Since my last "real" contract job with PeopleSoft got nixed [inlink]twisted,107[/inlink] the day before I was supposed to start (because Oracle bought them), I didn't want to jinx my chances this time by saying something too soon. But I officially started a one month contract at Oracle today. Although with all the paperwork they made me fill out I'm feeling slightly paranoid about it. Apparently they verify all your previous places of employment and job titles, plus do a credit check to verify your past addresses (all for a one month contract, mind you). And I'd better wait until this contract is over to develop my FAX-Spam annihilator, since I had to sign something saying Oracle might have the legal rights to any Innovations (capitalization theirs) I make while I'm working for them. So no Innovations from me! Sorry!

On the bright side, I already got a $10/hour raise!

Here are some (cell phone) pictures of the Oracle campus. It looks like a cross between the Emerald City and something out of a sci-fi flick. And I thought PeopleSoft [inlink]twisted,93[/inlink] was swanky!





AND they have a bunch of great cafes onsite . We chose Cafe 600 for lunch today. It was crawling with engineers. Naturally I begged to be allowed to work onsite, but contractors are supposed to work from home so no dice. In the past I would have preferred that anyway, but now I already spend way too much time alone in front of my computer at home. Sigh.


The line at the Indian Station at Cafe 600


Well worth the short wait. I hope I'm not violating the non-disclosure agreement I signed by revealing the cafe's daily special.

I will suggest you to please contact to your concern webmaster inorder to change the title of your blogger.Since now this issue is related to the scripting one.We do not provide technical support on the scripting issue.So please contact to your webmaster regarding to this issue.Thanks.

- iPowerweb (alleged) technical support

They actually do respond fairly quickly. Too bad half the time it sounds like a tech support madlib.

Unrelated, except for the annoyance factor: somebody should invent a way to respond to unwelcome FAX calls made to your non-FAX phone number. Couldn't somebody just post the audio handshake signal for whatever FAX protocol could take these suckers down and out for an hour or two? I am so sick of getting FAX calls to my home phone number. I am on the do not call list and have filed countless complaints. It was working so well for a while too.


FAX Follow-up:

Just registered with Junkfax.org . The final question on their registration form was "Your junk fax horror story:"

I started getting junk faxes at my home phone number which is on the do not call list. I finally hooked a fax machine to my home line and I've collected 10 junk faxes since March 7th, the most recent one coming in at 4:56AM this morning. I have told them this number is on the do not call list and asked to be permanently taken off their fax list, and filed a do not call complaint each time. The worst offender is 866-807-8303 who I asked to remove me on 3/23, again on 3/29, 3/31 and 4/6. I want to nail that guy.

I feel empowered already. Thanks (e:Ajay).

My youngest brother lives in Hot-lanta [inlink]robin,374[/inlink] (at least until he moves to Chicago this summer for grad school), so I too have done the underground, CNN, Centennial Olympic Park, and Stone Mountain - on the Fourth of July no less! Oh yes - quite the Southern patriotic experience.

And I'm not just teasing. ;-)

I'm not sure I can add much to this thread [inlink]ajay,322[/inlink] except to say disqualifying guys I'm attracted to as potential friends would rule out some of my best friendships. I'm not saying it's easy, but with the right mindset and sublimation techniques (not to mention other techniques, but we don't need to get into that here), it can be done. It can even be fun, once you get past the excruciating part. Ok, you never really get entirely past that (at least not so far for me), but it can still be worth it.

For me, (one of) the hardest scenarios is if the guy is in a relationship that clearly is not working, but seemingly can't make it better or get out of it. That just drives me crazy.

On the flip side, the easiest scenario is if the guy is in a great relationship (or at least a working one) and/or otherwise definitively not gonna go there with me. Without that tortuous uncertainty, a one-sided attraction can even be more fun than no attraction. Maybe I'll flesh this out more when I have time.

Ok, just forget I ever complained [inlink]twisted,170[/inlink] about this.

Hi L-

Time to spring forward and go to more shows. Here's this week's selection if you are interested:

Mon Apr 4
Bottom of the Hill, S.F. Soviettes, Methadones, Enemy
You, Try Failing 21+ $7 7:30pm/8pm

Wed Apr 6
Hemlock, S.F. Cold War, Secret Puppets (Portland) 21+
$5 10pm

Thur Apri 7
Popscene-SF Every Move a Picture

Sat April 9
Red Devil, S.F. The Dead 60s, Aqualung 9pm

See soon,
-Ed

Hey!- Almost forgot about Friday, check out this super cool
sounding band that will be at the Odeon:

Maybe catch Hot Hot Heat at Amoeba beforehand at 7pm?

-E

I mean, how great is that? Especially when I get my order in early enough he wins free tickets? I don't know what my problem was except I just thought it was something else. I mean, it's not like I was picking out china patterns or anything. Oh hell, forget about it.

Oh yeah, I've decided the "L" bit is to streamline his mass mailing list. Smart.

I think I have to take a vacation from buffalo for a while until I get my life here in order. Or the snow there melts. Whichever takes longer.

p.s. - it's new for me to go out with a guy for over a month and still not know his last name. I think I like it.