gremlins and the flav.


Left: Eastern Screech Owl - Strigiformes Strigidae (image ala thayer birding cd)
Right: Gizmo
Striking resemblance, don't you think?

REVISION: Good point jess (folks, see comment). Owls are in fact nocturnal as are gremlins. Gizmo, however is a day time type. What happens when cute furry little gizmo feeds as the owls do is represented below.
Resemblance is kinda scary. Just a little...
YEAH BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

good start... Gitmo va a cerrar

Seems like he's off to a good start.

  1. Close Gitmo Detention Facility
  2. Ban torture (since torture was previously OK by any means necessary)
  3. Taskforce to review and make recommendations re: all detainees "cases". Although last time i checked most had no official case pending at all. Many have killed themselves. More have attempted. And many countries have refused to accept the few detainees that have been "released" to them. hmmmm...
Wikipedia's Gitmo overview
Amnesty's thoughts on human rights relative to the detention facility.

I looked and looked but so far have yet to be able to find any stats on the costs and basis for operation both the base and the detention center. In fact, finding much on it at all beyond basic history is a challenge. So surprising. I did discover that Cuba's first and only McDonalds and Subway call Gitmo home. And, speaking of important headline facts and events, Jessica Alba confused Sweden and Switzerland sometime in the past week. And did you check out Michelle Obama's fashionable inaugural attire yesterday?

Yea, guess i'll keep digging re:GITMO.

check please.

While really I should be commenting on the events of this past week, historic precedent in American Cultural history, that would require some research to do well. And frankly, i'm burnt out dissertation proposal style. So, instead, I'll entertain with this lovely piece of nonfiction.

In the process of refinancing my home, I had to endure a credit check. Review of my credit audit brought attention to an old credit card that I had forgotten to cancel. While my credit is a'ight (sista!), I figured having an open account that isn't used is asking for some sort of fraud action. So I made the call that we all dread making. You know the one that you have to deal with multiple tiers of options - press 1 for this and 2 for that. and then you get to an operator who tells you that you need to speak with someone in another department (which also happens to be in another state or country... and so goes the drill. on and on.

and on. (and not smooth chill Davina style either)

The call went something like this:
Begin ring.

welcome to ---card. If you want to check your account balance, press one. If you want to check how much you owe, please press two. If you want to be an organ donor, press three. If you want to donate your first born to pay off your outstanding credit, press four... and so on.

I just wanted to cancel my damn account. of course that was no where to be found on the menu. I made a selection. any selection.

begin next set of options....again, no cancel account. I made yet another selection

begin next set of options ... AGAIN (see above)... made yet another selection...

Finally I was offered the option to speak with an actual human bean, i mean being.

progress!

begin elevator music serenade.

i put the phone on speaker and went on with my work. After about 5 minutes of holding, an operator picked up. she told me i was speaking with the wrong department and would forward me to the appropriate place.

hold please.

another ring, then another department operator answered she sounded kinda like a new jersey's mobsters wife. you know, that nasal high pitched smokers voice that is as soothing as fingernails on a chalkboard? I knew good times were ahead.

Her: hello, how may i help you?

me: i'd like to cancel my account

her: oh, we're sorry to hear that. can i ask why you are canceling? I see you've been with us for a while.

me: i don't use the card. please cancel my account.

her - abridged version: We're doing that (canceling) remember? But you can still keep the card open you know. You have a good record of credit with us.

me: Thank you but i just want to cancel my account.

her - super abridged version: We're doing that (canceling) remember? But did you know that your credit scores can improve by having long-standing credit with a company like us?... bla bla bla.

me - yawning and annoyed: um, thanks but i just want to cancel my account. PS - she's wrong on that as it's situation dependent.

her: We're doing that (canceling) remember? bla bla bla

me: yes i remember. that's why i called. please cancel my account.

her (and it's about time!): ok, i'm canceling your account. You have 90 days to change your mind... bla bla bla... is there anything else we can do for you today?

me: yea send me a voucher for a few gin and tonics to soothe the grating sound your voice has left in my ear drum. (ok so i didn't say that - never burn a bridge with someone who has access to your credit card account)
Click.
A good 25 or so minutes after the phone call begin, the card was closed (i hope).

and so it went.

slacker '09

Isn't it annoying when you read someone's blog and they apologize for not posting in so long? Ok, it's quite obvious that nothing has been written in days or weeks and really what can be done about it? it's in the past, so get over it and write something dammit. :) So, given that, i'll spare you all the details of where i've been for the past few weeks and just dive right into the good stuff! Cause there's lots. Here is what's been goin on:

  1. Refinanced my house! yes rates are excellent right now folks so if you have an expiring ARM, LOOK INTO IT.
  2. Completed a website equipped with a flash coverflow top piece (think itunes - it's redundant but the client really really really wanted it so they got it). PHEW - no more side jobs for me till the semester is OVER.
  3. Fixed a dying car and dealt with associated insurance issues (so i get reimbursed)
  4. Took a road trip with Jess to NJ and Philly area. Hung with the coolest fam and met up with slackass for a chill afternoon in suburban philly. So good to cya slackass!!
  5. Realized I have a new, super cool, low key and not really medium sized friend.
  6. Made Sushi - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Much better homemade than from wegmans.
  7. Discovered new hip hop.
  8. Ate pie.
  9. Signed up for ornithology lab. For all who know me, you know how excited I am about this class. Now i not only get to learn about bird history (you know, presidents, wars, etc), and evolution of flight, speciation, etc, but ALSO, i get to examine stuffed and frozen birds on a weekly basis for intimate study (ok, again head out of the gutter, not that type of intimate, we are scientists in ecology OK?). Unfortunately this makes for 6 hours of class time and a good bit of out of class time commitment on top of the 40 hr week and my dissertation proposal but... it will be SO WORTH IT.
  10. Started contemplating my early spring, birds of PA / CROSS CENTURY. yes folks, it will be 100 miles, all dirt / gravel, and all climbing cross bike goodness. Percs including spending the ENTIRE DAY listening to ME point out Birds of PA in the forest. YES! (ok, so maybe i should spare everyone and do it alone)
  11. Resolved to stop taking on TOO MUCH. Unfortunately this means saying no to some more web volunteer work with a local shelter (this breaks my heart but my sanity, proposal and grades are all at stake).
  12. REVISION: and last but certainly not least, ate indian food w/ERIC.
For those outside of PA, it's been COLD - ass cold(tm) in fact until recent days when we have been graced with the most beautiful fluffy SNOW. Unfortunately i've been holed up working so i have yet to ski but it's coming soon - this week in fact. Enjoy some picts below of recent adventures.

Early morning walk with chaya around riverton - robins everywhere enmasse!

The coolest little town ever. all of the houses were victorian or victorian-inspired.

State College in NJ? weird!

Tis the season... now if i put this in my front garden, I'd get a nasty notice and a 25$/day fine.

It's a VW thing, you wouldn't understand.

And the snow - we have a lot!

no need for words. (why did i write that?)


sometimes chaya pretends to be a playful dog.

othertimes, well most times, she's plain retarded.

the end. more to come soon!

bike to work!

Check this out - tax breaks for commuters???
Thanks eric for the link!

got bad GAS - watch out!

i have recently experienced a case of bad gas. no, not that kind that involves flatulence. the kind that causes cars to stall, not start, and buck back in forth randomly while driving in low gears.

after fighting with the gas station folks who were "fixing" the subi, all the while assuring me that it wasn't broken, that the bucking would be "better" after they cleared the computer (buckle up folks!) and that it DID start on command - the subi and i visited the local dealer this morning. the dealer promptly asked me where i had last purchased gas. apparently another customer had similar symptoms with her subi post gas station visit. same gas station, same weekend!

they checked the car out and found the fuel had separated in the tank yielding hydrophobic ethanol and water among other individual components in the system. This results in a car that doesn't like to start due to frozen water in cold temperatures! And to a car that's not properly fueled most of the time and thus feels the need to communicate that to its owner by jerking them around, literally.

i called the station and they confirmed what had already been deduced - there was a shipment of BAD GAS. There's water in them darn tanks (central pa style)! They kindly promised to reimburse my expense to have the fuel drained and filter cleaned. nice. (we'll see if that reimbursement materializes).

In short i learned something about modern day fuel at gas stations. It's mixed with ethanol which means if it sits over time, it potentially could separate. This also means if you hit (get your head out of the gutter) the pump and notice it's running slow, you might want to peace out of that station and find another one. A low tank could potentially have water sitting at the bottom for various reasons including condensation;

The important equation to consider here folks is: water + your fuel tank = buck city + start / stall problems!

here's a simple summary of how it all goes down if you're interested. frustration aside, i sure learned a lot.

more

it's hard to wrap your head around the actions of others.
especially with intense emotion involved.

i've discovered a breakup can occur before a relationship is even rekindled. all it takes is one who is unable to take responsibility for the emotions of the one they supposedly love. i've discovered that an ex can knock on your door and want you back; then turn around and end things no sooner had they begun.

i've discovered that the words "working things out" don't necessarily imply a mutual partnership between two people trying to figure out how to move forward together. it can mean one person thinking alone, about themselves and what is easiest and best for them. your risk then becomes all your own.

i've discovered that it's wrong to put trust and confidence in the word "love" when spoken by the wrong person. love can mean many things. in the end loving yourself is the most important relationship in life. i've discovered that it's a bad decision to instill trust in any person who's unsure of themselves as it may impact you. because in the end, your faith and trust alone isn't enough to build the stability that trust deserves.

but all of that aside, i've discovered that i can love another person more than myself and be happy, if they honestly love me in return. but when i love another more than myself and they love themselves in return, i'm left sad and drained and confused. i've discovered i have a big heart and am ready to try. i'm convinced that there must be someone out there who will appreciate that. And hopefully someone who will take responsibility for not only themselves, but also my feelings.

i've discovered i have amazing friends who in a seconds notice, remove me from a rut and bring me to another place filled with amazing family, good conversation, beautiful surroundings and nourishment for body and soul (you rock jess!!).

i've discovered that even after being beat up and twisted by someone elses confusion, i'm still strong, hopeful and confident. I'm still independent and self-aware. i'm looking forward to the returning to work, school and home. I'm looking forward to winter snow, spring and summer rides. I'm looking forward to finishing my degree and moving on. I'm looking forward to my own family, life and travels as built and discovered and explored. I'm looking forward to meeting someone new, even if it takes months or years. patience is virtue.

i'm exhausted and drained from the tears. life is too short. I deserve more. And more is exactly what I look forward to.

boobs for bucks

Ok, now isn't this pushing it a bit? I know there are many who respect the adult industry and enjoy it but does this really constitute federal bailout grounds? You decide. Read below:
boobs for bucks

whiner

(begin whining)
i'm off to a weak 2009 start in terms of blogging. however i have a good excuse. i'm sick as a dog. ok really my dog isn't sick (why do people say that anyway?). she's actually sleeping on my foot right now and quite content.

i generally avoid the doctor however after a few days of fever and associated sweats and chills, sore achy body and painful swallowing i feared strep throat or something that required medication. So, I tried to take myself to the doctor today, in an ice storm mind you, only to find my car reluctant to start. yes, the subi is also sick after 5 years of perfect health. i finally got her going after 15 minutes of prodding, got to the doctor and was told i'd have to wait this bug out as it's a virus and thus must run its course.

in the meantime, i have spent more time on the couch, napping and watching tv then i've spent in a few years combined. frustrating. i'm on the jello and chamomile tea diet which isn't really all that bad. i look forward to being healthy and returning to the world of the living. and better yet, to having a conversation with someone other than said dog. hopefully that comes soon. perhaps even in time to take the subi to the car doctor. ugh.

(/end whining)