Telemarketers

We get a lot of random telemarketing calls here at the office. I don't know why but I have my theories. In fact, I just got off the phone with a spanish speaking telemarketer. This was a first for me. I can sort of understand the idea behind cold calling random people in an attempt to sell them whatever it is they are trying to sell. It doesn't take any research, you just have an auto-dialer and when someone answers you start your shpeel. I'd imagine that randomly calling people and starting in spanish might sort of be shooting yourself in the foot. Perhaps in some areas of the country it would work.. but in the middle of Illinois? If anything they should have been speaking Polish. Yeah, large numbers of Polish people in my area.

Anyways, I just thought I'd share with you my experience of just getting off the phone with a random spanish telemarketer.

-later

Save me zombie... Spiderman?!?

So there is a graphic novel, published by Marvel, where the biggest superheros are actually... zombies! They still retain their mental capacity.. they know that feasting on the quivering brains of the living is wrong. But they can't stop. Oh, and they still have super powers.. so they can't really be killed either.

I can't decide if I'd like this or not.

-Later

Fun times

36

Wow...

It never ceases to amaze me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUQW8LUMs8

-Later

Finally

Finally got the Phil's all laced up and ridable a few weeks ago. Only now got around to taking pictures since most of the time I'm playing around on the bike in the parking lot. So many skids on the slick pavement....

Anyways... here is a picture of the rear wheel.. I love bolts too.. since I don't have to carry around 15mm wrench, rather just a 5mm hex. Significantly more convenient to deal with.



I'll try to get some pictures of me tracking standing soon.

Later

3.5 hours

That is how long I was on the line with AT&T. Well, on hold actually. Our DSL line went down at the office last night, so I called AT&T for help. Get an automated machine answering the calls. This politely informs me that "AT&T is experiencing a large volume of calls currently, it would be faster if you go online and submit your issue there."

I thought that was pretty cool, pushing people to use automated electronic submissions from an automated answering machine. Unfortunately for me.. my issue was that I COULDN'T GET ON THE FUCKING INTERNET! So this option was useless for me.

So I sat on hold for 3.5 hours.. and you know what happened? Our DSL line came back up. All on its own. I reset the modem, logged and.. and bam! Internet.

I have since hung up the phone... fucking AT&T.

I'm going to go get lunch since I'm starving. Was going to go out for breakfast but got wrapped up in this. So now I'm going to go eat for the first time today.

later

Balls to Paint to Play-doh

There is a new Bravia commercial out. Go check it out. How they can convince their bosses to let them do stuff like this amazes me.

Later

Interbike

Vegas was fun.. work was tough but enjoyable. Meeting with dealers face to face and finally putting faces to people I've chatted with on the phone was a nice change.

Only spent a short period of time actually at Interbike. But it was cool none the less. A lot of new stuff coming out next year, and I'd say a large percentage of it is crap. So much heavy stuff.. companies need to learn to drop the weight a little.

I did get to shake hands with Magnus Backstedt. That was awesome.

Also got some Chuey Brand cycling caps.. very nice.

Ok, I have 600+ e-mails that I need to attend to.

Crap.

Later

Stolen!

Took the idea from Joey and Liz.. though I think Liz had it first.. but I want to be part of the crowd too!

1. Go to Career Cruising, http://www.careercruising.com
2. Put in Username: nycareers and Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Paste the top twenty results into a post.
5. Put the careers you've actually considered in bold.

And here they are:

1.	Roofer
2.	Concrete Mason
3.	Explosives Specialist
4.	Arborist
5.	Pipefitter
6.	Fisher
7.	Bricklayer / Stonemason
8.	Construction Tradesperson
9.	Steamfitter
10.	Sprinkler System Installer
11.	Gardener
12.	Electrical Engineer
13.	Insulator
14.	Materials / Metallurgical Engineer
15.	Astronomer
16.	Agricultural Engineer
17.	Drywaller
18.	Plasterer
19.	Physicist
20.	Geologist

Hmmm.. these make me want to go back and recheck my answers. That or join a roofing crew. Also, excited about blowing stuff up now...

Later

Pissed

So I dragged my ass out of bed at 5:30 this morning to lead a ride from the shop. It was ~40 degrees when I left my apartment to ride over here. I get here.. and every other person who had called and told me they were coming... proceeded to call and tell me it was too cold to ride and they were just going to sleep in.

I'm going to go home and go back to sleep now.

Later

Century

Rode a 100 miles today. It was nice. Beautiful course, beautiful weather... and I'm not in shape for putting in that sort of miles.

I'm glad I did it.. need to do more of these sort of rides.

Oh, my legs really hurt.

Later

Gibson

Just finished Pattern Recognition. William Gibson's latest novel (I think). It did come out a few years ago, but finally picked it up and read it.

If you liked his other stuff.. get it and read it.

If you just like an engrossing story to lose yourself in... get it and read it.

Also got a 360.. I know.. I broke down and got it.

I love it.

HD video games are pretty.

Later

I hate airlines..

I think the title says it all.

Fuck you United.

that is all..

later

Cranks

Here are the cranks on my bike. Still need to build up the wheels, but I have the hubs, and rims, and know the spoke count. Just a matter of getting them made.

I like these cranks.. they are sexy too.

Yes, just like Sean's mom.



I'll post more pictures when it gets finished. The camera here in the office is nice.

Later

Hot stuff

My new hubs.. haven't gotten the wheels built yet.. but soon enough.







These things are sexy.


I'll send more pictures when I get them built. Thing that sucks is that the crank I ordered was bent.. so I have to wait for that before I'll be able to ride.

Later

Bah

I so don't want to be at work today.

There is a fountain in front of my apartment. Not as fancy as the previous fountain, just a little thing that trickles, or so I thought. It hasn't been functioning since I moved in, but this weekend some people must have fixed it. Little did I realize how loud it was, it sounded like a pretty heavy downpour. Go figure.

But it does help drown out the traffic noise from the street next to my apartment, and the constant sirens coming from the fire and police stations a block away. I can't imagine there being that many emergencies in my area, but I suppose there are.

Anyways, it is a weird thing to have, just this constant white noise.

Oh, and I got sunburned yesterday. That's what I get for riding with a slightly smaller jersey on than all my others.

Later

Too strong

I was just coming home from Subway.. really short ride over there.. and I was stopping in front of my apartment.. when apparently I broke 2 bolts on my crank and bent and broke my chain ring. I'm really amazed that my chain didn't break first... though when I went to look, I couldn't find any broken bolts. So they might have come off on the ride home, though I didn't feel much wobble or play.. so, who knows. I can't imagine having actually done this without something else failing. Oh well, makes for a good picture.




Later

Cycling

So, I've been riding a bit since I got up here. Have been working on my track stand (still have to use hands, so don't ask Sean..) but I've found people up here suck on any sort of incline. Went out with 3 guys today, and everytime there was any sort of rise in the road they'd drop into their little rings. People even have compact cranksets up here. I don't understand it. Now I'm worried that I'll lose my climbing strength by living up here.. I have to make sure that doesn't happen. Need to go find a nice little hill and ride it repeatedly.. everyday.

That is all for now.

Oh, hand-wrapped Italian carbon-fiber bikes are the shit! This thing is so amazingly fast.. and I'm not just saying that... it is the fastest thing I've ever ridden.. hands down.

Later

Pictures

Just a few of them... need to decorate more.

And yes, I am watching Wargames.. On Demand from Comcast is pretty nifty.

Got a place

I found a place. Close to work, very nice, new appliances and carpet.. in apartment washer and dryer... oh, and did I mention it comes with a beach?

That's right! The complex that I'm now a part of has its own private beach. Also, a boat dock. But since I don't have a boat, that is no biggie. But a beach. Wow.

I'm really excited about this place. A little pricer then I'd have ideally wanted, but the location is fantastic and the other few places I looked at were close to the same price, much farther away.. and one had a really really scary landlady. Three words: too much makeup.

Anyways, I'll be moving up here next week. Holy crap.

Oh, and I have a beach.

Later

Chicago

In Chicago.. looking for places.

In other news, places are expensive.

I'll post pictures once I've found a place that suites me.

Wheee... holy crap!

Later

Moving

Just to keep everyone updated. As of July first I'll be located in Chicago, IL working at Javelin Bicycles. I'm quite stoked about this and am glad to no longer be tied to my lovely job here in LR.

So yeah, if you are in the area drop me a line. Doubt this will happen but I like to leave the option open. Next couple weeks is going to be sort of hectic. Need to wrap up everything here. Need to find an apartment somewhere near Chicago.. need to move all my crap up there. Fun times indeed.

So yeah, I still don't believe it.

Later

Diet vs. Regular

So, which is better? Diet or regular? I've given up drinking soda, but personally I never had a problem drinking diet anything. In fact, I disliked regular Coke if I had to drink it.

Anyways, I saw something curious today. I was waiting in the little kiosk (I love that word) at work waiting for my food and I woman had a creative answer to the above question. She just mixed half a cup of diet pepsi with regular pepsi.

Honestly, I'd never have thought of this. So I have to give props to the clever woman.

On the other hand, she would have been better off if she had stuck with an entire cup of diet, if you get my drift. Also, a salad rather than slice of pizza.. and a walk up the one flight of stairs to her floor rather than an elevator ride.

Do women have to look like they do in magazines? No.. most of those women are slightly scary to be honest. But if you have trouble fitting through a door, perhaps it is time to think about a healthier lifestyle, and this doesn't mean half a glass of diet pepsi with your regular.

Later

Dive Bombed

Walking into work the other day something flew close to my head. I turned around and saw nothing. Kept walking, and it happened again. This time I noticed that it was a bird swooping down trying to attack the back of my head. I suppose there was a nest close by. I watched a few other people walk in after me. It was quite amusing watching other people get dive bombed too.

When I was walking back to my car (and avoiding the bird who was still trying to kill me it seemed) I noticed a little fledgling baby bird wandering around the base of one of the trees. Clearly what the father/mother bird was trying to protect. Doing quite a good job keeping people away.

Ok, that is all.

Later

Bikes

Hope everyone rode their bike to work this morning. Since, you know, it is National Bike to Work Day. Of course, you might all be un-American, terrorist-loving, war-hating hippies and not want to support NB2WD... in which case.. I hate you.

NB2WD signifies all that is great in this land of GW Bush. Sticking it to the oil producing nations who hate America.. showing the world that hates us due to the current leadership that we aren't a bunch of obese, fast-food eating idiots............ well.. it would if I had seen anyone else riding to work this morning. Makes me sad sometimes, to see cars backed up at lights all containing one individual. Oh well.. I guess I can't really complain, since I've been off my bike a bit due to my stupid foot. But it is getting better, and I'm going to get better about riding more. With gas nearing 3 dollars a gallon, having an older car, well.. it only makes sense.

Later

PS: Sorry for the complete randomness of this post.

Bored

And, enjoy!




Later

Internet Radio

Hey, don't know if anyone out there uses internet radio. I've gotten hooked for the past 4 months, curse my brother... anyways, check out http://www.savenetradio.org/ for some information regarding the changes which are going to occur with internet radio soon.

If you don't click the link, that's cool. I just thought I'd let people know. I'd rather not have to make a playlist to listen to at work. Just logging in and listening to commercial free music from a variety of different artists. Yeah. I get to hear a bunch of new music this way. I enjoy that.

Later

I need to move.

Why are people like this allowed to survive? Seriously? There needs to be a quiz.. and depending on your answers you either get sterilized, or shot, or something.

Honestly. I hope that the editor that picked this picked it merely to poke fun at the person's ignorance..if not. Ouch.

Later

Bonus: If you Google her name, you get an address and phone number.

Ultra Special Bonus: She is a lawyer in Little Rock.

Walls anyone?

Can anyone explain to me why it seems that the solution to all the world's problems can just be fixed by building a giant wall somewhere? We have too many illegal immigrants so we build a wall between the pacific and Texas.. (oh.. and farmers can't pick all their crops this year). Israel wants to keep everyone in the West Bank.. hello big security fence (fence=wall in my mind). A small Sunni enclave in Baghdad? Oh, let's just build a three mile long, 12 foot wall around it. Yeah.. that'll solve all the world's problems.

I wonder if I could somehow build a portable wall around me. It could keep all the stupid stuff in the world that bugs me out of my hair. Of course, the wall would be made of cardboard... ok.. so it wouldn't be so much a wall as I would walk around in a refrigerator box. Hmm, maybe this isn't the answer I was looking for.

Also, Boris Yeltsin died. So I've included a picture which everyone should do their best and attempt to caption. It is a contest.. and I highly expect Joey to win.. but everyone should try.

"God Bill, was that you?"

Yeah, I made a fart joke.. deal with it.

Later

Another sad post.

Kurt Vonnegut died.

So it goes...

Later

Sad

Another link.

But I have the perfect solution... send more troops to die in battle.

I know, I'm heartless.

Later

Now taking bets..

So, anyone want to pick a day? I guess my only consolation is that they didn't take American citizens into custody. I mean, Bush is crazy, won't take much to justify "liberating" Iran too.

I know, more links. Deal with it. Sort of scary in some ways. I honestly feel that the current situation over there will only continue to worsen and eventually... well, I don't need to start ranting about that.

Later

Bound to happen

I've just been curious lately and have come across a couple of news stories today so I thought that I'd just post some rant about sperm donors, IVF, rights and the such.

As a guy it has always been known to me that if I happen to get a woman pregnant (hasn't happened yet thankfully) that I'd end up having to pay for the child for years and years. Ideally the only time I'll ever concieve a child will be when I 'm ready for it, but for some people out there, they aren't as fortunate. Also, there are some guys (and gals) really getting screwed over by the system.

Legally a parent is defined as the supplier of the genetic material used to create the child. Sure, we all know this. Traditionally the only way my genetic material (sperm) could come in contact with another's genetic material (egg) is if I willingly put it there. But, with medical technology as it is now.. that isn't the case any more.

If I were to donate sperm for cash at a sperm bank.. this sperm went and created a child... I could be held liable for child support for this child. Why? Since I'm the genetic parent of the child. Does this sound messed up to anyone else? Also, I imagine this could open up a lot of nasty doors in the future should people start to exploit the system. Yeah, I know.. I'm being paranoid.. but it still seems sort of stupid to me. If I donate my sperm to help create an anonymous child with some anonymous woman.. I'd hate for 5 years later to get a call saying that someone used my previous frozen sperm.. got pregnant.. and wants 200 dollars a week for the next 18 years. That would sort of put a damper on anyone's life I'd assume.

Say someone has donated sperm on multiple occasions. Say he has a really good profile (isn't that how getting sperm works?) and a lot of people want to have his kid. Heard about that one guy off the Stephan Colbert show.. how one family had had 5 kids with one donor's sperm or something.. wouldn't it suck if that happened to some guy and he ended up paying for half a dozen kids had by different women? Yeah.. I'd imagine that would suck.

Another interesting thing. Say, as a woman, that you couldn't have your own children for whatever reason. So you go and get a donated embryo.. get it implanted, have a child. Well, if for some reason the donated embryo's parents didn't happen to have a contract signing away their rights. Well, there is a possibility that you could have that new baby, which you just carried for 9 months, taken away from you. Interesting huh?

Sure there is the UPA (Uniform Parentage Act) which states that a donor can't be considered a parent (in the case of certified sperm banks, etc.) but surprisingly only a third of states have adopted any version of this act. Oh, what if you donate in a state which follows the UPA, a woman gets the sperm, but has the kid in another state. Hmmm.. curious no?

Alright, that is all I got. Caught my attention since a man in New Zealand had some of his estate given to kids from donated sperm. Of course, the title of the article was misleading.. since his "donation" consisted of knocking boots with the woman... three times. But it got me curious.

Later

Wow

I know, another link. But this is just freaking awesome if you ask me. Lunar transit of the sun taken from the STEREO B spacecraft.

Dang, and I'm sitting behind a desk right now. Stupid universe making me feel small and insignificant. It reminds me of the song "Yakko's Universe" from The Animaniacs.

It's a great big universe
And we're all really puny
We're just tiny little specks
About the size of Mickey Rooney
It's big and black and inky
And we are small and dinky
It's a big universe and we're not.

I also now am reminded how much I miss that show. There were many stupid episodes, but there were also many many classics. Rob Paulsen is a genius.

Later

hehe

Found this link sort of interesting. Won't matter to many of you.. but I found it quite the interesting read. Odd that Stuart and I were just talking about this last night. Shame Stuart doesn't read this blog. Bastard.

Also, I realy enjoy in the document that the individual's home address is used. Considering Blizzard has over 7 million active subscribers, I'm wondering how long it'll take for this guy to start getting craploads of hate-mail, etc.

Joey, since he lives in Phoenix.. could you just drive on over there and kick his ass for me. Thanks.

Later

Supreme Court

I know I've been posting a lot of links lately, and today will be no different. Yesterday, it was argued in front of the Supreme Court if a ramming of a speeding individual by a police officer was considered unconstitutional.

Basically a 19 year old was speed, refused to pull over, struck a police vehicle in a parking lot, then sped away at 90 mph. The officer which was struck then proceeded to ram the rear of the fleeing vehicle casuing the kid to lose control of his car and crash into an embankment. The kid was paralyzed in the accident.

Of course the now crippled guy is suing saying that the police used excessive force to capture him. What the hell? I think if a person is driving recklessly at 90mph I'd want the police to stop his ass no matter what. Added to the fact that he already demonstrated his willingness to endager lives by striking the police vehicle I'd say that the officer had ever right to take whatever steps were necessary to stop the kid from potentially hurting someone else. Should a cop just let a person go and arrest them later? This sort of question is a tough one to answer. What if there was hostage in the car, the speeding vehicle was fleeing the scene of another crime, it was a terrorist planning on destroying the world? Of course some of those are stupid ideas but never-the-less they are possible. How would the public react if an officer was told not to persue a speeding individual and it was later found out that this person had killed/raped/whatever some innocent bystander? Not very well I'd imagine.

Anyways, just some food for thought I suppose. I doubt the Supreme Court will deem the officer's actions uncoinstitutional in light of the evidence against the fleeing suspect. It would be different if such force was used on a unarmed individual, but I think a car is considered a weapon in some cases (I believe striking an officer's vehicle with your own car while fleeing is considered assault with a deadly weapon.. not sure though). A guy running on foot is slightly less dangerous than a car going 90. Well.. perhaps if the man was really big and running through a room full of babies, and the man would have to be wearing golf shoes.


Ok, that is all I got. I'm curious to hear from the legal individuals who read this blog.

Later

Edit: Transcripts of the oral arguments. I found them interesting.

Bunny is back

Basically the title says it all. It was on a short break due to the author being swamped at school.. but I'm excited. Needed my daily dose of bunny-goodness.

Later

Change

Life is full of change, my blog reflects my life, albeit poorly.. therefore the blog had to change.

Also, I was bored at work.

Much more the second reason than the first. I just wanted to sound deep.

Later

Accordion Madness

Usually I'd probably overlook something like this. Never having really been a big fan of accordion music I'm really glad I clicked the link. I was sceptical at first since I thought that he wasn't really playing, but the more I listened, and watched his other videos I became both more amazed, and convinced that it isn't fake. But that is just me.

Seriously, check out the videos... even if you don't like classical music.

Later

Look at all the posts.

I know that lately I've just been posting links to stupid little things.. I don't care. I'm posting mainly just to keep Niki off my back. And since nothing really exciting is happening in my life, everyone will just have to suffer through the links I post.

The latest is the following. My favorites are #17 (no one would carry this while riding), #34 (since I always wish I had one with me..), #84/85 (when one just isnt' enough.) Seriously, who the heck is going to drop $1300 on one of these things? No one wants to care a 47 ounce monster like this in their daily lives. But then I just imagine how badass MacGyver would have been had he had all these tools. Sure, he was badass with a normal one... but just think what it could have done with 85 different tools.

Later

Interesting

Joey may get the most out of this movie. But I think everyone will get a kick out of it none the less.

Later

Anna Nicole Smith

She died.. not really that big of a deal. The part that amuses me the most is how fast information gets desseminated through the internet. Of course, you can't always trust it. As reference, here is what wikipedia had to say shortly after she died.






And I'm sure this isn't the only post like this on wikipedia.

Later

Snickers

Anyone else find all the uproar about the Snickers commercial absolutely over the top? It is a freaking commercial.. find something else to complain about.

Later

For niki

Look, I've posted. And it is super short, just like all your posts.

Quite the awesome site

Stumbled upon this site a few days ago. Quite interesting. I am enjoying checking out the map daily. It is nice to see the chemical spills and realize that I don't have to travel out there and live in an SUV for days on end. Plus, I like seeing all the earthquakes.

Anyways, that is it for now.

Later

Clearly this indicates that we need to rethink our position on pirates in the high seas. Perhaps the government will start drafting people to be pirates... that would be cool. I want to be a pirate.

Also.. check out the website credited in the photo.. quite good.

Later

Bah

I know I've not posted lately.. I will try to get one up this week.

I wish I could come up with something clever to say, but I can't. So instead I'll stop while I'm technically head.

Later