Monthly Archives

August 2009

(Fuck yo)UPS

Rant, Unexplained by

Thanks, UPS, you bunch of asshats who clearly live in a reality that is not the same as the rest of the Western hemisphere. Exactly WHO is not at work in the middle of the god damned day? I suppose there are retirees, unemployed and second or third shift people amongst your clientele but, by and large, people who receive packages are NOT FUCKING HOME DURING THE DAY! With this fact accepted, I have some questions:

  1. Why do you still insist upon delivering things that require signatures between the hours of 9 and 5?
  2. Why, too, do you refuse to allow me sign the Info Notice (there is a line on the back for this!) or leave a note with my signature as validation of delivery?
  3. Why do you specify that a second attempt will be made between time x and time y and then show up at time z?

To add further insult to this injury, calling 1-800-PICK-UPS (a pick me up it is not) results in a dumbfounded automated voice, two useless customer service reps (“David” and “Christopher” my foot,) and the revelation that you no longer offer second attempt delivery during the same day AND switching to a work address now incurs a $10 fee per package!

These are all WONDERFULLY consumer friendly practices, UPS. For your sake, I really hope that when the sorting center finally does call (as rep #3 promised they would) they CAN send the drive back out because the last I checked, 1:55 pm is BEFORE 2 – 5 and he FUCKED UP, not us.

Random Object Generator

Random Object by

Installment #2:

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What is it? three ceramic cats

What’s its deal? Xmas gift from me to Kate, representing Andromeda, Narcissa and Bellatrix

Where does it live? end table to the left of the couch

Any notable facts? predicted the addition of Clyde and Rigel into the household well ahead of time

Humanthesizer?

Music, Technology by
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Calvin Harris has produced a wonderfully imaginative video experiment using his single “Ready for the Weekend.” I’ve never heard of Calvin Harris, but if the goal was to get me interested in his music, it’s worked because this is fantastically clever.

Thanks, boffins. (And TrendHunter.)

A lament for OiNK

Internet, Music, Technology by
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Do you remember OiNK? I do, because it was the best damned music downloading service (that I’m sure we would never have used, legal beagles we all are, yeah?) It was an absolute dream to use, had everything one could ever want and, of course, was free. Gizmodo posted a great summary of a podcast by Greg Kot on the failings of the music industry – specifically, how these missteps produced piracy. I was both surprised and delighted to see author Dan Nosowitz openly proclaim his love for OiNK. In so doing he rightly pointed out that there has still not been a true competitor for this BitTorrent tracker, not even Apple’s iTunes. The story is worth a read, and the podcast is probably worth a listen (I haven’t had time yet, myself, but Greg was highly entertaining when he was at the Lit House this past Spring.)

Random Object Generator

Random Object by
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My house is chock full of strange and interesting objects – so many that I often find myself zoning out while the stereo is on, trying my damnedest to remember what they all are. So, in an effort to aid in this process (and come up with easily generated blog posts,) I give you the Random Object Generator.

Installment #1:

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What is it? antique Japanese teapot

What’s its deal? present from Lindsie to me two Xmases ago

Where does it live? impossible to assemble Danish bookcases in the dining room

Any notable facts? was an awesome surprise of an Xmas gift, especially since it came with four matching teacups

Besides, who doesn’t enjoy taking a look at the knickknacks and gewgaws that other people surround themselves with?

Nineteen.

Cars, Technology by
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That’s how many hour long Zimbra training sessions I’ve taught between July 22nd and today. Three is the number of five hour long Blackboard Open Labs I participated in this week, too. It’s training season at Washington College and I’m exhausted. Glad to have new services going live, so very tired of supporting them already.

In other news, sometimes a photo opportunity presents itself on the roadside that just has to be taken. Mine appeared the other day on the way out of Chestertown. Colonial Chevy closed its doors as part of the autopocalypse, leaving behind a dreadful 70s store front and the wonderful slogan “Our Country. Our Truck.” emblazoned on the windows. Of course I had to take my Audi hatchback and park it on the grass-eaten pavement.

I give you “It’s my country, too.”

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Kate is away and the weekend is promising to be nearly 100º. Lockdown at this house!

Chinchilli Day

Television by
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Three years ago(ish,) my very own chinchilla, Lola, went to the ash bath in the sky. This video that Kate just found on TV makes a fitting tribute to a remarkable creature: