This is another bit about my new job.  I mentioned a while back that I got reassigned to a different department in another building.  The 'office' me and my mates are in is a glass box that sticks out into a production facility.  I sit right by the window and I can...

SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHTTHTTTTTTTTTzzzt

As I was saying, I can hear all kinds of noise from the plant.  So on top of the visual distractions from other people working around me and out on the floor,

CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG CHUNG


Ouch, there's the big sheet metal punch again.  Where was I?  Oh, yeah, the visual distractions.  I sit across three feet of table from my supervisor and see all sorts of other things going on.  My team is...

HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW FIGURES ON THIS TECHNICAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM REPORT?

Who, me?  Oh, no - the person behind me who happened to be standing by the printer, which also happens to be right behind me.  Well, right behind me past the main door to this space.  Yep, there's foot traffic too.  On top of the...

BZZZZZZZZZZRRRRRRRrktk,tk,tk,tk,tk,tk,tk,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZRT


Well, that's a new one.  All these odd sounds going off at semi-random intervals, it makes me think of....

brrrrrrrr-ING!  brrrrrrr-ING!  brrrrrr-ING!

Crap, it's the phone again!


Kurt Vonnegut wrote a fantastic short story some years ago.

It's called "Harrison Bergeron".  The premise of the story is to have a normal mix of people living in a society where evereyone is made equal.  To accomplish this the talented or high-achieving individuals are fitted with handicaps.  Athletes must carry awkward weights.  Beautiful dancers must wear ugly masks and odd shoes.  Smart people must wear headsets which play different loud sounds at random intervals.



Mr. Vonnegut, I _am_ your Harrison Bergeron.