Last of the 'P' rats, HPC Courses and more, Anarcho-Isocrats

[tcpip]

Prankster rat just died at the age of 2 years and 221 days (or 78 in rat-years). She'd been through three (or was it four?) operations in her life mainly for tumor removals, but she'd recently sprouted a new set of several simultaneously. She'd spent the past several days sleeping and resting and actually seemed quite content. Of quiet and pleasant disposition, Prankster is the last of the P-rats (Pierrot, Picador, Prankster) from the NYE 2012 ratlings. We now have no rats; a very rare and unusual situation.

Work this week included three days of courses on Linux, High Performance Computing, and MPI programming. Much smaller classes than usual as the were announced during the break, but still with very good feedback. Over coming weeks these will be thoroughly revised but simultaneous to this we're also running a major revision of our project management methods (and, recursively, implementing this as a project), whilst at the same time engaging in major revisions and improvements to our quality management system in preparation for ISO 9001 re-certification (and expansion into other areas).

This coming Saturday is the Isocracy Annual General Meeting (FB link) at Trades Hall, with Sol Salbe (Australian Jewish Democratic Society) and Michael Shaik (Australians for Palestine) as guest speakers on the topic "Peace with Justice in Palestine and Israel". Today will be visiting the Melbourne Anarchist Bookfair at the Abbostford Convent and hopefully catching up with our magic-coffee faerie and Adelaide organiser, Paula DA. Apropos, unsurprising to discover that yet again, the state (this time under Tory colours) is trying to introduce Internet surveillance; the wreck of an interview the Federal Attorney-General has gone viral.

Comments

[splodgenoodles]

78 is a good innings, but I am sorry.

And it must be weird being rat-free, I hope you can rectify this soon.

[tcpip]

Thanks; she had a long and happy life and I'm sure we'll have some rats back pretty soon.

[iris]

78! So old. I'm sorry to hear you are now rat-free, although maybe it is something of a needed break before you acquire more rats? Is that perhaps a plan?

[tcpip]

Not sure; our household has only had one rat-free week in the past several years so it's strange not having the little nutters bouncing about. I think the cat misses them as well.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear of the passing of Prankster rat. The Bassendean mischief send their condolences. May you soon experience the gnashing of new rodents in your household, voluntarily acquired.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks ratfan. It feels strange tonight not to have the snuffling and bruxing of our friends from the rattus genus.

Although we do have a rodentia friend (guinea pig).

[delphipsmith]

We lost two rats this summer, Georgie and Nibbles. They were rescued from the feeder rat tank at the local pet store two years ago and were much loved. I hope you are soon re-ratted!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Ahh well, if only they knew what they'd been rescued from! As it is they're delightfully clever and affectionate creatures, and Miss Prankster was no exception.

[fidget]

I'm sorry about Prankster. Professor Piggington and Groucho send their condolences. Well, not Groucho as much because he's kind of a jerk.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and scritches in return. Even for the appropriately-named Groucho.

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

:( Sorry to hear about your rattie. It is always hard losing a pet :(

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind so much if they lasted for a couple more years...