Why I Read People So Well

I used to browse through Usenet posting and read this kind of nonsense:

I hope someone can help me. I hope I'm not the only one who has to do something like this. I don't want to go and I'm sure someone understands this fear. My family still tries to demands that I am the skeleton in the closet and they are presently trying to control an uncontrollable individual only since Nov. 15, 2002. They forced me to sign for them to be guardians over me but since June 2004 I took them to court and proved I'm not the names they call me in public. I've worked through the anger and retailation into loving myself and them too, but I have to keep my distance or they start again. They are demanding I come because it is for the family. I have made a "family" out of nonrelatives that allow me to be me and that where I want to be, yet I can't take anymore abuse from them. What do I do? If I go how do I escape if it gets too much?

Wow...that's a supersized crazy, and I ordered a small.

New Car Itch

No idea why, but I have had new car itch for the past couple days. It would make sense if I was dreaming of something sexy, but I'm looking at gas sipping commuter cars?!

I finally took a few minutes to work up a spreadsheet, to see if changing cars came close to paying for itself:



I own my 2002 Accord free and clear; while it gets a disappointing 23-25 MPG, it's an improvement over the WRX (which only got about 18 MPG and required 91+ octane).

It would be nice to drive in HOV during rush hour, but new hybrids aren't elgible.

A tax credit for buying a hybrid would be nice, but they've all been used up.

:/

I guess I'll save my $$$ and buy a Porsche or something.

Software Update

I downloaded the new Mac OS update today. Let's see how my MBP feels about it.

General

* Fixes a font issue that could result in Helvetica Narrow being used in applications instead of Helvetica.
* Addresses an issue with stuttering video and audio playback in certain USB devices.
* Resolves stability issues with Word of the Day, iTunes Artwork, and Slideshow screen savers.
* Fixes an issue in which certain attached hard drives may not show up in the Finder.
* Addresses an issue with .Mac syncing of Dashboard widgets over multiple Macs that use different screen resolutions.
* Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras.
* Improves the accuracy of the Software Update progress bar indicator.
* Addresses an issue in which Finder may not be available if the computer name is blank in Sharing preferences.
* Improves Active Directory binding and login.
* Eliminates a delay when logging in as an Active Directory user in a .local domain.
* Improves Spotlight searches on a AFP file server volumes.
* Clients can now change their password at the login window when bound to a Mac OS X 10.4 Open Directory server.
* Improves Safari reliability when connecting to the Internet through a Microsoft ISA proxy.

AirPort

* Improves 802.1X behavior and reliability.
* Improves reliability when using Time Capsule.

Spaces

* Resolves an issue in which switching to a different space and returning back to the original space may reorder the application windows with a different active window.
* Resolves an issue in which activating an application from the Dock switches to a different space, even if there is a window for that application in the current space.
* Fixes an issue in which Command-Tab may incorrectly switch to a new space.
* Addresses reliability issues with Spaces when syncing preferences over .Mac.

Time Machine

* Includes fixes for Time Machine compatibility with Time Capsule.
* Resolves certain issues when backing up a portable Mac that is on battery power.
* Addresses compatibility issues with Aperture 2.
* Addresses reliability issues when performing a full restore from a Time Machine backup.
* Fixes an issue in which certain function keys may be disabled after using Time Machine.
* Fixes a possible alert message that incorrectly states a backup volume does not have enough space.
* Updates Time Machine to reliably restore attachments and messages in Mail.

Thank the Baby Jeebus that the Software Update Progress Bar is now more accurate!

so adorable

Lifted from Perez:

Women cited for letting 2-year-old smoke

Two women were arrested at a Greenfield Ponderosa restaurant after being accused of allowing a 2-year-old to smoke.

According to police: The boy's 26-year-old mother and 39-year-old aunt were eating at the restaurant last week when they held a cigarette up to the boy's mouth and attempted to light it.

The aunt told police that the boy often says, "smoke, smoke," and sometimes takes cigarettes out of a pack and puts them in his mouth.

The child had been saying "smoke, smoke" while the aunt was smoking in the restaurant, and she held her cigarette up to the child's face. When she took it away, he continued to ask for a cigarette and grabbed one from a pack on the table.

Here is where the story becomes truly enchanted:

When the child put the cigarette in his mouth, the aunt held up her lighter to light it, but the boy did not inhale the cigarette so it failed to light. During this time, the boy's mother was paying for the food and when she returned to the table, he still had a cigarette in his mouth, and the two women began laughing.

An employee then came over to the table and told them to take the cigarette out of the boy's mouth.

The boy's mother said the child did this all the time, adding: "He can even light his own cigarettes." The mother then asked the boy for a cigarette, which he pulled out of a pack and handed to his mother.

When the mother said "light, light" the child grabbed a lighter and handed it to his mother.

i *must* be having a nightmare

::looks out bathroom window::

there is a fucking MOONBOUNCE in my mexi-neighbors back yard

>:-\

what the christ? there are going to be...every child ever...in my earshot.

kitties

while (!puppies) {

videoPlayer myNP = new videoPlayer();

myNP.playVideo("An Engineer's Guide to Cats")'

}

The basic necessities the cats need are food and also water. Fortunately, like most engineers, cats are pretty much willing to eat the same things day after day after day. But since we all know variety is the spice of life, it is good to try something different from time to time. "Mmm...good toast". For this reason, I occasionally offer my cats something that they seem to love even than life itself: tuna. "Tuna is pretty much like...cocaine...for kitties."

Spring 2008 Semester is Over

And good riddance.

Here's the rundown:
Business Law B+
Systems Analysis: B+

A very special fuck you to Data Warehousing. That final exam was ridiculous (though not as ridiculous as my online grade report from Blackboard):



That math doesn't add up to me, but I'll take my A- and run for the hills.

One class left, and I have until June 2nd to catch up with my friends and get my life back in order.

How to ruin your day 3 times before 10am

1) One of your two classmates from a group project has to demo it to the professor at 11am -- you know, the one you three worked on until 11:30pm last night? Your phone rings at 8:35am because he shut his laptop down and can't find your work. It took you so long to fix his laptop last night, there's no talking him through this over the phone.
2) It must be (every other) Friday, because the maids are here an hour early trying to clean around me while I get ready for work.
3) An 8:52am email (you read at 9:35am) invites you to a once a month 9am meeting with your partners in the UK.

Few things make my blood boil at much as #3.

Tired. Exhausted. Burnt Out. 0% Fun.

In general, I've been posting less for three reasons:

1) I don't have much extra time to write (which we'll get into in a minute)

2) When I have time, I'm generally not into it (because of all the writing I do for work and school), and

3) I have been trying to write less nasty/snarky/sarcastic stuff, because it's stale

The last several months have been difficult for me, walking the fine line between being a good friend and making time for myself. A few friends have had some exceptional things happen to them: I want to try and be there for them, but I can't be there all the time, and they don't seem to get that.

Let's take a moment to review my April:

My real job: 176 hours
My old/part-time job: 76 hours
School: 39 hours + an 1 exam, 1 group presentation, and 2 group projects
One friend had surgery
One friend was in the hospital

Oh...and I squeezed in a weekend trip to NYC.

My responsibilities at work increased significantly in April, and I'm struggling to make that adjustment.

The semester is over in two weeks, and my summer schedule is only one class, but I'm pretty cooked. I'm starting to feel like The Giving Tree.

So apologies if I'm distant, don't take it personally. I need some space, and since no one is going to give it to me, I'm going to take it.