Paul's Journal
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12/29/2007 13:17 #42673
The new OLPCCategory: computers
The One Laptop Per Child computer came today for (e:terry). I think the whole thing was a great idea but I kind of wish we donated two of them because it is so slow. The first thing (e:terry) wrote was "I am an American using a 3rd world computer" on it. It has lots of potential and hackability and actually some of the programs are fun but the processor is so slow. I forgot what that is like. It is like slower than the processor on my phone. Maybe it is a lack of ram. I will try adding a memory card and see if that helps. The music mixing and programming programs are fun - and you get a terminal and zero configure wifi, a web cam and a mic - so it does have potential albeit slowness.
12/29/2007 13:17 #42672
Food and the drainCategory: food
Here (e:imk2) is a pic of what I eat now. It is really plain.
At least I can eat fish. This is a new kind of fish for me called monchong
It came from the coop. It tastes kind of like lobster a tiny bit.
Last night after work I had a family party. I have yet another family party today. This whole week has sucked. Between being sick and working ridiculous hours on this last minute projet at work and then family events with Holiday food - I kind of feel on the brink of death.
I feel like this pumkin on our porch.
Thursday night I came home from a 12 hour work day and wanted to take a shower but the tub had apparently not drained from earlier that morning. No one else ever fixes that which makes me fucking crazy considering it is a long hair and dirt from potted plants thing that I pretty much have nothing to do with.
Once I got the hairball out by prying it out with a coat hanger, I used a plunger to dredge up the dirt. I couldn't believe how much black dirt there was.
At least I can eat fish. This is a new kind of fish for me called monchong
It came from the coop. It tastes kind of like lobster a tiny bit.
Last night after work I had a family party. I have yet another family party today. This whole week has sucked. Between being sick and working ridiculous hours on this last minute projet at work and then family events with Holiday food - I kind of feel on the brink of death.
I feel like this pumkin on our porch.
Thursday night I came home from a 12 hour work day and wanted to take a shower but the tub had apparently not drained from earlier that morning. No one else ever fixes that which makes me fucking crazy considering it is a long hair and dirt from potted plants thing that I pretty much have nothing to do with.
Once I got the hairball out by prying it out with a coat hanger, I used a plunger to dredge up the dirt. I couldn't believe how much black dirt there was.
12/27/2007 10:21 #42661
Gold rises after Bhutto deathCategory: web
I think it is kind of sick when the headline news item in the top news stories on google news about Bhutto being assasinated in Pakistan is that iit rose the price of gold.
Gold rises after Bhutto death, platinum hits record
LONDON (Reuters) - Gold hit a one-month high on Thursday as buying picked up after news that Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in an attack.
carolinian - 12/29/07 00:45
(e:mrdeadlier), I think that any time a leader beloved by some group of people is assassinated, there's the potential for riots regardless of the dead leader's stance on violence. For example, riots followed both MLK Jr's and Ghandi's assassinations in spite of these leaders' strong objections to the use of violence in any situation.
(e:mrdeadlier), I think that any time a leader beloved by some group of people is assassinated, there's the potential for riots regardless of the dead leader's stance on violence. For example, riots followed both MLK Jr's and Ghandi's assassinations in spite of these leaders' strong objections to the use of violence in any situation.
jason - 12/27/07 14:45
Oh, hehe, and I didn't mean to sound harsh. I mean, she didn't deserve to die, absolutely not. I'm saddened for Pakistan because this is one of those situations that really could blow up in someone's face (Who first, India?) given the right string of circumstances.
Oh, hehe, and I didn't mean to sound harsh. I mean, she didn't deserve to die, absolutely not. I'm saddened for Pakistan because this is one of those situations that really could blow up in someone's face (Who first, India?) given the right string of circumstances.
jason - 12/27/07 14:43
Bhutto was, above all else, a sleazy, corrupt politician, just like the rest, and also shared an affinity with Musharraf for sort of appeasing the extremist element. The situation is so fucked up that even people with the best of intentions would have a hell of a hard time getting through to them.
I really wonder who did it, if it was the extremist, Islamist element or whether it was a dirty hit by Musharraf to silence a political rival. After all, the attempt on her life in October shared certain characteristics with this one.
Bhutto was, above all else, a sleazy, corrupt politician, just like the rest, and also shared an affinity with Musharraf for sort of appeasing the extremist element. The situation is so fucked up that even people with the best of intentions would have a hell of a hard time getting through to them.
I really wonder who did it, if it was the extremist, Islamist element or whether it was a dirty hit by Musharraf to silence a political rival. After all, the attempt on her life in October shared certain characteristics with this one.
imk2 - 12/27/07 14:30
omg, i couldn't believe it when i heard the news this morning. i didn't even know who to talk to about this because just about everyone i know would not have a clue as to who this was. the world is full of kelly picklers.
omg, i couldn't believe it when i heard the news this morning. i didn't even know who to talk to about this because just about everyone i know would not have a clue as to who this was. the world is full of kelly picklers.
mrdeadlier - 12/27/07 13:37
As an illustration of crazy that area of the world is, I read that her supporters began smashing windows and stoning cars after hearing of her death...
Wasn't she supposed to be a moderate/liberal politician who eschewed the radical Muslim outlook? Huh.
You know, not to sound cold but I'm surprised it took this long. Her refusal to make use of a "pope-mobile" (which I guess had been offered to her) or even to use better security made this inevitable -- in my opinion.
Still, though... Sad news. :(
As an illustration of crazy that area of the world is, I read that her supporters began smashing windows and stoning cars after hearing of her death...
Wasn't she supposed to be a moderate/liberal politician who eschewed the radical Muslim outlook? Huh.
You know, not to sound cold but I'm surprised it took this long. Her refusal to make use of a "pope-mobile" (which I guess had been offered to her) or even to use better security made this inevitable -- in my opinion.
Still, though... Sad news. :(
james - 12/27/07 11:30
This isn't even news. The price of gold always rises during times of political uncertainty.
so, WTF Google news?
This isn't even news. The price of gold always rises during times of political uncertainty.
so, WTF Google news?
12/26/2007 11:15 #42650
Asacol - Will it kill me?Category: health
I really don't know what to do yet. My colonoscopy is on the 6th I think or the 9th. I need to check but the "doctor" who I have never actually seen or heard from since I first spoke with him a month ago prescribed asacol.
But no one told me what to expect. The serious side effects that should force you to stop taking th emedicine are some of the very symptoms I am supposed to take the medicine for which iis just screaming too dangerous for me.
I found this site where people talk about the effectiveness versus side effects of the medicine's for colitis and it seriously has a 3 out of 6 stars for 127 ratings. I wouldn't normally buy something with that kind of rating. I mean if that was a test I would say it was failing.
Check out the reviews I just refuse to take it until after I have spoken to a GI doctor or at least the Colon doctor I already have.
THE GI doctor had an opening before my Feb 6th appointment. They called me this morning. I was all excited because I thought it was maybe today but instead it is on Jan 22, the day of my birthday, freakin' yeah.
But no one told me what to expect. The serious side effects that should force you to stop taking th emedicine are some of the very symptoms I am supposed to take the medicine for which iis just screaming too dangerous for me.
I found this site where people talk about the effectiveness versus side effects of the medicine's for colitis and it seriously has a 3 out of 6 stars for 127 ratings. I wouldn't normally buy something with that kind of rating. I mean if that was a test I would say it was failing.
Check out the reviews
I just refuse to take it until after I have spoken to a GI doctor or at least the Colon doctor I already have.THE GI doctor had an opening before my Feb 6th appointment. They called me this morning. I was all excited because I thought it was maybe today but instead it is on Jan 22, the day of my birthday, freakin' yeah.
jenks - 12/26/07 15:57
well first off- Yes, talk to your doctor. But next- I would just take the meds. you have to remember that the population writing online is skewed- all the people with no problems at all don't write in. I'm not aware of any (common) major scary side effects. I mean everything has those one-in-a-million freaky risks, but generally I think that med is pretty well proven...
but at the same time, it's certainly not unreasonable to actually want to speak to a doctor before just blindly taking meds. I'm even having a hard time defending my 'colleagues' on this one.
well first off- Yes, talk to your doctor. But next- I would just take the meds. you have to remember that the population writing online is skewed- all the people with no problems at all don't write in. I'm not aware of any (common) major scary side effects. I mean everything has those one-in-a-million freaky risks, but generally I think that med is pretty well proven...
but at the same time, it's certainly not unreasonable to actually want to speak to a doctor before just blindly taking meds. I'm even having a hard time defending my 'colleagues' on this one.
12/26/2007 10:17 #42649
Fixing A Light On ChristmasCategory: housing
At around 10:30 last night I had my phone off because I was ready to go to bed. At the same time my tenants decided to play landlord by putting up a new light fixture that (e:terry) and I had bought and left there to put up when we got a chance. They tried to pretend the old one was bent and hanging off the wall which seems impossible considering I have recovered the old fixture and it is metal.
I think what happened is that boy tenant tried to play toolman. When he got confused because of the old wiring, they had to shut down the electricity for the whole apartment. They tried to call me, no answer, so they got ahold of my Dad who insisted on helping and called me at (e:matthew)'s phone. He came to pick me up and we ended replacing the light from 10:45 to 11:45PM on Chirstmas Day. I was so mad, seriously, I wanted to kill them.
This is what it looked like when we got there. There is no way it fell off the wall, lol. It was clearly and totally taken apart.
My Dad is so nice, he insisted we put the new light in. I just wanted to cap it off and deal with it on Friday. It was really nice to ave his help. I know how to do the electrical part, but I think if it was just me and the tenants, someone would have died.
I think what happened is that boy tenant tried to play toolman. When he got confused because of the old wiring, they had to shut down the electricity for the whole apartment. They tried to call me, no answer, so they got ahold of my Dad who insisted on helping and called me at (e:matthew)'s phone. He came to pick me up and we ended replacing the light from 10:45 to 11:45PM on Chirstmas Day. I was so mad, seriously, I wanted to kill them.
This is what it looked like when we got there. There is no way it fell off the wall, lol. It was clearly and totally taken apart.
My Dad is so nice, he insisted we put the new light in. I just wanted to cap it off and deal with it on Friday. It was really nice to ave his help. I know how to do the electrical part, but I think if it was just me and the tenants, someone would have died.
paul - 12/26/07 11:10
Ya, it's insane.
Ya, it's insane.
imk2 - 12/26/07 10:51
are you fucking kidding me? they had to call the landlord on fucking christmas day at 10 o'clock at night for a fucking light fixture? hot water tank, firdge, heat, i would understand, but a fucking light? omg, i would have NEVER went over there on christmas, and i would make their lives miserable from now on. ugh, i hate people.
are you fucking kidding me? they had to call the landlord on fucking christmas day at 10 o'clock at night for a fucking light fixture? hot water tank, firdge, heat, i would understand, but a fucking light? omg, i would have NEVER went over there on christmas, and i would make their lives miserable from now on. ugh, i hate people.
mrmike - 12/26/07 10:31
The late night work must have been a pain, but it looks great. Sorry about the tenants being bumblers.
The late night work must have been a pain, but it looks great. Sorry about the tenants being bumblers.
does the American version come with the little handcrank generator?
I tried one, and it was pretty cool but my fingers are too big for the keyboard.