Ramblings of an Old Guy: Burn Baby Burn

The Old Guy's National Anthem ... AKA what a long, strange trip it's been

Truckin' got my chips cashed in. Keep truckin', like the do-dah man Together, more or less in line, just keep truckin' on. Arrows of neon and flashing marquees out on Main Street. Chicago, New York, Detroit and it's all on the same street. Your typical city involved in a typical daydream Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings. Dallas, got a soft machine; Houston, too close to New Orleans; New York's got the ways and means; but just won't let you be, oh no. Most of the cast that you meet on the streets speak of true love, Most of the time they're sittin' and cryin' at home. One of these days they know they better get goin' Out of the door and down on the streets all alone. Truckin', like the do-dah man. Once told me "You've got to play your hand" Sometimes your cards ain't worth a dime, if you don't lay'em down, Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me; Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it's been. What in the world ever became of sweet Jane? She lost her sparkle, you know she isn't the same Livin' on reds, vitamin C, and cocaine, All a friend can say is "Ain't it a shame?" Truckin', up to Buffalo. Been thinkin', you got to mellow slow Takes time, you pick a place to go, and just keep truckin' on. Sittin' and starin' out of the hotel window. Got a tip they're gonna kick the door in again I'd like to get some sleep before I travel, But if you got a warrant, I guess you're gonna come in. Busted, down on Bourbon Street, Set up, like a bowlin' pin. Knocked down, it get's to wearin' thin. They just won't let you be, oh no. You're sick of hangin' around and you'd like to travel; Get tired of travelin' and you want to settle down. I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin', Get out of the door and light out and look all around. Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me; Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it's been. Truckin', I'm a goin' home. Whoa whoa baby, back where I belong, Back home, sit down and patch my bones, and get back truckin' on. Hey now get back truckin' home

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Burn Baby Burn

As a holder of a Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia Master Electricians License I wonder about this. These are quotes (cut & paste) from the WV State Fire Code (the only changes I made were to change a few words to bold face ... I didn't change the words, only made them bold):

ARTICLE 3B. SUPERVISION OF ELECTRICIANS.
§29-3B-1. Declaration of purpose.
This article is enacted to protect the health, safety and welfare of
the public as well as public and private property by assuring the
competence of those who perform electrical work through licensure by the
state fire marshal of the state fire commission.

§29-3B-2. Necessity of license; definitions.
After the effective date of this article, no electrical work may be
performed, offered or engaged in for compensation or hire within the state
of West Virginia by any person, firm or corporation unless such person,
firm or corporation possesses a license and a certificate therefor issued
by the state fire marshal in accordance with this article, and a copy of
such license is posted on any job in which electrical work is being
performed for hire.

§29-3B-3. Exemptions; nonapplicability of license requirements.
This article does not apply to and no license may be required for
(a) a person who performs electrical work with respect to any property
owned or leased by such person; (b) a person who performs electrical work
at any manufacturing plant or other industrial establishment as an
employee of the person, firm or corporation operating such plant or
establishment; (c) a person who performs electrical work while employed by
an employer who engages in the business of selling appliances at retail,
so long as such electrical work is performed incident to the installation
or repair of appliances sold by the employer; (d) a person who, while
employed by a public utility or its affiliate, performs electrical work in
connection with the furnishing of public utility service; or (e) any
government employee performing electrical work on government property.

So lets get this straight ... if I'm paid to do the work I need a license; fair enough. If I own or lease the property I can do what I want (Lord help my tenants). If I'm the biggest flunkie in the Gov't I can work on the electrical stuff in any Gov't building (hope the secretaries have health insurance).
Don't ya just love it?