the unstoppable force of my velvet-smooth but adamantine certainty

o.O

2009-10-25T03:37:46Z

I put in Disc 1 of the audiobook for "Good in Bed" written by Jennifer Weiner, read by Laura Hicks.

CDDB told me I'd put in Disc 3 of the audiobook for "Good in Bed" written by Elizabeth Peters, ready by Ian Fleming.

recipe exchange

2009-10-19T21:52:56Z

anyone interested in being in a recipe exchange via email? you send out one recipe by email and pass the exchange on to your friends, so it shouldn't be time consuming. reply if you are interested. thanks!

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passing it on from moonbeamjedi

2009-10-19T20:19:43Z

moonbeamjedi posted about an Orange Tabby Tom cat looking for a good home. Does anyone reading this have a place for a very friendly kitty who just wants a family to belong to? Preferably around the Pittsburgh area.

I'm not really that technical, ya know...

2009-10-16T22:57:29Z

I call myself a geek, but I'm really more of a geek wannabe or a fringe geek. I can solve techncial problems up to a point but then I run out of ideas for how to fix things, expecially if it's hardware-realted. Like, for some reason, my brain refuses to consider "maybe it's just a bad cable" as a good theory as to why a device is having problems. I had one of those earlier this week. Still don't have the resolution (it's me dad and he'll do things in his own time, but in the meantime I lent him a card reader that should work since his wasn't).

I want to reformat my HD and reinstall my OS (WinXP) from scratch. [Some people think that's a radical thing to do, but I don't. I used to do this all the time/as needed with my Win95 machine.] Everything works fast when you do a fresh install, and you lose all the detritis that's been piling up on your HD, little bits and pieces left behind by programs you uninstalled years ago and so on. So there it is, very straightforward goal.

I do not have a WinXP install disk, though. My PC, a Compaq, came with a Recovery Disk but not a bootable install disk that will let me reformat C:\ and go on my merry way. Grrrr.

Research tells me I can make a bootable disk, so long as I already have a WinXP install disk to go off. Given that it's called a Recovery Disk, I don't think I can wipe the drive and install from the Recovery Disk - it's probably designed to run from within the Win OS.

Is buying a new XP install disk (which'll prolly be hundreds of $s) my only solution here?

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I love a man with a big ... vocabulary

2009-10-16T05:01:54Z

is there a word for someone who crafts an organization's or political/politician's message? It's not PR... I'm applying for a job that randomly threw "Internal Communications" into the job title and I'm trying to figure out what a person who does Internal Communications is called.

helping to spread the word: Stolen from Dragoncon - please read

2009-09-19T16:14:47Z

Reposting from wimsey70:

A one of a kind steampunk piece was stolen from its creator at DragonCon. There's a cash reward for return, no questions asked, and more if the person is caught instead.

Please take a minute and look at the pictures please, and signal boost if you're so inclined.

It looks like this:

There are more details here:

http://brute-force.livejournal.com/127377.html

StopChildTorture.org: ‘A Search For Survivors’ now hosted by Project DoD

2009-08-31T17:15:09Z

Follow-up to a post from last week: the blog "childtoreture.wordpress.com" that was suspended by Wordpress along with a lot of bullshit runaround has been relocated. The new location is StopChildTorture.org and it's hosted on by Project DoD, http://home.dod.net

"Project DoD is a nonprofit collective organized to research and develop tools, technologies, and infrastructure that promote community, solidarity, and autonomy." If you can afford to donate, it's tax-deductible and allows sites like StopChildTorture.org to continue, despite limited finances.

I personally do not intend to ever patronize Wordpress after the hypocrisy with which this woman and, indeed, the entire community has been treated. I would urge you to do the same, but no offense if you stand with your conscience and you choose not to boycott them.

I find it slightly ironic that the new hosting service is named with the same acronym used for the U.S. Department of Defense and lately they've been doing a lot of work defending poor little defenseless blogs from the big baddies.

This entry was originally posted at http://valancy.dreamwidth.org/709218.html. You can comment here, as you would normally, or comment there using OpenID. Please support Dreamwidth.

call to action

2009-08-27T13:13:52Z

reposting something via cassildra via copperbadge via waywardradish:

So, a friend of a friend runs a blog about child abuse--specifically, holding therapy, which is pretty nasty. It's hosted on Wordpress.

Or, I should say, it WAS hosted on Wordpress. Copperbadge tells us that now, the company is screwing with her, after suspending her blog. Please, if you can take a moment, email them and tell them that what they're doing is wrong and hurtful to survivors of this "therapy".

I tried to provide a link to the blog, which I read just yesterday, but it has again been suspended for TOS violations which remain unspecified. Pls repost and go to Copperbadge's blog to see where to write email to respectfully disagree and even an example of what to say.

I disagree with anyone being meddled with like this, but it's worse to me that Wordpress seems to be taking sides. I haven't heard of them harrassing the bloggers who support holding therapy, who have posted a blog intended to mislead people into thinking waywardradish supports it as well. So what gives?

entrepreneurial spirit?

2009-08-07T19:58:26Z

I just hooked up the VCR to the PC so I can rip video tapes now. The converter was much cheaper than buying all new DVDs, plus I have videos I made myself that I can't buy.

But now that I can convert VHS to DVD and cassette tapes to CD via the computer, it's got me wondering if I might do this for other people to earn some pin money (or gas money, more to the point).

I haven't ripped any VHS tapes yet so I don't know how tough those are, but cassettes can be quite time-consuming, especially if it's a homemade tape - I'd have to listen to it and basically manually figure out where all the track breaks need to be. Ripping tapes happens in real time, unlike ripping CDs & DVDs; it'll take 2 hours to rip a 120-minute cassette, and then there's more work to be done. It's not two of MY hours, it's two machine hours, but that's still 2 hours I can't be ripping something else.

ANYway. I have time and resources to do it, so if you've any tapes you'd really like to have ripped, email me and I promise a reasonable rate. It's good to know you're working with someone you can trust, especially if something's irreplaceable like family recordings. :)

book for sale

2009-08-04T22:15:07Z

I've been culling my book collection to find items to sell, since I'm still not working. :(

I had been holding on to a fantastic book I found (the only one that had been written at the time I needed to deal with this problem) on adult children whose parents divorce. It's called "A Grief Out of Season" and I highly recommend it.

My parents' divorce was over 10 years ago now, though, and I thought I'd pass the book on. Rather than take it to Half-Price Books like I have with so many others, I thought I'd see what it sells for on Amazon. I was shocked to discover that sales start at $75 and go up to $315! And these are for books which are sometimes described as in not-great condition!

So I've officially listed my first used book on amazon.com for sale. I'm charging less than the others, as they all seem to be businesses, but I'm trying to keep with the value of it too, since it's out of print. I'm so proud. *sniff sniff*

Mine's listed @ the top (probably because it's the cheapest). http://bit.ly/QRCLt

Tell a friend! Get a pic! Do a blog! :)

hey PC users

2009-07-05T04:04:17Z

hey PC users, what program(s) do you like for writing a DVD that I can stick in my DVD player and play? I'm having a hard time finding one.

I'm just not that into you

2009-06-20T00:02:06Z

I need your advice. I'm in a situation with a couple guys I know, and trying to be a nice person is getting me stuck. One is someone I've met recently and the other is someone I've known 18+ months.

These guys really like me. They want to spend more time with me.

But I do not want to spend more time with them. These two are really really boring.

This isn't a break-up because we aren't dating. But I can't keep seeing these guys because I'm too wimpy to tell them what I think. Unfortunately for me, I'm not a total bitch. I can't just say "you're boring, get lost" - not without feeling really bad about it.

I've contemplated just not returning their calls. That is a shitty thing to do IMHO and to be reserved for the most stubborn cases. So I want to say something. The only think I can think to say is "this just isn't working out for me." Can you think of anything else that won't hurt the other person's feelings?

what the hell, can't hurt, right?

2009-06-03T06:07:06Z

Get your own CrushTag!

I'm unusual too

2009-04-30T03:01:19Z

finally watching the pilot of "The Unusuals" - this exchange spoke to me. Two female cops talking to each other:

"On the plus side, he doesn't stare at your boobs when he's talkin' to ya."
"On the down side?"
"I got great boobs. Why isn't he lookin'?"

Snrk.

are you wise in the ways of household, um, things? + brief update

2009-04-24T03:52:16Z

I have a couple homeowner/householdy questions for you handy types, which I am not.

1. I found online a "socket converter" that I can put in my candelabra-base/small-base ceiling fans and then screw in a bulb with a standard base. I can't afford that converter right now, let alone shipping and handling, but I wondered if you've ever seen something like this @ the hardware store or if you know somewhere local I might pick one up, or if I'm going to HAVE to mail order it.

2. I freecycled some IKEA chairs and they are kind of falling apart. If I put wood glue or liquid nails (recommendations on which adhesive would be best are welcome), do I also need vises or something to keep pressure on until the adhesive dries, however long that takes? Or could it be sufficient to just put some adhesive in the hole, put the dowel back in the right spot, and leave it alone until the adhesive dries? The only familiarity I have with wood is watching my ex-roomie the harp maker build harps, and there were vises on everything when he was gluing instruments together. I'm not sure how one would vise the arm of a chair to the chair, though. Any expert advice?

A recruiter contacted me today with a job that's up my alley, so there's at least something going on. She sounded like she didn't even want to ask, because she knows I want usability work and this isn't usability work, but I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth (what a strange idiom). It's the kind of work I did in DC, which I really enjoyed and which I've been unable to find here. We'll see if it turns into anything.

In other news, I have cleaned my mother's house out of yet more of my stuff that I felt required when I lived there. Most of the stuff is books that are going to go straight to HPB soon as I can get there, i.e. income.

I also picked up a dress I'm wearing to a wedding Saturday. I'm going alone. I've never gone to a wedding alone that I can recall, but I decided it wasn't worth trying to find a date just because I should bring one, and I didn't imagine anyone I would want to ask would go with me. I was expecting some other mutual friends to be there. Turns out, they won't be there. The introvert in me is just loving this. </sarcasm> I won't know anyone there except the happy couple. It's too late for me to decline to attend for a reason other than an emergency. I'm driving an hour each way, I spent money I barely have on a gift, Lord knows who I'll be sitting with at the reception - I have this dreadful picture of the kids' table with me and weird slow Cousin Bernie or something. I don't normally go to weddings/receptions thinking I'm going to leave as early as humanly possible [unlike other events, like my dad's parties], but I think I will this time. I hope they have dinner. At least I didn't have to buy a new dress. I better try that dress on...

I have a meeting with the Dept of Labor & Industry folks tomorrow for career help and whatnot. It doesn't say what I need to wear but some sort of aptitude test is required. I suppose I'll dress business casual. I should get to bed. Night, y'all.

last day to register to vote in PA

2009-04-20T17:05:17Z

thanks to hopita for the reminder to remind everyone: Today is the last day to register to vote if you want to vote in the primary election this May.

Thanks to this reminder, I was prompted to make sure I'd gotten around to changing my voting address, since last election I voted where I used to live because my ID and voter reg card both said that's where I lived.

are you on Dreamwidth?

2009-04-18T21:36:46Z

Anyone on Dreamwidth, my reading pane's looking pretty empty. I only know a couple of you who've mentioned it. (yes, I'm way behind on LJ reading, as usual.) If you're on Dreamwidth, let me know so I can read you, k? Thanks!

eBay me

2009-04-06T04:46:28Z

Finally got around to listing some auction items on eBay, a wide array including jewelry, small electronics, HBA (health & beauty aids), even a provocative item of clothing! It's a random assortment of things. I'm not expecting to get rich, but I'm hoping to put these things in the hands of folks who will use them.

So please, check out my eBay items!

I got laid off

2009-03-09T19:02:28Z

Just got laid off. Will post link to CV soon as I post it on my website, once I remember how to post things to my website. Anyone in Pittsburgh area knowing of usability or user experience job opportunities, ping me.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

funny face

2009-03-07T19:39:27Z

I'm in the process of adding everyone I have in my contacts list and LinkedIn and on LJ, those of you whose real names I know, to my Facebook. If we're friends and you aren't added, add me, k? thx! :) I am coming into the 21st century! Well, I was kinda there being with the Twitter and all, but anyhow... yeah.

So, how's things?

I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille

2009-02-12T16:21:24Z

I was inspired by a talk with my friendly librarian last night to take part of my tax refund money and put it toward putting ALL the family Super8 films I have on DVD for my grandmother's 90th birthday this year. I had 4 small reels done for C'mas; retail was around $50 and it's 200 feet of film. Playing time isn't long; I don't recall but no more than 15 minutes, maybe. All told I have 1600 feet of film to transfer.

This job is both more important and more expensive so I want to shop around. Plus, if Ritz or Walgeeens or someone is the same cost but one is much higher quality, I'd want to know.

My final film had no soundtrack, which was better than a bad one so I was OK with it, although there were additional "music video" tracks that had music and I think maybe some visual effects that were expectedly cheesy.

Any of you have film transferred and were very happy with the end result?

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Writer's Block: Honey Bear

2009-01-18T19:45:51Z

Happy birthday, A. A. Milne! Not coincidentally, it's also Winnie the Pooh Day. Which resident of Pooh Corner do you identify with the most?

View 500 Answers

Piglet. It's hard to be brave when you're a very small animal.

But if I took a "which Hundred Acre Wood character are you?" I expect I'd come out as Rabbit. Loud and opinionated and stubborn. I wouldn't want a stupid bear stuck in my doorway either, and I probably wouldn't feel too much sympathy cause it's his own stupidity wot got him there.

I would give a lot for a blank book and a pen right now.

I'm an Aunt to the power of 4!

2009-01-09T18:34:41Z

I have a new nephew!!! My brother and his wife have named him Holbrook. The rest of his name's ok tho. (just kidding - I do like it, but it's ... fussy.)*

So now that's 3 nephews and 1 niece all together.

It brings up the inevitable "so, when are YOU going to have one?" comments. I have only so far gotten that from one guy @ work. I'm not going to have kids. I don't care whether or not other people agree, especially not enough to fight about it, so I just told him 'won't be me!'

I told blackpaladin that you couldn't pay me to do any of it - pregnancy, childbirth, labor. "Unless I was the last woman on Earth and I had to have a dozen children so they could all have incestuous babies so the species could survive. ... ew. I'm not talking about that any more."**

* So the name thing. My brother had a big thing about picking a name that wouldn't get his kids beat up on the playground. He threw away some very nice standard names because of that. So I wondered how "Holbrook" got through. He said, "well, Holbrook is gay. But Brooks will kick your ass." I thought "uh, sure." We talked about nicknames, and I reminded him whatever his family calls him he's going to shed when he's a teenager so have some alternatives available so they don't ruin the one good nickname for him. :) I suggested he better give that kid a decent middle name so he can be H. Middlename if he'd rather. Giving him my brother's first name as a middle name was on the table, I suggested going traditional and using my dad's and his father's middle name. In the end, they hadn't decided but they'd lost or forgotten to bring their name list and my brother couldn't remember them so now the boy has his first name as a middle name. Holbrook Matthew.

** Seriously, though, if I was the last woman on Earth, the human race would die out, thanks to a medical procedure I had, unless the other person left on earth with me was a man with the skill/knowledge/capability of reversing that. The likelihood of that is extremely small. I just wanted to fend off those inevitable "so when are YOU gonna be the last woman on Earth?" comments. There, I think I've covered all the inevitables.

Huzzah for Holbrook! Hip hip hooray!

Mitch Hedberg is a funny funny guy

2008-12-30T16:21:56Z

I'm so bummed I only just learned about him at Thanksgiving, but I spend the better part of last night watching and/or listening to Mitch Hedberg on YouTube. Dude rocks.

"I was at a restuarant and ordered a chicken sandwich, but I don't think the waitress heard me because she said "how would you like your eggs?" so I tried to answer her anyhow. I said "Incubated. And then raised. And then beheaded. And then plucked. And then cut up. And then put onto a grill. And then put onto a bun. Damn, it's gonna take a while. I don't have time. Scrambled."

extra special request for my BPAL friends

2008-12-21T22:19:13Z

BPAL folks, if you happen to see this and would be kind enough to pass word on to me, I'd be very grateful.

I'm seeking any size I can get of Twilight Alchemy Labs (TAL) "White Light". I'm in some BPAL/TAL sale and swap LJ communities, but if White Light has come through since I signed up, I haven't seen it. Also, I have nothing to swap, only money to offer. If you happen to see any available in your trolling for BPAL deals, would you let me know? Many thanks in advance.