And if google [inlink]paul,3219[/inlink] doesn't have it, the internet archive might. Although I wonder if google has started keeping their own internet archive? that would be interesting. maybe it's time to get out before this all goes on my permanent record.

Ok, bike ride time.

Here's a little story for tax day.

Maybe it's because I'm the oldest kid in my family but it never dawned on me I would have to do my own taxes some day, even though I started working in high school. Dad always did my taxes because he claimed me as a dependent. Well, I'll never forget the first year I mailed him my w2s after going to college and working in Boston for a year. He mailed them right back, untouched, no note, no nothing. I was stunned. Dad's pretty funny that way. He almost always has some succinct or witty comment to make, even if it's just to spruce up your lunchbag (could be why my brother stopped taking lunches in high school). But if he doesn't have anything to say, he doesn't feel compelled to explain himself. And really why should he?

Here's another Dad story while I'm at it. When I left for college, Dad equipped me with one of his old hammers and a screwdriver. He also took me out to the family car and showed me how to put on the spare tire. First he did it, then he had me to it. I didn't have a car at the time and wouldn't for years. But that experience came in very handy once I did.

p.s. - speaking of extensions, as long as this Oracle gig goes as planned I guess I can give myself a 3-month reprieve before I have to either start generating some regular income or take drastic measures. Maybe I'll lay out my plan for alamedalink here some day and see what you think. Otherwise I'll have to start a third blog to talk about it. That would be ironic.

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. ;-)