Saturday, September 13, 2003
Bells, Whistles, and Pixels.
I didn't any useful mail today, but stuck above my box was a FedEx slip. I looked up the tracking number and it originated in NY...
!!!The CAMERA!!!
Oh, happy day.
I opted for three day shipping (and billed as such). They overnighted it. The universe loves me.
!!!The CAMERA!!!
Oh, happy day.
I opted for three day shipping (and billed as such). They overnighted it. The universe loves me.
Thursday, September 11, 2003
I Should Be in Bed
Alright.
Life is good. The new *queen* size bed got set up yesterday. Oh wondrous joy!!! I'm not new to queen beds, been sleeping on 'em for the past 3 years (they just haven't been mine). However, this one is new. Nice and new. (Well, floor modelÂnew enough). It's heaven.
Just ordered the digital camera. Tuesday? Wednesday? It'll be here soon. I had better get ahead on work this weekend so that I can play recklessly next week with the new toy.
And, along that thought, two things that have come to be common in the past few years that make me happy: Pay at the Pump and online UPS Package Tracking. Instant gratification is quite nice for these two items. Now if I can just get a cell phone built into my glasses, I'd be set.
Now, off to bed.
PS: I love fall. Spring and Fall are in a dead heat for "Favorite Season" award, but since we're drawing closed on Summer, Fall can wear the crown for a while.
PPS: BLOGGERR FINALLY GAVE SPELLCHECKER TO THE FREELOADERS!!! Spellchecker also makes me happy. Thank you, Blogger.
PPS 2.0: This spellchecker is hillarious. If you replace a mispelled/unrecoginized word with another mispelled/unrecognized word (one that you typed into the box), an entire and substantial separate window pops up warning you that you are doing so. SpellNazi. Or better: SpellNun (should come with a ruller and knuckle cracking sound).
Life is good. The new *queen* size bed got set up yesterday. Oh wondrous joy!!! I'm not new to queen beds, been sleeping on 'em for the past 3 years (they just haven't been mine). However, this one is new. Nice and new. (Well, floor modelÂnew enough). It's heaven.
Just ordered the digital camera. Tuesday? Wednesday? It'll be here soon. I had better get ahead on work this weekend so that I can play recklessly next week with the new toy.
And, along that thought, two things that have come to be common in the past few years that make me happy: Pay at the Pump and online UPS Package Tracking. Instant gratification is quite nice for these two items. Now if I can just get a cell phone built into my glasses, I'd be set.
Now, off to bed.
PS: I love fall. Spring and Fall are in a dead heat for "Favorite Season" award, but since we're drawing closed on Summer, Fall can wear the crown for a while.
PPS: BLOGGERR FINALLY GAVE SPELLCHECKER TO THE FREELOADERS!!! Spellchecker also makes me happy. Thank you, Blogger.
PPS 2.0: This spellchecker is hillarious. If you replace a mispelled/unrecoginized word with another mispelled/unrecognized word (one that you typed into the box), an entire and substantial separate window pops up warning you that you are doing so. SpellNazi. Or better: SpellNun (should come with a ruller and knuckle cracking sound).
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
FAQs
FAQs are best when entertaining.
If you haven't seen Google's pigeon technology page, then you are lame and behind the times.
Google is scary. Much more helpful than you might have realized.
Hopefully the Information Awareness Office (IAO) isn't paying the pigeons. A fun info page from Electronic Privacy Information Center. Items with their old logo are at Cafepress.com (proceeds to go the American Civil Liberties Union). Thanks, John Poindexter. You put the creepy back into Big Brother.
Bed. Must get to bed... Speaking of which: tomorrow I'll be sleeping in my very own, brand new, great big, fabulously mine, queen bed!!! Hurrah!!!
OK. Floor. Must go to bed on the floor...
If you haven't seen Google's pigeon technology page, then you are lame and behind the times.
Google is scary. Much more helpful than you might have realized.
Hopefully the Information Awareness Office (IAO) isn't paying the pigeons. A fun info page from Electronic Privacy Information Center. Items with their old logo are at Cafepress.com (proceeds to go the American Civil Liberties Union). Thanks, John Poindexter. You put the creepy back into Big Brother.
Bed. Must get to bed... Speaking of which: tomorrow I'll be sleeping in my very own, brand new, great big, fabulously mine, queen bed!!! Hurrah!!!
OK. Floor. Must go to bed on the floor...
Product Information
If I had to choose right now, I'd choose this. I think you can program it to cook you breakfast, too.
Monday, September 08, 2003
Straight to Voicemail
For anyone who tried to call tonight, you really had no chance of talking to me. I'm sort of pissy and unsettled.
Half my stuff is still in boxes. Mostly it's because I really have nowhere to put it unless I just dump it on the floor. While, this is a perfectly acceptable mode of organization, it's really not for me.
Things on my "to get" list: 1. shelves, 2. dresser, 3. time.
Half my stuff is still in boxes. Mostly it's because I really have nowhere to put it unless I just dump it on the floor. While, this is a perfectly acceptable mode of organization, it's really not for me.
Things on my "to get" list: 1. shelves, 2. dresser, 3. time.
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Hardware
As soon as I get a digital camera (and that will be soon), I'll be able to show you the most rediculous construction detour roadsign ever. Obviously it's in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is for Locals
PA should adopt "Pittsburgh is for Locals" for the Burgh. It's much more fitting than VA's "Virginia is for Lovers." More on this later.
I've started my Pittsburgh Assimilation Project. A logical place to begin is with a list of visual cues recognized by Burgh locals as to whether or not I am a local or not.
Eleven Visual Warnings that I am Not a Pittsburgh Local:
1. I drive a vehicle not made by Ford, GM, Chrysler, or International.
2. I drive a car and not a pick-up, van, mini-van, or SUV.
3. I have Colorado tags.
4. I don't come to a complete stop before making a right hand turn when no cars are coming.
5. I wear stylish glasses.
6. I have short hair.
7. I don't tease my hair.
8. I weigh less than 150 lbs.
9. I am over 20 years old and weigh much less than 150 lbs.
10. I push a shopping cart without a child in it or hanging off of it.
11. I push a shopping cart with soy milk and Koshi cereal in it.
12. I don't wear make-up, particularly, black eye-liner.
Eight Visual Cues that I May be a Pittsburgh Local:
1. I drive a car that needs a paint job.
2. I drive a car that will soon rust to bits before the engine goes.
3. I drive a car with no AC.
4. I have a leopard print air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.
5. I smoke.
6. I wear flip-flops.
7. I wear a belt with my name on it.
8. I wear a leopard print purse.
9. I am going to the September 20-21 Pittsburgh Gun Show if I'm in town. (This will only be a Visual Cue to other Gun Show participants.)
Thus far, the Visual Warnings (VWs) out number the Visual Cues (VCs). If I had summed this up last weekend, I wouldn't be doing nearly this well (I bought the rearview mirror hanging air freshener Wednesday evening and I saw the Gun Show billboard today.) Since the VWs aren't going to decrease during my stay here (and may increase as I observe more), I clearly have some work to do on upping the VCs.
I've started my Pittsburgh Assimilation Project. A logical place to begin is with a list of visual cues recognized by Burgh locals as to whether or not I am a local or not.
Eleven Visual Warnings that I am Not a Pittsburgh Local:
1. I drive a vehicle not made by Ford, GM, Chrysler, or International.
2. I drive a car and not a pick-up, van, mini-van, or SUV.
3. I have Colorado tags.
4. I don't come to a complete stop before making a right hand turn when no cars are coming.
5. I wear stylish glasses.
6. I have short hair.
7. I don't tease my hair.
8. I weigh less than 150 lbs.
9. I am over 20 years old and weigh much less than 150 lbs.
10. I push a shopping cart without a child in it or hanging off of it.
11. I push a shopping cart with soy milk and Koshi cereal in it.
12. I don't wear make-up, particularly, black eye-liner.
Eight Visual Cues that I May be a Pittsburgh Local:
1. I drive a car that needs a paint job.
2. I drive a car that will soon rust to bits before the engine goes.
3. I drive a car with no AC.
4. I have a leopard print air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.
5. I smoke.
6. I wear flip-flops.
7. I wear a belt with my name on it.
8. I wear a leopard print purse.
9. I am going to the September 20-21 Pittsburgh Gun Show if I'm in town. (This will only be a Visual Cue to other Gun Show participants.)
Thus far, the Visual Warnings (VWs) out number the Visual Cues (VCs). If I had summed this up last weekend, I wouldn't be doing nearly this well (I bought the rearview mirror hanging air freshener Wednesday evening and I saw the Gun Show billboard today.) Since the VWs aren't going to decrease during my stay here (and may increase as I observe more), I clearly have some work to do on upping the VCs.
The 1960s Intercom
I left the apartment Friday morning to discover a UPS note saying it was the second attempt to deliver a package from Verizon. I was excited since this is the DSL router that will, once the DSL actually gets hooked up, I can surf at the break neck high speeds I'm so accustomed to.
In turn, I left a note for him/her: I would be home after 3:45 pm.
Friday I get home and he/she had not been back by yet. Obviously I sit in waiting in my living room so that I can hear the quiet little intercom buzz for me with the UPS man on the other side.
Around 6:00 pm I hear it. That nondescript eeeep of the intercom.
I walk over to the Talk button, "Yes?"
Hal 9000 is on the other side, resurrected with memory cards re-inserted from Space Odyssey 2001. "UPS man. I have a de-liv-er-y for you."
Literally, that quietly unsettling smooth and weirdly un-human and helpful voice that pronounces every syllable with exacting perfection that no human can achieve, was at the intercom.
As I get my keys, it's resounding in my head: UPS man. I have a de-liv-er-y for you. Already creeped out and excited to meet the man behind the machine, I'm at the door to the foyer.
He's 6'2"ish, slender, and in his 40s so a bit young to actually be Hal 9000, with oh-so-practical metal framed glasses. Redeeming factor: he is still kind of unsettling and weirdly un-human and helpful and very pleased to have finally found the recipient of this delivery.
Even better, before he arrived, I had just placed an internet order, to be delivered via UPS. Next time I'll have to bait him to say more on the intercom. I wish I could record it. I'm going to have to hold my cell phone up to the thing and capture this man's intercom voice.
In turn, I left a note for him/her: I would be home after 3:45 pm.
Friday I get home and he/she had not been back by yet. Obviously I sit in waiting in my living room so that I can hear the quiet little intercom buzz for me with the UPS man on the other side.
Around 6:00 pm I hear it. That nondescript eeeep of the intercom.
I walk over to the Talk button, "Yes?"
Hal 9000 is on the other side, resurrected with memory cards re-inserted from Space Odyssey 2001. "UPS man. I have a de-liv-er-y for you."
Literally, that quietly unsettling smooth and weirdly un-human and helpful voice that pronounces every syllable with exacting perfection that no human can achieve, was at the intercom.
As I get my keys, it's resounding in my head: UPS man. I have a de-liv-er-y for you. Already creeped out and excited to meet the man behind the machine, I'm at the door to the foyer.
He's 6'2"ish, slender, and in his 40s so a bit young to actually be Hal 9000, with oh-so-practical metal framed glasses. Redeeming factor: he is still kind of unsettling and weirdly un-human and helpful and very pleased to have finally found the recipient of this delivery.
Even better, before he arrived, I had just placed an internet order, to be delivered via UPS. Next time I'll have to bait him to say more on the intercom. I wish I could record it. I'm going to have to hold my cell phone up to the thing and capture this man's intercom voice.
