Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
let's race
scheduled to leave on-time at 11:55pm. Both flights are from Seattle
(SEA) to Chicago (ORD). I think I'll sleep through this one. United
continued to suck.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
done?
Official page
Let's see if I pass the background check. And those views are roughly what I get. No joke.
Let's see if I pass the background check. And those views are roughly what I get. No joke.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
in six days, I will be here
From http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/10/us/0610-STORM_10.html
Let's hope it dries up a little by then.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Sunday, June 08, 2008
it's been a while
It's been a while since I've sent in a blog entry via my iPhone/e-
mail, but I'm back at it. Right now I'm on Alaska Airlines Flight #3
from Reagan National Airport to Seattle. It's my first Alaska
experience, but so far it's been good. Friendly staff, which is
tougher and tougher to find these days.
mail, but I'm back at it. Right now I'm on Alaska Airlines Flight #3
from Reagan National Airport to Seattle. It's my first Alaska
experience, but so far it's been good. Friendly staff, which is
tougher and tougher to find these days.
Anyway, I'm on my way to Seattle to spend a week looking for
apartments. It'll be a combination of broker and Craigslist. I started
looking up some places Friday and I've got two or three places to
check out tomorrow. I've got all week, but I want to do it right and
I've got to start somewhere. I'm getting a little tired of moving
every year or year and a half and I'm looking for a good place that I
can stay at for a few years and feel like I'm living like a normal
human being (in the States).
As for my car, I am still getting plenty of satisfaction knowing that
my 15 year old car is just as reliable as any new car (in my mind) and
costs very little. Besides, I'm soooooo close to 200,000 miles it'll
be wrong to give up now. After that, I guess I can shoot for 250,000,
aka a quarter of a million miles. I thought of that after someone said
to me "don't you have a million miles on that car?" when I told them
about my drive across the country.
Oh yeah, I'm also working on my reading list. I just finished The
Tipping Point, by Gladwell. I also started re-reading Zhuge Liang's
Mastering the Art of War, not to be confused with Sun Tzu's better
known (and earlier) work, The Art of War. This book has similar
concepts, but much more directly applicable to today's world. The
author is also featured in the neo-classical novel Romance of the
Three Kingdoms and in the series of Koei video games it has inspired.
In other words, the author is a badass in some video games that you
can play on your favorite console. But anyway, it's a great book. How
great? Wesley Snipes had it to read on the plane in the feature film
Passenger 57. BADASS!!!
Friday, June 06, 2008
bleeding cash
So I have a job, and I have a nice relocation package, and I AM BLEEDING CASH. I have no income till the end of July at the earliest, and I'll have a ton of expenses from the summer to cover.
It started with looking at how much I had saved, how much I will need to spend, and when I get paid. That progressed to looking at when billing cycles for credit cards are. Now, after learning that I have to pay for the $200/night room for four nights next week out of my own pocket (to be reimbursed probably in August), I'm looking at the magical world of credit card APRs and balance transfers.
Looks like Chase has a sweet deal with no fees. That's all I'm looking for really - something with no fees with an APR that's lower than the typically insane credit card APRs. I usually ignore those since I always pay my bills in full. Except I CAN'T! Thankfully, I think I have found some weird solution. Let's hope this deal sticks around.
Even if it doesn't, I can always get a huge cash advance from my First Internet Bank credit card that I rarely use. No fees and 12% APR. It'll cancel out half of my 1% reward from my credit cards, but I guess I'll live. Damn it.
It started with looking at how much I had saved, how much I will need to spend, and when I get paid. That progressed to looking at when billing cycles for credit cards are. Now, after learning that I have to pay for the $200/night room for four nights next week out of my own pocket (to be reimbursed probably in August), I'm looking at the magical world of credit card APRs and balance transfers.
Looks like Chase has a sweet deal with no fees. That's all I'm looking for really - something with no fees with an APR that's lower than the typically insane credit card APRs. I usually ignore those since I always pay my bills in full. Except I CAN'T! Thankfully, I think I have found some weird solution. Let's hope this deal sticks around.
Even if it doesn't, I can always get a huge cash advance from my First Internet Bank credit card that I rarely use. No fees and 12% APR. It'll cancel out half of my 1% reward from my credit cards, but I guess I'll live. Damn it.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
gearing up for the road trip
So since I've gotten back to Cleveland I've been meeting up with friends, doing the occasional travel planning, and prepping the car for the road trip. There's been a few nagging things that needed to be fixed, plus just the routine check of things to make sure that everything is in order.
Right now my car is at 180,950 miles, so I went through the checklist of maintenance that should be done at 180,000 miles (which basically includes everything on the list. We'll get to those later.
Maintenance schedule from the 1993 Honda Accord Service Manual:
Additional items checked:
To dos:
Right now my car is at 180,950 miles, so I went through the checklist of maintenance that should be done at 180,000 miles (which basically includes everything on the list. We'll get to those later.
Maintenance schedule from the 1993 Honda Accord Service Manual:
- Idle speed - fine
- Valve clearance - checked last summer, and should still be fine. Engine seems fine, so it should be OK.
- Alternator drive belt - replaced 5/12
- Timing belt - replaced 5/12 - probably could have waited till after the trip based on when it was last changed. Doh!
- Water pump - replaced 5/12
- Engine oil and filter - replaced 5/12, replacing again 5/15 (yes... 3,000 miles already)
- Transmission fluid - replaced today
- Engine coolant - fine, replaced last summer, to be replaced in Seattle
- Cooling system hoses - fine
- Air filter - cleaned yesterday
- Fuel filter - good for another 30,000 miles
- Spark plugs - good for another 15,000 miles
- Fuel hoses - fine
- Distributor cap and rotor - checked 20,000 miles ago, not due to be checked for another 40,000 miles
- Ignition wires - replaced 20,000 miles ago, not due to be checked for another 40,000 miles
- PCV valve - fine, and the gas mileage confirms
- Brake hoses - aging, but fine
- Brake fluid - replaced 5,000 miles ago, not due to be replaced for another 25,000 miles
- Front brakes - fine, but front right could use a new caliper bracket due to a loose grommet and the resulting corrosion around the bolts. Bolts and brakes still operable, but I want to keep it that way. Part is ordered. Will be replaced tomorrow.
- Rear brakes - fine. Calipers replaced 25,000 miles ago.
- Parking brake - fine. but could use a slight adjustment if I get around to taking the console apart.
- Exhaust - fine
- Suspension bolts - Fine, except for the front right upper ball joint, which was beginning to crack. It could last another year, but I replaced it today anyway.
- Front alignment - based on tire wear, fine
- Tie rod ends and boots - supple and fine. Front right tie rod regreased (front left doesn't need periodic regreasing)
- ABS - Front left sensor replaced 5/31
- Catalytic converter heat shield - fine
Additional items checked:
- Fluids are all fine
- Front right driveshaft was slowly leaking grease. Replaced today.
- Crappy Bosch oxygen sensor that intermittently fails (especially on I-10 in west Texas) has been replaced with a Honda oxygen sensor.
- Windshield needs to be replaced. Claim filed.
- Shifter is sticky sometimes - will grease if I get around to taking the console apart (along with adjusting the parking brake)
- Cleaned carpets
- Cleaned under the hood
- Extra lights and fuses are in the glove compartment
- Extra ICU in the glove compartment
- Plenty of refridgerant in the trunk
- Power steering fluid is at a borderline level - Honda OK fluid in the trunk
- Will readjust suspension bolts tomorrow
- Front right headlight was cracked and has been replaced (no more using a piece of gum as a makeshift repair)
- Headlights have been adjusted
- All lights are operational
- Got a sunshade since it'll be hot in Baltimore, DC, St. Louis, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Death Valley, etc.
To dos:
- Wash and wax!
- Replace windshield
- Make a ghetto dash cover from jeans, fleece, or something dark and textured/dull
- Change oil 5/15
- Rotate tires 5/15
- Clean the rest of the interior
- Grease shifter
- Adjust parking brake
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
old oxygen sensor, new oxygen sensor
cruising at 90mph in west Texas. Replacing it with a genuine Honda
part that has the right wire length. Bosch "OEM" parts are waaaaay
overrated.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
disconnected
It's that time when I have to unplug the cable modem. No more internet here. )-:
It's ok though. At this time tomorrow, I won't have a bed here either.
It's ok though. At this time tomorrow, I won't have a bed here either.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
goodbye
My desktop says goodbye. I'll be packing it in a few minutes. ETA: mid-July.
On the upside - me traveling means more regular blog updates!
On the upside - me traveling means more regular blog updates!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
packing
Interesting challenge these days. I need to pack for a sequence of trips.
Yeah... boring post. Better than nothing, right?
- A week in Cleveland (drive)
- A wedding (drive)
- A week in Seattle (fly)
- A month of driving across the country, visiting cities, ball parks, national parks, and a ton of driving.
Yeah... boring post. Better than nothing, right?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
real fake friends
This may be a touchy subject, but what the hell. It's 1:50am and I have a 8:15 class tomorrow (my last class here in business school!). But anyway... I was thinking about something that happened today that I'm a bit irked about.
Now how can I do this without being anything remotely specific but still get the point across...
OK... so maybe I should start by saying what I mean by a fake friend. A fake friend is (in this case at least) someone who asks to be your friend on facebook, but they aren't really your friend. In fact, not even someone you would consider an acquaintance. I may know who you are, but I have no real expectation of talking to you, hanging out with you, or doing anything with you. BUT, for the sake of social "norms" and to avoid offending people who actually do consider me a friend/acquaintance, I accept.
So what's a real fake friend? I'm a believer (not to be confused with evangelist) of the theory that if you act in accordance to certain expectations, it'll become a reality. At work it would be how filling in bigger roles can lead to a promotion. In this case it would be if you act as if you're good friends with someone, it can actually facilitate the "friend-making" process. A real fake friend is someone who hasn't really made it to the friend level yet, but has this mentality. So when duty calls, they fill the role accordingly.
Tonight I had my first interaction EVER with one of these fake friends. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. Rather than casual friendliness to be expected of people (ANYONE... not just friends or fake friends), what I got was a bit of hostility and belligerence. Fake friend in this case seemed more like an aspirational enemy. What the hell?
Periodically I go through and purge my fake friends. Tonight I made a special occasion to delete this false link. No hard feelings, fake buddy. I'm just following the social norm called reciprocity.
Also, I'm not sure how well connected this person is, but it's generally not a good idea to randomly create conflict with people. Now, I'm not going to go around slandering your name in public because of this. I'm not really into that. But, don't expect me to forget this if you decide to ask me for favors down the road either.
Perhaps if I feel nice in the morning I'll forward this post to the person I'm talking about.
Now how can I do this without being anything remotely specific but still get the point across...
OK... so maybe I should start by saying what I mean by a fake friend. A fake friend is (in this case at least) someone who asks to be your friend on facebook, but they aren't really your friend. In fact, not even someone you would consider an acquaintance. I may know who you are, but I have no real expectation of talking to you, hanging out with you, or doing anything with you. BUT, for the sake of social "norms" and to avoid offending people who actually do consider me a friend/acquaintance, I accept.
So what's a real fake friend? I'm a believer (not to be confused with evangelist) of the theory that if you act in accordance to certain expectations, it'll become a reality. At work it would be how filling in bigger roles can lead to a promotion. In this case it would be if you act as if you're good friends with someone, it can actually facilitate the "friend-making" process. A real fake friend is someone who hasn't really made it to the friend level yet, but has this mentality. So when duty calls, they fill the role accordingly.
Tonight I had my first interaction EVER with one of these fake friends. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. Rather than casual friendliness to be expected of people (ANYONE... not just friends or fake friends), what I got was a bit of hostility and belligerence. Fake friend in this case seemed more like an aspirational enemy. What the hell?
Periodically I go through and purge my fake friends. Tonight I made a special occasion to delete this false link. No hard feelings, fake buddy. I'm just following the social norm called reciprocity.
Also, I'm not sure how well connected this person is, but it's generally not a good idea to randomly create conflict with people. Now, I'm not going to go around slandering your name in public because of this. I'm not really into that. But, don't expect me to forget this if you decide to ask me for favors down the road either.
Perhaps if I feel nice in the morning I'll forward this post to the person I'm talking about.
car update
The a/c isn't getting fixed. Why? I'll be in Seattle where my car can live virtually forever and last time I checked it doesn't get too hot up there.
But, right now my timing belt and water pump is getting replaced (every 90k miles... $770 + tax) and I just ordered a few more parts that need to be replaced. A headlamp (it's got a huge bulls-eye crack and another crack in it... $125-ish) and also another anti-lock brake sensor ($125-ish).
I like to brag about how maintenance is like a car payment, but this month's car payment really sucks! Next month I get to have my windshield replaced. Hopefully it'll be covered by insurance.
But, right now my timing belt and water pump is getting replaced (every 90k miles... $770 + tax) and I just ordered a few more parts that need to be replaced. A headlamp (it's got a huge bulls-eye crack and another crack in it... $125-ish) and also another anti-lock brake sensor ($125-ish).
I like to brag about how maintenance is like a car payment, but this month's car payment really sucks! Next month I get to have my windshield replaced. Hopefully it'll be covered by insurance.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
great weekend... till now?
Karaoke
Brunch in Jamaica Plain
Samuel Adams Brewery tour
Bowling
Awesome Red Sox game at Fenway
Helped SOM/FES win the IM Ultimate Frisbee Championship
Ice Cream Social
Now I need to write a paper or two. Damn.
Brunch in Jamaica Plain
Samuel Adams Brewery tour
Bowling
Awesome Red Sox game at Fenway
Helped SOM/FES win the IM Ultimate Frisbee Championship
Ice Cream Social
Now I need to write a paper or two. Damn.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, June 14th
Orioles Game
Sleep at Darin and TC's
Sunday, June 15th
Leave at 8am
Drive to Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museums (Art and Natural History)
Drive to Cleveland
Monday, June 16th
Roughly 9 hour drive (Google)
Saint Louis
Tuesday, June 17th
Arch
Cardinals Game @ 7:15pm
Wednesday, June 18th
Touch Kansas
Drive through the Ozarks
Sleep somewhere on the way to Dallas (whatever's cheap)
Thursday, June 19th
Texas Rangers Game @ 1:00
Drive to Houston?
Friday, June 20th
Drive to Austin
Hang out in Austin
Saturday, June 21st
Hang out in Austin
Sunday, June 22nd
Drive to Abilene for lunch
Drive to Carlsbad area
Monday, June 23rd
Guadalupe Mountains NP
Guadalupe Peak Hike
Tuesday, June 24th
Carlsbad Caverns NP
White Sands NM
Drive towards Tuscon
Saguaro NP?
Wednesday, June 25th
Drive to Grand Canyon
Thursday, June 26th
Grand Canyon NP
South Rim
Drive to Kanab
Friday, June 27th
Zion NP
That trail that JT talked about that we missed last time
Drive to Las Vegas (or past it, if possible Indian Springs,NV?)
Saturday, June 28th
Leave damn early
Drive through Death Valley NP
Drive to Sequoia NP (Visalia, CA?)
Sunday, June 29th
Sequoia NP/King's Canyon NP
Monday, June 30th
Sequoia NP/King's Canyon NP
Drive through Yosemite NP
Lee Vining, CA (possible to stay here???)
Tuesday, July 1st
Drive to Moab, UT
Wednesday, July 2nd
Arches NP
Drive to Boulder
Thursday, July 3rd
Rocky Mountain NP
Friday, July 4th
Saturday, July 5th
Drive to Devils Tower
Devils Tower
Drive to Rapid City
Sunday, July 6th
Mount Rushmore
Drive to Theodore Roosevelt NP
Theodore Roosevelt NP
Drive to Billings, or farther?
Monday, July 7th
Yellowstone NP
Tuesday, July 8th
Grand Teton NP
Wednesday, July 9th
Drive towards Seattle
Thursday, July 10th
Seattle!!!
Orioles Game
Sleep at Darin and TC's
Sunday, June 15th
Leave at 8am
Drive to Pittsburgh
Carnegie Museums (Art and Natural History)
Drive to Cleveland
Monday, June 16th
Roughly 9 hour drive (Google)
Saint Louis
Tuesday, June 17th
Arch
Cardinals Game @ 7:15pm
Wednesday, June 18th
Touch Kansas
Drive through the Ozarks
Sleep somewhere on the way to Dallas (whatever's cheap)
Thursday, June 19th
Texas Rangers Game @ 1:00
Drive to Houston?
Friday, June 20th
Drive to Austin
Hang out in Austin
Saturday, June 21st
Hang out in Austin
Sunday, June 22nd
Drive to Abilene for lunch
Drive to Carlsbad area
Monday, June 23rd
Guadalupe Mountains NP
Guadalupe Peak Hike
Tuesday, June 24th
Carlsbad Caverns NP
White Sands NM
Drive towards Tuscon
Saguaro NP?
Wednesday, June 25th
Drive to Grand Canyon
Thursday, June 26th
Grand Canyon NP
South Rim
Drive to Kanab
Friday, June 27th
Zion NP
That trail that JT talked about that we missed last time
Drive to Las Vegas (or past it, if possible Indian Springs,NV?)
Saturday, June 28th
Leave damn early
Drive through Death Valley NP
Drive to Sequoia NP (Visalia, CA?)
Sunday, June 29th
Sequoia NP/King's Canyon NP
Monday, June 30th
Sequoia NP/King's Canyon NP
Drive through Yosemite NP
Lee Vining, CA (possible to stay here???)
Tuesday, July 1st
Drive to Moab, UT
Wednesday, July 2nd
Arches NP
Drive to Boulder
Thursday, July 3rd
Rocky Mountain NP
Friday, July 4th
Saturday, July 5th
Drive to Devils Tower
Devils Tower
Drive to Rapid City
Sunday, July 6th
Mount Rushmore
Drive to Theodore Roosevelt NP
Theodore Roosevelt NP
Drive to Billings, or farther?
Monday, July 7th
Yellowstone NP
Tuesday, July 8th
Grand Teton NP
Wednesday, July 9th
Drive towards Seattle
Thursday, July 10th
Seattle!!!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
chillin
ago I was writing a paper, last two hours I've been enjoying some
fantastic live music. Temple Grill for dinner + drinks in half an
hour. Good times.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
five nights
Wednesday: 7pm through 12am @ Beer tasting and Hot Tomato's
Thursday: 6pm through 3am @ LDP, Black Bear, and Club Med
Friday through Sunday: Bachelor party.
Seems like spring is here.
Thursday: 6pm through 3am @ LDP, Black Bear, and Club Med
Friday through Sunday: Bachelor party.
Seems like spring is here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
the merrier month of may
...add on a Red Sox home game at Fenway.
After that, Yankees Stadium, Shea, and Fenway will have been experienced. Might also hit up games with the Orioles, Nationals, Astros, Pirates, Cardinals, Rangers, and Rockies while driving across the country. Why not? Evenings are usually downtime anyway.
After that, Yankees Stadium, Shea, and Fenway will have been experienced. Might also hit up games with the Orioles, Nationals, Astros, Pirates, Cardinals, Rangers, and Rockies while driving across the country. Why not? Evenings are usually downtime anyway.
the merry month of may
List of activities, in no particular order:
Visit the Sam Adams Brewery in Boston
Watch the Daily Show - in person
Indians game in Cleveland
Visit the Great Lakes Brewery in Cleveland
Visit Maia in Orlando
Class trip to the Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL
Wine tasting with the Marketing professors
JT and Alissa's birthday and end of year celebration at Hula Hanks
Graduation
One last final exam, one last project, and one last paper.
Visit the Sam Adams Brewery in Boston
Watch the Daily Show - in person
Indians game in Cleveland
Visit the Great Lakes Brewery in Cleveland
Visit Maia in Orlando
Class trip to the Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL
Wine tasting with the Marketing professors
JT and Alissa's birthday and end of year celebration at Hula Hanks
Graduation
One last final exam, one last project, and one last paper.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
mission accomplished
I was sitting here on my computer listening to some music and playing this game that a friend of mine recommended on his blog. That, combined with the "heat" of a nice spring day in New Haven was apparently too much for my computer to bear. It overheated and shut itself down to keep itself from self-destructing (literally).
Sigh... That was the final straw that got me to do what I should have done a while ago - clean out my computer. 45 minutes later, the HSF can now support airflow. Instead of running at 60C+, it's now running at 50C, which is 10C less than it was earlier today (with the case off for that matter), and a full 6-8C less than what it generally ran over the past winter. It also booted up much much faster, perhaps because it wasn't throttling itself to keep itself from the brink of death as it's probably been doing for the past two years. Maybe I don't need a new computer after all! Just a bigger hard drive and more RAM...
Sigh... That was the final straw that got me to do what I should have done a while ago - clean out my computer. 45 minutes later, the HSF can now support airflow. Instead of running at 60C+, it's now running at 50C, which is 10C less than it was earlier today (with the case off for that matter), and a full 6-8C less than what it generally ran over the past winter. It also booted up much much faster, perhaps because it wasn't throttling itself to keep itself from the brink of death as it's probably been doing for the past two years. Maybe I don't need a new computer after all! Just a bigger hard drive and more RAM...
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