1 + 1 = 11
6) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number 911
9 + 1 + 1 = 11
Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own mind:
1) The total number of victims inside all the hi-jacked planes was 254
2 + 5 + 4 = 11
2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar year
Again 2 + 5 + 4 = 11
3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004.
3 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 11
4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the Twin Towers incident
Now this is where things get totally eerie:
The most recognised symbol for the US, after the Stars & Stripes, is the Eagle. The following verse is taken from the Quran, the Islamic holy book:
"For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle.
The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced:
For the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."
That verse is number 9.11 of the Quran.
Still unconvinced about all of this..?! Try this and see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on end:
Open Microsoft Word and do the following:
1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number of the first plane to hit one of the Twin Towers.
2. Highlight the Q33 NY.
3. Change the font size to 48.
4. Change the actual font to the WINGDINGS
What do you think now?!! Q33 NY

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
(Hardly seems worth it.)

If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
(Now that's more like it!)

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.
(O.M.G.!)

A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.
(In my next life, I want to be a pig.)

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death!
(Creepy.)
(I'm still not over the pig.)

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories a hour
(Don't try this at home,maybe at work)

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
("Honey, I'm home. What the....?!")

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes..lucky pig! Can you imagine?)

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
(I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)

Butterflies taste with their feet.
(Something I always wanted to know.)

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
(Hmmmmmm......)

Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than
left-handed people.
(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
(okay, so that would be a good thing)

A cat's urine glows under a black light.
(I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that.)

Starfish have no brains.
(I know some people like that too.)

Polar bears are left-handed.
(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer)

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(What about that pig??)

Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to (maybe even a chuckle).

1. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of shit.
2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.
6. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
7. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.
9. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a damn word you're saying.
10. Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again...
11. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.
12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don't give a damn.
14. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
15. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
16. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
17. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
18. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
19. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?
20. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
21. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be...?
22. Do I look like a people person?
23. This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.
24. I started out with nothing &still have most of it left.
25. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
26. If I throw a stick, will you leave?
27. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
28. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
29. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.
30. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.
31. Can I trade this job for what's behind door ..1?
32. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
33. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
34. Chaos, panic, &disorder-my work here is done.
35. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
36. I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a salary.
37. Who lit the fuse on your tampon?
38. Oh I get it ... like humor ... but different.