5/27/2004
The End Of The World Is Here
How do I know this? Simple...
David Hasselhoff is making a rap album.
That's right, let it sink in. A RAP album. A RAP album produced by Ice T. If this doesn't convince you that it's time to go to confession, stock up on canned goods and barricade yourself inside your house, then I can't help you.
The Hoff
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How do I know this? Simple...
David Hasselhoff is making a rap album.
That's right, let it sink in. A RAP album. A RAP album produced by Ice T. If this doesn't convince you that it's time to go to confession, stock up on canned goods and barricade yourself inside your house, then I can't help you.
The Hoff
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5/26/2004
Finishing Up At The Ranch
This is my last week here at work so things are winding down pretty quickly. There's actually a bunch of administrative crap I have to get done towards the end so I've been pretty busy. Throw in our trip to Miami this weekend, trying to plan a quick vacation (possibly overseas) and Laura's birthday next week... well, it's a lot.
Back at work though it's just a pathetic landscape with many a goodbye to add a little sting. The goodbye's have a cumulative effect. At first it's no big deal but you start realizing that you're getting more and more sad. Sneaks up on you it does. Said goodbye to my mentor last Friday and that was tough.
Wanted to get a happy hour together for my departure but it seems so lame now. Half the people I liked are already gone anywya. Think I'll just visit some people one on one and that's it.
On the positive side, I tested the drive from my new job to the house. 7.6 miles from DOOR TO DOOR!!! Oh sweet Lord, how I have dreamt of such a scenario.
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This is my last week here at work so things are winding down pretty quickly. There's actually a bunch of administrative crap I have to get done towards the end so I've been pretty busy. Throw in our trip to Miami this weekend, trying to plan a quick vacation (possibly overseas) and Laura's birthday next week... well, it's a lot.
Back at work though it's just a pathetic landscape with many a goodbye to add a little sting. The goodbye's have a cumulative effect. At first it's no big deal but you start realizing that you're getting more and more sad. Sneaks up on you it does. Said goodbye to my mentor last Friday and that was tough.
Wanted to get a happy hour together for my departure but it seems so lame now. Half the people I liked are already gone anywya. Think I'll just visit some people one on one and that's it.
On the positive side, I tested the drive from my new job to the house. 7.6 miles from DOOR TO DOOR!!! Oh sweet Lord, how I have dreamt of such a scenario.
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5/24/2004
Goodbye Angel
This is a little late, but goodbye to what might be my favorite TV show of all time. Why? Certainly the fact that it was a great show helps, but timing was very big as well.
Buffy (which Lauki loved and watched from day one) was about (somewhat generally) female teen problems/angst materialized through demons, vampires etc.
Angel, in turn, was about (again, somewhat generally) male, adult problems. As Joss said in response to "Why was Angel cancelled?"... "It was the only show on the WB about grown ups."
That's why the timing was so perfect, the issues on Angel hit very close to home for me. Responsibility, family, work, back-stabbing politics, trying to stay yourself while getting what you want out of life. All perfectly illustrated in a quirky world of demons, corporations and warriors.
Also, Angel had an extra dark edge that I loved (as James M. complained before he joined the cast "They get to have all the fun, someone's always cutting someone's head off on Angel").
Spoilers ahead...
The two part finale (we thought) was great. A lot characterization leading up to the finish (Spike's choice for a last outing... how great was that?). Overall, it really kept up the show's theme of gray spaces between right and wrong and how hard it is to deal with those (back-stabbing Lindsey, killing Drogan). It was also heavy on the melancholy sense of loss that the Buffyverse had throughout (Fred and Wesley, Eve and Lindsey, Angel and Connor).
Best moment... Lorne killing Lindsey. OMG was that unexpected.
Funniest moment... "I want you Lindsey"
So, bye bye Angel. Maybe in the long run it's not bad to see your favorite show go too early instead of too late (X-Files, Buffy etc.).
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This is a little late, but goodbye to what might be my favorite TV show of all time. Why? Certainly the fact that it was a great show helps, but timing was very big as well.
Buffy (which Lauki loved and watched from day one) was about (somewhat generally) female teen problems/angst materialized through demons, vampires etc.
Angel, in turn, was about (again, somewhat generally) male, adult problems. As Joss said in response to "Why was Angel cancelled?"... "It was the only show on the WB about grown ups."
That's why the timing was so perfect, the issues on Angel hit very close to home for me. Responsibility, family, work, back-stabbing politics, trying to stay yourself while getting what you want out of life. All perfectly illustrated in a quirky world of demons, corporations and warriors.
Also, Angel had an extra dark edge that I loved (as James M. complained before he joined the cast "They get to have all the fun, someone's always cutting someone's head off on Angel").
Spoilers ahead...
The two part finale (we thought) was great. A lot characterization leading up to the finish (Spike's choice for a last outing... how great was that?). Overall, it really kept up the show's theme of gray spaces between right and wrong and how hard it is to deal with those (back-stabbing Lindsey, killing Drogan). It was also heavy on the melancholy sense of loss that the Buffyverse had throughout (Fred and Wesley, Eve and Lindsey, Angel and Connor).
Best moment... Lorne killing Lindsey. OMG was that unexpected.
Funniest moment... "I want you Lindsey"
So, bye bye Angel. Maybe in the long run it's not bad to see your favorite show go too early instead of too late (X-Files, Buffy etc.).
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5/19/2004
Why I Love Conspiracy Theories (trying to contribute to the rant theme)
Recently, I had to scold myself over not being a vigilant enough crackpot. This comes from everyone's favorite, incredibly damaging prison scandal. At first I was outraged (still am) but, counter to my norm, assumed this was the work of a few bad seeds. How could I, who like to look for machinations in everything, have been so naive? I should have instantly assumed this wasn't an aberration by a few individuals who were now being 'properly handled.' Good God. Have I learned nothing? That's textbook conspirator's company line/cover our asses/let the fall guy (or guys and girls in this case), fall.
My default mode is to always suspect that the 'rouge/criminal/senseless' acts were part of a greater design... just one we didn't know about. Which brings us to the red hot New Yorker article that's causing the latest stir (see link). Now these are just allegations and they are, of course, being denied. While stock denials are flying out, so is disparagement of the whistleblower. This is also textbook.
That's what I love about CT's...
It's all about pattern recognition. When you see PTB's (in whatever realm) tell you
a) we knew nothing about this
b) we've got it handled
c) this was an aberration
d) anyone who says different is crazy
, you've got a probable conspiracy. To list documented examples from our history would be absurd because there's soooo many.
But Kiki (you're saying), when conditions a-d exist, that's still a wild assumption (CT). True, but the positive is that although outlandish, it's usually closer to the truth than the company line. Take the JFK assassination for instance (oh ya, you knew where I was going). There's a thousand insane theories, and a few good ones. But they're *all* better than the official story! That's the most outlandish one of all.
So, that is why I love CT's and why I recommend always assuming the worst about the organizations of men. They lie and spin so often, that you're actually taking the odds by assuming they are right off the bat.
New Yorker
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Recently, I had to scold myself over not being a vigilant enough crackpot. This comes from everyone's favorite, incredibly damaging prison scandal. At first I was outraged (still am) but, counter to my norm, assumed this was the work of a few bad seeds. How could I, who like to look for machinations in everything, have been so naive? I should have instantly assumed this wasn't an aberration by a few individuals who were now being 'properly handled.' Good God. Have I learned nothing? That's textbook conspirator's company line/cover our asses/let the fall guy (or guys and girls in this case), fall.
My default mode is to always suspect that the 'rouge/criminal/senseless' acts were part of a greater design... just one we didn't know about. Which brings us to the red hot New Yorker article that's causing the latest stir (see link). Now these are just allegations and they are, of course, being denied. While stock denials are flying out, so is disparagement of the whistleblower. This is also textbook.
That's what I love about CT's...
It's all about pattern recognition. When you see PTB's (in whatever realm) tell you
a) we knew nothing about this
b) we've got it handled
c) this was an aberration
d) anyone who says different is crazy
, you've got a probable conspiracy. To list documented examples from our history would be absurd because there's soooo many.
But Kiki (you're saying), when conditions a-d exist, that's still a wild assumption (CT). True, but the positive is that although outlandish, it's usually closer to the truth than the company line. Take the JFK assassination for instance (oh ya, you knew where I was going). There's a thousand insane theories, and a few good ones. But they're *all* better than the official story! That's the most outlandish one of all.
So, that is why I love CT's and why I recommend always assuming the worst about the organizations of men. They lie and spin so often, that you're actually taking the odds by assuming they are right off the bat.
New Yorker
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5/17/2004
Another San Antonio Visit...
Another 10 hours of night driving
Another two nights of sleeping on a really, really hard futon (are the Japanese dwarf-like in their toughness or something?)
Another weary Monday of work after a midnight arrival.
Another bittersweet visit to an aging relative (who, thankfully, was in much better spirits this time... it was a big birthday weekend for her).
Another 100 miles of driving within city limits.
Another trip to the park (Mexican families are drawn to parks on Sundays like no other people on earth).
Another load of chocolate-peanut butter cookis from West, TX to reward myself (mmm, bakery). In fact, dinner last night consisted entirely of kolachies (sp?) and said cookies. I may be getting older, but Kiki's stomach can still handle it's share of bizzare food.
Thank God there's nothing to do at work but surf the net and read blogs. I could get used to this layoff atmosphere... come in late, leave early and do no work in between.
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Another 10 hours of night driving
Another two nights of sleeping on a really, really hard futon (are the Japanese dwarf-like in their toughness or something?)
Another weary Monday of work after a midnight arrival.
Another bittersweet visit to an aging relative (who, thankfully, was in much better spirits this time... it was a big birthday weekend for her).
Another 100 miles of driving within city limits.
Another trip to the park (Mexican families are drawn to parks on Sundays like no other people on earth).
Another load of chocolate-peanut butter cookis from West, TX to reward myself (mmm, bakery). In fact, dinner last night consisted entirely of kolachies (sp?) and said cookies. I may be getting older, but Kiki's stomach can still handle it's share of bizzare food.
Thank God there's nothing to do at work but surf the net and read blogs. I could get used to this layoff atmosphere... come in late, leave early and do no work in between.
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5/14/2004
Once Again...
I feel compelled to post something that will surely only interest me. So, apologies upfront.
On the other hand, if you find hunkering for an article by the Church of England that compares Bob Dylan to Jesus Christ, you're in luck!
Church Of England Newspaper
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I feel compelled to post something that will surely only interest me. So, apologies upfront.
On the other hand, if you find hunkering for an article by the Church of England that compares Bob Dylan to Jesus Christ, you're in luck!
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5/12/2004
Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory It Ain't
Nope, no silly wonderland here at the office. More like Disasterpiece Theater. In the wake of all these layoffs, people seem to be falling apart.
-One poor guy (God rest his soul), committed suicide this week. Now, he had a lot going on in his life other than this but I'm sure the work stress didn't help. He came from the old company like myself and we'd chat about how glad we were to leave there. Very nice, positive guy. It's hard to believe some people can keep so much inside.
-Another guy, who I would talk to about Star Wars and video games, is in the hospital waiting to die. His body seems to be spontaneously shutting down and they've put him under to spare him the pain. He's a cool guy with a wife and child at home. I don't know if he was the sole wage earner or not.
Both of the above are under 40 btw.
-A VP went home with an anxiety attack. He's been home on doctor's orders since.
-Today, a lady who works for me found out her husband has cancer, again (he survived the first time). She was a mess on the verge of tears. Such a silly little old lady (I mean that affectionately). She insisted on staying until I was back from lunch to make sure she had permission to leave the office.
So, my wish (hell, let's make it prayer given the blogging theme) for them and everyone else in the world is... Don't let yourself give in to despair.
"It's alright ma, it's life and life only"
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Nope, no silly wonderland here at the office. More like Disasterpiece Theater. In the wake of all these layoffs, people seem to be falling apart.
-One poor guy (God rest his soul), committed suicide this week. Now, he had a lot going on in his life other than this but I'm sure the work stress didn't help. He came from the old company like myself and we'd chat about how glad we were to leave there. Very nice, positive guy. It's hard to believe some people can keep so much inside.
-Another guy, who I would talk to about Star Wars and video games, is in the hospital waiting to die. His body seems to be spontaneously shutting down and they've put him under to spare him the pain. He's a cool guy with a wife and child at home. I don't know if he was the sole wage earner or not.
Both of the above are under 40 btw.
-A VP went home with an anxiety attack. He's been home on doctor's orders since.
-Today, a lady who works for me found out her husband has cancer, again (he survived the first time). She was a mess on the verge of tears. Such a silly little old lady (I mean that affectionately). She insisted on staying until I was back from lunch to make sure she had permission to leave the office.
So, my wish (hell, let's make it prayer given the blogging theme) for them and everyone else in the world is... Don't let yourself give in to despair.
"It's alright ma, it's life and life only"
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5/10/2004
Latest Sapening's (sic) In Rapid Fire
Will this never end? Still trying to talk to company A in order to nicely turn them down (and dreading it, let me tell you. Talk about uncomfortable). On the positive side, I'm swinging by company B to sign the offer letter today (aside- doesn't that sound like a kid's show on PBS? "It's time for Company B!"). It'll take leaving the office early but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Lauki did some presumptive celebrating this weekend. Maybe we'll do something at the house once all this is officially official. Who knows? Good God, they're playing Jessie's Girl in the office right now. Anyway, some 18 yr old scotch and 15 yr old whiskey was downed at Trinity Hall, along with a moderate shopping spree at the nearby Virgin Megastore. Needless to say, all my purchases were Dylan related. Speaking of Hunter S. Thompson (had to catch you're attention in case you were about to bail out), here's an excerpt from a recent interview...
Q. What kind of music are you listening to?
A. Let's see. I just got the new Bob Dylan box set from the Rolling Thunder tour from 1975. It's kind of a big package with a book and several CDs in there. It's maybe the best rock and roll album I've ever heard.
Q. You don't think that was after his peak?
A. Shit. You really are dumb. You have to listen to it and find out. If you think that, you really are ignorant. What do you want to talk about, Eminem?
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Will this never end? Still trying to talk to company A in order to nicely turn them down (and dreading it, let me tell you. Talk about uncomfortable). On the positive side, I'm swinging by company B to sign the offer letter today (aside- doesn't that sound like a kid's show on PBS? "It's time for Company B!"). It'll take leaving the office early but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Lauki did some presumptive celebrating this weekend. Maybe we'll do something at the house once all this is officially official. Who knows? Good God, they're playing Jessie's Girl in the office right now. Anyway, some 18 yr old scotch and 15 yr old whiskey was downed at Trinity Hall, along with a moderate shopping spree at the nearby Virgin Megastore. Needless to say, all my purchases were Dylan related. Speaking of Hunter S. Thompson (had to catch you're attention in case you were about to bail out), here's an excerpt from a recent interview...
Q. What kind of music are you listening to?
A. Let's see. I just got the new Bob Dylan box set from the Rolling Thunder tour from 1975. It's kind of a big package with a book and several CDs in there. It's maybe the best rock and roll album I've ever heard.
Q. You don't think that was after his peak?
A. Shit. You really are dumb. You have to listen to it and find out. If you think that, you really are ignorant. What do you want to talk about, Eminem?
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5/06/2004
It Does Happen... Kiki Makes a Decision!
Well, that's it. After a grueling day of research and negotiation, I'm done. Verbally took a job with WAMU. Now I just have to nicely decline one external and one internal offer tomorrow. Some of my mentors here at work really helped me shift through the 10,000 factors and realize this is my best option. I feel so relieved.
Still have to work out a start date, which is much more complicated than it sounds. My prospective boss is going to her boss and, if they're willing to wait for me, I'll even get some time off in between.
Oh God, if that works out I'm even starting to consider a trip for Laura and I to celebrate. You know our honeymoon is only the second time in our dozen years together that we took a trip by ourselves?!
It took 8 years of hard work (4 of them being unmitigated hell) but I've learned I'm finally a marketable employee.
Best of all is the fact that, thanks to an unlikely twist of fate, it's the company I started with (and ran from) that now has to pay me a handsome sum to waltz off to a new job. Leaving them the first time was the best career move I ever made. Now doing it again is shaping up to be even better.
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Well, that's it. After a grueling day of research and negotiation, I'm done. Verbally took a job with WAMU. Now I just have to nicely decline one external and one internal offer tomorrow. Some of my mentors here at work really helped me shift through the 10,000 factors and realize this is my best option. I feel so relieved.
Still have to work out a start date, which is much more complicated than it sounds. My prospective boss is going to her boss and, if they're willing to wait for me, I'll even get some time off in between.
Oh God, if that works out I'm even starting to consider a trip for Laura and I to celebrate. You know our honeymoon is only the second time in our dozen years together that we took a trip by ourselves?!
It took 8 years of hard work (4 of them being unmitigated hell) but I've learned I'm finally a marketable employee.
Best of all is the fact that, thanks to an unlikely twist of fate, it's the company I started with (and ran from) that now has to pay me a handsome sum to waltz off to a new job. Leaving them the first time was the best career move I ever made. Now doing it again is shaping up to be even better.
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A rare political rant (seriously consider not reading this if you can't handle views *some* would call unpatriotic)
In fact, I don't want any comments on this one. E-mail me if you want but it's neither sought nor encouraged.
I keep away from this on the blog and in life because...
although I enjoy debate and support the free exchange of ideas, I also don't think anyone ever convinces anyone else of anything. Also, I tend to shock people more than I'd like to when I really state my mind on such things.
Anyway, on to the rare rant...
I hate the Americans in those prisoner abuse photos more than I hate the terrorists.
That's right, I really do. Why? Because the terrorists don't know any better. They were brainwashed from an early age. My religion calls on me to forgive my enemies and I've done that in my heart. I forgive the 9-11 perpetrators for all their hate and misguided zeal. Did a long time ago in fact. I pity the young men in their ranks for never having a normal life, for being born into such conditions and for not having the perspective to have backed away from all this (if they ever had a chance to). Don't get me wrong, I also think they're dangerous and should be dealt with like any lethal threat (I'm no pacifist).
Now to our fellow citizens in those photos...
(Disclaimer- I know these were the actions of a very small minority of our armed forces)
They should know better, they did know better. They grew up in the U.S. Unless they are true sociopaths, they have to have known the immorality of their acts. Don't think I'm only talking about the pictures we've seen either, that's the Disney version from what I'm gathering.
What's their excuse? The pressures of combat, lack of leadership, the tragic loss of comrades, out and out orders from up top to do those things... too bad. The smiles on those photos don't lie. In those smiles I see a sadistic smugness that makes me ill. In their own psychotic way, the terrorists were fighting for their side, these soldiers fought against their own side. The side that is supposed to be about justice.
The effect of those photos is almost incalculable. You think the President of the U.S. jumps on Arab TV for something less than truly colossal damage? I hope they think it's still funny when a terrorist who decided to blow himself up after seeing those takes some of our citizens/soldiers with him, or horribly disfigures them for life.
They betrayed our country, endangering the lives they swore to protect and without ignorance as an excuse.
May God protect any foreign captives from retribution based on those pictures and may he give us the strength to wrestle with monsters without becoming them.
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In fact, I don't want any comments on this one. E-mail me if you want but it's neither sought nor encouraged.
I keep away from this on the blog and in life because...
although I enjoy debate and support the free exchange of ideas, I also don't think anyone ever convinces anyone else of anything. Also, I tend to shock people more than I'd like to when I really state my mind on such things.
Anyway, on to the rare rant...
I hate the Americans in those prisoner abuse photos more than I hate the terrorists.
That's right, I really do. Why? Because the terrorists don't know any better. They were brainwashed from an early age. My religion calls on me to forgive my enemies and I've done that in my heart. I forgive the 9-11 perpetrators for all their hate and misguided zeal. Did a long time ago in fact. I pity the young men in their ranks for never having a normal life, for being born into such conditions and for not having the perspective to have backed away from all this (if they ever had a chance to). Don't get me wrong, I also think they're dangerous and should be dealt with like any lethal threat (I'm no pacifist).
Now to our fellow citizens in those photos...
(Disclaimer- I know these were the actions of a very small minority of our armed forces)
They should know better, they did know better. They grew up in the U.S. Unless they are true sociopaths, they have to have known the immorality of their acts. Don't think I'm only talking about the pictures we've seen either, that's the Disney version from what I'm gathering.
What's their excuse? The pressures of combat, lack of leadership, the tragic loss of comrades, out and out orders from up top to do those things... too bad. The smiles on those photos don't lie. In those smiles I see a sadistic smugness that makes me ill. In their own psychotic way, the terrorists were fighting for their side, these soldiers fought against their own side. The side that is supposed to be about justice.
The effect of those photos is almost incalculable. You think the President of the U.S. jumps on Arab TV for something less than truly colossal damage? I hope they think it's still funny when a terrorist who decided to blow himself up after seeing those takes some of our citizens/soldiers with him, or horribly disfigures them for life.
They betrayed our country, endangering the lives they swore to protect and without ignorance as an excuse.
May God protect any foreign captives from retribution based on those pictures and may he give us the strength to wrestle with monsters without becoming them.
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5/04/2004
STAY ON TARGET... STAY ON TARGET
Tomorrow should be a big day with big decisions. Ugh, too many decisions. I will most likely have competing offers from two outside places. Both are minutes away from the house, both are good companies. Never ask a RSS to make a decision. I have zero idea what I'll do.
Step 1 is definitely to see what this place (the 2nd) offers me. The tough part then is to go back to the other people with "Hey, can you match this?"
It's a delicate game. Push too hard and you'll get them to yank their cards back. Play it really poorly and you'll get both sides to do that, leaving you with 2 things (Jack and S***). Don't do it enough and you're robbing yourself of that green stuff we're all forced to live off. I feel like I'm on the freaking Apprentice. Too much pressure for such a simple man. Another night of light sleep awaits...
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Tomorrow should be a big day with big decisions. Ugh, too many decisions. I will most likely have competing offers from two outside places. Both are minutes away from the house, both are good companies. Never ask a RSS to make a decision. I have zero idea what I'll do.
Step 1 is definitely to see what this place (the 2nd) offers me. The tough part then is to go back to the other people with "Hey, can you match this?"
It's a delicate game. Push too hard and you'll get them to yank their cards back. Play it really poorly and you'll get both sides to do that, leaving you with 2 things (Jack and S***). Don't do it enough and you're robbing yourself of that green stuff we're all forced to live off. I feel like I'm on the freaking Apprentice. Too much pressure for such a simple man. Another night of light sleep awaits...
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Ta Da!
There, it took me a while to build up the resolve (e.g. to get bored enough here at work) but I finally added fellow blogger links to this little abode. Sorry for the delay, that's something I should have done at the start of this time waster.
On the plus side, I never realized a blog could be such a handy home base. Now I can start my surfing here and go to any of the places I normally frequent instead of typing in url's left and right. Pretty convenient.
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There, it took me a while to build up the resolve (e.g. to get bored enough here at work) but I finally added fellow blogger links to this little abode. Sorry for the delay, that's something I should have done at the start of this time waster.
On the plus side, I never realized a blog could be such a handy home base. Now I can start my surfing here and go to any of the places I normally frequent instead of typing in url's left and right. Pretty convenient.
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