The New Dork: Entrepreneur State of Mind
Posted by Chris“The New Dork – Entrepreneur State of Mind” by Pantless Knights, an internet startup spoof of “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featruing Alicia Keys.
Car Rental Challenge: Zipcar Vs Enterprise
Posted by MichaelFor the Girl's birthday, I took the day off of work and made some plans. Going out to dinner principle among them. Since we're celebrating, I didn't want to get stuck on the T, especially since we're going to Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain, which is a heck of a T ride for us (over an hour), even though it's just 7 miles away.
So last night, I rented a Zipcar. I got it on their weekday overnight deal, so I paid 35 bucks plus tax. Normally, that would be a 24-hour rental of around 80 bucks. So, Honda CRV for whatever I want to do with it, insurance and gas included, for 35 bucks.
For today, I thought, "I just want to rent during the day, which is more expensive with Zipcar, so I'll try out Enterprise, which is just one T stop away. I can get an economy car for 45 bucks for the day. Pretty good deal compared to 80, am I right?
Okay, so you have to be 25 years old to get that price. It's 20 bucks more for those from 21-24 years of age. But I'm old, so no worries there.
So I hoof it on down to the rental stop and meet my sales guy (I'm used to the impersonal, set-up-on-the-internet-pick-it-up-from-the-parking-lot style of Zipcar), and I'm not really awake. I don't bring a credit card, but I do have my debit card. But that's not okay. I don't have a car, so I don't have insurance. Need a cc to get the car.
No worries, though, as my rep drives me home to grab the card, then drives me back to pick up the car. We spoke mainly about the difference between the two companies, Zipcar and Enterprise. I defended Zipcar, 'cause I love it.
So I'm filling out my forms, and, as it turns out, I need insurance. I opt out of medical and liability because I'm a good driver. Still, it costs me 20 bucks. NOW we're up to 64.96, plus a few other fees. And that's for the cheapest model. Feh.
Okay, so final result: for 10 bucks more, I could have a CRV from Zipcar, just a few blocks from my house, or a Toyota Yaris, which is a tiny car, good for parking on the streets of JP but bad for the coming snowstorm (which I'd link to, but the links will break as the forecast updates. Suffice to say, 8-12 inches, or more).
In my opinion, get Zipcar for those weekday (especially evening) trips, and Enterprise for those weekend getaways.
A Bit More on the Spending Freeze
Posted by MichaelWe're 10 days into the official spending freeze (Jan 15 - March 15). There've been ups and downs -- strikes and gutters.
First off, I really, really want to go to a Chinese buffet. Like, bad. There's a great one not two blocks from my house, and I love it there, and they know me. But no.
I also really want to go see a movie. There are quite a few out right now: Daybreakers; Avatar; is the Book of Eli out yet? But NO.
On the other side of it, I have paid off my Best Buy credit card already. It wasn't that much, but now I'm not paying that with every paycheck. Other than that, though, I'm not exactly rolling in the dough.
I have managed to make a few large steps toward leaving Citizens Bank (details to follow in a later blog, perhaps), but now my money is divided.
On the weight-loss front, it keeps going. I'm below 180 pounds for the first time since leaving Texas, on my way to the Wedding goal of 170 or below (9 months to go).
I have slipped up a time or two; I eat when I get sick. One day, I just didn't bring enough with me to work. I needed a soda and some snacks.
I also bought a hair-catcher for the tub, but since it's cheaper than the Foaming Pipe Snake, I'd say it's allowed.
Spending Freeze
Posted by MichaelThe girl and I spent waaaaay too much money over the holidays. Most of it came via my credit card, which is now approaching its limit. With the wedding a scant 10 months away and her going back to school, money's tight.
So we're on a spending freeze.
It works like this:
For two months, we purchase nothing but food and other essentials (and pay bills). We can go out with friends once per month and out on a date night once per month.
To help out, we plan our meals for the week on Sunday or Monday, along with who's going to cook them, and purchase what we need. Food Network and Cooking Light are great helps with this.
In addition, I've given up High Fructose Corn Syrup (don't believe the adds, that shit makes you fat), and on account of my speech impediment drastically worsening, I have been put off of artificial sweeteners, as well.
What else is out:
- Amazon.com - a great love of mine, and the source of most of my books
- Home Depot - I am a sucker for starting new projects and I love building stuff.
- Snacks - Usually impulse buys, therefore cannot be purchased
- Other things that will surely come up in the next 8 weeks or so.
Results so far:
A bit of cash saved, we'll see how much can go to the credit card bill after 8 weeks
Lost 2 pounds.
The weight loss is unexpected, but inevitable. No snacks, no going out to eat, healthy food at home. But, honestly, I started this out as a way to save money. Now it looks like I won't have to join weight watchers, after all.
MORE money saved, right there.
Do not read this book. Read this review instead.
Posted by MichaelReview by Michael
Stephen R. Donaldson, Andrew Leonard, David Drake, Paula Guran, Jacquline Carey, Glen Cook and Elizabeth Haydon ARE ALL LIARS. This book is only good if you're 12 years old and think of people as paper-thin and totally devoid of complex thought and emotion. I call these characters weathervane characters, and they are now a strong part of the pantheon of horribly written, pointless characters who exist only as tiny outgrowths of DEUS EX MACHINA, and since many of the characters are actually "agents" of actual gods in this realm, it's not just an empty phrase.
Makes your commute longer.
I will leave you, for example's sake, the Adjunct. She randomly feels guilty about being who she is, but only as heavy-handed, internal monologue that never results in any impact, whatsoever, on the story itself. Let me tell you aspiring authors out there: false and forced contradictions make the characters thinner, not more real. We can't get a gauge on her motivations. We can't thrill or chafe in her victories because we've no idea where we stand. Also, she ends up not changing, and she's a very, very good example of the kinds of characters in this book: a version of what a dishonest writer believes a character SHOULD be like, instead of letting them flow naturally from their own motivations.
I read this book to the end, only because I wanted to write an honest review. I hated this book. It insulted me. My money was wasted on this book, and people who think that books like this are good are the reason that fantasy fiction sucks most of the time.
This book is horrid, and the only reason to read it is if you have no standards.
1 out of 6
Taken from my Goodreads blog.
John Scalzi’s Guide to the Most Epic FAILs in Star Wars Design – AMC
Posted by Chris
Droids!
A great Listing of some of the poor design decisions in the Star Wars Universe
R2-D2
Sure, he's cute, but the flaws in his design are obvious the first time he approaches anything but the shallowest of stairs. Also: He has jets, a periscope, a taser and oil canisters to make enforcer droids fall about in slapsticky fashion -- and no voice synthesizer. Imagine that design conversation: "Yes, we can afford slapstick oil and tasers, but we'll never get a 30-cent voice chip past accounting. That's just madness."
C-3PO
Can't fully extend his arms; has a bunch of exposed wiring in his abs; walks and runs as if he has the droid equivalent of arthritis. And you say, well, he was put together by an eight-year-old. Yes, but a trip to the nearest Radio Shack would fix that. Also, I'm still waiting to hear the rationale for making a protocol droid a shrieking coward, aside from George Lucas rummaging through a box of offensive stereotypes (which he'd later return to while building Jar-Jar Binks) and picking out the "mincing gay man" module.
Lightsabers
Yes, I know, I want one too. But I tell you what: I want one with a hand guard. Otherwise every lightsaber battle would consist of sabers clashing and then their owners sliding as quickly as possible down the shaft to lop off their opponent's fingers. You say: Lightsabers can slice through anything but another lightsaber, so what are you going to make a hand guard out of? I say: Dude, if you have the technology to make a lightsaber, you have the technology to make a light hand guard.
via AMC - Blogs - SciFi Scanner - John Scalzi's Guide to the Most Epic FAILs in Star Wars Design.
Tom Waits’ Eggs & Sausage Animated by Jackie Lay
Posted by ChrisA great animated version of one of my favorite Tom Waits songs.
Via: Laughing Squid Blog
[Video] 8-bit Magnetic Fields cover
Posted by ChrisGreat Magnetic Feilds Cover
UPDATE:
I made a quick iPhone Ringtone.
Chef Dan Barber Speaks on Sustainable Foie Gras
Posted by ChrisThis is a really interesting video about sustainable farming of Foie Gras
In Videos: Chef Dan Barber Speaks on Sustainable Foie Gras | Serious Eats.
