I'm tickled pink that things are rosy!
8:20am
I decided to come into the office again to study, since I got so much done yesterday morning here! It's really nice to have dual-monitors, silence, the ability to leave my stuff here, and even a bit of social contact. I'm used to focusing on work while here, so it just... works :)
Anyway, while things speed up on Ye Olde PC, I decide that I'd fire off things I found interesting while reading The Economist over the morning's coffee and a scone.
Soooo... are you aware that there is a law in Arizona that was recently passed that allows police to arrest illegal immigrants for "trespassing"...? I found this to be pretty nuts.
I also didn't need to read the magazine to know that Google stopped censoring their searches in China. I've read a few articles about it, but the hubbub seems to be about the actual act of uncensoring. What I want to know is... what is China doing about it?
The answer: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/30/technology/google_china/index.htm
China began internet filtering as a response... not surprising, honestly.
I have to wonder at the rise in authoritarianist influence the world over... and then you look at the Right Wing Authoritarian leanings in our own country (not just in Republicans, kids!)... and... I just wonder if we aren't moving towards something?
Anyway. In money news, new house sales are at yet ANOTHER new low, and a University of Michigan study on builder confidence suggests a second "drop" is coming.
Go-Go Gadget Stimulus! Oh, and on the subject of wasteful, the U.S. government debt is predicted to be double what it is now within the next decade.
While eating breakfast I was watching "Prayer of the Rollerboys" (an old early 90s favorite of mine) ... set in a post-economc collapsed America ... a quote from one of the character's propoganda films... "our parents borrowed more money than they could EVER hope to repay"... now, I don't think it'll quite go the way of the film, but it isn't getting any better anytime soon, no matter how much you're being told it is...
The "bright" side (from an American perspective) is that the Euro is falling worse than the dollar... suggesting that there is less faith in the EU than the US at the moment. It's not that bright, but some strength in the dollar might help.
Anyhow, the machine is warmed up, time to start sorting all these bloody articles (and their related content) into a cohesive "Burma"...
===
9:05am
Ugh. I still *hate* the I-Share network. So bloody slow. This one request sat spinning for 3 straight minutes before it finally went.
Speaking of not responding quickly to requests, 2 of the 3 rental agencies I contacted about apartment viewings for next Monday have yet to get back to me (meanwhile Laura's landlord has returned 3 E-mails, back and forth that is... )... responsiveness is a good sign, and the lack of it is not.
I'll just have to call to follow-up with the other ones... I'll step out when these I-Share requests I have are done!
===
9:35am
So the Lofgren Properties people (the one with, IMO, the most promising apartment on paper) are awkward on the phone, but it might be because my speaking mic is messed up on the phone and it was hard for them to hear me.
The Greenbush lady was nice, pretty formal, but quite professional (despite the lack of response via E-mail, har har).
So the itinerary for Mon -->
12:00 - whenever - 4 different places
1:30 - 30 S. Broom, Lofgren
2:00 - 442 W. Main, Greenbush
===
10:30am
A coalition of healthcare professionals is calling for the retirement of Ronald McDonald... because he has too much influence on children!?
What?!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-ronald-mcdonald-retire-mcdonalds-mcd-mar27,0,7799183.story
I'm going to say... as a former child who watched way too much TV... I COULD'VE QUIT AT ANY TIME I WANTED! No, but seriously, that's just... dumb.
Hint: Obesity isn't Ronald McDonald's fault. It's not like parents are at the whim and fancy of their children. So what, Ronald has more influence over the 3-8 year old demographic? The one least able to exercise free will to eat whatever the heck they want? Seriously?
You think a teenager is going to say "Hey a creepy freaking red haired clown, I think I'll get a double quarter pounder."
No. If they say "I am going to get a double quarter pounder", it's more likely because they are high than because a clown told them so. Though depending on what they are taking, these aren't mutually exclusive influences.
===
11:15am
I am out of stuff to do again, whee!
Anyway, so Lofgren finally replied to my E-mail, the awkward people from earlier... and the E-mail was equally awkward.
The reply:
"""
Hi
Yes I do have an eff at 30 S Broom
It is available Augt 15
Let me know if u would like to see it
Thanks
(guy's name)
"""
Using text-style speech in a professional inquiry? Woooowwwwww.
Just. Wow. I would love some punctuation, too.
Anyway, it's the 2nd red flag. I'm still checking it out and all, but I'm feeling much less optimistic about it than I was before.
===
12:15pm
It is GORGEOUS out.
===
12:55pm
Illinois owes NIU 55 million dollars for this year, with 3 months left in the fiscal year.
Wow.
The really bad news is that personnel cuts are being mulled over since about 3/4ths of the university operating budget goes towards payroll.
===
2:45pm
I just took a call from YET ANOTHER person who wants to know the status of their scholarship applications but has no idea what they applied for.
Words cannot express how often this happens and words cannot express how annoying it is.
===
3:20pm
I'm going to post this and conspire to engage in shenanigans of some sort... TTFN!
I decided to come into the office again to study, since I got so much done yesterday morning here! It's really nice to have dual-monitors, silence, the ability to leave my stuff here, and even a bit of social contact. I'm used to focusing on work while here, so it just... works :)
Anyway, while things speed up on Ye Olde PC, I decide that I'd fire off things I found interesting while reading The Economist over the morning's coffee and a scone.
Soooo... are you aware that there is a law in Arizona that was recently passed that allows police to arrest illegal immigrants for "trespassing"...? I found this to be pretty nuts.
I also didn't need to read the magazine to know that Google stopped censoring their searches in China. I've read a few articles about it, but the hubbub seems to be about the actual act of uncensoring. What I want to know is... what is China doing about it?
The answer: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/30/technology/google_china/index.htm
China began internet filtering as a response... not surprising, honestly.
I have to wonder at the rise in authoritarianist influence the world over... and then you look at the Right Wing Authoritarian leanings in our own country (not just in Republicans, kids!)... and... I just wonder if we aren't moving towards something?
Anyway. In money news, new house sales are at yet ANOTHER new low, and a University of Michigan study on builder confidence suggests a second "drop" is coming.
Go-Go Gadget Stimulus! Oh, and on the subject of wasteful, the U.S. government debt is predicted to be double what it is now within the next decade.
While eating breakfast I was watching "Prayer of the Rollerboys" (an old early 90s favorite of mine) ... set in a post-economc collapsed America ... a quote from one of the character's propoganda films... "our parents borrowed more money than they could EVER hope to repay"... now, I don't think it'll quite go the way of the film, but it isn't getting any better anytime soon, no matter how much you're being told it is...
The "bright" side (from an American perspective) is that the Euro is falling worse than the dollar... suggesting that there is less faith in the EU than the US at the moment. It's not that bright, but some strength in the dollar might help.
Anyhow, the machine is warmed up, time to start sorting all these bloody articles (and their related content) into a cohesive "Burma"...
===
9:05am
Ugh. I still *hate* the I-Share network. So bloody slow. This one request sat spinning for 3 straight minutes before it finally went.
Speaking of not responding quickly to requests, 2 of the 3 rental agencies I contacted about apartment viewings for next Monday have yet to get back to me (meanwhile Laura's landlord has returned 3 E-mails, back and forth that is... )... responsiveness is a good sign, and the lack of it is not.
I'll just have to call to follow-up with the other ones... I'll step out when these I-Share requests I have are done!
===
9:35am
So the Lofgren Properties people (the one with, IMO, the most promising apartment on paper) are awkward on the phone, but it might be because my speaking mic is messed up on the phone and it was hard for them to hear me.
The Greenbush lady was nice, pretty formal, but quite professional (despite the lack of response via E-mail, har har).
So the itinerary for Mon -->
12:00 - whenever - 4 different places
1:30 - 30 S. Broom, Lofgren
2:00 - 442 W. Main, Greenbush
===
10:30am
A coalition of healthcare professionals is calling for the retirement of Ronald McDonald... because he has too much influence on children!?
What?!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-ronald-mcdonald-retire-mcdonalds-mcd-mar27,0,7799183.story
I'm going to say... as a former child who watched way too much TV... I COULD'VE QUIT AT ANY TIME I WANTED! No, but seriously, that's just... dumb.
Hint: Obesity isn't Ronald McDonald's fault. It's not like parents are at the whim and fancy of their children. So what, Ronald has more influence over the 3-8 year old demographic? The one least able to exercise free will to eat whatever the heck they want? Seriously?
You think a teenager is going to say "Hey a creepy freaking red haired clown, I think I'll get a double quarter pounder."
No. If they say "I am going to get a double quarter pounder", it's more likely because they are high than because a clown told them so. Though depending on what they are taking, these aren't mutually exclusive influences.
===
11:15am
I am out of stuff to do again, whee!
Anyway, so Lofgren finally replied to my E-mail, the awkward people from earlier... and the E-mail was equally awkward.
The reply:
"""
Hi
Yes I do have an eff at 30 S Broom
It is available Augt 15
Let me know if u would like to see it
Thanks
(guy's name)
"""
Using text-style speech in a professional inquiry? Woooowwwwww.
Just. Wow. I would love some punctuation, too.
Anyway, it's the 2nd red flag. I'm still checking it out and all, but I'm feeling much less optimistic about it than I was before.
===
12:15pm
It is GORGEOUS out.
===
12:55pm
Illinois owes NIU 55 million dollars for this year, with 3 months left in the fiscal year.
Wow.
The really bad news is that personnel cuts are being mulled over since about 3/4ths of the university operating budget goes towards payroll.
===
2:45pm
I just took a call from YET ANOTHER person who wants to know the status of their scholarship applications but has no idea what they applied for.
Words cannot express how often this happens and words cannot express how annoying it is.
===
3:20pm
I'm going to post this and conspire to engage in shenanigans of some sort... TTFN!