Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Maggie Benson’s Journey: It’s Just One of Those Days

Editor’s note: Indium Corporation’s Ron Lasky continues this series of columns about Maggie Benson, a fictional character, to demonstrate continuous improvement and education in SMT assembly.
Professor Patty was a little early for her flight home from SMTAI, so she sat in the waiting area by her gate. She was glad the Hal Lindsey episode was over. It should not have bothered her that he called her “Professor Fatty,” considering the source. But it did bother her, and she was even more embarrassed that when she had told her husband Rob about the incident, she burst into tears.

That was the first time since she had met Rob that she got teary eyed around him. She asked him not to tell anyone about what Hal said or that she had cried about it. Anyway, since then she had lost nine pounds… only eight more to go.

SMTAI was a great show, and she learned a lot listening to the technical papers. She also was able to congratulate Hongwen Zhang on receiving his well-deserved Member of Technical Distinction Award.
Her laptop’s battery was quite low, and she was relieved to find a plug under the seat. But when she plugged it in, it fell out of the receptacle, so she moved to another seat. The plug stayed in this time but there was no electricity. She tried a third plug to no avail. Finally, a fellow passenger saw her plight and offered to share the only receptacle that appeared to be working.

Patty was starved, so she checked on the airline’s website and saw they had tasty sandwiches she could purchase on the plane. With that in mind, she continued working and before she knew it, it was time to board. The plane had internet, power plugs, and a good meal. She would be set.

Patty was one of the first to board. After settling into her seat, she plugged her laptop in, and knew she would have about 15 minutes to work on a paper she was writing before the plane taxied to the runway. However, her battery was still low and there was no power coming from the airplane’s power plug. She mentioned it to the person seated next to her, who commented that the power plugs might not have power until after takeoff.

So, she got out her phone and sent some texts to Rob and their twin sons. Soon the plane took off, and after a few moments, the pilot announced that it was okay to use laptops.

“See, as soon as we get the ‘okay’ sign to use our laptops, the power plug came on,” her seatmate said, who then introduced himself as John Archer.

“Patty Coleman,” Patty responded, and shook his hand slightly awkwardly as the seats are so close together.

She then turned back to her laptop and realized that despite having her cord plugged in, the machine was still getting no power. She pushed the call button, and when the flight attendant came over, Patty expressed that her power plug wasn’t working.

“Mercy, they haven’t fixed that yet,” the cheerful flight attendant said in a warm, sympathetic way. Despite her kind response, Patty grimaced at the words.

John then said in his own sympathetic way, “I’m sorry, but I am out of power too, and I have to get this report finished soon and send over the plane’s internet or I’m toast. So, I can’t let you use my power plug.”

Patty felt the frustration rise again in her face. So, she decided to put the paper aside and continue reading Walter Isaacson’s Elon Musk on her smartphone until they brought the food out.

“Oh, no,” John shouted. “The internet doesn’t work.”

Discussions again with the sympathetic flight attendant confirmed that the internet would not be working for the entire flight.

“Well, at least the food is coming out,” Patty thought to herself as she saw the flight attendants moving the food carts into the aisle. Patty thought she might faint if she didn’t eat soon.

“I’ll take the ham salad sandwich, some potato chips, and an oatmeal raisin cookie,” Patty told the same flight attendant.

“That will be $14,” the flight attendant replied as Patty handed her a credit card. Can you believe what the flight attendant said next?

“I’m sorry honey, we only take payment through our app,” she told Patty, who at that point was just about to burst into tears. She didn’t have the app and she knew she couldn’t load it on her phone because there was no internet.

John, who had been sitting in the middle of this exchange, spoke up. “I’ll have the same thing she’s having and charge both of ours to my app,” he remarked to the flight attendant, then looked at Patty and said, “By the time you finish your lunch, I will be done with my report. You are welcome to use my power port then.”

Patty thanked John and held her composure, but a careful observer would notice a single tear streaming down her face.

Patty couldn’t remember enjoying a lunch so much. True to his word, he let her charge her computer up, so she was able to get some work done. She finished some of her most urgent work and there was still about 45 minutes of the flight left. She then noticed that John was reading the same book on Elon Musk.

“What do you think of Isaacson’s Elon Musk?” she asked him. He chuckled, and said, “Wow, what a book, what a character, especially his love life.”

“I agree, Patty said. “What did you think of ‘The Algorithm’ and the ‘Idiot Index’?”

“It’s funny you should mention them,” John said, continuing the conversation. “I have implemented both into the manufacturing plant that I manage. I think they have the potential to revolutionize our costs and productivity.”

What are Musk’s “The Algorithm” and the “Idiot Index?” Could implementing them into your facility revolutionize your costs and productivity?

Stay tuned to found out.

Dr. Ron note: While Patty’s experiences at the airport and plane might seem somewhat out of context for this series, they mirrored mine of a short time ago. Each day is a journey.

This column originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of SMT007 Magazine.