Flurries

There are brief flurries of busy time as we scramble around to connect with the appropriate spots where some out-of-work oceanographic researchers may find a home. Morale has suffered of course, but everyone puts on a cynical but positive face.

Word also came down that an adjacent group of 20 people working on a "fish-farm" commercialization got canned (no pun intended). That one is a particularly head-shaking event, as they have customers lined up, and relationships with all the big fish distribution companies. The group that was supposed to be guiding such ocean harvesting commercial ventures is shooting itself in the foot. They intend to launch other such ventures in the future, but with this they are pissing off just the customers that they will need to go to in the future. I'm sure they will all say "oh now, we're not falling for that again." Next time a venture shows up to hawk its wares.

Also meanwhile the Lofty Project has come to a close. The big long-term lofty idea that would revolutionize oceanography research and change the world. Well, turns out that one of the exec's pet projects on which he coached and collaborated has been chosen. Funny thing, as he's also part of the selection committee.

So today, up come some oceanographer execs to chat with us about our pending demise. We already had a call - so nobody knows what they will do with themselves for the day after the 5 minutes it takes to say hi. But that's their problem.

The company is contracting to it's pre-2000, unsuccessful model rather than embracing the more successful parts of research that took them over. A few well placed cronies have built their own kingdoms, and in the process are protecting themselves by sacrificing the overall company. It's quite fascinating to watch it happen, and it's not over yet.

Let's watch...