Bad check

I was forwarded the following image today which I'd like to share. Evidently the check below was sent to Verizon by an angry engineer. That's how it was described to me, at least. The memo line is the kicker.

No Contest

Let me enter the face-paced world of text-based yelling that is political blogging with a few thoughts about last night's address. First, Obama gives a right nice speech. I was expecting a much more somber speech, but he knocked it up a notch with a lot of optimistic rhetoric. The energy was good; I mean, since when is there laughter and hooting during a presidential address to Congress?
He even got some applause from the GOP since they have to clap for Teddy R and no one can say they are against health care. Finally, the notch-up-knocking was in full effect with the little girl who wrote a letter to Congress saying she wasn't a quitter. I usually find it a bit sappy when they have these moments of introducing some ordinary citizen in the audience and telling their story. But you could read in her face what a huge deal it was to that girl and the whole event came off pretty touching to me.

Now the rebuttal. I did a quick flip through the comment section of cnn.com or some such and the best remark I saw compared Obama's speech to Jindal's as "man versus boy." I think this sums it up pretty well. Obama is a very talented orator who is clearly a tough act to follow. But Jindal was abysmal. Not only did he sound like a teenage boy whose voice was about to break, but the speech itself was ridiculous. I can't wrap my head around the cognitive dissonance associated with the Louisiana governnor using Katrina as a warning against a Democratic government. The tone of voice was rather bad as well; I thought he was talking to a three year old.

Well that's my two cents. You can leave your own or higher denominations in the comments.

You win some, you leave some on the bus

I had a decent day up until about 20 minutes ago. A friend from Caltech came to give an interesting talk at UCLA. Then we went out for some beer and burgers afterwards and caught up on gossip and such. Then I left my cellphone on the bus.

So I'll probably be bugging everyone I know for their numbers to put in my replacement phone. Hopefully I'll get to keep my old number.

Anyway, I've got to go take care of this so, short post today.

Capitalism just doesn't work

Seriously, I tried to buy three distinct items today at the 3rd Street Promenade (an outdoor mall in Santa Monica) and came back empty-handed. I mean, I left my apartment specifically to spend money at multiple stores and I was let down at each. How can I do my part to alleviate the liquidity crisis if no one will offer the good or service I want to exchange for my cash?

Yesterday afternoon, I had made an online appointment at the Apple Store for today. The Apple Store is worth a post all on its own. In fact, I think it is worth dozens of PhD theses but that would be too much of a digression for now. Anyway, I made this appointment to get my ipod looked at since it stopped working. I went to the Promenade a little early to do some more shopping.

First up, I wanted a few solid colored or tee-ball style long sleeve T-shirts to wear under my myriad short-sleeved T-shirts with ironic sayings and graphics. I am just that fashionable and mature. But no deal. You would think that Old Navy would have an entire department for this but, no, they must be out of season or something.

Second, I thought I would get a digital camera so I could put pictures of my junk on Craigslist. Or maybe just update my Facebook page. It just so happens that the local Circuit City is going out of business and having a clearout sale so I check that out. In theory, I could've bought a camera but the place was such chaos it was nearly impossible to figure out what was in stock or how much anything cost. Also, for some reason, a bunch of sercurity alarms kept tripping in the camera section so that was a disorienting klaxon the whole time. Forget it.

I give up on the camera since my Apple Store appointment is approaching. As I said earlier this place deserves a whole post. The Santa Monica one has four or five rows of seats in the back where the staff lead workshops and brand worship. I go up to the Genius Bar, which is how they describe the high scool kids who plug your broken device in, observe that it doesn't work right, and helpfully suggest that you buy another one. I expected this and chose the option of turning in my old one and a bunch of cash for a new one. But once again, the system breaks down and they do not have the one I want in stock. So I'll have to go back later or just fuck it and buy whatever it is Microsoft is selling these days.

Untitled

Second day of the blog here. I still haven't mentioned it to anyone so no one's really waiting for this update. Maybe, I won't tell anyone about the blog; the title would make more sense in that case.

Not much to report to the no one who is reading. Well, that's not true perhaps. I have an odd feeling like I've had some type of epiphany or gone through some phase transition this week. But I couldn't really put my finger on it if you asked what I mean. It's like some subtle shift in perspective. I think that perhaps it's that the reality of some upcoming events have begun to sink in for me. Nothing earth-shattering, but important events: in the coming months, I'll be moving and taking a new job and my brother will be getting hitched. That has definitely made me a little pensive. But I feel like I've been quietly making some decisions which I don't know about yet.

Hello World

Hi there, here is my inaugural post on this minty fresh blog. Not much to say and not sure what exactly I'm going to do with this space or even who I'm blagging at right now. But it's probably safe to expect some geekery, some foul language, and a bunch of bad jokes in the future.