Category: blahblah

A man and woman team has been stealing backpacks from the library I work in. They often take them out of the bathroom, remove the books, leave the bag, then sell them back to the bookstore. However, due to our new security system, the theives have been captured on video. The male culprit looks like me, so I’ve been getting crap about it. To make things better, people assure me that the culprit was taller and thinner.

Ash trays on urinals, broken glass, vomit and call girl cards on the sidewalk. Electrical fires, rashes, antiquing, and a complete disregard for thermodynamics. Yes, I’m back from Las Vegas. Having finally been there, I still think Vegas sucks, but I had a great time thanks in large part to the group. I went on a tight budget, which I highly recommend against. I also learned several lessons, some of which I’m not entitled to divulge. So here’s a benign one: The water in Vegas is disgusting. Its no wonder alcohol is such a big deal. Well, if you’re thirsty, you can melt ice from the hotel’s ice machine. Its filtered again before the ice is made, and is much more drinkable. Its important to guard your precious fluids in Vegas.

I was asked to donate blood for Spring Break weekend because I’m O-. I went in knowing that with my plans this weekend, at least one blood transfusion may be necessary for the group. Plus, I was in a good mood when they called, and they haven’t been hounding me.

Checking in went fine, but when the actual puncture happened, the technician bruised my arm, causing it to immediately swell. He informed me that the problem with bruising is that the plateletes all rush to the bruise and can clog the line. Well, after several needle adjustments, a hot pack, and a 98% full pouch, the flow had completely stopped. The donation won’t be usable for emergencies, but it can be used in the lab.

Sadly, my arm hurts quite a bit, and its mostly immobile. I hope I can gain full use of my arm, for, you know, causing trouble.

I took the GRE General test today and received a score 190 points above the minimum for admission to the Geography program at PSU. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but its done. I’m not really allowed to speak to what was on the test, but I didn’t sign anything that prevents me from talking about how poorly marked and outdated the testing center was. Oh, and to software was crap. Developed with assistance from Microsoft (in 1980, no doubt).

The internet has certainly improved lives in small, unmeasurable ways. But thanks to quizzes like The Death Test, you can finally quantify the value of the internet in a very useful number – the day you will die. And to a lesser extent, the chances of what might kill you.

I’m happy to report I’ll be dying on June 17th, 2053.

Chances are considerable that I’ll die from cancer, a heart attack, or some complications due to electrolysis. There’s a lesser chance that I might die from alcoholism, alien abduction, or horrible accident, but my money is on cancer.Thanks to this test, I’ve learned that hairy nipples is actually an terminal ailment.

Ford announced today that it would be licensing Toyota’s hybrid technology for use in its Escape and other vehicles. This is good news for Toyota, but a very large failure on Ford’s part.

Many of the large auto manufacturers have been arguing against higher emission standards claiming that it was too difficult to improve auto emissions in such a short period of time. I feel that this is all bullshit. Licensing Toyota’s hybrid engine technology is just another cop out on Ford’s part, who should have both the R&D and intelligence to create improved technology. Instead, it appears that all of their R&D has gone in to making the F-150 trucks appear taller, the Explorer more massive, and the profit margin on the Expedition higher ($15,000 per vehicle).

My disappointment stems from a belief that higher environmental standards will incite rapid technological change. Though harboring some Luddite tendencies, I believe that we’re quite ingenious, and are fully capable of engineering to the task. We’ve been making efficient engines for 2 decades, so we’ve got a fair number of examples to work from.

Unless Ford has some big plans for a post-hybrid engine, its shooting itself in the foot. Or maybe a better example; its making a giant SUV that will decapitate the passengers in its hybrid vehicles.

This morning I got up to study math. It was quiet in the house, Tigger was curled up on the chair. The chair, normally a beige canvas material, was dingy from contact with the animal. The surface of the coffee table, couch, antique dining table & sideboard, and the kitchen counter were all lightly stuccoed with muddy paw prints and cat hair. The statistics review sheets I had laid out were similarly smeared as if some effort to make a swallow’s nest had been attempted. I gave Tigger a menacing glance, but he was asleep. I don’t like cats, especially indoor/outdoor farts like Tigger. If I ever carry on like he does, I get in trouble. He gets cream, or snacks.

I guess it works out though, because I have a web site, and he can’t read.

Happy 50th Birthday Fender Stratocaster!

Who is my favorite Stratocaster player? There are so many, but probably Jeff Beck.

For no reason at all, I’ve enhanced the blackjack strategy card from blackjack-strategycard.com. I added color coding, and sized it so that it could be printed to a single sheet of paper then folded in half. This way, one side will have single-deck strategy, and the other side will have multiple-deck strategy. Its available in both html and PDF formats. I recommend the PDF version.

I used colors that make sense to me, but if you don’t like them, you can edit the CSS in the html version yourself. I’ve also laminated mine with packing tape to prevent damage from, um, beverages. I recommend you do the same.

My in-laws were down for the weekend, on work actually. However, we were able to fit in some meals and visiting. Michelle’s father and step-mother love beer and pub fare as much as Michelle and I do, so we love taking them to new places in Portland to try out both the fine beer, but also the equally good grub. To our dumbfoundment (?), Doug brought us several bottles of Hopzilla from Grant’s Brewing and Malting in Yakima. A tall order considering the beer isn’t bottled for distribution. Thanks a ton!

Friday night we took them to the Rogue public house which has about as good a collection of excellent beers as you’ll find anywhere. The food is quite good there as well. Sadly, there was a Blazers game on, so it was a bit loud, and conversation was some effort. So we picked up ice cream and went back to our place.

Saturday gave everyone some time to work, in one sense or another. Even Debbie worked on finding some Christmas gifts (its never too early). After everyone was done for the day, we hit up the Hillsdale pub for the Battle for the Belt; a competition among McMenamins’ brewers. For more on the event, see Rooftop Brew. We gave all 18 samples a try, voted, then went to Gustav’s for dinner. Yes, we had fondue again.

Afterwards we looked at photographs from their recent trip to San Diego and chatted away. Even when you’re tired, good company makes you forget.