Exterior Motives

This is my next project. I need something outside the house for a change. I've tried to turn this into something very attractive for the past 10 years and basically the only thing that grows well here are salvias, lantana, and poison oak....and unless its maintained regularly, grass grows well, as you can see.

The annoying poison oak keeps coming from under the concrete walk so I'm not sure how to eradicate that nuisance.





I'm thinking of two options, either a rock garden with cactus and succulents which are winter hardy, or amend the soil and maybe try growing some veggies and herbs. A variety of chili peppers would add some color. I'm leaning towards the latter option.

I'll update this post and move it to the top with new photos once I get started.

And I'd like to get started on Monday since I'm staying home from work.

R.I.P. Richard Allin

The Arkansas Gazette was the daily paper I grew up reading and to this day I feel it was one of the best newspapers in the US, as well as the oldest west of the Mississippi, dating back to 1819. Richard Allin was a columnist.

I had no idea Richard Allin had died until I read the post over at Big Brass Blog late this afternoon by blackdog.

Here is an interview with Allin from 2000.

....Gannett took this paper and destroyed it.

What's so strange is that while at lunch today, and I had no knowledge that he had died until I read blackdog's post late this afternoon, I was thinking back on the Gazette and what a great paper it was, and I was cursing Gannett. I have no idea why that would pop into my brain today.

But another beautiful and relevant piece of American journalism is no longer in our midst.

This shitrag is all that is left of a legacy.

Kona's Balancing Act

No, this isn't a circus routine. I've just spent several hours going as far back as 2003 trying to balance two IRA accounts and another brokerage account. I'd missed entering some data along the way so things were very much out of whack.

I knew something was up about 2 weeks ago when I went online to check my brokerage account and it indicated I had over $1,000 in CASH sitting in there and I had no idea. Turns out one of my stocks started pumping out cash dividends about two years ago.

All three accounts are now balanced to the penny and that makes konagod very happy. That also explains the lack of posting today. I haven't even been on a blog all afternoon, and that probably makes a dozen or so bloggers very happy as well. HA!

Tomorrow I'm going to work on my mortgage statements which are off by a few dollars compared to what Quicken shows we owe on our house. I don't know why I'm suddenly wanting to wear the accountant hat except that is sure does feel good to know I'm looking at accurate data.

Friday Pussy Blog: The Close-Up Edition

The Eyes Have It

These are all the cat eyes that have blessed our lives and supervised us during our time together. I'm glad we still have four of the six. The other two are sorely missed.

Anyone who can name them correctly gets an official konagod t-shirt if and when I produce such a thing.

(OK, I'm vain. You know I'll do it eventually just so I can wear one myself.)

Name the two who are no longer with us and be entered in a drawing for a limited edition konagod coffee mug.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

An Ocean of Sperm

And perhaps another reason to avoid swallowing ocean water.

Birds do it. Bees do it. Even lowly corals do it — but infrequently, forgoing sex for as long as a year.

Then, at night, just after the full moon, under warm tropic breezes, the corals dissolve in an orgy of reproduction, sowing waters with trillions of eggs and sperm that swirl and dance and merge to form new life. The frenzy can leave pink flotsam.

Not to mention a huge wet spot.

Way cool!

So Long Brownback

See ya in the Kansas Governor's Mansion in a few years.... perhaps. Or the Kansas State Rodeo. Anything but the White House.

I'm sure a rodeo clown is always a good payin' gig.

Getting Old Is a Bitch

I have a boss roughly my age. We all went out for lunch this week and the place we went to was a beach/skateboard themed fish taco hut in downtown Austin, Texas. But it was a gray misty day and it could have easily passed for a foggy Malibu or Santa Monica locale. They were playing hits and one-hit-wonders from the 70s and 80s.

We had a nice conversation and my assistant mentioned that he was born in 1983 and I blurted out that I was living in London in 1983! My boss then asked me all kinds of questions about living in London. I gave out a lot of info which is really not relevant to this post.

Right before we got up to leave, I heard this song over the sound system, and my boss reeled off the year it came out. 1982 or some such shit.

I couldn't remember who it was and it was driving me crazy. Finally as we were walking out the door, I said to my boss, "That was Billy Squier, wasn't it?" And she said yes.

And then I started thinking, I have all this music shit in common with my boss, and during the course of our lunch conversation, I learned that she is 43. Let's do the math. I'm 47. When I was a senior in high school, if she'd been going to the same school, I wouldn't have know who the fuck she was.

And now, she's not just my boss. She's actually the boss of MY boss. What's wrong with this picture?

So I said to her, "Yeah, he was one of those one hit wonders." And she said, "Well, two actually."

What was the other hit? Please tell me.

Meanwhile, when I said she was the boss of MY boss, let me tell you about MY boss.

txrad has the same boss and he just asked me, "is she senile?"

I replied, "No, She has Age of Aquarious syndrome."



Getting old in the workplace is such a joy to behold. I think I'm going to have a stroke.

Kinky Kona Wants to Pick Your Brain

I thought this would make a fairly decent Question of the Day.


What was your earliest recollection of having a turn-on or sexual arousal?

Mine was when I was in grade school, and probably 1st or 2nd grade. I'd be on the playground during recess, and when the bell would go off for us to return to class, I'd start climbing one of the poles in the playground and I'd climb all the way to the top and hang on, waiting until the last child disappeared back into the school before I'd slide back down and return to class.

I think the reason I remember this is because of the feeling I had when I was doing it. I had no idea what the feeling represented at the time because I was too young. But I can remember the feeling precisely and it was definitely a form of erotic stimulation. I honestly remember how it gave me that funny feeling down in my private parts.

That's some strange stuff for a 7 or 8-year-old to experience but I kept doing it because I enjoyed the feeling. I think the drama of the ticking clock and being the renegade who was the last one back from recess probably played into the fantasy.

And a hard pole is good to find.

I Haz Ben Nominated Agin

I can't believe it's that time again for the 2007 Weblog Awards and I only just realized it tonight and I've nearly missed out on the nomination process.

I know there are several blogs I want to nominate. It appears the deadline for nominations has been extended to Wednesday, October 17, unless I misunderstood.

I know I was at least nominated in this TTLB category by Jon Swift:

• Best of the Rest of the Blogs (8751+)

Thanks Jon!

This crawly amphibian is currently hovering in the 10,300 range which sucks since I was in the 7,000-8,000 for awhile... back in the glory days when I actually had time to blog all day every day.

Let the Water Wars Begin

txrad told me several days ago about the drought conditions around Atlanta and that the city's water source could be dry before the end of the year. I guess the NY Times finally considered that news "fit to print."

In the Atlanta metropolitan area, which has more than four million people, worst-case analyses show that the city’s main source of water, Lake Lanier, could be drained dry in 90 to 121 days.

Not surprisingly, some people just don't get it.

“It’s really alarming,” said Janice Terry, co-owner of the Best Foods cafeteria in Siler City. To curtail water use, Best Foods has swapped its dishes for paper plates and foam cups.

Most controversially, it has stopped offering tap water to customers, making them buy 69-cent bottles of water instead. “We’ve had people walk out,” Ms. Terry said. “They get mad when they can’t get a free glass of water.”

Now, where to put all that garbage, the foam cups and whatnot. We are on the road to ruin and most of us don't have a clue.

Put On Your Radioheadsets

Time is warped tonight.

I have rediscovered Radiohead for free.

It's too bad they are trying to fuck with everything creative that I'm trying to do.

I keep selecting photos to upload and I get different photos when I upload them.

The evil fuckers have invaded my PC!!

Never mind. I figured it out. It wasn't them evil fuckers. It was simply incompetence.
Update: AHEM! Your host here would be advise to stay away from Photobucket while intoxicated. I had it open, but I was on page 2 or 3 of my album, and each time I selected the Thom Yorke photo, all I kept seeing appear on my Photobucket page was a scene from the yard or whatever. It was bumping the last picture from page one onto the the page I was on.



I'm gonna go there again.

In Today's Mail

I just went out to see what the gods had delivered. The box was full. There are two noteworthy pieces I'll share with you fine folks.

From Mercedes Benz of Austin:

Dear konagod,

Mercedes-Benz of Austin would like to invite you to our Customer Service Clinic on Saturday, October 27th, 9a-12p in our Service Department, where our factory-trained technicians will perform a complimentary vehicle inspection.

While you wait take the opportunity to test drive the 2008 Models and visit our complimentary coffee bar.

Oh my GOD! Free coffee and the opportunity to drop $45,000 or more on a new German travel vessel. I hope it doesn't have a rattle in the dash like my current model.

Oh, and they are doing a benefit for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I'm aware. I hate breast cancer, but what the fuck does that have to do with selling cars?

The next gem in my mailbox was from Chase.

Dear konagod,
We've noticed that your credit card account is past due.

No shit. Brilliant observation. Check with me next month.

Lastly, I had a letter from my mother. She always likes to include newspaper clippings and shit.

I got this clipping:

"Kona Joe is passionate about coffee."

Shit. Does she know about my blog?

I don't know about Kona Joe, can't speak for that dude, but KONAGOD LOVES COFFEE. Passionate doesn't touch it.

Monday Garden Blog

It's time for...

I suspended my Monday Garden Blog during much of the summer since there hasn't been much garden activity since late June or early July. txrad decided he'd go clear the grass and weeds from one of the beds Sunday morning. In the afternoon he decided he'd plant a row or two of collards for me. Sweet boy. I have to force him to eat them. I'll never understand why anyone doesn't think they are a gift from the gods, when picked at the right time and cooked in the correct way. txrad keeps a gardening diary and he noticed last year he planted collards on October 13.

These will be suitable for eating after the first frost which for us will probably be late November or early December, and we'll continue to enjoy them well into early spring. Just before they produce blossoms and seeds, I'll have a marathon picking, blanching and freezing session. After they go to seed, the taste goes to hell.

After he cleared the bed of weeds, he noticed there’s still a chili pepper plant producing, and even some green tomatoes on the vine just to the right of his leg. I’d love to pick those ripe. We’ve never had tomatoes much past July 1st.

Awhile back, I posted about how I hadn’t mowed the yard all year and as a result I expected to have a beautiful wild sunflower display in October. I am not disappointed.

There's also a nice Echinacea blooming... just one.

Reducing Dependency on Oil: An Easy Start

I get so angry and frustrated when I keep hearing the Bush administration, or anyone else for that matter, talking about long-term plans for reducing our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

From ramping up more nuclear power plants, to drilling in Alaska, to increasing our use of ethanol, all the ideas are goals set in the distant future. And that's fine, but I don't think raising the fuel efficiency standards from the current 27.5 mpg to 35 mpg by 2020 is really a plan. How many more cars will be on the nation's highways by 2020? And what good is that extra 7.5 miles per gallon average going to do if the price of a gallon of gas happens to be around $8.00 in 2020, if not by 2010!

But, whatever course of action we take, and it probably needs to involve some of everything -- including a tax increase on consumption, here's one idea that could cut dependency right now. Today. And you don't even need to go trade in your GMC Sierra for a Prius. In fact, this idea doesn't cost you a cent.

There are about 243,023,485 registered vehicles in the US. Let's say 150 million are in daily use, just to be extra conservative.

I don't know how people drive where you live, but I suspect it's not vastly different from how they drive right here in liberal Austin, Texas. I don't have what I'd consider to be a fuel efficient vehicle. I get about 23 mpg going to and from work each day. What my car does have is a MPG display in the dash which allows me to monitor my slurpage. I think these nifty little devices should be mandatory in all vehicles, not that I'd really expect most Americans to pay attention to it.

Even modest acceleration in my car gets me about 10-12 mpg, and less than 9 mpg on an average acceleration. However, when I remove my foot from the pedal it jumps to well over 50 mpg.

I pay particularly close attention to this when I'm on the freeway and see that traffic ahead of me is slowing or stopping, or when I'm on a street or freeway access road and approaching a red light. If I'm going 50 mph I can coast quite a distance and reap the benefits of minimal fuel consumption.

Now contrast my behavior with that of so many others who will accelerate to PASS ME as we're both approaching the same red light or traffic jam. They not only accelerate but they continue accelerating until the last few seconds when they have to apply the brakes. I see this phenomenon day after day, week after week, and it seems as if 90% of the drivers on the road feel they are in some kind of race to see who can get to the stopping point the fastest. It's mind-boggling, and almost all of them are driving vehicles with far less fuel efficiency than mine.

Getting back to those 150,000,000 vehicles in daily use, let's assume with the adoption of some less stupid driving habits, each of them could save 1/10 of a gallon of gas per day. Obviously some of the more aggressive drivers with longer commutes could save more.

That's about 15,000,000 gallons of fuel saved each day, or more than half a billion gallons of fuel saved each year. And that's just from adopting less aggressive driving habits. And again, I'm trying to be conservative with my non-scientific figures. The actual savings could be considerably higher.

Eliminating one or two unnecessary trips per week could save much more. We could literally stop using well over a billion gallons of fuel each year with minimal and almost unrecognizable changes in our driving habits.

It sounds like a lot but given the thirst of so many behemoths on our highways, it probably amounts to an annual savings equal to one or two days' consumption. But it's a start.

Put in more personal terms, I'm probably keeping an extra $100 in my pocket each year by coasting when possible, and accelerating only when necessary. That's about 2 1/2 tanks of fuel. And I pull away from those red lights at the same time as the assholes who whiz past me in some unpatriotic piece of shit like this adorned with Bush/Cheney stickers and Support Our Troops ribbons, imported from China along with just about everything else. And how much oil does that waste?

And who is the real conservative here? A Bush/Cheney war hawk or this radical hippie Kucinich supporter?

If you think I'm angry now, don't even get me started on the folks who sit with their engines running for 5 minutes or longer each day in a drive-thru waiting on their burgers and fries. Do the math.


Crossposted at Big Brass Blog

Kona Wants a Second Ranch

From the time I was a child I have dreamed of someday having my own chunk of land. I attribute this to the fact that I grew up on a 500 acre farm at the end of a gravel road. I like the seclusion and yet we were only 3 miles from a town.

Most importantly, I like the option of having a self-sustaining lifestyle if I ever choose to go that route. txrad and I also need to be able to till the soil and have a large garden. Now comes the hard part.

Coastal regions and other low elevations are out. If and when Florida and Louisiana become submerged, what's that going to do to other areas of the country with major rivers feeding into the Gulf of Mexico?

I also want the land to connect with me on some spiritual level. A broad flat wide open space is beautiful in a way, but it doesn't really tug at my soul. Unless of course I could have 5,000 acres of it and then I might reconsider. Unfortunately that's a bit out of my budget.

Aside from some ugly personal debt related to loans I made to my failed business which also has a mountain of debt and with that corporation facing possible bankruptcy, things have never been better. Even with that ugly dark cloud looming over me constantly, I feel pretty damn good about life right now. I may never have a better opportunity to pursue my dream.

We are fortunate to be gainfully employed and drawing a combined income which exceeds any previous employment and I am socking away a good amount of money from each pay period. What's tricky is we have no idea how long this will last. So I have set a savings goal by the end of the year which is reasonable and I'm confident our employment will at least continue into early spring 2008 at least.

I have done a search of properties in four states for five or more acres of land within my budget. My ideal would be at least 10-20 acres, and more if possible. My ideal price is $25,000 or less, although I could go into the $40,000-$45,000 range by liquidating some stocks.

We have no immediate plans to build on the property; I just want to own it as a security blanket while I have the opportunity, and it's there when we decide to undergo a major lifestyle change, or we're forced to for whatever reason.

So, here are a few options. First, here's an example of what I'm not wanting:

I really want some contrast, some hills or mountains to lend some character.

Arizona

39 acres in Snowflake for $25,000. Beautiful, the right price, and a good chunk of real estate. I'm sure the nearby towns offer some amenities, but it's a 175 mile trek to Phoenix and 200 to Tucson.

New Mexico

5 acres in Tierra Amarilla for $8,000. The acreage isn't much but for $8,000, it's something. And the remainder of my savings could be used for something else.

In the same area is this plot: 10 acres for $35,000. Twice the land, much more beautiful, but creeping to the top end of my price range. The area is roughly 80 miles from Taos and 90 miles from Santa Fe.

Another beauty is this one in Chama near the Colorado border. It's 10 acres with power for $42,000. The Chama area is a bit over 100 miles to Santa Fe.

Colorado

This state isn't really my top choice. The politics aren't really to my liking. But for the price of the land and the beauty, I'll include it.

For $30,000 this is 35 acres and a nice view, with utilities "nearby."

I like this one even better. It almost qualifies as a "sweeping vista" or a "million dollar view." What's more, electricity is available "nearby." It's a 40 acre plot for $25,000. There must be some string attached -- as in the photograph is just the area and not taken from the actual property being sold.

As with the Arizona property, it's quite a haul to any major cities although there are some decent size towns in the area of southern Colorado. Pueblo is about 135 miles and Colorado Springs is closer to 185, as if I'd ever want to set foot in that evangelical Republican hellpit.

Arkansas

Property here has the advantage of being closer to a city than most of the previous ones, and also have utilities present. Unfortunately, Heber Springs is a hot area due to nearby lakes and attractiveness as a retirement area, so you don't get so much land for your dollar. But it's nice. And only about 65 miles from Little Rock.

Here's 5 acres for $30,000:

Another 5 acres for $32,000 with a very nice view:

A bit farther north in Mountain View, this 5.6 acre parcel can be had for around $14,000. I like! It's about 105 miles from Little Rock.

Feel free to comment with your opinions, advice, whatever. Call me crazy if you so desire.

Ewwwww Gag Me With a Spoon!

You Belong in 1985

Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

What Year Do You Belong In?

Seriously, life stopped being fun around 1984.

via Jacq.

Friday Pussy Blog

Since I neglected to post a picture of Tater Tot last week, I decided I'd better get back on track today, particularly since Phydeaux told me he was standing in for JackGoff who happens to be scarcely seen lately, and was pissed at the lack of Tot material.

So, I hope everybody is fucking happy now.

Just as I was grabbing the camera for tonight's shot, Tater Tot went tearing through the den and into the living room chasing Sissy. Poor girl. He always acts like he has some evil intent, but rarely follows through. That's her hiding under my chair.

Then when the Tot is confronted, he always rolls over and acts as if there was nothing at all going on.

"What the fuck are you talking about? ME? I wasn't doing ANYTHING!"

Please excuse me for calling your attention to his rather hefty lunch sack. The boy is not hungry, that's for certain. He almost has some cleavage that would make PortlyDyke proud!

Question of the Day

What musical artist, which you otherwise adore, makes you want to blow chunks if you hear them while hung over?

For me, Janis Joplin is the clear winner. I think Bob Dylan is a distant 2nd.

Even if I'm NOT hung over, if I had just a bit too much the previous night, Janis just makes me remember all those white-knuckle drives home from parties where I drank far too much.

As for Dylan, he only gives me the heebie-jeebies if I really did drink far too much at home, and feel like shit with a headache.

I heard this song outside today while leaving work and it made me want to vomit and I was sober without a hangover.

R.I.P. Tarantula

The little devil should have stayed out of the garage!

This makes me very sad. We think it probably happened when we left for work this morning and it was still dark.

The Kona Ranch is a no-kill zone (no intentional killing, except mosquitoes) but shit happens.

Expect Something That's Fiercer, More Cruel and Deadly Than Anything That Ever Walked The Earth

OOPS! Wrong video. Let's start over....



Tarantula!

I just spotted this on the side of the house on our patio. Quite a nice specimen!

Hey, Ad Council, Eat This

The Ad Council has just lost all my respect. Primarily for this reason.

I can't find it now, but if you could see the commercial I just saw on the Food Network, you'd vomit your gourmet cuisine.

Brainwashing continues unabated.

If you knew that your tax dollars were being spent to keep you living in fear, by placing television advertising in popular programs, would you be amused?

I'm not.

The terror continues, until January 2009 apparently.

My Blog Is Worth More Than I Am

My blog is worth $27,662.46.
How much is your blog worth?

We Are NOT Alcoholics

It was a wild night in the kona household last night....

Actually, I forgot to put out the glass recycling to be picked up on the last Wednesday in September. Oh, I put it out but it was too late to be picked up. Sometimes they do come late but I was not so lucky that day.

I left the container full of bottles at the edge of the street for the entire following week so I'd not be bothered with having to remember. Last Wednesday came and went and the friggin' bottles are still there. Our recycling and garbage service is on a credit card autopay so I know it's not a payment issue.

Bottles are now starting to accumulate in the house and it's making me insane. I need to go find a box. Because we'll certainly empty a few more tonight.

A Scene From Kona Ranch

Another reason I don't mow the yard. This was the beautiful sight which awaited us when we got home from work one day recently after a wind and rain.

The Hardest Button to Button

txrad's birthday was September 20 and I got him nothing except perhaps a kiss on the lips. But I always keep my eye on the lookout for a deal because there's no time limit for birthday presents as far as I'm concerned. Well, plus or minus four months is acceptable.

A big hat tip goes out to Minstrel Boy who turned me on to this last weekend and I seized the opportunity and ordered it immediately. It was shipped from Ukiah, California on Monday I think. I tracked it all week via UPS (and fantasized about what else I wish was en route to my home from Ukiah, but that's another story).

Every Picture Tells a Story:

He was excited. Hell, I was excited! The deal of the year. I thought this was probably a used button accordion. But it's clearly new. Just missing a strap to hold it shut. The price could not be beat.

We have smiles on our faces that just won't end. This is a SWEET FRIDAY.

And a very happy 3rd blogiversary to Shakers EVERYWHERE!

Friday Pussy Blog

Let's make this fast because I have other blogworthy fish to fry.

Tiger hardly ever appears on the Pussy Blog so I'm going to include him tonight. He's about to start putting on his heavy winter coat, despite our lack of heavy winters in Austin, so he'll need to be brushed soon.

Here's Sissy. I've told that bitch a thousand times to stay out of daddy's expensive leather recliner. Does she take orders from me? Hell no. But at least I get to also show off my recent color scheme change once again in the living room!

We're Missing a Post Here; Calling For Help

Damn.

I have no regular readership. But I do have a job which just today consumed 11 hours of my time, not counting the commute. Round that up to 12.

And then some if you want to count stopping at the liquor store for tequila.

So let me just update those few of you who are here of my status:

* the phone calls from creditors seem to have lightened up a bit (I unplugged the phone)

* the IT department guy apparently DOES have a weird sense of humor. (I am not in trouble.)

* The moonlight is no longer enough to guide me from the bedroom to the kitchen in the middle of the night without having to feel my way.

* The Bush Administration is making me want to strangle someone.

* I have already logged 48 hours at work this week and Friday is yet to come.

* txrad is loading the pipe

* I've watched two absolutely BRILLIANT Jew movies this week. Albert Brooks and Mel Brooks. It don't get much better than that. Perfect timing for another in a long series of Jewish holidays.

Did I leave anything out?

Fill my shot glass to the bottom of the imaginary circle in the "A" which signifies anarchy.

Let the Republican meltdown begin.

Dole Office Clerk: Occupation?
Comicus: Stand-up philosopher.
Dole Office Clerk: What?
Comicus: Stand-up philosopher. I coalesce the vapors of human existence into a viable and meaningful comprehension.
Dole Office Clerk: Oh, a *bullshit* artist!
Comicus: Hmmmmmm...
Dole Office Clerk: Did you bullshit last week?
Comicus: No.
Dole Office Clerk: Did you try to bullshit last week?
Comicus: Yes

Fog and Herring

Albert Brooks is the best Jew since Mel Brooks.

But I digress.

What the fuck is Fred Thompson doing in this movie? Is it really him?

Is this the platform on which he's running for the highest office in the land?

I'm so full of questions, and so short of answers.

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World

America has sunk to a new low.

Well, Aren't We In a Foul Mood Tonight?

Why, yes we are.

txrad just deleted AmericaBlog from his favorites list. I told him I never go there. Haven't been there in 4 months at least. Don't even miss it.

As for me, I've had an unpleasant day dealing with corporate red tape. And if I get dealt much more piles of shit, I may delete my job.

I have bent over backwards and busted my ass for more than 8 months now. I never let anything drop through the cracks and I work long hours. I have no qualms whatsoever about working over the weekend. I'll do what it takes because I like what I do and I play for the team.

The only problem is my laptop is a piece of shit with a small screen and poor resolution. A few months ago I asked for and received a docking station with a pedestal for a nice monitor which is so much easier on my eyes than using the laptop alone. I've tried using the laptop by itself at home, and while I can do it, I can't be at the same level of productivity as I am when I have the monitor and a full-size keyboard. So I found a box in the mail room, and managed to fit all the components of the docking station into it perfectly.

I brought it home with me on the Thursday & Friday when I had to be here for the carpet installation, and I worked over the weekend. I brought it home on two other weekends. The most recent was last weekend, after we received instructions at the end of Friday which needed to be implemented as early as possible on Monday. I worked Sunday afternoon from 2:00 until 9:00 in the evening.

It's a bit of an inconvenience to box that stuff up and take it to and from work. I asked my boss today if I could get another docking station to just have here at home so I'd only need to bring the laptop, dock it, and do what I needed to do.

The reply was something along the lines of "we do not provide docking stations for when you opt to work at home."

That's the way things are at my place of employ. No explanation. No "I'm sorry but.."

They're just abrupt and to the point.

I replied, "OK, I'll just go on Ebay and see if I can find one cheap."

At least my boss had the courtesy to reply with a comical line: "Good idea. If it's any consolation, we have executive VPs who don't get docking stations at home."

I felt better. For awhile.

Later, I bumped into an IT person. I had emailed her earlier this week asking about getting a 2nd docking station, since there was obviously a glut of unused ones (supposedly over 100 people have given notice and left in the past month).

She started to apologize and I explained to her what my boss told me and I said I'm fine with it. I told her I'd just buy one off the internet.

Seriously, I never thought this was a big deal. I've researched them on Ebay and I can get the docking station & monitor pedestal for $99 plus shipping. We're not talking gold bricks here.

I continued my conversation with the IT person and she suggested I speak to someone else and maybe he'd approve it. Ahhhh, exceptions can be made. Imagine that.

But honestly, I'm all about convenience and getting my work done. I don't even need the $99 pedestal. I have found port replicators on Ebay that would work with my laptop for anywhere from $19 to $30-something. I have an extra monitor and I'd be all set.

I thought this was the end of my dilemma until I received an email from the IT supervisor late this afternoon. It went something like this:

I could not help but overhear a conversation in our IT department today about you and your docking station. Would you mind if I ask you how much equipment you have removed from [contrived new company name] on a regular basis?

OK, konagod, get a grip.

Knowing what I know about corporate culture, and it's been a long while since I have been in corporate culture, and I've NEVER been in one as big and corporate and bullshitty as this one, but I can see the writing on the wall. This guy was probably gathering data so he can load his guns. Shit is probably about to hit the fans.

If I am called into a meeting and presented with a piece of paper to sign which in any way casts doubts upon my intentions or my integrity, I am going to think long and hard about making their lives utterly miserable.

I am not a thief. What I do, I do because I am trying to manage an account as effectively as possible. I have huge responsibilities. I am solely responsible for about 30% of a major telecommunications giant's television ad campaign. And I'm getting shit over some plastic docking station and a cheap monitor?

My God. I can barely read this post without exploding.

If I were to walk out, they would need to hire 3 people to replace me. And that's no joke.

What is a joke is that they don't seem to know that simple fact.

Radiohead: "No Really, It's Up To You."

I just paid £5.45 for my download of Radiohead's In Rainbows. How much did YOU pay?



This is genius marketing.

It says "fuck you" to the greedy record labels. It establishes a band's independence. It solidifies their fan base. And they make (hopefully) more money.

Keep an eye on the Billboard charts after October 10. This could get real interesting.

And as NPR reported, and I'm paraphrasing, a lot of record executives are shitting their pants right now.

The Pusher

God Damn.

Not surprisingly, the United States is the top pusher of weapons to the developing world.

In 2006, the United States agreed to sell $10.3 billion in weapons to the developing world, or 35.8 percent of these deals worldwide, according to the study. Russia was second with $8.1 billion, or 28.1 percent, and Britain was third with $3.1 billion, or 10.8 percent.

[...]

When combining totals for arms sales to developed and developing nations, the ranking of world arms dealers remained the same. The United States led with $16.9 billion, followed by Russia with $8.7 billion and Britain with $3.1 billion. The 2006 sales figures for all three nations were higher than their totals in 2005.