Saturday, April 10, 2010

2928 Where's Silk?

Saturday, April 10, 2010

“The skunk does not get out of the way of any animal.
It moves along at its own speed, with its own mind.
It is self-assured and confident in itself.
Skunks are fearless, but they are also very peaceful.
They move slowly and calmly, and they only spray as a last resort.
Skunk teaches how to give respect, expect respect, and demand respect.”
~~ from Animal Speak ~~

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In case you didn't notice, the past several entries were written ahead of the post date, and scheduled for posting each day over the past week. I've been in Morocco for the past week, without internet access. In fact, this post is being written on 4/2. When this appears in the blog, with any luck, I'll be in the air somewhere over the Atlantic, heading back home.

The "with any luck" is not an idle phrase, it's a prayer. The woman who's organizing this trip is the most disorganized screwed-up woman I've ever met. She's the one who scheduled a meeting in NYC, and then canceled it via email 45 minutes after I had set out on the 2 hour 45 minute trip into the city, during rush hour. And then she didn't leave a message with the restaurant that the meeting had been canceled, so I sat there wondering what went wrong.

Then when we finally met with the tour guide and got the itinerary, I noticed the trip was two days shorter than what we had signed up and paid for. She denied there was any difference. When I got home I checked, and sent her an email detailing the difference - we are leaving 24 hours later and returning 24 hours sooner. The two "free time in Casablanca" days had been chopped off. She responded with a note to the group, saying that the trip was ONE day shorter. I could spit nails.

Well, the travel docs I have say that the flight to Casablanca leaves at 6:45 pm tomorrow (remember, today is actually Friday, 4/2). At 3:43 today I got an email from her saying that the flight time was changed to 5:01pm - an hour and 44 minutes earlier! How can they do that? What about connections wanting to make this flight? There's only one flight a day.

Then at 5:44 today, I got another email from her saying that she goofed, the actual time is changed to 8:01pm.

Note that the email was not followed up by a phone call, or a request for acknowledgment. There may be people who have internet access only at work, and 5:44 is pretty late to be sending out an emergency message. Or some may be staying in a hotel near the airport tonight and didn't pack a laptop.

I think she assumes everyone has a Blackberry or other constant connection, because she does.

She's an idiot.

I don't trust her. I wouldn't be surprised if people show up for the 8:01 flight, and discover that the plane left at 6:45, or 5:01, or who knows when. So I went to the Royal Air Maroc site and checked on the flight. 8:01pm. Ok.

Then I tried to check on my reservation, and R.A.M. can't find it. Interesting. They want the 6-digit reservation code, and the primary name on the reservation if multiple people are traveling under one reservation. I don't know what the primary name is. It isn't any of us 13, maybe it's the tour company, but I don't know.

Sigh.

Well, if you're seeing this post, that must mean I made it to Morocco, somehow. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm actually on the plane home. She might screw up again. Once the plane lands and I'm no longer dependent on the organizer, I may strangle her. So if there's no post tomorrow, I may be marooned in Morocco, or I may be in jail in New York.

Send bail money.

Morocco photos soon.
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Friday, April 09, 2010

2927 Shadow attack

Friday, April 9, 2010

Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground,
and I'll show you a man who can't get his pants off.

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Bonnie Hunt showed a video clip last week, about a little girl who had discovered her mother's shadow, and the child tried to stand on it, to keep it still, I guess.

It reminded me of when Daughter first noticed her shadow. It scared her. She wanted to get rid of it, tried to run away from it. She cried. It took a while to convince her that everything had a shadow when the light was strong, and shadows were harmless.
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Thursday, April 08, 2010

2926 Big Dog

Thursday, April 8, 2010

The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.

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"BigDog" robot. I still want one! It would be so handy for carrying things down the driveway, or to the basement. Or even carrying me! Put a saddle on it....

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azoWDlZGImU]
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Wednesday, April 07, 2010

2925 Wanna run a TV commercial? Cheap?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

My weight is perfect for my height -- which varies.

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You, too, can advertise on TV. You can pick your network, show, time, submit your ad to Google, and for $100, they'll get it up and running for you.

From http://www.switched.com/2010/03/23/how-to-run-your-ad-on-fox-news-for-100/ :
"Slate's Seth Stevenson decided to try it out for himself and see if he could actually air a commercial for a fake product on national television. After creating a trippy, apocalyptic commercial for his nonexistent product, Stevenson decided to post it to Google TV Ads. By doing so, he could choose not only the network he wanted to employ, but the time slot and even the show during which his spot would air. After choosing the appropriately ridiculous, unrealistic show during which to air an equally ridiculous, unrealistic commercial, Stevenson purchased air time on Fox News, during early morning reruns of Glenn Beck. After spending just $100 for the time slot, the commercial ran a full seven times, and the Web site advertised at the commercial's conclusion received over 1,000 new visitors."

Wow! Cool! Howcome this isn't more widely advertised?
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Tuesday, April 06, 2010

2924 Productivity Tips

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.

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This article at Switched.com has several hints and tips for increasing your computer productivity: http://www.switched.com/2010/03/25/the-ultimate-guide-to-productivity-get-er-done-with-helpful-ha/.

I use many of the shortcuts, the widgets, and the password manager. I'm very curious about the virtual desktops, but I think I'd need a larger monitor for that. (Jay had used the two-monitor trick.)

Check it out.
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Monday, April 05, 2010

2923 Where's Matt?

Monday, April 5, 2010

There’s a difference between free speech and hate speech.
-- Joy Behar --

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These videos have been around a while, but I still love them. Matt went all over the world, and videoed himself dancing (sort of...) in various places. There are three videos. They make me want to travel!

All three are at http://wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=tOqgM.

Enjoy.
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Sunday, April 04, 2010

2922 How not to date online

Sunday, April 4, 2010

All I ask is a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.

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It doesn't hurt to keep a resume out there, even when you currently have a temp job. So, I do have profiles on two online dating sites.

I got this a few days ago:

Subject: DATE ME

Hello,
I like to be real to you nice woman because i like u before i start to know you.
Im a marry man 60 years old establish nice greek personality and i think am handsome man.
225 lbs 5' 9 gray hair.Im in business all my life but i never have a woman to make me happy and likes trips,nice cozy restaurant dinners and romances.
Im looking to find a woman mature and loving like u to enjoy the good things in life,If u think we can enjoy together because i think you are the nice person am looking for

[name deleted]
Don't know what that "marry man" means. His profile says single, never married. No photo. Sounds like a nice guy, but bit clueless, and absolutely not my type. He also sounds like he could get too involved too soon and turn into a stalker.

Sigh.

I've found that when one gets notes like this, one must NOT reply. A gentle negative citing distance or diverging interests or current commitment will get you a barrage of sales pitches. They seem to think they can convince you to give them a chance, that they can fix whatever the problem is. That, or you get a nastygram back, calling into question your motives and virtue. So, since I hesitate to say "I don't think we can have an interesting conversation, and your ardor scares me", he gets no reply.
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