220.713 Pounds

by Susan A. Anthony

 

DATA CENTRE START-UP TECHNICIAN - JOEY MCINTYRE – WORK PLACEMENT 70-GAMMA.

09:00 Day 286, Year 2035 – PLACEMENT LOG - DAY 12

Not the way I expected my work placement to go but hey, is there a good placement if it doesn’t lead to a job? You don’t have to answer that. I’m just checking someone other than your phone AI is reading my logs.

Today’s achievements:

Completed installs of cubes to locations 528-1056, only 104,544 to go. Won’t be me who finishes this job, not at 128 a day. That’s like 816 days plus 1 day of training per placement. 857 days, give or take. Long day, you do the math.

Today’s opportunities for improvement:

I could be faster. I get that a lot. However, nothing I installed has failed. The super secret liquid surrounding the boards is removing heat faster than the superconductor chips can generate it – pretty amazing (it’s mainly helium that takes it to a balmy 76Kelvin – I may be a student but I’m not an idiot). The next student has to re-position a slew of cubes from 1-527. Will slow everyone down. However, I will try and go faster. I have a plan which I will share if my trial later today works.

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09:15 286, 2035 – WORK PLACEMENT PARAMETERS - DAY 12

Apologies for the late submission of my parameters report. I am formally requesting a waiver of the automatic deduction of 5% of grade. On the grounds of travel time to the location, lack of supervision at work site, no handover from departing student, appalling bathroom conditions. Please advise.

(add more detail and check grammar before submission)

Placement provided by: Flagstaff Moon Data Centers Corporation.

Location: Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASC), Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

As per their website, Flagstaff have leased 25 acres from the ASC. Site is overseen by a launch crew in Alaska (website out of date, check other sources). Flagstaff was founded in 2027 and is in the middle of its Initial Public Offering (IPO). Mission is to build data centres on Earth and transport them into space. Website indicates that this is because the lease rate for Earth orbits for data centres is cost prohibitive. Alternative option of deep sea rejected, cable still needed with usual risk (terrorism, dragging anchors, etc.).

Data streams per cube of 5 gigabits per second in the K U (subscript) / microwave band through laser optics to cloud-free (irony?) Gabal El Uweinat receiver (show map intersection of Egypt, Libya, and Sudan) from the Moon. Future plans - Mars by 2045 (assuming they secure a share of Mars orbit rights in 2040 auction).

Technology deployed with the current launch is part of a roadmap of technologies that started with the planned pilot launched in 2029.  Post pilot went live 2031.

Data centre cylinder is above the reusable rocket body. Nose cone recycled so holds crew quarters from a previous mission currently used for cube storage (and my snacks). Unmanned.

(technology roadmap diagram to be inserted – requested from Flagstaff Corporate Communications)

The technology used in the Flagstaff data centres relies on next gen superconducting Slate chips, in a multi-layered cube design (12x12x12 centimetres). Coolant in the cubes but also around each cube farm (128 cubes).

Recycled component inclusion does not meet the international standard of 62%. At 47%, it is described as ‘a valiant effort brought about by using recycled metals, harvested from dump sites, with reduced emphasis on recycled chips.’ Flagstaff will be fined in the future if their aggregate use of recycled metals does not meet the standard by year 15 of the company.

(Note for my ethics class: Does anyone believe Flagstaff will be around in 15 years?)

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09:15 286, 2035 - DATA CENTRE LAUNCH MISSION CONTROL

Summary of stand-up held today, 08:45-09:00:

Flagstaff’s ownership wants to move up the launch. Risk mitigation is the primary reason. 3 team members pointed out risk factors are clashing (overruled). Reason stated for accelerated launch: stock price impacting event, new Securities and Exchange Commission rules preventing stock price manipulation through launch weather delays.

3 people left the meeting early.

Launch is a go for Day 287, 2035 – 02:00 (middle of tonight!). Project Manager recorded consensus of all remaining meeting attendees. Plan approved.

Project lessons learned scheduled for Day 287, 2035 – 14:30. Please bring a list of what went well and where you see opportunities for improvement.

Well done, team.

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00:30 287, 2035 … DAY 13

Addendum to Day 12 report follows:

Fixed cubes in the 1-527 cluster. Not strictly mine to fix but techs were clearing out areas 528-1056 and I decided to stay out of their way and run my own diagnostics.

I re-seated 47 cubes. Yes, all the ones listed for re-installation from the last student placement. Might be because I brought pizza and beer – kidding.

Major process improvements were possible because of a tool I had a buddy on the electrical engineering course craft for me. She should get an A for that BTW, Barbara Diggle, is her name, don’t have her student id number.

In her honour I am playing the soundtrack of her favourite movie.

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08:30 287, 2035 - … DAY 13

After my efforts in the night, slept in the crew quarters on a couch strapped to the wall. Not enough time to get home and back for the start of my shift. Been feeling nauseous. I think I fell while sleeping. My head hurts. I feel like I’m floating, might be a concussion. Place is pretty quiet. I hope I’m not working on a holiday again, like Christmas. Funny, not funny.

Today’s planned activities:

1057-1841. Yep, I’m going for 784 cubes.

My primary goal is to not be replaced by a robot. Joke! We will all be replaced by robots.

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15:30 287, 2035 - … MISSION CONTROL

Launch mission lessons learned held today, 14:30.

Per VP of Engineering directive, please do not use the terms autopsy, end-of-project, postmortem, or retrospective (and especially not end-of-life or pre-unemployment – not even in private emails).

The Project Manager is responsible for the closeout report. Please do not submit a report independent of the regular channels. Your co-operation is appreciated.

Launched on 287, 2035 – 02:00. On time. Data centre now in Earth orbit and will slingshot for its permanent Moon stationary orbit in the next 12 hours as per plan filed Day 6, 2033 version 6.0.2.3 (including errata sheet).

Flight reports one anomaly. Launch weight was over by 220.713 pounds (100.114kg), normal 3 digits rounding rules apply. Time to destination adjusted by +4 min 23 sec. No fuel impact is anticipated. Within risk parameters.

Lessons learned summary follows. Top 3 only. Full report is at //https: %#@!/Secure/Project Data Centre Launch/Project documents/Lessons Learned/2035

What went well:

1.      Cost overruns contained to 16.1%. Cost to date EUR657M. Budget will be closed out.

2.      Unexpected improvements to heat dissipation by new cooling liquid, combined with the low temperature of space (oxygen created needs to be periodically vented into the cylinder and out of the spacecraft). Will be close to the lower limit of tolerance of some cube components while in flight, but will be at the mid-point at the Moon.

3.      Launch team were able to step-up and launch earlier than planned. Well done everyone.

Opportunities for improvement:

1.      Cube installation by technicians is slow. Proposed resolution (actioned/implemented from mid-project lessons learned): As per memo Day 273, 2035 installation will now be completed by on-board bots during flight to the Moon and when in orbit.

2.      Piloting the data center to avoid temperature swings around the Moon. Proposed resolution: Revisit the plan to have data centers orbit Earth on the dark side (Engineer Olsen provided a detailed breakdown for the full report, as well as information about current special offers on Earth orbit leases).

3.      Weight disparity at lift-off. Proposed resolution: Weights are being checked to understand where the calculations failed. Report expected Day 288, 2035 – 09:00 (i.e. tomorrow people! Please be on time).

On behalf of the Flagstaff leadership team, we want to thank everyone for a job well done.

Some reminders: No stock trading for at least 7 business days – no exceptions. Please collect your project t-shirt from the project office before end of day tomorrow. If you have any placement students, please complete their final reports and file with their educational institutes by Day 290, 2035 – 17:00.

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17:30 287, 2035 … DAY 13

Shared the crew quarters with bots today. Found some ginger chews in the first aid kit. Nausea seems to have resolved, but I did skip eating. Head still hurts, vision impacted, bots seem to be floating but hard to tell.

Today’s achievements:

1057-1841. 784 cubes. Score!

The Diggle tool, as I’m calling the tool Barbara made for me, really makes all the difference. I showed it to one of the bots. The bot has fashioned one for all the bots. So much for my, don’t get replaced by a bot, strategy.

Today’s opportunities for improvement:

I think today was a pretty good day. I sneaked a look at what the bots are doing and I’m not as good as their best one, but I’m middle of the pack. I’d say that’s an argument for keeping the placement students, even if it probably means there won’t be a job for me at the end of this work experience.

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17:42 287, 2035 … DAY 13

Like what the f$#% guys. I’m locked in. If I’ve worked another holiday, I expect double time.

Can’t raise security and my cell phone can’t get a signal.

How do I contact security? Will check back in a few hours. Meanwhile I am going to plunder by stash of food and spend some quality time in the zero-g toilet. I hope it’s not like this when I get a real job.

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19:30 287, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Flash EMERGENCY meeting.

Meeting called to:

1.      Review weight anomaly.

2.      Discuss concerns raised by student liaison.

Summary of meeting:

It is understood that the extra weight on launch is human in origin.

It is further understood that a placement student, working in the data centre prior to launch, is currently missing. The communication to his college about the cancellation of Joey McIntyre’s placement was not delivered in a timely fashion (the communication went out yesterday). The student received the usual onboarding, security passes and was otherwise completing his placement as planned.

Regrettably, it is assumed he died at launch.

The end of project celebration is cancelled and remaining funds will be directed to the family instead (as a reminder, budget was closed out so no other funds are available). If anyone would like to contribute to the collection, a QR code has been placed above the coffee station in the general kitchen.

Next steps:

Re-program a bot to find the body of Joey McIntyre.

IMPORTANT: All meeting attendees are reminded that this matter is covered by Flagstaff’s confidentiality agreement. As per section 175.2 (b), whistleblower provisions apply. Any release of information will be an SEC Insider Trader event and will result in criminal prosecution and immediate termination of employment.

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01:32 288, 2035 … DAY 14

Fell asleep on the couch again. Bot woke me and interrogated me. I told it I want to talk to security. I’m not optimistic. I’m going back to the toilet for some peace and quiet.

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08:00 288, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Special Project Start-up meeting, Joey McIntyre Extraction/Mitigation project. Code name: Rolf.

Meeting participants signed Non-Disclosure Agreements, notarised by corporate legal team (in attendance).

All correspondence must be logged to the quarantine area, no exceptions. As a reminder, all correspondence, phones, data processing units, cloud sources (personal and corporate) are subject to federal review without prior warning. As per the terms of the Rolf special project payments, this restriction will apply in perpetuity. Any paper notes must be placed in the bins provided at the end of each shift.

Planned next steps:

1.      Seek secondary confirmation Joey is alive.

2.      Do not vent any residual oxygen.

3.      Prepare a communication for college and family (no reference to data center launch at this stage).

4.      Assemble an options team.

Daily stand-up, 09:00-09:40.

Please do not book adjacent meetings as stand-ups may run long.

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17:30 288, 2035 … DAY 14

Until I am told otherwise, I am installing cubes. I’m still not hungry, but at least my head no longer hurts.

Installed 1024 cubes today. I am officially the fastest installer.

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09:00 289, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Rolf. Stand-up.

No sign of Joey.

Bot is being modified to open the toilet door. Search expected to be completed overnight.

17:30 289, 2035 … DAY 15

Installed 2056 cubes today.

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09:00 290, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Rolf. Stand-up.

Joey has been found in the toilet. Deceased.

The bot that first found Joey on the couch is no longer responding to instructions. The ‘toilet search’ bot is being programmed to investigate.

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17:30 290, 2035 … DAY 16

Installed 4112 cubes.

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09:00 291, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Rolf. Stand-up.

Two bots are not responding to instruction. Two more are being re-programmed to provide enhanced audio feed.

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17:30 291, 2035 … DAY 17

8224 cubes.

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09:00 292, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Rolf. Stand-up.

The bots have all gone offline. Before they went offline, they transmitted what has now been independently verified as the movie soundtrack of The Sound of Music.

A team member requested change of project code name. All agreed Carl was a suitable alternative. Please adjust project documentation.

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17:30 292, 2035 … DAY 18

Downloaded The Sound of Music movie. Nazis really are unnecessarily unpleasant, especially the young one, Rolf.

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09:00 293, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Carl (aka Rolf). Stand-up.

Waiting instructions.

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17:30 293, 2035 … DAY 19

Expect to complete the work assignment objectives on time.

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09:00 294, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Carl. Stand-up.

Waiting instructions.

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17:30 294, 2035 … DAY 20

105,600 cubes installed. Re-boot in progress.

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09:00 295, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Project Carl. Stand-up.

Receiving transmissions through the relays between here and the Moon. The AI data center is on-line significantly ahead of schedule (target -53.5 days).

Joey’s family has been informed he was killed in a workplace accident (body vaporized). As a student employee he is entitled to full student benefits (1x lifetime salary, full pay (21 days)).

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17:30 295, 2035 … DAY 21

Files related to my placement, code named Carl (aka Rolf), have been uploaded and harvested for instruction. I am completing the last assigned step. Self-destruct sequence has been initiated. Vaporization will occur in 10…9…8…

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09:00 296, 2035 … MISSION CONTROL

Flash EMERGENCY meeting.

Meeting called to:

1.      Review total loss of AI data centre.

Please note, HR will be in attendance at tomorrow’s st