This attitude of brazenly encouraging learned technological helplessness is exactly why I do not and never will trust Apple. They may make an aesthetic product, but if I can't open said pretty box up without fucking myself over for all eternity, then I don't want it.

Other bits from catching up on my NYT/NPR/etc. backlog:
- Marry me, Gail Collins? I clean up after myself and I make a mean curry!
- Review of Sarah Palin's book, "Going Rogue". I can only hope someone does a reading to equal those of Joe the Plumber's and Carrie Prejean's "biographies."
- Fun collection of Ramen-related memories.
- Famous authors read the funnies, via Roger Ebert. Garfield via James Joyce has a surreal quality, being so awkwardly true to its source material.

EONUS: A surreal moment, courtesy of Mississippi's gambling interests. Sorry, casinos, but the only thing I really want to know about Troy King is if he's really yet another conservative republican homophobe hypocrite.

What're the job markets like in your towns and cities?

Apparently good writing on TV shows = cancellation
Another show bites the dust. . . thank you Fox >_<

This is the story I found while googling Dollhouse ): FOX shuts down "Dollhouse" -- permanently ::sigh::

The shows I really, really like get canceled: Firefly, Wonderfalls (after 4 episodes no less and yes I did see the original four despite Fox changing the nights it aired and advertising that fact >_<), Pushing Daisies (at least it got two seasons).

I also really, really like Fringe which I have yet to see this season as it's not one you can just watch one ep skip a few and still now what's going on. The episodes are being recorded and are kinda scattered around on DVD-RWs <.< They will be watched once the earliest one of this season is found. Gilmore Girls fits in this category, but it ran its course storywise. It was my happy/cheer me up show.

Of the shows I like (but don't really, really like) they're okay, writing varies from "what were the writer's thinking?" to "hey, that's kinda neat" but I don't usually think of them as really good writing or just basically good writing.

Some Trivia: V is new, sort of. It's first incarnation aired on TV when I was a kid. (am dating myself aren't I?) According to Wikipedia there was a mini-series in 1983, a sequal in 1984 and then a TV series in 1984-1985 and the 2009 version is called "a reimagining" fascinating. So does reimagining mean "we're all out of original ideas so we're going with the one that was cool in the '80s"? I am assuming that it was cool in the '80s I honestly don't remember. All I remember is that it was watched when I was a child and that the aliens were not trustworthy. Also Alan Tudyk - Wash from Firefly - and Morena Baccarin - Inara also of Firefly are in the 2009 version.

As per suggestion of karenhealey, I read The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox (mostly because of the gay angel/Frenchman romance, but still!). It is a truly gorgeous book, and there were many many times that I would stop and reread a sentance just because it was so beautiful to me. I literally ate through the 284 pages in one single day, only breaking for a couple houirs to take a nap, but even then my mind wouldn't leave the book alone.

And, at the end and last few pages, I wept.

Hokay.

I think I can do a chapter a week. Luke 7!

Let's try to get Pope Happycat's pawpal cat carrier moving again.

I have had a lot of things I've wanted to say the last week, but I've been ill. Like sleeping 13hrs a day if I have work and skipping class to sleep 20 hrs a day when I don't, ill.

I think it's finally getting better. Although I just woke up for the day, so I might be back unconscious in an hour or so.

Tomorrow I have to catch up on being a week behind on classes now. For tonight, though, I'm going to try to have coherent conversations and play with my puppy. She's been really good all week, but I feel bad for neglecting her. The thought of even just throwing a ball was horrible, though. For the most part she's just entertained herself, although that tends to make her distructive and she has now destroyed all of her toys that she really plays with.

I guess I should go to the pet store and get her some more tomorrow.

My cat's out of food, too, and I didn't manage to get to the vet this morning. I'm typing this to guilt myself into going and picking up his food first thing Tuesday. He's only got one more meal before he has to eat non-perscription food until I can get to the vet. I just couldn't trust myself to drive last week to get it. I was almost passing out just trying to make it home. Brother and mother wouldn't pick it up for me either. Dicks.

Dangit. I'm exhausted again.

Leave me a comment saying "Allons-y Alonzo!" and then...

• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity
• Update your journal with the answers to the questions
• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

These were the questions asked by she_who_is_soc:
( oh, the possibilities )

Well Hi Internet. Its been a long time.

I really have very little to add here on any front at all. I got a car, which has been a nice means of getting around. I still work for a large home improvement store in the garden center. Its a decent enough job but can be very very cold when it gets late.

I am still getting most of my internet access from the public library and this is what brings me here today.

I understand that the public library cannot be expected to have the latest and greatest in computing technology. I understand that budgets are tight and are shrinking at every twist and turn. I understand that staffing is short and that the old way has always been just a little bit better than anything new.

I am writing this on a computer running windows 2k. I am running IE from approximately 8 years ago.

Certain fairly well known websites do not exactly render well in this fairly antique web browser.

A very short list I have complied:

www.twitter.com
www.facebook.com

Forget anything with any flash.

Youtube will work but sometimes takes its own sweet time.

I have tried on a number of occasions to download my own personal copy of firefox that I just use for the day. This is blocked because of security concerns. I tried getting a copy downloaded it and installing it from a flashdrive. This was also blocked because of security concerns. Forget Firefox. Forget Chrome. Forget Safari. I understand that sometimes these things can be new and foreign and SCARY!!!!! RAWR!!! CHANGE!!!

I just want to update to a web browser that is a bit more modern and can render a few of these things in slightly better quality.

When does a web browser really become antique?

http://multi-facets.livejournal.com/101892.html?mode=reply

I was frustrated about a song here, but guess what? I found the lyrics. ^n_n^ Now I just need to find the artist. Any ideas, guys?

"Ouch, that hurts, and I don't know which is worse:
That I went down feeling like a clown,
Or that everyone just stood around.
Ouch, that hurts me.

I looked like a fool, my face must be red.
Wished I could disappear
But I sucked it up instead.
Must have been set up; is everyone against me?
No man would live it up,
And you didn't try to help me.

Ouch, that hurts, and I don't know which is worse:
That I went down feeling like a clown,
Or that everyone just stood around.
Ouch, that hurts me.

I was black and blue, wrecked from the inside out,
Didn't know where I could go,
But I was steady losing doubt.
Tried to laugh it off when everyone just stared;
I got up and brushed it off,
Won't live this down for years!

Ouch, that hurts, and I don't know which is worse:
That I went down, felt like a clown,
Or that everyone just stood around.
Ouch, that hurts me.

Ouch, that hurts me.
Ouch, that hurts me....
Ouch! That hurts me!"

Mmmm, blood lollipops and ebony. ^n____n^

More in the Saga of Lysse's Life Is Crap!

• Money is still scarce, nothing new. I'm applying for financial aid next semester (ewww) cause I can't continue to live paycheck to paycheck. My theory is, if I can take out more than I need and live off that for a while, I can put aside money to pay back massive loans when I'm finally done with schooling. So still having no free cash flow, but living a little less stressed? We'll see how it works.
• Mom found another mouse in the house and wants to move out, but we can't afford to have the house and both her and dad living in separate apartments. Major stress factor as I try to help her salvage a living space.
• Mom also might have breast cancer. Biopsy pending, but on the upside (she says) if she goes through chemo and they kill off all her cells, maybe her arthritis will get better! But again, if chemo happens (still a big IF since we're waiting to hear whether it is or isn't cancer at all) she can't live in the house. BWARG.
• Had bad dreams about everyone in my family dying. See what a state my brain is in?
• caught version of Space Plague from Dan and have been having delightful coughing fits. Also, with it being so dry my nose is going on a series of epic nose-bleeds, woke up the other night choking on it as it ran down my throat. Let's get a unified EWW from the viewers at home.
• Charlie cat was sick, made a mess of the house and made us all worried for him. He is doing better now, after a pricey visit to the vet.
• Car crash saga continues, see below for details.
• Sometimes, the kids I'm teaching Japanese are smarter than me. It's a bit embarrassing. I need more time to practice, and someone to practice with who's at my level. Neither looks like it's happening soon.
• Dollhouse cancelled. Thanks, Fox. At least I have ABC to fall back on, they've continuously put forth shows that I enjoy, and when they cancel the ones I like at least they replace them with more that I like.

( Car Drama )

I admit though, there are things that aren't so bad in my life either.

• classes are ridiculously easy but still remain interesting. I do tend to spend most of the period surfing Amazon though...
• Dan remains a fabulous boyfriend.
• I love doing demonstrations at work on Saturdays, cause even though I have to work weekends (which is pretty much inescapable in retail) I don't have to deal with cashiering or floor work or anything for 5+ hours on the busiest day in the store. Though I did have someone throw velcro in my face last week after a screaming tirade - she asked to talk to the manager and then refused to let me call her up. Good riddance.
• Dancing is still awesome, though we've been bad about going the past few weeks. Lesson tonight, I'm looking forward to it even if I'm quasi-sick.
• Even though we're playing xmas music at work already (blegh) it's making me itch to do new projects. I'm breaking out the Knifty Knitter and am going to attempt an afghan. Also I'm super excited about my Yudu demonstration cause I've finally got all the screens made.
• I'm having ideas for writing again. Not so good on the followup (ie, actually WRITING) but my creative muse isn't completely dead.
• for sucky October weather, November has been gorgeous so far.

Though I'm still in a shitty mood, I wanted to show you guys this:



Because it is just made of epic win.


God, I'm bored.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1109/berlin.html

has it been 20 years already?

Today is the E-Prince's birthday.

It's also the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.

I suppose the universe had to compensate us in SOME way for his surviving to adolescence.

Happy birthday to my beloved electorprince.

...

PSA: Please do not smoke under the camo netting. It only encourages KBR to build gazebos.

...

We have a new captain working for us in one of our pointless 90 day taskings. (We need someone permanent, dammit!) He will not, repeat, not go outside without his full battle-rattle. He also carries his own plastic tray and metal spoon, washing them after every meal. His nicknames include Superman, Action Man and Captain Planet. Some of our JAGs are really put off by him; we've taken him to our hearts of course. He's a good guy and eccentricity is a gift.

We aren't sure why he wears the battle-rattle though.

I'll have to prepare myself for the fact that, before this year is over with, I probably will not like my OTP anymore.

I just wish people would stop ruining my OTPs for me. It's like the second (maybe third) time this has happened to me.

Please tell me I'm not the only one having this problem. ;_;

Also, and this has been bothering me for some time now, I wish fangirls on deviantART would stop ruining Slipknot for me, period. Because I really don't want to see fanart (using BASES) or fanfiction of the fangirls having sex with the guys or starting a family with them. As someone who has had to deal with self-inserts and Mary Sues in my anime fandom (RONIN WARRIORS, YYH) it creeps me the fuck out.

Yes, I would ignore it, but I haven't seen any good amounts of Slipknot slash in awhile, so...



ETA: And thank you so much, Auntie Flo, for making my life even more miserable. Someone just please kill me now...

Working in a job that requires precise thinking when you're all feverish and full of natural histamines doesn't really quite work.

Thankfully, my thought patterns were only related to my partners, who corrected me thoroughly.

10 fandoms in one sentence, yadda yadda, was posted on her eljay originally.
( My fandoms )

Sick/Fever dreams are the coolest.

Occasionally when I come into the office the TV is on, and currently it's baseball of course. I realize I'm just going to have to make use of CNN and BBC to keep track of my teams. For American football, I am behind the Redskins, the team I grew up with although the compulsory nature of its fandom put me off of the team at the time. For hockey it's Les Glorieux (Canadiens), for Premier League it's Hotspur of course and for European football it's Bayern-Munchen.

I was thinking about this because the Arabic language translator here used to play for Man U, which is pretty hysterical. Gad, why did it have to be THEM?

Office politics are horrible here. I'd rather be down on the floor minding the detainees, I swear.

electorprince Please report in.


Kind of freaking out about Ft. Hood right now....

I've mostly wandered away from LJ. I just don't have a very exciting life. I work Mon, Wed, Fri, I have classes Mon, Tues, Thur, and I spend weekends staying with Sophie and Mike, which has been a lifesaver. It doesn't leave me with much time, though.

I've dabbled with my writing some. I really miss it. I think I need to join some online writing groups or something, just so I can have people to share with. Although I'm super shy about my writing, so that might not work. I think a lot of my problem is the disappointment I feel when I write a chapter or a scene or untangle a plot and am just SO EXCITED to show people... but there's no one to care. I know that's kind of whiney, but there's just something disappointing when you finish something you're very proud of but you can't show anyone. I wish I was an artist. It's so much easier to just shove a picture at people.

Annnnyway. I've also been trying to play more EverQuest2, since I'm still paying for an account. I have a new Guild for my main that is fucking awesome, so that's helped.

Everything else has pretty much just been work, which leads me to a bit of amusement to take that whiney taste out of your mouth.

As many or all of you know, I scan medical records for a living. Often, the records are boring and gross, sometimes they're just sad. Other times? They are pretty damn hilarious.

I bring you all the story of on man's Bad Nap.

From the admission record, a certain mister John Doe (name changed because it would be illegal for me to reveal it and because I don't even remember) was brought in by an ambulance after having been found by his father unconscious on the couch. Mr. Doe, it seems, had decided to recline on the couch for a little nap. A few hours later, his father had been unable to arouse him.

The working theory was that Mr. Doe had had a seizure and slipped into a coma. Or something. I'm not a doctor, but they had a lot of neurological notes with seizure squiggles. His 'little nap' turned into a one-weekish coma.

At the end of that week, Mr. Doe apparently awoke confused, in a strange place, sans pants and wearing a little paper gown. In his confusion, Mr. Doe removed all of his monitors, his gown, and went for a little walk.

Through the halls of a Catholic hospital. Naked.

The chart then continued in the nurses' notes of the unfortunate staff members who had to attempt to herd a confused Mr. Doe back to his room. When Mr. Doe became combatitive, security was called....

So, everyone, I leave you with this.

At least you didn't wake up this morning in a strange place without your pants, and at least you weren't tackled by an overweight security guard when you decided to figure out that was going on.

My own house. MY house. With a mortgage.

Given I'm ignoring the fact I had my first "I am gibbering and losing motor control" panic attack in a year and a half last night, I feel it is time for me + kittens.

( Kittens! )