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September 28, 2007
Mr. xkcd.com made my day!
This one got a good, genuine laugh. This female geek thanks you from / and beyond.
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/pix_plz.png
Posted by lysa at 10:33 AM | Comments (6)
September 27, 2007
The plot thickens
Apparently, in the 2 hours since NARAL's campaign has been up, something happened. The link I provided below to "take action" now leads to a "campaign no longer valid" page.
Wow, it took me MUCH longer than that to get Verizon to see things my way.
More information available in this New York Times article.
Posted by lysa at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)
verizon, verizon, verizon
I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge by now, but I really dislike Verizon. It's not enough that I've had to threaten them with litigation, no, now they're getting political.
An e-mail from the ever e-mailing NARAL let me know that Verizon has declined their request to have a short-code through their service. What's a short-code, you ask. Did you watch American idol? You know at the end, where you text "vote" to "5411", that's a short code.
The events so far have been summarized as such:
"Last week Verizon Wireless deemed NARAL Pro-Choice America too "controversial" and "unsavory" to approve a short code for our text-messaging program."
Is Verizon, the tele-giant monopoly of telecommunications making a business decision based on a moral/religious issue? Maybe it's because they're already on my list, but this irks me enough to click on a link and send an e-mail.
If you feel that Verizon does not have the right to shun business away from an organization that does nothing illegal, follow the link below.
Take action here:
http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/verizon?rk=fpSHov415JXRE
More information about NARAL here:
http://www.naral.org
List of common US Short codes here:
http://www.usshortcodeswhois.com/
Posted by lysa at 9:58 AM | Comments (4)
September 25, 2007
Björk
Last night at a Barnes & Noble, I picked up Suppernanny written by Jo Frost. One of the chapters was dedicated to dressing your child in the morning, and how you should go about dealing with a 4 year old who wants to go out in public dressed like Batman, when it's not even close to Halloween. This is the thought I had in mind when Björk came into view at Madison Square Garden.
I was prepared for something crazy, I mean, Go Fug Yourself has had many opportunities to chronicle the insanity of this woman's wardrobe. The interesting thing is that when she opened her mouth and sang, she stopped being some Icelandic alien pixie, and started being a warrior armed only with the power of voice. That's when I realized that given the right audio components, Björk could change the world. This pint-size siren would be able to, if there was some international Bose speaker system, make us all stop our useless complaining and listen. I'm convinced, she could sing peace and people who have never considered the notion would understand. Maybe she could get past the languages of hate with her arsenal of rapture.
Björk is an instrument and she's a catalyst of awe. She sings with emotions so clear and powerful that they barely take form as any singular feeling. The only incontestable fact is that you'll feel.
This mandate for emotions was felt for me in a song entitled "Desired Constellation". As Björk sings "How am I going to make it right?" in that clear, powerful crispness, you wonder about your problems, the world's problems and you repeat in an inner mantra, how am I going to make this right?
Björk singing with musicians backing her is almost coincidental. She can carry her melodies a cappella or with backing, and it doesn't make any difference, until you get to wild club princess Björk. Midway through the concert the laser lights flash, Björk does her crazy Zulu dances and MSG turns into a nightclub. Her songs turn from chilling and emotional into techno-thrash flashdance, and she doesn't miss a note in the transition.
I wanted to listen to her as I wrote this so I wouldn't forget the goosebumps on my arms, or my shivers when she goes into her tell-tale Björk range. Sadly, personal audio doesn't do jack for our spirited sprite, and I am left wanting.
If you have the means, I highly recommend you go see her in concert. Something gets lost in the recording, regardless of the bitrate of your perfectly legal MP3..
Posted by lysa at 9:12 AM | Comments (4)
September 24, 2007
Yes I did have a great weekend,
and thank you for asking! As previously mentioned, I missed out on a lot of trips to Minnewaska when I was all college-age and grumpified. To make up for this gross lack of youthful enthusiasm, some friends and I went back up to their old haunts and I enjoyed the view.
Mini vacations these days seem to go much better when air travel is not mentioned on the itinerary. I got there a little delayed (due to weather conditions, of course) but overall, arrived in a far better mood then I have arrived when I was set to arrive by plane.
Speaking of, I have just been notified that USPS delivered my complaint letter to Continental Airlines on Saturday. It is now Continentals responsibility to retrieve this letter, and if they do not do so, it's coming Back to Sender. Shouldn't the post office have a "Do not deliver on weekends" options for letters?
Bitching about USPS aside, a great time was had, and I managed to come away with some beautiful pictures of me and my booboo.
Posted by lysa at 9:42 AM | Comments (3)
September 21, 2007
Happyness is no good for Creativity
With the rash of Decidedly Useless Hypothesis Studies going on, we'll just call them "DUH studies" I feel like maybe this is the time to add one more: Why does happiness seem to decrease creativity?
It's far easier to see something in the everyday, get pissed off about it, and then write a scathing blog entry condemning the world for its ridiculousness. OuT of curiosity, is there a plural to ridiculousness?
I have nothing to lament about, save the cruel and heartless cancellation of Veronica Mars. Things are going extremely well. I'm employed, in love, and not in love with anyone whom I employ or am employed by. I make a decent living, and enjoy living off the water, on a cul-de-sac, in Manhattan. Really, I've nothing to complain about, and therefor have found myself engrossed in blog Meme's and being the very least creative as I can be. Go Army!
For this reason, I am embarking on a new project. I don't know what it is, but I am accepting suggestions. What do you do when your creativity is sinking to alarming levels?
Posted by lysa at 10:49 AM | Comments (7)
September 20, 2007
They forgot a soundproofed room. Idiots.
Courtesy of DivaRat.
Find Your Dream Home
Firstly, in my defense, I love to cook. I wish I had *people* to clean up the outrageous mess I create when dealing my delectable dishes, but alas, I do not. I also do not see a swing-set and a sauna, both of which are included in my dream house.
Posted by lysa at 3:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2007
I don't need no stinkin creativity
Thanks to Average Blogger!
here's what the career chooser says I'd be best at, or at least, enjoy most. here's a helpful note, I *did* fill in the education section, and my choices were pretty much the same. I knew school was useless.
A lot of jobs on this list are assistants and helpers. maybe they should have asked me how I deal with authority, because surely then, most of these would be completely out of the picture.
1. Midwife
2. Makeup Artist (This made me laugh out loud, I haven't worn makeup in 20 years)
3. Speech-Language Pathologist
4. Music Teacher / Instructor
5. Audiologist
6. Computer Support Person (If by support they mean dealing with people, they are SO wrong)
7. Taxidermist
8. Special Effects Technician
9. Veterinary Technician
10. Occupational Therapist
11. Plumber
12. Cabinetmaker
13. Nurse
14. Sign Maker
15. Dental Lab Tech
16. Electronics Assembler
17. Millwright
18. Industrial Machinery Mechanic
19. Set Designer
20. Costume Designer
21. Office Machine Repairer
22. Printing Press Operator
23. Machinist
24. Tool and Die Maker
25. Special Education Teacher
26. Magician
27. Public Health Nurse
28. Teacher Assistant
29. Dental Hygienist
30. Cable Installer and Repairer
31. Athletic Trainer
32. Physical Therapist
33. Early Childhood Educator
34. Optical / Ophthalmic Lab Technician
35. Musician
36. Upholsterer
37. Musical Instrument Builder and Repairer
38. Bicycle Mechanic
39. Furniture Finisher
40. Composer
Posted by lysa at 12:20 PM | Comments (4)
September 13, 2007
Rock and Roll is here to meme (groan)
Damn you, BeeLog. Here's how it works: Copy this list, leave in the bands you've seen perform live, delete the ones you haven't, and add new ones that you have seen until you reach 25. An asterisk means the previous person had it on their list. Two asterisks means the last two people who did this before you had that band on their list.
1. Melissa Etheridge
2. Guns N Roses
3. Def Leopard
4. The Police
5. Indigo Girls
6. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers *
7. Foo Fighters
8. Girlyman
9. Rush*
10. Aerosmith*
11. Madonna
12. Voodoo Child
13. Garbage
14. Third Eye Blind
15. Bruce Springsteen
16. Stephen Lynch
17. Metallica*
18. Bjork
19. Black Crowes*
20. Paula Cole
21. Everly Brothers
Sorry, I don't do concerts all that often - that's it.
Posted by lysa at 4:18 PM | Comments (6)
September 11, 2007
Tower Lights
For those that don't know, I'm a NYC resident who lives a few blocks away from Ground Zero. For 3 years now, since I moved downtown, I've been taking pictures of the Tower Lights that get displayed every year on September 11th.
They can be viewed here
Posted by lysa at 11:21 PM | Comments (5)
September 6, 2007
Boobs Up! Boobs Up!
Recently, on a trip to Chicago, I leared that it was wholly unacceptable to take a picture of a lady that showed anything but her head and shoulders. This led to a lot of laughing and strange looks from other toursists when I was set to take a picture and my subject was screaming "Boobs Up!, Boobs Up!".
Imagine my surprise when on our harbor cruise the other night, when an Italian couple asked me to take their picture. I obliged. Not speaking very much English the gentleman came over and asked if I could take another one, like this: He then proceeded to put his hand out at about his boob level, palm down, parallel to the floor. He then raised his outstretched hand from his chest, up to his head.
"Ahh", I said. "Boobs up, I understand completely."
*snap*
Posted by lysa at 9:34 AM | Comments (5)
September 5, 2007
The Empire State Building should be ashamed of itself.
Last night, my booboo and I went out on a 3 hour dinner cruise around New York City. The weather was beautiful, the music was nice, the food was delicious. Thankfully it turned out as I hoped it would, and not like some lounge-lizards idea of a romantic evening.
No Robyn, he didn't propose.
As we circled around the harbor, we were treated to a beautiful view of our skyline. Our most noticible attraction was the Empire State Building all dolled up in Orange, Purple and Red. I've never seen the building lights that color, and I wasn't the only one curious. When the band asked the crowd if anyone knew what it was for, I whipped out my wing, hopped online and found the answer.
The beautiful, unique color combination was honoring Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.
You should be ashamed of yourself you steel whore.
Posted by lysa at 1:32 PM | Comments (4)
September 3, 2007
In case you're really bored, here's a post about the gym.
22 minutes on the dread machine, 1.75 miles.
Same theory as before, don't look at the stupid lights on the dread machine. Don't look at the stupid clock on the dread machine. This time, I had the added pleasure of having to watch CNN while I jogged. Ugh.
I was supposed to meet my trainer, but between the both of us, neither remembered that it was Labor Day. So I went to the gym, he didn't, and then I went through the reasoning phase. Do I stay and jog, or do I go back upstairs and rejoice? After all my BooBoo's parents just made me a vat of red bean soup, and the very least I could do was eat it as soon as it arrived home.
Despite the red bean soup, I decided I would stay and jog. I've made a firm commitment to myself to do this gym thing for 3 months. I'm on the start of month 2 and losing steam, but I know two women working a hell of a lot harder than I am, and I am so proud of them, that I stopped my kvetching and went at it.
I promise to keep these posts about my pathetic gym experiences brief and rare. Thanks for listening to my little puffs of proud.
11 minutes: jogged at 4.5
5 minutes: 5.0
3 minutes: 5.5
2 minute: 5.0
1 minute: 5.5
Posted by lysa at 8:24 PM | Comments (2)
September 2, 2007
Mazel-Tov!
Another glass broken, another horah danced, another dress, another pair of slacks, and another trip out of bed prior to 1pm on a Saturday. If you hadn't guessed by now, today was yet another wedding.
I've no complaints, the bride made it as casual as it can be, we're talking beer and flip-flops, sundresses, and some really delicious BBQ.
In case you're keeping track, that's 7 weddings so far, this year. Our eight and (final) wedding is next month. I say this with a vast amount of certainty. I don't care who may or may not be looking at rings I'm not going to another wedding until June, 2008.
Night night folks, I need a nap.
Posted by lysa at 6:36 PM | Comments (3)