March is gone and another 2 pounds are gone. It is coming off slowly, but at least I am finally going in the correct direction.
This month's resolution is to attend at least 3 card making classes that are offered by another Stampin' Up demonstrator in PV. She only charges $3/class and supplies everything needed (except envelopes) to make 3-5 cards. I went to one last month and it was okay -- I thought there would be more "how to do it" instructions at the beginning. Maybe each "class" is different, I will find out this month.
Last weekend I used my butterfly stamp set and almost all my "sayings" stamps and created a set of 10 cards. They are pretty cute .... maybe once I take pictures of them, I'll have Ric post the link to our blog so you can check them out. I am thinking about making cards to sell soon. Right now I am making them for myself and a couple sets for my Mom to "raffle" off at her Tuesday night group.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
No Bad Stuff Happening Here
It's after midnight and my computer hasn't exploded. I guess we're safe. I didn't bother with any extraordinary measures other than forcing a Windows update and an AVG update on both machines this afternoon. We sit behind a firewall that is locked down pretty tight, and neither of us hang around in the sorts of places these things breed in, so I generally don't get my panties in a bunch over the buffer-overflow-exploit-of-the-week. I do wish programmers would stop using decades-old languages and tools, but that seems completely out of the question.
Once again, nothing really caught my eye while making the rounds online, other than I am still unable to get to any website hosted on Typepad. I should try it on the other computer and see if it's machine specific, but I can't imagine how that would just happen.
Made some more good progress today on the school front. One of the text books has to be the slowest read I've ever encountered, and I got bored and read through the set of encyclopedias in my bedroom when I was in middle school, so I know something about slow reads. It took me over five hours to wade through the 150 pages assigned for this week.
Well, I need to check in with the instructors and see if anything has changed in the last 24 hours.
Once again, nothing really caught my eye while making the rounds online, other than I am still unable to get to any website hosted on Typepad. I should try it on the other computer and see if it's machine specific, but I can't imagine how that would just happen.
Made some more good progress today on the school front. One of the text books has to be the slowest read I've ever encountered, and I got bored and read through the set of encyclopedias in my bedroom when I was in middle school, so I know something about slow reads. It took me over five hours to wade through the 150 pages assigned for this week.
Well, I need to check in with the instructors and see if anything has changed in the last 24 hours.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A Good Day
I got one of the three final papers done and second one started in one class, got a big chunk of the reading and note-taking done for week two in my second class, and wrapped up all the week one stuff for both classes. All in all, not a bad day, even if the market had another down session. But European markets are up already today, so I'm sure the suckers rally will continue. I would expect it to keep going in fits and starts through April. Unless, the government decides to do to the financial sector bondholders what they just did to GM's bondholders (and I think they should); then we'll be in for a very large leg down.
Just the opinion of an unemployed dishwasher. Which makes me at least as qualified as most of the ass clowns on CNBC. Caveat emptor.
Speaking of school, I'm a little frustrated with the "discussion" group in one of my classes. I already posted an example of the reasoning skills of my two classmates I got teamed up with. I'm not quite sure why a class with only eight students was split up into multiple discussion groups in the first place, but with the right people, it could still work. These are not the right people. I am having a discussion with myself. The other two have not posted anything other than their initial post. Normally, the instructor would do some not-so-subtle prodding, but I think he is out of the country or something. And I'm paying $1,000 for this.
Any site running on Typepad is unreachable again. Does anyone know what is happening with them? It's getting a bit annoying.
Not much else going on. Nothing really caught my eye in the news. More taxpayer money poured into zombie companies, another industry nationalized; just another fracking day in paradise.
I should try to go to bed. Not that I seem to be able to sleep much anymore, but there is always the off chance.
Just the opinion of an unemployed dishwasher. Which makes me at least as qualified as most of the ass clowns on CNBC. Caveat emptor.
Speaking of school, I'm a little frustrated with the "discussion" group in one of my classes. I already posted an example of the reasoning skills of my two classmates I got teamed up with. I'm not quite sure why a class with only eight students was split up into multiple discussion groups in the first place, but with the right people, it could still work. These are not the right people. I am having a discussion with myself. The other two have not posted anything other than their initial post. Normally, the instructor would do some not-so-subtle prodding, but I think he is out of the country or something. And I'm paying $1,000 for this.
Any site running on Typepad is unreachable again. Does anyone know what is happening with them? It's getting a bit annoying.
Not much else going on. Nothing really caught my eye in the news. More taxpayer money poured into zombie companies, another industry nationalized; just another fracking day in paradise.
I should try to go to bed. Not that I seem to be able to sleep much anymore, but there is always the off chance.
Monday, March 30, 2009
I Should Be Sleeping
But instead, I'm blogging. For a couple nights, I was able to get to bed early and get up early, but it didn't last long. Sooooo....
I think I mentioned the AIG bonus thing when it first broke, but I've been too distracted to say much about the resulting fallout. First, given that all politicians are moral defectives, does anyone really believe that the entire Congress, who owns 80% of AIG, knew nothing of the bonuses? Really? If you do, please contact me about some ocean-front property I'm selling up in North Dakota. It's simple; either everyone in the federal government is a liar, or they are grossly incompetent. And anyone living in south-east Michigan may want to take note: these same jackasses are now running GM. (Chrysler is a dead stick and has been for years; the worst thing the car czar could do to it is hasten the inevitable.)
Second, before you mist all up about the poor AIG folks who didn't get to keep their bonuses, you may want to read the other other side of the story. There are several good points made in that article, but there is one that to me is key. The purpose of the retention bonuses was to keep people familiar with what was happening in AIGFS on board. By claiming he wasn't aware of what was going on, DeSantis defeats his own argument for the bonuses. Again, there is a binary choice here; either he knew what was going on and chose to just ride the gravy train to hell then lie about it, or he is incompetent.
None of it matters. Taxpayer money will continue to be poured into the gaping maw of AIG (and Citi and BoA and GM and...). Nothing any of us do will make one bit of difference. The moral defectives will do whatever the hell benefits them and the rest of us be damned.
I think I mentioned the AIG bonus thing when it first broke, but I've been too distracted to say much about the resulting fallout. First, given that all politicians are moral defectives, does anyone really believe that the entire Congress, who owns 80% of AIG, knew nothing of the bonuses? Really? If you do, please contact me about some ocean-front property I'm selling up in North Dakota. It's simple; either everyone in the federal government is a liar, or they are grossly incompetent. And anyone living in south-east Michigan may want to take note: these same jackasses are now running GM. (Chrysler is a dead stick and has been for years; the worst thing the car czar could do to it is hasten the inevitable.)
Second, before you mist all up about the poor AIG folks who didn't get to keep their bonuses, you may want to read the other other side of the story. There are several good points made in that article, but there is one that to me is key. The purpose of the retention bonuses was to keep people familiar with what was happening in AIGFS on board. By claiming he wasn't aware of what was going on, DeSantis defeats his own argument for the bonuses. Again, there is a binary choice here; either he knew what was going on and chose to just ride the gravy train to hell then lie about it, or he is incompetent.
None of it matters. Taxpayer money will continue to be poured into the gaping maw of AIG (and Citi and BoA and GM and...). Nothing any of us do will make one bit of difference. The moral defectives will do whatever the hell benefits them and the rest of us be damned.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Only Thing Missing was the Bubbles
One of my classes is a music appreciation class. One of the assignments is to attend a live show and do a short paper on it. The class is only six weeks and being in the cultural mecca of world, events acceptable to the instructor (meaning, nothing fun) were a bit thin on the ground. Meaning we spent two hours and $50 to see the Glen Miller Orchestra.
It wasn't horrifying or anything, but it wouldn't have been my first choice of how to spend our Sunday afternoon. At least I can crank out the paper for it tomorrow and wrap up one of the three final papers for this class.
Well, off to see if anything interesting happened today.
First interesting thing is that Blogger appears to be dead. OK, page refresh fixed it. That's weird.
It wasn't horrifying or anything, but it wouldn't have been my first choice of how to spend our Sunday afternoon. At least I can crank out the paper for it tomorrow and wrap up one of the three final papers for this class.
Well, off to see if anything interesting happened today.
First interesting thing is that Blogger appears to be dead. OK, page refresh fixed it. That's weird.
Today is Free
I turned in my last assignment about two hours ago, so I'm off the hook until Monday. I am supposed to comment on some other people's postings in the discussion groups, but I'm not sure what to say in response to this:
I wasn't aware that I was in an ESL class. This is a 200-level class in a "university." Parents, this is what those tens of thousands of dollars are buying.
For the church-goers out there, this person is going to be teaching Christian doctrine to your children.
I know what sort of comment I would like to leave on the discussion board, but it would probably get me booted out of the class and possibly the university. I only have to suffer through the next six weeks, then it's over.
If Job is charged with evil the godlineness this would take his integrity and he would consider it a terrible sin. The truth about God people is to tell the truth and shame the devil. Job do not know the explanation of his punishment which made him bitter toward God.
I wasn't aware that I was in an ESL class. This is a 200-level class in a "university." Parents, this is what those tens of thousands of dollars are buying.
For the church-goers out there, this person is going to be teaching Christian doctrine to your children.
I know what sort of comment I would like to leave on the discussion board, but it would probably get me booted out of the class and possibly the university. I only have to suffer through the next six weeks, then it's over.
"Stop touching me!"
Connecticut school bans all physical contact. We used to make jokes about this when schools first started this zero-tolerance BS, which is just a way for administrators to never have to exercise any sort of judgment. "Students and parents are outraged." Yea? So? Since when does anyone who collects a government paycheck give a damn what the taxpayers think? If the students and parents are so outraged, then pull out of the school en mass. Oh, wait; that would require parents actually taking responsibility for their children, and we know that ain't gonna happen. Ever.
The solution to the public education disaster is simple: don't participate.
The solution to the public education disaster is simple: don't participate.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Not a Productive Day
I didn't find anything in my usual on-line haunts that was interesting enough to bother commenting on, other than typepad.com sites don't seem to be working for the third day in a row. Their owners are able to make updates and enough of a connection exists for me to be notified that the site was updated, but when I try to bring the page up, I get a "connection interrupted" error. It's only sites hosted at typepad.com; everything else works fine.
I was supposed to be finishing up my last paper for the week and taking an online quiz, but my brain isn't working right or something. I just can't make the words come. I've been taking care of other nonessential-but-school-related tasks instead. I'll do the quiz when I'm done here, then I'll stare at a blank screen for another four hours or so and see if I can make something magically appear. Not holding out much hope, but I would love to have everything turned in by the time Debbie gets home and have the entire weekend free to do whatever we want.
Well, the paper the work ain't gonna do itself, so I guess I need to get at it.
I was supposed to be finishing up my last paper for the week and taking an online quiz, but my brain isn't working right or something. I just can't make the words come. I've been taking care of other nonessential-but-school-related tasks instead. I'll do the quiz when I'm done here, then I'll stare at a blank screen for another four hours or so and see if I can make something magically appear. Not holding out much hope, but I would love to have everything turned in by the time Debbie gets home and have the entire weekend free to do whatever we want.
Well, the paper the work ain't gonna do itself, so I guess I need to get at it.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Another Short Break
Bogger is scheduled to go down in a few minutes, so this will be quick.
Something else to worry about. As Scottie said, "The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
Scott Adams has a bit about how most white-collar work is just a waste of time. Take an hour and read the comments. Everything you buy is paying for all the waste described in the comments.
Well, gotta go before Blogger pulls the rug out from under me.
Something else to worry about. As Scottie said, "The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
Scott Adams has a bit about how most white-collar work is just a waste of time. Take an hour and read the comments. Everything you buy is paying for all the waste described in the comments.
Well, gotta go before Blogger pulls the rug out from under me.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Short Break
Just a few things while I take a five-minute breather from reading some of the most boring crap in my life. But I should be able to finish up today and tomorrow is writing day; a quiz, several discussion posts, a 3-page paper, and two one-page papers. None of them are difficult, so there shouldn't be a problem getting them done and turned in tomorrow. That frees up the weekend so we can go wander around someplace, assuming the weather cooperates. If not, we may just have another lazy weekend.
Even with all the cash looking for a home, the Brits couldn't find enough buyers at their bond auction. Now what? I keep asking this question and not finding an answer.
If I had more time, I'd say more about this, but a few points:
If teenagers in bras is child porn, then every teenager on every beach and at every pool in the country, plus anyone within view of them, needs to be arrested next summer.
I know there are variations from state-to-state and even county-to-county, but tits ain't porn unless sexual activity is depicted or insinuated.
Giving teenagers the choice between agreeing to a government reeducation camp or a felony charge sounds more like Soviet Russia than the country I grew up in. Not that that country has existed in decades....
The purpose of child porn laws is to prevent children from being exploited by adults. How one exploits one's self isn't clear to me.
Enough.
And somewhere Gene Roddenberry is smiling:
Even with all the cash looking for a home, the Brits couldn't find enough buyers at their bond auction. Now what? I keep asking this question and not finding an answer.
If I had more time, I'd say more about this, but a few points:
If teenagers in bras is child porn, then every teenager on every beach and at every pool in the country, plus anyone within view of them, needs to be arrested next summer.
I know there are variations from state-to-state and even county-to-county, but tits ain't porn unless sexual activity is depicted or insinuated.
Giving teenagers the choice between agreeing to a government reeducation camp or a felony charge sounds more like Soviet Russia than the country I grew up in. Not that that country has existed in decades....
The purpose of child porn laws is to prevent children from being exploited by adults. How one exploits one's self isn't clear to me.
Enough.
And somewhere Gene Roddenberry is smiling:
Back At It
Been doin' a bunch of readin' and writin'. No 'rithmatic, though. Still having issues with getting the materials I need for my classes. Mostly because Cornerstone insists on linking to Amazon, even when they don't sell the book or the version used in the class is out of print. Which leaves the students thrashing around in on-line used book stores of dubious legitimacy trying to scrounge up text books and CD's and other such tripe. I've been working at getting everything for these classes since December and I'm still missing stuff. This is completely ridiculous, but it seems to just be the way it is. May 11th cannot get here fast enough.
My leg is more or less normal now. I still have no clue what I did to it. I must have twisted wrong or something climbing around on the step ladder during the Spring Deep Clean of 2009, and pulled a muscle. Getting old sucks; I lost a weekend because I stepped off a ladder wrong? Holy Crap.
And speaking of holy crap, I'm not sure that prayer works this way:
Um, yea.
The stock market has had a nice little rally over the last 10 days, and everyone is wetting themselves thinking we've seen the bottom and we'll be back setting new highs in six months. This is why they call these "sucker's rallies" because they run up just enough to convince people they are missing out on something and to jump back in, and then drop again. Of course Monday's big bounce is because our brilliant government just came up with a great plan: allow Wall Street firms to buy assets from the banks at fire-sale prices and guarantee the firms against any losses. At taxpayer expense, of course. No wonder the market set records for a one-day move.
My leg is more or less normal now. I still have no clue what I did to it. I must have twisted wrong or something climbing around on the step ladder during the Spring Deep Clean of 2009, and pulled a muscle. Getting old sucks; I lost a weekend because I stepped off a ladder wrong? Holy Crap.
And speaking of holy crap, I'm not sure that prayer works this way:
The website "Information Age Prayer"... offers, for a few dollars, to recite prayers for the faithful who are too busy in this Information Age.
The concept is simple. Users have to click on their religion of choice on the home page, which leads them to a list of prayers such as the “Our Father” for Christians and the "Fajr" for Muslims.
Prices are based on the length of the texts and therefore vary. For Catholics, for example, the monthly fee for a daily prayer ranges from 70 cents for the “Hail Mary” to $49.97 for the rosary. And for the hesitant ones ($50 dollars, it’s a lump sum), the button offers a reminder: "Show God you’re serious - Get the complete Rosary Package." It’s an offer that’s hard to resist.
Um, yea.
The stock market has had a nice little rally over the last 10 days, and everyone is wetting themselves thinking we've seen the bottom and we'll be back setting new highs in six months. This is why they call these "sucker's rallies" because they run up just enough to convince people they are missing out on something and to jump back in, and then drop again. Of course Monday's big bounce is because our brilliant government just came up with a great plan: allow Wall Street firms to buy assets from the banks at fire-sale prices and guarantee the firms against any losses. At taxpayer expense, of course. No wonder the market set records for a one-day move.
Some Music
I bought a couple albums by Zoe Keating a while back. I don't recall if I blogged this or not, but it's good stuff, so if it's a repeat, oh well:
And this is definitely a repeat, but worth it:
And this is definitely a repeat, but worth it:
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Another Lap
Made it all the way through the iTunes library again. Being a jobless slacker allowed me to get through all 4,496 songs in a little over a month: February 18 at 16:30 through March 22 at 17:30.
See? Who needs Twitter to inundate people with pointless information?
See? Who needs Twitter to inundate people with pointless information?
New addition to the family
No.....no surprise with me!
My cousin that just received a new kidney on March 11th welcomed his new son into the world on March 21st. I guess the little guy decided things went so well with his Dad's surgery that he wanted to visit with him now. Congrats to Jason and Candace and their new baby boy -- Justin.
My cousin that just received a new kidney on March 11th welcomed his new son into the world on March 21st. I guess the little guy decided things went so well with his Dad's surgery that he wanted to visit with him now. Congrats to Jason and Candace and their new baby boy -- Justin.
I Think I'm Broken
I'm not sure what I did Friday while doing some deep cleaning, but I can barely move my leg today. Sitting, standing, laying down; it all hurts. I haven't had something hurt this bad while simply trying to walk since playing sports in high school. I don't know what I did, but I did it up good.
We were planning on going somewhere today and wander around outside, but between me being a cripple and Debbie being really tired, we never got out of the apartment. Watched a bunch of stuff on Hulu and got caught up on some reading instead. We may try again tomorrow, unless the wind blows us off the map. Or I wake up unable to get out of bed.
I started looking at school stuff today. It doesn't look too bad so far. The first week is very light-weight and shouldn't take more than a day or two to wrap up. I'm sure more will kick in down the road. Of course, once again I don't have all the course materials, but that has become so routine, I'm not even concerned about it. Cornerstone really needs to find smarter people to run the on-line side of things.
I used to talk about sliding into socialism, but now we seem to be in a full sprint. And the currency markets make the expected adjustments for the mass devaluation of the US dollar. But I'm sure everyone knows what they are doing and there is no politics involved now or in the future. Yep. Absolutely sure of it.
And that's pretty much it for today.
We were planning on going somewhere today and wander around outside, but between me being a cripple and Debbie being really tired, we never got out of the apartment. Watched a bunch of stuff on Hulu and got caught up on some reading instead. We may try again tomorrow, unless the wind blows us off the map. Or I wake up unable to get out of bed.
I started looking at school stuff today. It doesn't look too bad so far. The first week is very light-weight and shouldn't take more than a day or two to wrap up. I'm sure more will kick in down the road. Of course, once again I don't have all the course materials, but that has become so routine, I'm not even concerned about it. Cornerstone really needs to find smarter people to run the on-line side of things.
I used to talk about sliding into socialism, but now we seem to be in a full sprint. And the currency markets make the expected adjustments for the mass devaluation of the US dollar. But I'm sure everyone knows what they are doing and there is no politics involved now or in the future. Yep. Absolutely sure of it.
And that's pretty much it for today.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Extreme Sheep Herding
Posted without comment, other than Debbie's reaction: some people have way too much time on their hands:
Friday, March 20, 2009
Some Site Stats
My visits to my own web site are excluded from my stats, so the following is a true reflection of the traffic to our blog as opposed to a reflection of our personal preferences. I took a look at these mostly because I am now more-or-less in the Vista camp, so I was curious to see what others were doing. XP accounts for 74% of the traffic to this site so far this month with Vista at 20%. The other 6% is a mix of Mac, Linux, NT and "other." Given that Vista has been out for over two years, that is somewhat incredible. I know a lot of our readers hit us from work (9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday accounts for the vast majority of our traffic), which accounts for some of the skew towards XP, as businesses are always late to the table when it comes to OS upgrades. But I wouldn't have expected 3.7-to-1 in favor of XP. It will be interesting to see what happens when Win 7 ships.
Having just said that, the browser numbers are even more surprising with Firefox 3.0 at 52% compared to 44% for IE 6, 7 and 8 combined. Has Firefox started making inroads to the corporate desktop?
Anyway, no particular point. Just thought I'd share.
Having just said that, the browser numbers are even more surprising with Firefox 3.0 at 52% compared to 44% for IE 6, 7 and 8 combined. Has Firefox started making inroads to the corporate desktop?
Anyway, no particular point. Just thought I'd share.
The New PC
Everything is about as set up as it ever will be. Like any geek, I'll keep messing with things forever, but for now, it is what it is.
Here is the box:
Unpacking:
First light:
Final setup as viewed from the couch:
The only problem with all this is that we are having so much fun watching Hulu full screen in 1080p (up-converted, of course, but still...) that we are getting seriously off-pace with our reading. That will get cured next week when I start back at the school thing; no fun from March 23rd through May 11th for me.
Here is the box:
Unpacking:
First light:
Final setup as viewed from the couch:
The only problem with all this is that we are having so much fun watching Hulu full screen in 1080p (up-converted, of course, but still...) that we are getting seriously off-pace with our reading. That will get cured next week when I start back at the school thing; no fun from March 23rd through May 11th for me.
Spring has Sprung!
Or "sprang" or "spronged" or something like that. Anyway, temps still getting up above 70F (21C). For now that is. Things are supposed to return to more typical weather in a few days, which means cooler temps (50-60F or 10-15C) and lots of wind. Last year at this time we thought the apartment would get blown right off the cliff.
The blossoms are really starting to pop on the flowering trees in our courtyard. If it gets windy Monday or Tuesday like the weather liars are saying, we will have pink "snow" everywhere, including tracked in on the carpet.
The blossoms are really starting to pop on the flowering trees in our courtyard. If it gets windy Monday or Tuesday like the weather liars are saying, we will have pink "snow" everywhere, including tracked in on the carpet.
Today was a Bust
I didn't accomplish much today other than move a lot of furniture just so I could move it all back. As I mentioned earlier, my Linksys wireless print server isn't compatible with Vista 64-bit. Which, as it turns out, is sort of a theme. I rearranged both the office and the living room so I could have the printer directly connected to the new HP Vista box, but HP has decided that it isn't updating the drivers for the Laserjet 1000. Given that I can get 64-bit drivers for the Deskjet 500, first released over 20 years ago, this seems somewhat odd. The speculation is that the LJ1000 is too efficient and isn't racking up enough toner cartridge sales to fit HP's printer business model. Given that I've had mine since late 2001 and have purchased exactly one toner cartridge, they may have a point, but it is still pathetic that HP assumes I am so stupid that I'll run right out and buy a different HP printer that costs more per page. Nice work, HP. Way to alienate a customer who has had nothing other than HP printers for over two decades. I now own my last HP printer.
Otherwise, the system is running smoothly. I have the Drobo set up as a share on the network, the laptop seems to connect to it easily, and everything Just Works. Other than the whole not-being-able-to-print thing; maybe that's just the IT gods hinting that it's time to consider going paperless. It's more habit than anything at this point, especially when I'm finishing up a paper for school; final proofing is always on hardcopy. By making the process difficult, maybe I can kick the dead-flat-tree addiction. We'll see.
Otherwise, the system is running smoothly. I have the Drobo set up as a share on the network, the laptop seems to connect to it easily, and everything Just Works. Other than the whole not-being-able-to-print thing; maybe that's just the IT gods hinting that it's time to consider going paperless. It's more habit than anything at this point, especially when I'm finishing up a paper for school; final proofing is always on hardcopy. By making the process difficult, maybe I can kick the dead-flat-tree addiction. We'll see.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
More Rearranging
Still moving around files and hardware and changing up things with the old laptop (which will be kept as a second computer for Debbie when I'm hogging the main one; we decided we couldn't get enough money out of it to make it worth selling). I ran into a bit of a wall, and it pisses me to some degree. Last summer, I bought a wireless print server so we could keep the printer in the office instead of having it sitting in the living room. It worked perfectly. Today, I tried to set up the print server software on the new Vista box. The software doesn't run under Vista. I visit the Linksys web site where the discussion boards are overflowing with people screaming about the lack of support for Vista two years after the OS hit the streets. So tomorrow, I rearrange the living room to make space for an ugly piece of furniture that will have an ugly printer sitting on it. Major suck, Linksys. I know Vista has been a pain for everyone, but it can't be that hard to support it.
Ah well; it will give me something to do tomorrow instead of being outside enjoying the 70 degree temps or finishing up cleaning the living room.
Understand that I gave up reading Cracked magazine when I was around 12 because I had outgrown its humor, but their 5 Ways 'Common Sense' Lies To You Everyday is actually a very intelligent bit of writing.
Well, I have a few more things to finish up so I can start cranking first thing in the morning on moving around furniture, then off to bed.
Ah well; it will give me something to do tomorrow instead of being outside enjoying the 70 degree temps or finishing up cleaning the living room.
Understand that I gave up reading Cracked magazine when I was around 12 because I had outgrown its humor, but their 5 Ways 'Common Sense' Lies To You Everyday is actually a very intelligent bit of writing.
Well, I have a few more things to finish up so I can start cranking first thing in the morning on moving around furniture, then off to bed.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Out of the Box and (Mostly) Set Up
I have some pics that I took while unpacking and setting up the new PC. I think I have everything arranged the way I want it. The video is gorgeous. I never imagined a 42" computer display and it looks fabulous at 1080p. It took some digging to figure out why the picture didn't fill the screen. It seems ATI defaults to using 80% of the screen instead of 100%. Not a big deal, and I can think of a couple reasons to do that, but then don't bury the slider to change it so deep it takes a trip to Google to find it.
The PC itself seems OK. As I figured, lots of cheesy plastic in the case and generic parts inside, but I don't tend to physically stress equipment, so it should be OK. iTunes was flaky at first, but then I remembered that Vista has a real problem with files from XP due to hyper-sensitive security regarding file ownership properties. Making the only user on Vista the owner was one of those obvious-once-known things that make Microsoft so beloved in the computer community. It wasn't difficult, but chugging through the 25k+ files on the Drobo took the better part of an hour. Once that was done, iTunes started behaving.
The longest part was, as always, uninstalling all the craptastic "free" software and trial versions that come installed. Then I installed everthing I think we will need. I think I have everything pretty much working at this point. I need to get the wireless print server set up to look for the wireless from the router instead of the laptop (not sure how that happened....) and I'm good to go. There are still some display tweeks; running 1920x1080 makes some screen elements mighty small from the couch 12 feet away. Maybe I should have bought a 60"? In any case, as of now, everything is here and so far it works.
The best part is watching videos. Everything from Tech Ticker to Hulu to DVD's to rips look fantastic. Smooth even during fast-moving pans and the up-converting makes a standard DVD's 480 lines look pretty good. Not Blu-Ray good, but I doubt the difference would be that noticable on a store-brand 42" LCD. I definitely like this setup.
Tomorrow, I should finish up tweeking things and then this little project will be as done as any computer project is ever done. Then clean up the laptop and set it up in the office so we can both have a computer to use.
The PC itself seems OK. As I figured, lots of cheesy plastic in the case and generic parts inside, but I don't tend to physically stress equipment, so it should be OK. iTunes was flaky at first, but then I remembered that Vista has a real problem with files from XP due to hyper-sensitive security regarding file ownership properties. Making the only user on Vista the owner was one of those obvious-once-known things that make Microsoft so beloved in the computer community. It wasn't difficult, but chugging through the 25k+ files on the Drobo took the better part of an hour. Once that was done, iTunes started behaving.
The longest part was, as always, uninstalling all the craptastic "free" software and trial versions that come installed. Then I installed everthing I think we will need. I think I have everything pretty much working at this point. I need to get the wireless print server set up to look for the wireless from the router instead of the laptop (not sure how that happened....) and I'm good to go. There are still some display tweeks; running 1920x1080 makes some screen elements mighty small from the couch 12 feet away. Maybe I should have bought a 60"? In any case, as of now, everything is here and so far it works.
The best part is watching videos. Everything from Tech Ticker to Hulu to DVD's to rips look fantastic. Smooth even during fast-moving pans and the up-converting makes a standard DVD's 480 lines look pretty good. Not Blu-Ray good, but I doubt the difference would be that noticable on a store-brand 42" LCD. I definitely like this setup.
Tomorrow, I should finish up tweeking things and then this little project will be as done as any computer project is ever done. Then clean up the laptop and set it up in the office so we can both have a computer to use.
Monday, March 16, 2009
An-ti-ci-pa-tion!
For those old enough to remember.
According to the FedEx website, the new PC is on the truck. Serious woohoo time shortly.
Meanwhile, more proof that the primary function of government is to hire and pay government workers. If something useful gets done, that's a pleasant side benefit, but never mistake it for the reason government exists.
Speaking of life-time government employees, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Masshole) thinks that "maybe" some people should get fired at AIG, who just used taxpayer money to pay out hundreds of millions in bonuses. Maybe? Maybe? It is time and past time to decapitate AIG (and Citi and BoA, et al). Only someone spending their life sheltered in a government job would think otherwise.
Back to staring at the door....
According to the FedEx website, the new PC is on the truck. Serious woohoo time shortly.
Meanwhile, more proof that the primary function of government is to hire and pay government workers. If something useful gets done, that's a pleasant side benefit, but never mistake it for the reason government exists.
Speaking of life-time government employees, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Masshole) thinks that "maybe" some people should get fired at AIG, who just used taxpayer money to pay out hundreds of millions in bonuses. Maybe? Maybe? It is time and past time to decapitate AIG (and Citi and BoA, et al). Only someone spending their life sheltered in a government job would think otherwise.
Back to staring at the door....
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Another Blogger Meet-up
We had the March Prescott blogger meet-up today. There was talk last time about finding a bigger place to have it, but we ended up in the same place. There were about the same number of people as last month with some of the regulars missing and their places taken by some new faces. Good food, good conversation, etc.
I realized last night that I let a chance to use my new favorite word slip by on Friday: Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Ah well. There will be other Friday the 13th's.
If anyone needs proof (other than the obvious mathematical one) that half the people are below average, one only need to realize that there are people out there who still give money to Donald Trump. Has anything this buffoon touched ever made money for anyone other than himself?
When an elementary school principle refuses to defend his actions with the words, "Because I don't want to," I think it's pretty safe to assume this guy has been hanging around on the playground too much. This is who we trust to educate the next generation.
Tomorrow, I should be getting a big box with a new PC in it. We splurged with our tax refund money and picked up a new quad-core system. The only bad part is that it comes with Vista. I swore after Win2K to never own another MS OS. Then we had to get an XP laptop when we moved out here so Debbie could work as an outside agent for her old employer. We've been limping along with that until now, but with only one gig of RAM, it chokes when playing HD content full-screen, and it can't make use of the 1920x1080 resolution of our TV/computer screen. I had thought about one of the Linux variants, but there is just too much screwing around that you have to do to get the thing to do what we want it to do. I've lusted after Apple hardware since the days of Lisa, but Apple has always charged a high premium for their hardware. That changed for a short period when they made the switch from Motorola to Intel chips, but it didn't last. A Mac Mini would have carried a 50% premium for the same hardware in our current, two-year-old laptop. Add to that the extra cost of repurchasing all the software we have on our PC, and the hassle of file conversions (not a lot as I try to stay cross-platform whenever possible, but not zero) and it was just not going to happen. So we stick with Windows for now. I configured the system for Win7 (as much as possible) which sounds pretty good so far. It usually takes Microsoft three tries to get something right, so Win7 may be around for a while and Vista will quickly fade like ME did.
I also went through the usual buy vs. build question. It used to be that building a system let you come in cheaper and with better componants, but when I priced it out, building came in at a premium. It will be interesting to crack open the case when it arrives and see what's inside. I suspect a lot of no-name componants. I know the motherboard is Intel and the video card is one of the higher-end ATI cards, but other than that, nothing is specified by brand. But our financial situation didn't really leave me with much of a choice, and we don't have anything around here like a Fry's Electronics where I could grab the stuff I needed; everything would have been mail-order.
Anyway, next week will be devoted to getting the new system set up with all our software and everything working nicely. I need everything ship-shape before classes kick in on March 24th. Then I won't have time for anything until I'm all done on May 11.
Well, I'm going on a quest for food and maybe some TV on Hulu.
I realized last night that I let a chance to use my new favorite word slip by on Friday: Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Ah well. There will be other Friday the 13th's.
If anyone needs proof (other than the obvious mathematical one) that half the people are below average, one only need to realize that there are people out there who still give money to Donald Trump. Has anything this buffoon touched ever made money for anyone other than himself?
When an elementary school principle refuses to defend his actions with the words, "Because I don't want to," I think it's pretty safe to assume this guy has been hanging around on the playground too much. This is who we trust to educate the next generation.
Tomorrow, I should be getting a big box with a new PC in it. We splurged with our tax refund money and picked up a new quad-core system. The only bad part is that it comes with Vista. I swore after Win2K to never own another MS OS. Then we had to get an XP laptop when we moved out here so Debbie could work as an outside agent for her old employer. We've been limping along with that until now, but with only one gig of RAM, it chokes when playing HD content full-screen, and it can't make use of the 1920x1080 resolution of our TV/computer screen. I had thought about one of the Linux variants, but there is just too much screwing around that you have to do to get the thing to do what we want it to do. I've lusted after Apple hardware since the days of Lisa, but Apple has always charged a high premium for their hardware. That changed for a short period when they made the switch from Motorola to Intel chips, but it didn't last. A Mac Mini would have carried a 50% premium for the same hardware in our current, two-year-old laptop. Add to that the extra cost of repurchasing all the software we have on our PC, and the hassle of file conversions (not a lot as I try to stay cross-platform whenever possible, but not zero) and it was just not going to happen. So we stick with Windows for now. I configured the system for Win7 (as much as possible) which sounds pretty good so far. It usually takes Microsoft three tries to get something right, so Win7 may be around for a while and Vista will quickly fade like ME did.
I also went through the usual buy vs. build question. It used to be that building a system let you come in cheaper and with better componants, but when I priced it out, building came in at a premium. It will be interesting to crack open the case when it arrives and see what's inside. I suspect a lot of no-name componants. I know the motherboard is Intel and the video card is one of the higher-end ATI cards, but other than that, nothing is specified by brand. But our financial situation didn't really leave me with much of a choice, and we don't have anything around here like a Fry's Electronics where I could grab the stuff I needed; everything would have been mail-order.
Anyway, next week will be devoted to getting the new system set up with all our software and everything working nicely. I need everything ship-shape before classes kick in on March 24th. Then I won't have time for anything until I'm all done on May 11.
Well, I'm going on a quest for food and maybe some TV on Hulu.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Today on the Intertubes
If you want to have some fun, read this list of the 10 Annoying Habits of a Geeky Spouse, note how many of the habits you admit to, then have your spouse tell you how many of the habits you have.
Global hurricane energy is at a 30-year low. Let me guess: global warming is causing this, too. As a Pastafarian, I wonder just how long it will be before everyone wakes up to the reality: global warming is punishment from the Flying Spaghetti Monster for us not dressing up as pirates. As a direct result of the success of the Church of the FSM in spreading the truth, global temperatures have plummeted. It's all so obvious; how can people be so blind?
China is starting to wonder if being the world's largest lender to the US government was such a great idea after all. I can't blame them. Here's an interesting question: what happens when the next debt auction flops? Will the government actually adjust spending? Or will there be some sort of fake buyer that appears at the last minute and "buys" up the leftovers? Is there one person in a thousand who believes this money will ever be repaid? And note that we now have the Chinese government dictating terms to the US. Anyone surprised by this is should be checked for a pulse; he who pays the piper, etc.
I'm always left with mixed feelings whenever I read a story like this. The over-simplified title "Wake judge orders home-schoolers into public classrooms" immediately gets my hackles up, but of course there is more to the story; the parents are divorced, mom wants to home school, but dad wants the kids in a public school. This is a very different matter that shouldn't touch on the legality or legitimacy of home schooling, although I'm certain this case will be waved around as another example of godless activist judges forcing evolution on the kiddies. The judge hasn't even issued his written ruling, so his reasoning is not known at this point. The mother claims the kids are two years above grade level, and the father agrees the kids have "thrived" while being home schooled, so this doesn't look to be some horror story of illiterate kids being used as household slaves hiding under the "home school" label. I'll be interested to see the written opinion when it comes out; will it focus on the issue of balancing parental rights in a divorce situation, or will it be about the broader issue of the legitimacy of home schooling? Of course, the take-away is the inability of two so-called adults to solve this issue and having to resort to the courts.
Well, I need to scrape about a foot of dust off all the furniture, so I need to quit messing around here and get at it.
Global hurricane energy is at a 30-year low. Let me guess: global warming is causing this, too. As a Pastafarian, I wonder just how long it will be before everyone wakes up to the reality: global warming is punishment from the Flying Spaghetti Monster for us not dressing up as pirates. As a direct result of the success of the Church of the FSM in spreading the truth, global temperatures have plummeted. It's all so obvious; how can people be so blind?
China is starting to wonder if being the world's largest lender to the US government was such a great idea after all. I can't blame them. Here's an interesting question: what happens when the next debt auction flops? Will the government actually adjust spending? Or will there be some sort of fake buyer that appears at the last minute and "buys" up the leftovers? Is there one person in a thousand who believes this money will ever be repaid? And note that we now have the Chinese government dictating terms to the US. Anyone surprised by this is should be checked for a pulse; he who pays the piper, etc.
I'm always left with mixed feelings whenever I read a story like this. The over-simplified title "Wake judge orders home-schoolers into public classrooms" immediately gets my hackles up, but of course there is more to the story; the parents are divorced, mom wants to home school, but dad wants the kids in a public school. This is a very different matter that shouldn't touch on the legality or legitimacy of home schooling, although I'm certain this case will be waved around as another example of godless activist judges forcing evolution on the kiddies. The judge hasn't even issued his written ruling, so his reasoning is not known at this point. The mother claims the kids are two years above grade level, and the father agrees the kids have "thrived" while being home schooled, so this doesn't look to be some horror story of illiterate kids being used as household slaves hiding under the "home school" label. I'll be interested to see the written opinion when it comes out; will it focus on the issue of balancing parental rights in a divorce situation, or will it be about the broader issue of the legitimacy of home schooling? Of course, the take-away is the inability of two so-called adults to solve this issue and having to resort to the courts.
Well, I need to scrape about a foot of dust off all the furniture, so I need to quit messing around here and get at it.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Post Designed for Skimming
I haven't had the time to do anything other than short to long-ish posts in a while, so guess what!!
A big issue out here in the Territories is obviously illegal immigration, and given the state of the economy, you can guarantee that even legal immigration will become even more of an issue. I've always been an open-border sort of guy up to a limit: by definition, a nation that cannot (or in our case, chooses not to) defend its borders is not a sovereign nation. I fully agree that there is a desperate need for immigration reform given that far too many of the wrong sort get in while far too many of the right sort are excluded by a bureaucracy fully in the grip of Pournelle's Iron Law. And the sort of tactics and rhetoric employed by One-Shot Joe Arpaio (old joke from another Sheriff Joe that reminds me of Arpaio) are questionable to say the least. But he does have a point; he has rounded up a lot of people who are 1) illegals and 2) criminals. A legitimate question, of course, is the collateral damage inflicted in the process of finding these. I don't think anyone other than a total xenophobe would argue that it's OK to incarcerate large numbers of people based on their ethnicity, then justify your actions because some percent of them turned out to be criminals of one sort or another. I don't live in Maricopa County, and don't have detail one about any of the detainees, so I really can't say one way or the other. But I will make a few observations. First, I doubt an investigation launched at the request of some moral defective Congresscritters on behalf of a couple reality-challenged, politically-loony-left organizations is going to accomplish anything useful in reducing the flood of illegals or reforming immigration. Secondly, illegal immigrants do not have civil rights. They are outlaw in the original meaning of the word. Finally, how is it that our military is sent into foreign nations at the drop of a hat to prop up "friends of the United States" and defend their borders, but any hint of using our military to defend our own borders throws everyone into hysterics?
Next we have the inevitable result of increasing corporate taxes: uneconomic decisions suddenly becoming economically sensible. I will add that there is no such thing as "corporate income tax," merely a hidden tax on the customers, employees and shareholders of the corporation. Corporations are not people, even if they are defined as such by the law and the tax code. Look at it this way: corporate income taxes simply make the government of the United States another vendor, although a rather unique one in that it simply requires payment under threat of violence without providing any goods or services. But a vendor none the less. Now, how do corporations pay their vendors and employees and shareholders? By selling product, of course. Roughly speaking, revenue from selling goods and/or services equals what is paid out to vendors, employees and shareholders. The only way the United States can increase their take as a vendor is by less dividends or share value going to shareholders, less pay going to employees, or more revenue from customers by increasing prices. Period. End of discussion. Corporate income tax does not, from a practical standpoint, exist.
Speaking of hidden taxes, everyone blames corporate conspiracies for keeping practical electric vehicles off the road. Please note:
The rest of the article is a good example of how the government stifles innovation. While hardly a sensible cross-country vehicle, it would be perfect for us, and millions of other people who live in a similar situation. Understand that the libertarian in me recoils at the thought of any tax money going to any private business for any reason. But you would think that if alternative transportation is such a priority of Obama and his leash-holders that 0.00001% of the stimulus package could go to these guys so they could more-quickly ramp up production. But no, instead we give stimulus money to city governments who don't want it so they can play stupid games with it.
(sigh)
It looks like we have a bit of a bear-market rally going on this week with the Dow back over 7,000 and the S&P over 700. I wouldn't get too used to it; the fundamental problems are still there. But it is a nice break.
A big issue out here in the Territories is obviously illegal immigration, and given the state of the economy, you can guarantee that even legal immigration will become even more of an issue. I've always been an open-border sort of guy up to a limit: by definition, a nation that cannot (or in our case, chooses not to) defend its borders is not a sovereign nation. I fully agree that there is a desperate need for immigration reform given that far too many of the wrong sort get in while far too many of the right sort are excluded by a bureaucracy fully in the grip of Pournelle's Iron Law. And the sort of tactics and rhetoric employed by One-Shot Joe Arpaio (old joke from another Sheriff Joe that reminds me of Arpaio) are questionable to say the least. But he does have a point; he has rounded up a lot of people who are 1) illegals and 2) criminals. A legitimate question, of course, is the collateral damage inflicted in the process of finding these. I don't think anyone other than a total xenophobe would argue that it's OK to incarcerate large numbers of people based on their ethnicity, then justify your actions because some percent of them turned out to be criminals of one sort or another. I don't live in Maricopa County, and don't have detail one about any of the detainees, so I really can't say one way or the other. But I will make a few observations. First, I doubt an investigation launched at the request of some moral defective Congresscritters on behalf of a couple reality-challenged, politically-loony-left organizations is going to accomplish anything useful in reducing the flood of illegals or reforming immigration. Secondly, illegal immigrants do not have civil rights. They are outlaw in the original meaning of the word. Finally, how is it that our military is sent into foreign nations at the drop of a hat to prop up "friends of the United States" and defend their borders, but any hint of using our military to defend our own borders throws everyone into hysterics?
Next we have the inevitable result of increasing corporate taxes: uneconomic decisions suddenly becoming economically sensible. I will add that there is no such thing as "corporate income tax," merely a hidden tax on the customers, employees and shareholders of the corporation. Corporations are not people, even if they are defined as such by the law and the tax code. Look at it this way: corporate income taxes simply make the government of the United States another vendor, although a rather unique one in that it simply requires payment under threat of violence without providing any goods or services. But a vendor none the less. Now, how do corporations pay their vendors and employees and shareholders? By selling product, of course. Roughly speaking, revenue from selling goods and/or services equals what is paid out to vendors, employees and shareholders. The only way the United States can increase their take as a vendor is by less dividends or share value going to shareholders, less pay going to employees, or more revenue from customers by increasing prices. Period. End of discussion. Corporate income tax does not, from a practical standpoint, exist.
Speaking of hidden taxes, everyone blames corporate conspiracies for keeping practical electric vehicles off the road. Please note:
Aptera Motors is building an electric car that goes 100 miles on a charge, draws power from an ordinary electrical outlet, and should be in driveways by the end of the year. But the federal government won't consider lending the California startup any money to build the car for one reason.
It has three wheels.
The rest of the article is a good example of how the government stifles innovation. While hardly a sensible cross-country vehicle, it would be perfect for us, and millions of other people who live in a similar situation. Understand that the libertarian in me recoils at the thought of any tax money going to any private business for any reason. But you would think that if alternative transportation is such a priority of Obama and his leash-holders that 0.00001% of the stimulus package could go to these guys so they could more-quickly ramp up production. But no, instead we give stimulus money to city governments who don't want it so they can play stupid games with it.
(sigh)
It looks like we have a bit of a bear-market rally going on this week with the Dow back over 7,000 and the S&P over 700. I wouldn't get too used to it; the fundamental problems are still there. But it is a nice break.
Who ARE These People?
This month's top search terms so far:
"what debbie needs"
"debbie boob"
"debbie's place blog"
"long dentist appointment"
I guess I would be even more concerned if "ric boob" made the list....
"what debbie needs"
"debbie boob"
"debbie's place blog"
"long dentist appointment"
I guess I would be even more concerned if "ric boob" made the list....
And the Fluffing Pays Off
I just got the grade on the paper that was 30% fluff: 100.00%. Perfection out to four decimal places.
I also got final grades for both classes and they are in line with my previous grades at Cornerstone. That makes my prediction wrong; I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. Confused, but I'll take it.
College tip for any kiddies out there: it isn't about how well you can make your point; it's about carefully following the APA guidelines in all their asininity and hitting the page count. All else is secondary. This will prepare you fully for work in the real world where all memos are in APA format and where you are expected to always say in 500 words what a normal person can say in 50, because it makes you look all edjamacated. OK, so that last point sort of fails as sarcasm as it actually is how large businesses work.
This is a college education in 2009. For this, our children will start their adult lives $40,000 or more in debt.
I also got final grades for both classes and they are in line with my previous grades at Cornerstone. That makes my prediction wrong; I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. Confused, but I'll take it.
College tip for any kiddies out there: it isn't about how well you can make your point; it's about carefully following the APA guidelines in all their asininity and hitting the page count. All else is secondary. This will prepare you fully for work in the real world where all memos are in APA format and where you are expected to always say in 500 words what a normal person can say in 50, because it makes you look all edjamacated. OK, so that last point sort of fails as sarcasm as it actually is how large businesses work.
This is a college education in 2009. For this, our children will start their adult lives $40,000 or more in debt.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Day Three of Taking it Easy
First, a little family news. At last word, the transplant was a success and both Jason and Adam are doing well. If that doesn't mean anything to you, it would take me pages to explain. Just know that there are a lot of very relieved and thankful people all over the United States today.
Anyway, I didn't leave the house today. I had intended to go wander with the camera, but I got involved in cleaning the kitchen. I've needed to degrease the kitchen cupboards since we moved in here over a year ago, so today I grabbed the Murphy oil soap and went to town. It's nice to not stick to the cupboard doors. Other than that, I didn't do much other than just pick up and sort through all the accumulated debris and finish up all the odd jobs that have piled up since mid-February when the college death march started.
I read through Obama's education speech and saw a lot of the same: education policy made by the same moral defectives that are directly responsible for the worst schools in the nation. Hey, Obama? I'll tell you the same thing I've told the last three presidents: when the Washington DC schools are the best in the nation, you can then and only then, lecture the rest of us about our schools. Deal? Yea, thought not.
Camille Paglia has a new column up. It's worth the ten minutes to read through it. If Obama is too busy to read our blog, then he should at least read her's. Jimmy Carter II: here we come.
While page one of Paglia's column is boring political crap, page two has some pretty cool stuff from her time in Brazil and a link to this video:
Now that's a party.
Time to vegetate a little and then off to bed.
Anyway, I didn't leave the house today. I had intended to go wander with the camera, but I got involved in cleaning the kitchen. I've needed to degrease the kitchen cupboards since we moved in here over a year ago, so today I grabbed the Murphy oil soap and went to town. It's nice to not stick to the cupboard doors. Other than that, I didn't do much other than just pick up and sort through all the accumulated debris and finish up all the odd jobs that have piled up since mid-February when the college death march started.
I read through Obama's education speech and saw a lot of the same: education policy made by the same moral defectives that are directly responsible for the worst schools in the nation. Hey, Obama? I'll tell you the same thing I've told the last three presidents: when the Washington DC schools are the best in the nation, you can then and only then, lecture the rest of us about our schools. Deal? Yea, thought not.
Camille Paglia has a new column up. It's worth the ten minutes to read through it. If Obama is too busy to read our blog, then he should at least read her's. Jimmy Carter II: here we come.
While page one of Paglia's column is boring political crap, page two has some pretty cool stuff from her time in Brazil and a link to this video:
Now that's a party.
Time to vegetate a little and then off to bed.
Coming Back to Life
I managed to walk down to the post office today, then wandered around the Firehouse Plaza for a bit just letting people know I was still alive. And I made it through the day with only one nap. So the recovery continues. I don't have my final grades yet; I expect them sometime before the end of the week. I have no idea what they will be. Normally, I have a pretty good feel, but not this time. I'm sure that at least in one case, I will be surprised and not in a good way.
Nice little bounce in the markets today, which will probably continue just long enough to fake people out. This guy is interesting to listen to, probably because I agree with him that the bailouts are "absolutely asinine." Not that anyone cares what I think or what he thinks; the bailouts are a done deal and will continue for a long time.
If evangelicals care about their own future, they need to read and understand this:
Why?
Having been in the belly of the beast, I know this is true. Worse, I see nothing from the students at Cornerstone University that gives any hope of change. I seriously doubt that Cornerstone is unique in this.
Some are beginning to speak; the question is will anyone listen?
Nice little bounce in the markets today, which will probably continue just long enough to fake people out. This guy is interesting to listen to, probably because I agree with him that the bailouts are "absolutely asinine." Not that anyone cares what I think or what he thinks; the bailouts are a done deal and will continue for a long time.
If evangelicals care about their own future, they need to read and understand this:
Within two generations, evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its occupants....
Millions of Evangelicals will quit. Thousands of ministries will end. Christian media will be reduced, if not eliminated. Many Christian schools will go into rapid decline.
Why?
1. Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism....
2. We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith....
3. There are three kinds of evangelical churches today: consumer-driven megachurches, dying churches, and new churches whose future is fragile....
4. ...Christian education has not produced a product that can withstand the rising tide of secularism....
Having been in the belly of the beast, I know this is true. Worse, I see nothing from the students at Cornerstone University that gives any hope of change. I seriously doubt that Cornerstone is unique in this.
Some are beginning to speak; the question is will anyone listen?
Monday, March 09, 2009
Lazy Day
Thought I'd do a little sleep-blogging.
I barely managed to wake up today. I made it from the bed to the couch, and that's been about it. Did some internet cruising, took a nap, watched the premier of Dollhouse, took a nap, washed a few dishes, took a nap. Tomorrow, I'll get ambitious, but today is just a lost day.
Interesting statistic: In February, there were more cars stolen in the US than Honda managed to sell. Honda accounts for about 10% of car sales, or 75,000 cars in February. I'm not sure whether to be shocked by how bad new car sales have gotten, or by how many cars are stolen every month.
OK; that wore me out. Time for another nap.
I barely managed to wake up today. I made it from the bed to the couch, and that's been about it. Did some internet cruising, took a nap, watched the premier of Dollhouse, took a nap, washed a few dishes, took a nap. Tomorrow, I'll get ambitious, but today is just a lost day.
Interesting statistic: In February, there were more cars stolen in the US than Honda managed to sell. Honda accounts for about 10% of car sales, or 75,000 cars in February. I'm not sure whether to be shocked by how bad new car sales have gotten, or by how many cars are stolen every month.
OK; that wore me out. Time for another nap.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Fluffed and Folded
Done. Finished. Completed. Finito.
For a couple weeks anyway. Debbie is reading through my paper for me, then submit that, run through the message boards one last time, check on the team assignment, and I log off Angel and close the tab in Firefox for a full two weeks.
Woohoo!
For a couple weeks anyway. Debbie is reading through my paper for me, then submit that, run through the message boards one last time, check on the team assignment, and I log off Angel and close the tab in Firefox for a full two weeks.
Woohoo!
So Close....
I'm done with all the major work for one class and very nearly done in the second. All that I have left is to fluff up a paper from eight to ten pages. I hate doing that, but the subject really doesn't warrant that long of a paper. But a few long quotes from several of my sources and "Tada!!" it's a ten-pager. I'm going to work on that as soon as I'm done here. I don't want to have any real work to do after I go to bed tonight.
I was looking at some market stuff during one of my brain breaks today. For those concerned about the big picture, here are some numbers that give an idea of just what that big picture looks like:
- $11 Trillion in lost market cap since January 2008. And still dropping. And that's just the US.
- Half of the Wilshire 5000 stocks are below $5/share.
- One third of the Wilshire 5000 stocks are below $3/share
- Over half the stocks on the S&P 500 no longer meet the criteria for being in the S&P 500.
- The US GDP declined over 6% in Q4 2008. That was one of the best numbers in the world.
- South Korea's GDP fell over 20% in Q4 2008. We won't be exporting our way out of this.
- Favorite line of the week: "The dollar is the best looking horse at the glue factory."
The good news is that the markets turned up just before close Friday, which usually means an up Monday, barring any disasters over the weekend. Lets hope things at least level off. The last forty-five days have been brutal even for us pessimists. And we have almost no money in the market right now. I can't imagine what it has been like for retirees or those close to retiring while they watch half or more their portfolio value just evaporate. (Why people at that point in life are heavily in equities is a whole 'nother blog post.)
Well, enough of this spreading happiness and cheer crap; I've got a paper to fluff.
I was looking at some market stuff during one of my brain breaks today. For those concerned about the big picture, here are some numbers that give an idea of just what that big picture looks like:
- $11 Trillion in lost market cap since January 2008. And still dropping. And that's just the US.
- Half of the Wilshire 5000 stocks are below $5/share.
- One third of the Wilshire 5000 stocks are below $3/share
- Over half the stocks on the S&P 500 no longer meet the criteria for being in the S&P 500.
- The US GDP declined over 6% in Q4 2008. That was one of the best numbers in the world.
- South Korea's GDP fell over 20% in Q4 2008. We won't be exporting our way out of this.
- Favorite line of the week: "The dollar is the best looking horse at the glue factory."
The good news is that the markets turned up just before close Friday, which usually means an up Monday, barring any disasters over the weekend. Lets hope things at least level off. The last forty-five days have been brutal even for us pessimists. And we have almost no money in the market right now. I can't imagine what it has been like for retirees or those close to retiring while they watch half or more their portfolio value just evaporate. (Why people at that point in life are heavily in equities is a whole 'nother blog post.)
Well, enough of this spreading happiness and cheer crap; I've got a paper to fluff.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Made some decent progress on my final paper today. I should be able to finish that up in the morning. Tomorrow evening, I'm supposed to "meet" my learning team online to finish up the last thing I have left in my second class. So either I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, or there's a train coming. Either way, it will be over in 72 hours.
For a couple weeks, anyway. I think I may have some textbook difficulties (what's new) with one of the next batch of classes. I was glancing through the book and it appears there are supposed to be CD's or some such. It isn't very clear. I'm just going to wing it for now. It's a music class and I own almost the entire collection used in the text anyway, so I'm pretty sure I can fake it. The big problem is, naturally, the mental defects behind Cornerstone's web site. All three of my on-line electives have links to out-of-print editions of the textbooks on Amazon. You would think someone would take 10 minutes to check this sort of thing at least a few times a year. Instead, students end up dealing with people selling used books out of their mom's basement just to get textbooks. Ah well; given the other problems with the whole on-line education thing, the textbook issues are relatively minor.
Well, it's late and I need some sleep.
For a couple weeks, anyway. I think I may have some textbook difficulties (what's new) with one of the next batch of classes. I was glancing through the book and it appears there are supposed to be CD's or some such. It isn't very clear. I'm just going to wing it for now. It's a music class and I own almost the entire collection used in the text anyway, so I'm pretty sure I can fake it. The big problem is, naturally, the mental defects behind Cornerstone's web site. All three of my on-line electives have links to out-of-print editions of the textbooks on Amazon. You would think someone would take 10 minutes to check this sort of thing at least a few times a year. Instead, students end up dealing with people selling used books out of their mom's basement just to get textbooks. Ah well; given the other problems with the whole on-line education thing, the textbook issues are relatively minor.
Well, it's late and I need some sleep.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Bloggin' Instead of Writin'
I'm supposed to be deep into a 10-page paper, but it ain't happening today. I got up early, started right in and was making fair progress when I hit a wall. Even though I had almost eight hours of sleep last night, I fell sound asleep on the couch for about 2 hours. So I'm just taking a bit of a break and will hopefully get it in gear this evening. I really need to have this thing roughed out tonight to stay on schedule. I don't want this weekend to end up being all about school, as we got our tax refund on Monday. Gotta go stimulate the economy!! Eyeing a new camera for the Hawaii trip and possibly a new PC that can push out a 1080p video signal so we can take full advantage of our 42" TV/computer monitor.
Just a couple random things I picked up off the intertubes. GM's accountants are saying that they really don't see a way for GM to stay in business. This will trash Michigan economically even more than it already is. And just in case anyone thought that head-fake the market did yesterday means anything, the Wilshire 5000 is testing a new 52-week low today. This isn't over, not by a long shot. This is not a V-shaped or even U-shaped market event. This is a decade-plus of inflationary fluff getting beaten out of the market. It's not the end of the world, just the end of the fantasy world that has been the US economy since the mid-80's. Maybe if I can take a break from sleeping and napping during my two-week break in school, I'll write something more comprehensive on the economy and really bore everyone to tears, but for now, I'll just repeat what I've been saying for the entire 21st century: get fast, get small. The future belongs to the mammals, not the dinosaurs.
And just to wrap up before I get back at it, I'd love to meet the morons that coded the voting machines.
Just a couple random things I picked up off the intertubes. GM's accountants are saying that they really don't see a way for GM to stay in business. This will trash Michigan economically even more than it already is. And just in case anyone thought that head-fake the market did yesterday means anything, the Wilshire 5000 is testing a new 52-week low today. This isn't over, not by a long shot. This is not a V-shaped or even U-shaped market event. This is a decade-plus of inflationary fluff getting beaten out of the market. It's not the end of the world, just the end of the fantasy world that has been the US economy since the mid-80's. Maybe if I can take a break from sleeping and napping during my two-week break in school, I'll write something more comprehensive on the economy and really bore everyone to tears, but for now, I'll just repeat what I've been saying for the entire 21st century: get fast, get small. The future belongs to the mammals, not the dinosaurs.
And just to wrap up before I get back at it, I'd love to meet the morons that coded the voting machines.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Two Days, Two Psychological Barriers
Yesterday, the Dow fell below 7,000, but the S&P managed to stay just barely over 700. Today, the S&P slid in just under 700. Tomorrow could be an interesting day with either a good bounce or the plunge continuing. There is a lot of downward pressure and not many bright spots. Does anyone else get the feeling that 2009 is going to be a long year?
Monday, March 02, 2009
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Winding Down
Tomorrow starts the last week of the two classes I'm taking right now. I laid some good solid ground work for the big project in one class and completed the big project in the other. I feel pretty comfortable right now with how I'm sitting time-wise, which is a bad sign. I'll likely end up here using up my precious supply of words on blog posts instead of working toward the 4-5K words I need to get on paper this week. In any case, by this time next week, I will be starting a two-week period of nothing but sleeping that will only be interrupted long enough for brief naps. You think I jest, but I am completely serious.
I do have to say that whatever it is that I'm doing, it isn't a college education. Most of the text books are about 4th grade level stuff, the assignments are a lot of fluff, and the instructors are, for the most part, complete no-shows, so the whole class turns into a very expensive on-line book club. Nothing I've seen in the last two months in any way justifies the $3,000 price tag. For one thing, the whole on-line structure is antithetical to what I consider to be a college education: the instructor-student and student-student give-and-take of a classroom. Sure there are discussion boards, but the information flow is just way too slow. For example, some of the classes have PLT's or professional learning teams; three or four students working collaboratively on some sort of project. When I was in Cornerstone's ACE program we had these as well, but they involved a weekly 4-hour face-to-face meeting outside of the classroom. The three of us in that group could get more done in one live meeting than both of my five-week on-line PLT's have accomplished combined. If I were an employer (I know, unlikely, but go with me on this) I would not hire anyone with a college degree obtained completely or even mostly on-line unless their other experience made the degree moot. And if I were a parent paying for this crap, I would be pissed to the teeth. On-line education is a scam.
I do have to say that whatever it is that I'm doing, it isn't a college education. Most of the text books are about 4th grade level stuff, the assignments are a lot of fluff, and the instructors are, for the most part, complete no-shows, so the whole class turns into a very expensive on-line book club. Nothing I've seen in the last two months in any way justifies the $3,000 price tag. For one thing, the whole on-line structure is antithetical to what I consider to be a college education: the instructor-student and student-student give-and-take of a classroom. Sure there are discussion boards, but the information flow is just way too slow. For example, some of the classes have PLT's or professional learning teams; three or four students working collaboratively on some sort of project. When I was in Cornerstone's ACE program we had these as well, but they involved a weekly 4-hour face-to-face meeting outside of the classroom. The three of us in that group could get more done in one live meeting than both of my five-week on-line PLT's have accomplished combined. If I were an employer (I know, unlikely, but go with me on this) I would not hire anyone with a college degree obtained completely or even mostly on-line unless their other experience made the degree moot. And if I were a parent paying for this crap, I would be pissed to the teeth. On-line education is a scam.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Prayers
Please be praying for my cousins. Jason and his brother-in-law will be going through a kidney donation surgery on March 11th in Michigan. This is Jason's second kidney transplant -- his first was from his Mom when he was very young. His sister's husband ended up being a match for Jason this time. (Good choice on husband picking Sara!) Thanks also to another cousin (by marriage) that had signed up to be a "paired kidney donor" and all the rest that were tested.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with Jason and Candace and Adam and Sara, and all the rest of the family.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with Jason and Candace and Adam and Sara, and all the rest of the family.
Aloha!
MAUAI WOWIE!
Ric and I will get to check out this slogan ourselves in late May.
Last week I passed my destination specialist test on Hawaii. The next step is a certified destination specialist. I have to visit within 5 yrs of taking the first test, write a detailed paper on the destination, fill out some forms, and pay $25. I"m hoping with just visiting one island, they will let me complete the designation. If not, I guess we will have to plan on visiting all the other islands within 5yrs!
Any suggestions from anyone out there on where to eat or visit? We are planning on most of the tourist stops --- Haleakala National Park, Iao Valley (and Needle), the road to Hana, and more. We will be staying in Lahania.
Ric and I will get to check out this slogan ourselves in late May.
Last week I passed my destination specialist test on Hawaii. The next step is a certified destination specialist. I have to visit within 5 yrs of taking the first test, write a detailed paper on the destination, fill out some forms, and pay $25. I"m hoping with just visiting one island, they will let me complete the designation. If not, I guess we will have to plan on visiting all the other islands within 5yrs!
Any suggestions from anyone out there on where to eat or visit? We are planning on most of the tourist stops --- Haleakala National Park, Iao Valley (and Needle), the road to Hana, and more. We will be staying in Lahania.
Another month
Well, today is the last day of February and I did not too to well with my monthly resolution. This month was to not eat after 830p ---- it didn't happen most of the month -- I guess I wasn't too serious about it. I also gained a pound this month :-(
March's resolution is to drink at least 6 8oz glasses of water a day. One of my problems with this is I love my water to be cold -- not room temp. So, the bottle I fill up and have at my desk, does not stay cold long enough. Or --- another way to look at it --- I don't drink it fast enough! I'll have to work on some other ways to get my drinking in.
March's resolution is to drink at least 6 8oz glasses of water a day. One of my problems with this is I love my water to be cold -- not room temp. So, the bottle I fill up and have at my desk, does not stay cold long enough. Or --- another way to look at it --- I don't drink it fast enough! I'll have to work on some other ways to get my drinking in.
"There will be blood."
Some cheery thoughts on the world economy:
If you are looking for a happy place, you won't find it here.
There will be blood, in the sense that a crisis of this magnitude is bound to increase political as well as economic [conflict]. It is bound to destabilize some countries. It will cause civil wars to break out, that have been dormant. It will topple governments that were moderate and bring in governments that are extreme.
...I think the IMF has been consistently wrong in its projections year after year. Most projections are wrong, because they're based on models that don't really correspond to the real world. If anything good comes of crisis, I hope it will be to discredit these ridiculous models that people rely on, and a return to something more like a historical understanding about the way the world works.
If you are looking for a happy place, you won't find it here.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Rock Bottom (or sand if you prefer)
If you need any more evidence that granola crunchers really are completely nuts, then just read this. Yea. Lets go back to technology used in the first century and resulted in mass epidemics. I know the greenies think there are too many people on the planet and disease is the quickest way to eliminate them (if you doubt that, look up the history of the DDT ban), but this is just absurd. Muhammad recommended three smooth stones and I've read wilderness guides that recommend handfuls of sand for that just-scrubbed-with-a-wire-brush feeling. That would be even greener as their wouldn't be anything to launder!
Just do the rest of us a favor: If you decide to use these, mark your homes and businesses so the rest of us normal people will know to go elsewhere. A big streak of brown on the front door should do the trick....
Just do the rest of us a favor: If you decide to use these, mark your homes and businesses so the rest of us normal people will know to go elsewhere. A big streak of brown on the front door should do the trick....
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Short Break, Long Break, Whatever...
A funny thing happened while I was taking a short break from writing school papers; it turned into a long break. Four hours and counting to be precise. Now I have to really crank the next two days, but at least looking away for a few hours has given me some new ideas for the paper I'm working on. You know the primary goal of college isn't to learn things and be able to demonstrate that learning in a succinct manner; it's all about hitting the page count and following the APA guidelines. (Which, speaking of bored people, one would think a group of psychologists could find something better to worry about than whether it's better to separate the city and name of the publisher with a comma or a semi-colon. I'm sure the world was holding its breath awaiting the outcome.) So once I'm done boring my readers, I will get back to fluffing up my last big project this week and possibly getting a start on the big paper due next week.
Anyway, I see Obama took Political Math 101 in college, just like the rest of the moral defectives in Washington DC. For the last time: Even 100% confiscation of all income on the top 1% or 2% or 5% will not close the budget deficits. And the wealthy, thanks to progressive taxes, already pay a disproportionate share of income taxes. The only meaningful tax reform involves restructuring FICA taxes, but if we do that, any remaining illusion that Social Security is anything but welfare will disappear.
Change we can believe in, eh? Looks like more of the same from where I'm sitting.
GM is losing $58K a minute. A share of common stock is $2.33, and they just posted a per-share loss of $9.65 excluding special items for just the fourth quarter, so that makes the value of the company, um, lets seee... subtract a 5.... carry the 2.... Well, I don't have Obama's math skills, so I can't give an exact figure, but just going by the seat of my pants, I'd say GM is toast.
Maybe Toyota will take over all the abandonded plants in Michigan. We'll be flying back there in June, so it will be interesting to see how things look on the ground.
Anyway, I see Obama took Political Math 101 in college, just like the rest of the moral defectives in Washington DC. For the last time: Even 100% confiscation of all income on the top 1% or 2% or 5% will not close the budget deficits. And the wealthy, thanks to progressive taxes, already pay a disproportionate share of income taxes. The only meaningful tax reform involves restructuring FICA taxes, but if we do that, any remaining illusion that Social Security is anything but welfare will disappear.
Change we can believe in, eh? Looks like more of the same from where I'm sitting.
GM is losing $58K a minute. A share of common stock is $2.33, and they just posted a per-share loss of $9.65 excluding special items for just the fourth quarter, so that makes the value of the company, um, lets seee... subtract a 5.... carry the 2.... Well, I don't have Obama's math skills, so I can't give an exact figure, but just going by the seat of my pants, I'd say GM is toast.
Maybe Toyota will take over all the abandonded plants in Michigan. We'll be flying back there in June, so it will be interesting to see how things look on the ground.
Bored
No, not me, but obviously the Colorado State Police are:
Investigation? Into jaywalking? Really? Ya know, if the boys in Colorado have nothing better to do than ticket good Samaritans and "investigate" jaywalking, you can come out here and pick up trash along Granite Creek.
And according to the FBI over half of all murders are never solved. Nice to see our priorities are in order.
A good Samaritan who helped push three people out of the path of a pickup truck before being struck and injured has gotten a strange reward for his good deed: A jaywalking ticket.
...the pickup driver was cited with careless driving that led to injury. Sullivan said the two elderly women haven't been cited but the investigation is ongoing.
Investigation? Into jaywalking? Really? Ya know, if the boys in Colorado have nothing better to do than ticket good Samaritans and "investigate" jaywalking, you can come out here and pick up trash along Granite Creek.
And according to the FBI over half of all murders are never solved. Nice to see our priorities are in order.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Crushed
The markets were crushed today, and there is a story out today that the government is trying to put a bankruptcy package together for GM and Chrysler. Ya know; just in case. Sounds like a long hot summer for Detroit.
So the question for tomorrow: will bottom feeders kick the DOW up away from 7,000 or will it crash through yet-another psychological barrier?
Are we having fun yet?
So the question for tomorrow: will bottom feeders kick the DOW up away from 7,000 or will it crash through yet-another psychological barrier?
Are we having fun yet?
In the News
While taking a break before I dive into bed for my allotted 3-4 hours sleep so I can jump back into school work, I ran across a few interesting news items:
Britain is bracing for a "summer of rage." Uh, ya think?
Clinton is over in China begging them to keep loaning money to our government. The "logic" of Clinton's arguments are just precious: loan money to the US government so it can give it to zombie banks in the hope that they will lend it to consumers who are already defaulting on every class of debt, who will then buy more useless crap from China who will loan the money to the US government.... Isn't that exactly how we got into this mess?
So what do you do with a $70,000, 103-inch flatscreen? Lay it face up and turn it into a fake air hockey game. As soon as I read the first paragraph, I saw several problems. The writers saw them too. First, air hockey is about smashing the puck as hard and fast as you can. Rubbing your fingers around on a screen just ain't the same. Secondly, part of... OK, most of the fun of air hockey is the high probability of a player or spectator taking a puck to the face. For me, eliminating that possibility is a deal-breaker. I'll just find a pinball machine to feed my quarters to. Finally, how long before there's a video on YouTube of some guy getting a little too physical and taking a header through the middle of the screen?
Well, enough fun. Off to bed.
Britain is bracing for a "summer of rage." Uh, ya think?
Clinton is over in China begging them to keep loaning money to our government. The "logic" of Clinton's arguments are just precious: loan money to the US government so it can give it to zombie banks in the hope that they will lend it to consumers who are already defaulting on every class of debt, who will then buy more useless crap from China who will loan the money to the US government.... Isn't that exactly how we got into this mess?
So what do you do with a $70,000, 103-inch flatscreen? Lay it face up and turn it into a fake air hockey game. As soon as I read the first paragraph, I saw several problems. The writers saw them too. First, air hockey is about smashing the puck as hard and fast as you can. Rubbing your fingers around on a screen just ain't the same. Secondly, part of... OK, most of the fun of air hockey is the high probability of a player or spectator taking a puck to the face. For me, eliminating that possibility is a deal-breaker. I'll just find a pinball machine to feed my quarters to. Finally, how long before there's a video on YouTube of some guy getting a little too physical and taking a header through the middle of the screen?
Well, enough fun. Off to bed.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Gettin' There
Final paper for the first class is going through final edits and will be posted tonight along with the last team assignment and the standard class assessment crap that never means anything. Everyone hates the things other than the students which have no business being in college. If you have a serious problem with an instructor, schools have several means to deal with that, with the obvious one being avoid that instructor.
Anyway, once I'm done wasting my time evaluating my class and my instructor and my learning team, blah, blah, blah, that will be one down, five to go.
Next week will likely be busy again, although not as bad as this week. I have another paper to write, but it's only five pages instead of ten. The flip side is I haven't written a single word of it and don't even know what it's supposed to be about. Probably should get on that. Or not. At this point, I'm just going for the C. Don't care about anything else.
Well, back at it. Only two more weeks until I get to take a break. Woohoo!
Anyway, once I'm done wasting my time evaluating my class and my instructor and my learning team, blah, blah, blah, that will be one down, five to go.
Next week will likely be busy again, although not as bad as this week. I have another paper to write, but it's only five pages instead of ten. The flip side is I haven't written a single word of it and don't even know what it's supposed to be about. Probably should get on that. Or not. At this point, I'm just going for the C. Don't care about anything else.
Well, back at it. Only two more weeks until I get to take a break. Woohoo!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Carpal Tunnel World
Type, type, type, and when I'm not typing school work, I'm blogging. Anyway, today was productive. I didn't get as much done as I hoped for, but more than I expected. I should be in pretty good shape after tomorrow. I need to jump on tonight and do some quick stuff and spend some quality time in the discussion boards trying to pretend I know what I'm talking about. There is now a thread in one of the discussion boards on exegesis and hermeneutics in which I have no pants. Don't ask. I think this may be a first at Cornerstone University. And the coolest thing about college is that you get to learn a lot of big words like "exegesis" and "hermeneutics" that you don't know what they mean. And can only spell because the Blogger spell checker knows how.
Anyway.
One of the problems with trying to fix a recession by printing money is that eventually inflation will wreck everything. It's starting already. Everyone had hoped that it would take a while for prices to catch up to the printing presses, but no such luck. Gas prices where we normally buy it jumped up to $2.13, although nothing else we buy seems to be following suite. The only way to stop inflation is to raise interest rates which sort of goes contrary to what Barack and Friends have been trying to do. It also may be worth noting that gold is toying with the $1,000 mark again.
No sarcasm: this is good. Go read it. It will make your day.
(See? I can do the happy bloggy thingy once in a while.)
Anyway.
One of the problems with trying to fix a recession by printing money is that eventually inflation will wreck everything. It's starting already. Everyone had hoped that it would take a while for prices to catch up to the printing presses, but no such luck. Gas prices where we normally buy it jumped up to $2.13, although nothing else we buy seems to be following suite. The only way to stop inflation is to raise interest rates which sort of goes contrary to what Barack and Friends have been trying to do. It also may be worth noting that gold is toying with the $1,000 mark again.
No sarcasm: this is good. Go read it. It will make your day.
(See? I can do the happy bloggy thingy once in a while.)
GAAAH! I've Been Tagged!
OK, I've never done this before, so hope I do this right. Anyway, I got tagged by Tombo. This is how this is supposed to work:
Go to the sixth folder of pictures on your computer, and pick the sixth pic. And that's supposed to be it. Then tag six others.
My six others:
Matt and/or Jen
Tom T.
Mutant Cat
Courtney
Melissa and/or Michael
Casey
(I need more friends; took way too much research to find six people and most are family. I need a nap now.)
My photo is one of my cousins and her daughter. This was taken in April 2003 at my grandpa's 90th birthday party:
Go to the sixth folder of pictures on your computer, and pick the sixth pic. And that's supposed to be it. Then tag six others.
My six others:
Matt and/or Jen
Tom T.
Mutant Cat
Courtney
Melissa and/or Michael
Casey
(I need more friends; took way too much research to find six people and most are family. I need a nap now.)
My photo is one of my cousins and her daughter. This was taken in April 2003 at my grandpa's 90th birthday party:
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
That's a Wrap
No, I'm not done with my classes or even with the 10-page paper that is due Monday at midnight. No,no; this is something much more important:
I made it all the way through our iTunes library today at 1630 Arizona time. I started on 12/20/2008. That's 4,449 songs and I listened to every single one of them.
Woohoo!
Let's do it again!
Not working and being chained to the couch doing school work will guarantee a faster trip this time.
On the economic front: this is not a blip or a V-bottomed recession. I grew up in the 1970's and I survived as did everyone I know. This is no where near the end of the world or even the end of the world as we know it. Or at least that's true if you are over 40. It not, welcome to a new reality, chump!
Well, now that I've cheered everyone up, back to work!
I made it all the way through our iTunes library today at 1630 Arizona time. I started on 12/20/2008. That's 4,449 songs and I listened to every single one of them.
Woohoo!
Let's do it again!
Not working and being chained to the couch doing school work will guarantee a faster trip this time.
On the economic front: this is not a blip or a V-bottomed recession. I grew up in the 1970's and I survived as did everyone I know. This is no where near the end of the world or even the end of the world as we know it. Or at least that's true if you are over 40. It not, welcome to a new reality, chump!
Well, now that I've cheered everyone up, back to work!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hittin' My Stride
Didn't bother going to bed last night and got a ton of school work done. I have most of the work due next Monday already in the can. I'm trying to free up at least three days between now and Sunday that I can use to focus on the 10-page end-of-class paper that is due on February 24. I have some notes put together, but I haven't looked at it in couple weeks, so I need to really focus. As soon as that paper is done, I have two other 10-pagers due March 9. Then I get a couple weeks off then start right in with two classes with a third piling on about three weeks in. Then it's all over. Sweet.
Some good news that will set the tone for 2009: Everyone knows that California is a basket case, but now Kansas is suspending tax refunds and doesn't think it can meet payroll. I doubt places like Michigan will be far behind with the auto industry imploding.
At the federal level, we have the usual figure for the total debt at something like $10 trillion (which is only through 2008; 2009 will add another $2-5 trillion to that). But it's only that small (!) because the government uses an accounting method that itsn't allowed for all but the smallest businesses. If you follow GAAP, the number is something like $65.5 trillion. For perspective, that's more than the world's entire GDP.
And Hallmark Day wouldn't be complete without a rant about sex in advertising. Anyone that knows me would hardly call me a prude, and as far as a saint's holiday being turned into blatant sex for sale, just remember the saints threw the first punch. I do, however, wonder just who is being marketed to when tampons are being advertised during Saturday morning cartoons. I would think just from a marketing budget standpoint that would problematic, aside from any moral issues.
Back to work. If I can pull another all-night session, I can have everything done by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Then sleep and the Big Paper.
Some good news that will set the tone for 2009: Everyone knows that California is a basket case, but now Kansas is suspending tax refunds and doesn't think it can meet payroll. I doubt places like Michigan will be far behind with the auto industry imploding.
At the federal level, we have the usual figure for the total debt at something like $10 trillion (which is only through 2008; 2009 will add another $2-5 trillion to that). But it's only that small (!) because the government uses an accounting method that itsn't allowed for all but the smallest businesses. If you follow GAAP, the number is something like $65.5 trillion. For perspective, that's more than the world's entire GDP.
And Hallmark Day wouldn't be complete without a rant about sex in advertising. Anyone that knows me would hardly call me a prude, and as far as a saint's holiday being turned into blatant sex for sale, just remember the saints threw the first punch. I do, however, wonder just who is being marketed to when tampons are being advertised during Saturday morning cartoons. I would think just from a marketing budget standpoint that would problematic, aside from any moral issues.
Back to work. If I can pull another all-night session, I can have everything done by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Then sleep and the Big Paper.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Vacation options
It can be hard to be a travel agent ----- each time you find a great deal for somebody, or an awesome trip to someplace you've never been --- you want to book it for yourself. I've seen a lot of specials for Alaska cruises and cruisetours for this year. Of course, we are planning on an Alaskan cruisetour for 2010. I keep figuring out my PTO time and if we can fit it in this year -- maybe the end of the Alaska cruisetour season --- I think I will be a bit short to take off for one of the cruisetours we want. Plus, I wouldn't be able to take off a sick day between now and then! Oh well.....
We will be flying to Michigan twice this summer for "long weekends" --- once for my goddaughter's high school open house and once for our niece's wedding. We originally planned on just "long weekends" so we save up PTO time and maybe go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas. But those plans fell through for all the family together like I was hoping for. Again .. oh well...... At least we will have two full days of visiting along with the day of the special event. I hate to try to cram so much into a weekend, but when that is all you got, you just do it.
I can't wait for all the hugs I will get and give. Some days I just feel so sad. I am not good about making new friends....as many of you know. I truly miss one special friend from Michigan. I know anytime I can make it back to Michigan, she will be smiling and holding out her arms for a hug.
On another subject --- I finally remembered to ask my Mom to try to find a certain cake mix for me. We have looked at all the stores here in Prescott and area --- no luck. She bought a couple for me and is mailing them out next week. I will finally be able to have my favorite cake! Thanks so much, MOM!
We will be flying to Michigan twice this summer for "long weekends" --- once for my goddaughter's high school open house and once for our niece's wedding. We originally planned on just "long weekends" so we save up PTO time and maybe go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas. But those plans fell through for all the family together like I was hoping for. Again .. oh well...... At least we will have two full days of visiting along with the day of the special event. I hate to try to cram so much into a weekend, but when that is all you got, you just do it.
I can't wait for all the hugs I will get and give. Some days I just feel so sad. I am not good about making new friends....as many of you know. I truly miss one special friend from Michigan. I know anytime I can make it back to Michigan, she will be smiling and holding out her arms for a hug.
On another subject --- I finally remembered to ask my Mom to try to find a certain cake mix for me. We have looked at all the stores here in Prescott and area --- no luck. She bought a couple for me and is mailing them out next week. I will finally be able to have my favorite cake! Thanks so much, MOM!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Hallmark Day
oops--- I meant Happy Valentine's Day!
Sorry, I lost track of the month and did not get out any cards. I might do a Happy Shortest Month of the Year card .....
Anyways ---- Happy Valentine's Day to you all
Sorry, I lost track of the month and did not get out any cards. I might do a Happy Shortest Month of the Year card .....
Anyways ---- Happy Valentine's Day to you all
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friggatriskaidekaphobia
Can't let today go by without saying it:
Friday the Thirteenth is on a Friday this month.
And next month.
As I said in a comment I left on another bog: If anyone needs me, I'll be under the bed with some canned goods and a big bag of chips.
Friday the Thirteenth is on a Friday this month.
And next month.
As I said in a comment I left on another bog: If anyone needs me, I'll be under the bed with some canned goods and a big bag of chips.
Confused
Neither of us consider ourselves anything close to professional photographers, but we do have some interesting things on Flickr. Beautiful places like Sleeping Bear sand dunes and the Grand Canyon. Hawaii. The pyramids. Numerous cruise ships and their ports of call. The Vatican. Bronze pours at Arcosanti. So which of our photos do ya'll consider most worthy of your attention?
Behold the most viewed photo on our Flickr account:
Really, people? A toaster? Yeah? Huh. Wow.
Um... just really speechless.
Behold the most viewed photo on our Flickr account:
Really, people? A toaster? Yeah? Huh. Wow.
Um... just really speechless.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Back At It
Yesterday, I got about 2,000 - 2,500 words written and in final form. I had hoped for more, but I just ran out of gas. Today I was just getting into the groove when I got a phone call from the restaurant I worked at back in early 2008. One of the guys I worked with was killed in a car crash last weekend. They had a memorial service for him at the restaurant this afternoon. I just got back to the apartment and am trying to get back at it, but I can't seem to get my head in gear. What I think about what some Hybels-wannabe thinks about something just doesn't seem to be important right now. The thing is, I'm trying to get a jump on the next couple weeks because the owner of the restaurant wanted to know if I was available to fill in if she needed me. Somehow I think saying "yes" to her is more important that school.
Well enough. I'm going to stare at the screen some more and try to force the words to come. I need to get out at least another 2,000 words today. It doesn't help that Cornerstones servers crashed this morning and things are still flaky on ANGEL.
Well enough. I'm going to stare at the screen some more and try to force the words to come. I need to get out at least another 2,000 words today. It doesn't help that Cornerstones servers crashed this morning and things are still flaky on ANGEL.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
AAAAAAUUUUUUUUGH!
We didn't sell everything and move to Arizona for this:
This was taken on Monday. Yesterday was even worse! The landlord even had to shovel off the walks and stairs and tried (rather unsuccessfully) to shovel the eight inches of heavy wet snow off the drive we use to get into the garage. It's so funny watching people who rarely have to deal with snow try to figure the stuff out. For one thing, nothing is set up to be plowed or shoveled, no one has the right equipment, and even if they do, they have no idea how to use it. At the mall where Debbie works, there was a guy trying to clear five acres of parking lot. With a backhoe. Yep. Better yet was the genius in the city plow truck that plowed all the snow to the center of the road. Ye flippin' gods.
Personally, that photo is as close as I've come to leaving the apartment in two days, other than to run down and open the garage for Debbie and do a couple loads of laundry. Not that I have time to leave the apartment in any case. In fact, I need to get a whole bunch of writing done today so I don't end up crashing. Which explains why I'm here blogging instead of getting at it. In two weeks, one class drops off, so I'll get some breathing space to finish up the other two classes.
Come on, May 11.
Oh, and speaking of school, ya know that paper I had to write without the benefit of the text books? Grade: 100.00%. BS degree indeed. And I have no idea why the grading system runs out to four decimals, especially when the final grade is just a letter grade. Whatever. I just want to do enough to pass and get it over with.
One of my heroes is calling it quits. I can certainly understand, but I miss reading his columns already. Drink one for me, Fred. We plan on being in his neighborhood at some point, so maybe we'll run into him at his favorite watering hole.
Well, I really do need to get to work as much as I'm tired of endlessly typing. If I don't go insane before this is over, I'm going to need serious carpal tunnel surgery.
This was taken on Monday. Yesterday was even worse! The landlord even had to shovel off the walks and stairs and tried (rather unsuccessfully) to shovel the eight inches of heavy wet snow off the drive we use to get into the garage. It's so funny watching people who rarely have to deal with snow try to figure the stuff out. For one thing, nothing is set up to be plowed or shoveled, no one has the right equipment, and even if they do, they have no idea how to use it. At the mall where Debbie works, there was a guy trying to clear five acres of parking lot. With a backhoe. Yep. Better yet was the genius in the city plow truck that plowed all the snow to the center of the road. Ye flippin' gods.
Personally, that photo is as close as I've come to leaving the apartment in two days, other than to run down and open the garage for Debbie and do a couple loads of laundry. Not that I have time to leave the apartment in any case. In fact, I need to get a whole bunch of writing done today so I don't end up crashing. Which explains why I'm here blogging instead of getting at it. In two weeks, one class drops off, so I'll get some breathing space to finish up the other two classes.
Come on, May 11.
Oh, and speaking of school, ya know that paper I had to write without the benefit of the text books? Grade: 100.00%. BS degree indeed. And I have no idea why the grading system runs out to four decimals, especially when the final grade is just a letter grade. Whatever. I just want to do enough to pass and get it over with.
One of my heroes is calling it quits. I can certainly understand, but I miss reading his columns already. Drink one for me, Fred. We plan on being in his neighborhood at some point, so maybe we'll run into him at his favorite watering hole.
Well, I really do need to get to work as much as I'm tired of endlessly typing. If I don't go insane before this is over, I'm going to need serious carpal tunnel surgery.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Still Kickin'
Just a very short update. I'm in three accelerated classes from now until February 23, then I drop down to two until March 9. I'm either reading or writing papers or in the discussion groups about eight hours a day, seven days a week, and it isn't enough. It seems to be getting easier, or I'm just getting worn down enough to not care as much about the work I turn in. My books for the third class showed up today, the same day I had a paper and two quizzes due at midnight on the material I was supposed to have read. I wrote the paper yesterday by just making stuff up (I am working towards a BS degree after all). Today I did the reading and got the quizzes in under the wire and it looks like I pretty well covered the material in the book with my made-up paper. Which either says something about me or about the class....
I got into a discussion at the blogger meeting yesterday with someone who has something to do with on-line education, and it got me thinking. I've done traditional classrooms, I've done accelerated classes in real life, and now accelerated classes on-line. Not to put too fine a point on it, on-line sucks. This is somewhere between correspondence school and a degree mill. No actual learning need ever take place, just crank through the steps, many of them pointless exercises, write some papers and I get my magic piece of paper that says I'm now a valuable part of society. And all the while dealing with an endless stream of incompetence from the university office. BS degree, indeed.
Anyway, just wanted to drop a note.
I got into a discussion at the blogger meeting yesterday with someone who has something to do with on-line education, and it got me thinking. I've done traditional classrooms, I've done accelerated classes in real life, and now accelerated classes on-line. Not to put too fine a point on it, on-line sucks. This is somewhere between correspondence school and a degree mill. No actual learning need ever take place, just crank through the steps, many of them pointless exercises, write some papers and I get my magic piece of paper that says I'm now a valuable part of society. And all the while dealing with an endless stream of incompetence from the university office. BS degree, indeed.
Anyway, just wanted to drop a note.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Monthly resolutions and more
With Ric in college "online" -- you won't see too many posts from me. I don't like to interrupt him when he is plugging away. When he is tired of it at night, we try to watch a movie or old Pretenders (on Hulu). Right now he is heading to a monthly meeting of the "Prescott area bloggers" -- this is their second monthly meeting. So I have the computer all to myself for an hour or two.
Anyways --- monthly resolutions. That was my New Year's resolution -- to make monthly ones. Much easier to think about keeping a resolution for a month instead of a year. I did good in January. My resolution was to lose 2 lbs --- I lost 3 lbs. This month I'm not doing to well with my resolution. This month is to not eat after 830pm. I think I've blown in about 2-3 nights and this is only the 8th! I know I can do it --- I just have to do it.
Work has been so so. It has been slow -- not as bad as it was the last quarter of the 2008. I was trying to get a new position at the branch I'm working at, but my manager marked "No" on my internal application for a recommendation. Oh well....I will keep plugging away. I'm getting to the "tired of this place and most of these people" at AAA AZ.
I'm trying a new medication for my RLS....it doesn't seem to be working well. Plus, I've noticed I just want to sleep and do nothing lately. I think I will give it the rest of the week and then call the Dr and tell her this one didn't work either. I would rather take the aspirin when needed at night and have my energy back. I really don't need to get depressed out here. It is hard enough with no family or friends out here. Sometimes I wish I had my own jet or was otherwise independently wealthy. I would fly every weekend someplace to visit. Phone calls/cards/emails are great, but just not the same as in person. Okay --enough of that -- I'm tearing up again!
Ric already blogged out the free hockey "spa seat" tickets I got. It was great! Usually when AAA is offered some free tickets -- they are decent seats up in row M or something. Nothing near the glass. It was an experience to "walk" on the ice to our special section between the players' benches. I still chuckle when I think about when they were doing the advertisement about the "spa seats". We were watching the game and when I realized they were talking about me, I looked up and our mugs were on the big screen. Ric happen to be right behind a post and didn't move. I did a little hand wave and my face probably got as red as the turtleneck I was wearing. We had a great night out --- the only exception was the guys' body odor! I would definitely take advantage of the seats again. I might bring along some air freshener! LOL
Anyways --- monthly resolutions. That was my New Year's resolution -- to make monthly ones. Much easier to think about keeping a resolution for a month instead of a year. I did good in January. My resolution was to lose 2 lbs --- I lost 3 lbs. This month I'm not doing to well with my resolution. This month is to not eat after 830pm. I think I've blown in about 2-3 nights and this is only the 8th! I know I can do it --- I just have to do it.
Work has been so so. It has been slow -- not as bad as it was the last quarter of the 2008. I was trying to get a new position at the branch I'm working at, but my manager marked "No" on my internal application for a recommendation. Oh well....I will keep plugging away. I'm getting to the "tired of this place and most of these people" at AAA AZ.
I'm trying a new medication for my RLS....it doesn't seem to be working well. Plus, I've noticed I just want to sleep and do nothing lately. I think I will give it the rest of the week and then call the Dr and tell her this one didn't work either. I would rather take the aspirin when needed at night and have my energy back. I really don't need to get depressed out here. It is hard enough with no family or friends out here. Sometimes I wish I had my own jet or was otherwise independently wealthy. I would fly every weekend someplace to visit. Phone calls/cards/emails are great, but just not the same as in person. Okay --enough of that -- I'm tearing up again!
Ric already blogged out the free hockey "spa seat" tickets I got. It was great! Usually when AAA is offered some free tickets -- they are decent seats up in row M or something. Nothing near the glass. It was an experience to "walk" on the ice to our special section between the players' benches. I still chuckle when I think about when they were doing the advertisement about the "spa seats". We were watching the game and when I realized they were talking about me, I looked up and our mugs were on the big screen. Ric happen to be right behind a post and didn't move. I did a little hand wave and my face probably got as red as the turtleneck I was wearing. We had a great night out --- the only exception was the guys' body odor! I would definitely take advantage of the seats again. I might bring along some air freshener! LOL
Thursday, February 05, 2009
"Debbie Frost... and Guest"
Someone that works for the Arizona Sundogs called Debbie's office with free passes for what they called "Spa seating" at tonight's hockey game. No one else in the office wanted to go, and even if we're not big on hockey, free is free.
Turns out that our seats were in what looked like a press booth sitting at ice level between the home and away benches. We had to walk across the ice and through the home team bench to get to our seats, then we were basically locked into this Plexiglas phone booth. Between periods, someone would come and check if we needed to get out for food, beer, restrooms, etc. Sometime during the second period we heard the announcer welcome "Debbie Frost from AAA Arizona, and Guest" and flash us up on the freaking jumbo screens. I managed to stay hidden behind one of the supports for the glass. Debbie didn't. The only downside was that we were assaulted with hockey player BO the entire time, and it was hard to see the near-side corners because all the guys on the bench were leaning over the boards trying to see as well. And it doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself not to, you still flinch when the puck (or someone's face) smacks the glass a few inches in front of your face. But even if we aren't that into hockey, it was fun and the Sundogs won.
So, from now on, you may simply refer to me as "Guest."
And that's what I did tonight instead of homework. I'm getting caught up again, even if I don't have books for one of my classes yet, and I had hit a wall about when Debbie came home from work, so I knew staring at the screen would be pointless. Did I mention the game was free?
If you want to see a geek completely shred a major federal agency, watch this. This guy rips the SEC several new ones. Priceless. We need to find one of these guys for every Federal agency. Get it on the record that no Federal agency actually accomplishes what it is supposed to do on paper. They only do what all bureaucracies do: hire and pay bureaucrats.
The treasury department now has the unenviable task of selling the $1.5 to $2.5 trillion in bonds to fund all the bailouts and stimulus packages. Interest rates are already starting to creep up, which is good for us because we have no debt of any kind, and our money is in CD's and money market accounts. It's bad for anyone who owes money. Which is nearly everyone.
The British version of the RIAA is trying to charge fees for such public performances as your wife over-hearing a CD you are playing in your home, or leaving on a radio to keep the dogs in the pound quiet. As long as the rest of the world acts as stupidly as we do, our stupidity doesn't impose much of a burden. But those pesky Chinese....
I have to go to bed. Another long day of writing; I have about 2,000 words that absolutely have to get written and in final draft form tomorrow.
Turns out that our seats were in what looked like a press booth sitting at ice level between the home and away benches. We had to walk across the ice and through the home team bench to get to our seats, then we were basically locked into this Plexiglas phone booth. Between periods, someone would come and check if we needed to get out for food, beer, restrooms, etc. Sometime during the second period we heard the announcer welcome "Debbie Frost from AAA Arizona, and Guest" and flash us up on the freaking jumbo screens. I managed to stay hidden behind one of the supports for the glass. Debbie didn't. The only downside was that we were assaulted with hockey player BO the entire time, and it was hard to see the near-side corners because all the guys on the bench were leaning over the boards trying to see as well. And it doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself not to, you still flinch when the puck (or someone's face) smacks the glass a few inches in front of your face. But even if we aren't that into hockey, it was fun and the Sundogs won.
So, from now on, you may simply refer to me as "Guest."
And that's what I did tonight instead of homework. I'm getting caught up again, even if I don't have books for one of my classes yet, and I had hit a wall about when Debbie came home from work, so I knew staring at the screen would be pointless. Did I mention the game was free?
If you want to see a geek completely shred a major federal agency, watch this. This guy rips the SEC several new ones. Priceless. We need to find one of these guys for every Federal agency. Get it on the record that no Federal agency actually accomplishes what it is supposed to do on paper. They only do what all bureaucracies do: hire and pay bureaucrats.
The treasury department now has the unenviable task of selling the $1.5 to $2.5 trillion in bonds to fund all the bailouts and stimulus packages. Interest rates are already starting to creep up, which is good for us because we have no debt of any kind, and our money is in CD's and money market accounts. It's bad for anyone who owes money. Which is nearly everyone.
The British version of the RIAA is trying to charge fees for such public performances as your wife over-hearing a CD you are playing in your home, or leaving on a radio to keep the dogs in the pound quiet. As long as the rest of the world acts as stupidly as we do, our stupidity doesn't impose much of a burden. But those pesky Chinese....
I have to go to bed. Another long day of writing; I have about 2,000 words that absolutely have to get written and in final draft form tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Books and More
Well, UPS finally dropped off a box of books. They were someone else's books, but I guess you can't have everything. I immediately called Cornerstone and of course hit voice mail which of course was not answered. So I sent an e-mail which I am fairly sure will also be ignored. Or maybe I'll be told how sorry some office drone is that I feel that I received the wrong books. So tomorrow is day three of the class (which, remember, doesn't start until February 9), I have a set of books for a class I'm not taking, and my books are sitting on a very confused lady's dining room table in Holland, Michigan. And this is a University. Scott Adams has a glimpse of our future. Imagine every person you deal with every day, all day, being incompetent and arrogant.
The Grey Goose is getting low. I have an urge to stimulate the economy tommorrow at the local Liquor Barn.
Meanwhile, the last smart people in North American got Spirit to move. It only went about a foot before the dead wheel it's been dragging snagged up on a rock, but everything seems back to normal and no one knows what all the weirdness last week was about.
China is on track to sell more cars than the US in 2009. The good news for Detroit residents just keeps rolling in. Hey GM! How's that viability plan coming that you promised Congress? Does it take into account that you are on track to sell half the number of cars you did last year?
I don't make a habit of hitting Lew Rockwell's site, but this was recommended to me. It was certainly worth a few minutes.
Except now I really need that Grey Goose.
The Grey Goose is getting low. I have an urge to stimulate the economy tommorrow at the local Liquor Barn.
Meanwhile, the last smart people in North American got Spirit to move. It only went about a foot before the dead wheel it's been dragging snagged up on a rock, but everything seems back to normal and no one knows what all the weirdness last week was about.
China is on track to sell more cars than the US in 2009. The good news for Detroit residents just keeps rolling in. Hey GM! How's that viability plan coming that you promised Congress? Does it take into account that you are on track to sell half the number of cars you did last year?
I don't make a habit of hitting Lew Rockwell's site, but this was recommended to me. It was certainly worth a few minutes.
Except now I really need that Grey Goose.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Long Ramblin' Post
Haven't done one of these in a while. I wouldn't want anyone to think college had made me focused or organized or something.
We didn't watch the Superbowl. I tried to find it online somewhere, but didn't have any luck with that. Not that I cared enough to try all that hard, but given that Arizona was playing, we would have watched it if it was easily available. But we did watch all the commercials on Hulu. One word: Lame. There were a couple funny ones and a couple OK ones, but mostly they sucked dead bunnies. So, for the ad agency people that I just know read this blog, here are some thoughts in no particular order.
Beer commercials used to be the creme de la creme, but somewhere around the Bud Bowl, they jumped the shark big time. Dorky guy has hot chicks swarming him because he has a beer. Wow. Just how many times do you think you can go back to that particular well? The only mildly amusing one was the guy getting tossed out the office window. The rest: wasteland.
Power grid ads? Really? Holy crap. The power grid. Just. Wow.
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head were funny. That's a Superbowl ad. Something as boring as car tires, and they managed to make an ad that was clever and actually mentioned what is being advertised.
Speaking of which, the Clydesdale horse chasing after his unrequited love got an "Awwww!" Unfortunately, it never mentioned or showed the product, but at this point, Clydesdale = Bud, so I guess....
The Monster.com moose and Pepsi's "It's all good" ads were good enough for regular season football, but not really Superbowl material. The rest of the Pepsi ads were a waste of the 30 seconds of my life it took to watch them. And Coke, do the world a favor and fire your ad agency before they inflict any more pain on society.
The car ads universally sucked. The only redeeming feature was the wakicha wakicha music in the first 10 seconds of the Audi ad. The Careerbuilder.com ad was original, if somewhat disturbing. However, it did involve punching a koala, so that was cool.
I still don't have books for my class that starts next Monday, meaning that it really started today. When I called to give them another $1,000, I found out the books had been shipped on the 28th. Then he said, "Your in Wyoming, right?" Oh crap. Here we go again. Yea, buddy; Arizona, Wyoming; they're real close.
Speaking of problems in higher education, an accounting professor has a long rant about the decline in the preparedness of college students over the last 35 years. Most of this will sound familiar to anyone that has had the misfortune of using a customer "service" desk in the last 20 years.
Remember, this brain trust will be replacing the one that nearly destroyed the world financial system. This group, being even more confident in their incompetence, will likely succeed.
On the dead-flat-tree media front, a journalist did some back-of-the-envelope calculations and concluded that the New York Times could actually save money by giving a Kindle to every subscriber and shutting down the printing presses. Printed newspapers will soon go the way of the buggy whip. I can't imagine why anyone would want the nasty things in their house given that you can get them on a Kindle. If I still cared enough about anything to subscribe to the Times or Newsweek or whatever, they certainly would be electronic.
Well, I should get online and get moving on the new week at school. I actually managed to crank out a serious pile of words for one of the final 10-pagers today. I'm up to 8 pages already and am only 1/3 done. When I'm writing, I usually shoot for about double the word- or page-count, then chop it down. Makes for a tighter essay than trying to fluff up something weak.
Tomorrow, I'll do all the short right-ups and outline the weekly 500-word essay. I've finished all the reading for one class and hope to finish the reading for the second class tomorrow night. That leaves just the reading for the class I don't have books for yet. If you don't see me here for a day or two, my nose is probably buried in a book of some sort.
We didn't watch the Superbowl. I tried to find it online somewhere, but didn't have any luck with that. Not that I cared enough to try all that hard, but given that Arizona was playing, we would have watched it if it was easily available. But we did watch all the commercials on Hulu. One word: Lame. There were a couple funny ones and a couple OK ones, but mostly they sucked dead bunnies. So, for the ad agency people that I just know read this blog, here are some thoughts in no particular order.
Beer commercials used to be the creme de la creme, but somewhere around the Bud Bowl, they jumped the shark big time. Dorky guy has hot chicks swarming him because he has a beer. Wow. Just how many times do you think you can go back to that particular well? The only mildly amusing one was the guy getting tossed out the office window. The rest: wasteland.
Power grid ads? Really? Holy crap. The power grid. Just. Wow.
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head were funny. That's a Superbowl ad. Something as boring as car tires, and they managed to make an ad that was clever and actually mentioned what is being advertised.
Speaking of which, the Clydesdale horse chasing after his unrequited love got an "Awwww!" Unfortunately, it never mentioned or showed the product, but at this point, Clydesdale = Bud, so I guess....
The Monster.com moose and Pepsi's "It's all good" ads were good enough for regular season football, but not really Superbowl material. The rest of the Pepsi ads were a waste of the 30 seconds of my life it took to watch them. And Coke, do the world a favor and fire your ad agency before they inflict any more pain on society.
The car ads universally sucked. The only redeeming feature was the wakicha wakicha music in the first 10 seconds of the Audi ad. The Careerbuilder.com ad was original, if somewhat disturbing. However, it did involve punching a koala, so that was cool.
I still don't have books for my class that starts next Monday, meaning that it really started today. When I called to give them another $1,000, I found out the books had been shipped on the 28th. Then he said, "Your in Wyoming, right?" Oh crap. Here we go again. Yea, buddy; Arizona, Wyoming; they're real close.
Speaking of problems in higher education, an accounting professor has a long rant about the decline in the preparedness of college students over the last 35 years. Most of this will sound familiar to anyone that has had the misfortune of using a customer "service" desk in the last 20 years.
Today’s students cannot read at what used to be a tenth-grade level....
I shouldn’t be surprised by the weakness in reading; after all, many students do not buy their text books....
Worst of all is attitude. Yesterday’s student was willing to work; today’s student is not. Past students thought of education as a privilege; current students view it as an entitlement. Earlier students took responsibility for their mistakes; contemporary students call mom and dad, who in turn call their attorneys. Previously, it was honorable to obtain a B and at least acceptable to receive a C, especially with the harder classes. Nowadays, students want at least a B for signing up for class and an A with any effort expended on the course, regardless of knowledge displayed in the classroom....
There is one item in which twenty-first century students excel—their self-esteem....
Universities share part of the responsibility. We accept some students who should not be admitted to a university. We employ teaching evaluations, so students can punish demanding faculty. We have administrators who are scared of lawyers, who kowtow to donors and potential donors, and who tell faculty that the grades they administer are too low....
Remember, this brain trust will be replacing the one that nearly destroyed the world financial system. This group, being even more confident in their incompetence, will likely succeed.
On the dead-flat-tree media front, a journalist did some back-of-the-envelope calculations and concluded that the New York Times could actually save money by giving a Kindle to every subscriber and shutting down the printing presses. Printed newspapers will soon go the way of the buggy whip. I can't imagine why anyone would want the nasty things in their house given that you can get them on a Kindle. If I still cared enough about anything to subscribe to the Times or Newsweek or whatever, they certainly would be electronic.
Well, I should get online and get moving on the new week at school. I actually managed to crank out a serious pile of words for one of the final 10-pagers today. I'm up to 8 pages already and am only 1/3 done. When I'm writing, I usually shoot for about double the word- or page-count, then chop it down. Makes for a tighter essay than trying to fluff up something weak.
Tomorrow, I'll do all the short right-ups and outline the weekly 500-word essay. I've finished all the reading for one class and hope to finish the reading for the second class tomorrow night. That leaves just the reading for the class I don't have books for yet. If you don't see me here for a day or two, my nose is probably buried in a book of some sort.
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