All right. For those of you who have been waiting patiently for me to enter the current century: I finally joined Facebook. Now you can be my friends. =)
9.29.2006
9.28.2006
Good morning, everyone.
So, my first Corporate Tax exam is less than 12 hours away, and I'm less than halfway through the material that I need to study...9.26.2006
It's been one of those weeks...
... does anyone else ever wonder whether a career at Burger King would be such a bad thing?
OK, so I'm pretty sure that flipping burgers for my entire life would be worse than 18 months of grad school, but... sometimes I wonder.
Weeks like this are actually a good thing, though: They make me meditate a lot more on the fact that I have a God who is both sovereign and good. That's probably why weeks like this happen.
OK, so I'm pretty sure that flipping burgers for my entire life would be worse than 18 months of grad school, but... sometimes I wonder.
Weeks like this are actually a good thing, though: They make me meditate a lot more on the fact that I have a God who is both sovereign and good. That's probably why weeks like this happen.
9.25.2006
Is this really necessary?
Injured dolphin may get prosthetic tail
Not that I'm against being kind to animals, but how many humans are there with missing limbs that could be helped with that $100,000+ that is being spent on a prosthetic dolphin tail?
Not that I'm against being kind to animals, but how many humans are there with missing limbs that could be helped with that $100,000+ that is being spent on a prosthetic dolphin tail?
9.24.2006
What I Found in the Dishwasher
I was emptying the dishwasher at my apartment the other day and noticed something stuck in the back c
orner at the bottom of the dishwasher...
I would like to point out that I do not own any dishes like this, and I'm pretty sure my roommate doesn't, either. Presumably, the dish belonged to the previous tenants (two male law students), who perhaps wondered why they ended up with a lid that had no corresponding dish. Or maybe they didn't.
orner at the bottom of the dishwasher...I would like to point out that I do not own any dishes like this, and I'm pretty sure my roommate doesn't, either. Presumably, the dish belonged to the previous tenants (two male law students), who perhaps wondered why they ended up with a lid that had no corresponding dish. Or maybe they didn't.
9.22.2006
Sandra Day O'Connor
I got to go to this yesterday.
It's interesting how the article (particularly the opening paragraphs) makes it sound as if affirmative action was main topic of the hour. It doesn't mention O'Connor's remarks on "activist" judges, "swing votes" on the Court, the independence of the judiciary, and the percentage of female Supreme Court law clerks.
The article does briefly mention O'Connor's stories of trying to get her first job in an era when few lawyers were women. After graduating from Stanford, she finally managed to get an interview at a law office in Los Angeles--only to be asked about her typing skills and told that she could possibly work as a secretary in the firm.
Ironically, O'Connor was later asked to speak at the firm's 100th anniversary celebration. And the U.S. Attorney General who called and asked if she would be willing to consider the nomination to the Supreme Court was a former partner in that firm.
It's interesting how the article (particularly the opening paragraphs) makes it sound as if affirmative action was main topic of the hour. It doesn't mention O'Connor's remarks on "activist" judges, "swing votes" on the Court, the independence of the judiciary, and the percentage of female Supreme Court law clerks.
The article does briefly mention O'Connor's stories of trying to get her first job in an era when few lawyers were women. After graduating from Stanford, she finally managed to get an interview at a law office in Los Angeles--only to be asked about her typing skills and told that she could possibly work as a secretary in the firm.
Ironically, O'Connor was later asked to speak at the firm's 100th anniversary celebration. And the U.S. Attorney General who called and asked if she would be willing to consider the nomination to the Supreme Court was a former partner in that firm.
9.21.2006
The Wall Street Journal
I have to pay for The Wall Street Journal for school. I get access to the online edition, as well s the opportunity to pick up a print edition each day.This is my stack of papers that I haven't yet read. At least I'm faithful in picking them up each day!
9.19.2006
"Gambling"
Tonight I discovered that blackjack is harder than roulette.
But don't worry--there was no actual money involved!
Next on the agenda is getting my little bro to teach me poker... ;-)
But don't worry--there was no actual money involved!
Next on the agenda is getting my little bro to teach me poker... ;-)
9.17.2006
Brahms and The Three Little Pigs
When I was a little kid, my family (well, my brother and I, anyway) frequently watched a videotape of a Three Little Pigs cartoon. This particular version of the Three Little Pigs was set to several of Brahms' Hungarian Dances.
To this day, I cannot listen to any of the Hungarian Dances without thinking of the Three Little Pigs.
To this day, I cannot listen to any of the Hungarian Dances without thinking of the Three Little Pigs.
9.16.2006
Christmas Countdown
100 days!
I plan to start working on my Christmas list soon, so let me know if you want a copy. And I always accept cash donations. ;-)
I plan to start working on my Christmas list soon, so let me know if you want a copy. And I always accept cash donations. ;-)
9.15.2006
My social life as a grad student
My parents and grandparents visited me last weekend. My grandma seemed to think that I should be spending more time with my classmates (out of class, that is). A day or two later, I got a party invitation from some of my classmates. (No, I'm not going to the party.) I got a follow-up email today:
So, I'm pretty sure this is not what Grandma had in mind when she was asking about whether I do things with my classmates!
We have the keg now, and as a general policy, we don't not drink a keg when we have one. So, the sooner you come, the more beer you can drink. The more beer you drink, the less you'll realize you're at a party with all accounting students.
So, I'm pretty sure this is not what Grandma had in mind when she was asking about whether I do things with my classmates!
9.14.2006
9.13.2006
Textbook backorders and credit card activation
I finally managed to find a phone number for ecampus.com's customer service. (Couldn't find it on their website, so I had to Google it.) I asked about the book that I ordered August 21 that still hadn't arrived. I received email from ecampus.com August 31 (the last date by which the book was supposed to ship) telling me that the book had not arrived from their supplier yet, but I hadn't heard anything in the nearly two weeks since that email. The nice person on the phone found out that the book was on backorder and that they did not have an estimated arrival date. (Apparently they weren't planning on telling me this???) So, I cancelled my order and went and bought the book for about $50 more in the campus bookstore. (And, of course, I also spent over $6 on photocopies while I was waiting for the book to arrive.)
So, since I was going to have to buy a textbook, I decided to call to activate my new Visa so I could get points (woohoo!) when I bought the book. So I called Bank of America. Do you have any idea how many additional products they try to sell you when you call to activate your card? Sheesh!
Prerecorded female voice: If you would like information on how you can protect your account and give us more money by enrolling in a special program, press 1 now.
[long pause while I refrain from pressing 1]
Voice: We're sorry that you aren't interested in our offer to protect your account from blah blah blah by giving us more money. This is a very good idea, because people could steal your credit card and use it and ruin your credit rating and you'll never be able to buy anything again and your family will starve in the streets. We tell you this because we care about our customers. For more information, please press 1 now. Otherwise, press 2.
[I press 2]
Voice: We're sorry that you don't want to give us more money and we sincerely hope that nobody steals your credit card, but they probably will. We care about you. Please enter your 16-digit credit card number.
[I enter it]
Voice: Thank you. While we are processing this information, I will ramble on about a special service in which you give us more money and if you die we'll pay at least part of your credit card bill because we care about you so much.
Me: Cut the crap and activate my card already! I have class in 15 minutes!
Voice: If you would like more information, please press 1.
[I wait]
Voice: Are you sure, you idiot? With this service, you will give us money, and in the unlikely event that you are hospitalized or die or are dismembered in a tragic accident involving a farm implement, we will pay up to $10,000 of the amount that you irresponsibly charged to your credit card, because obviously your family can't afford your entire credit card bill in addition to your funeral, and we'd rather you not rot in the street unless it's far away from our office, because we care about you so much. Blah blah blah blah give us money blah blah blah blah blah. Please press 1 now if you realize how important this is. If you care nothing about your family's future security in the unlikely event that something should happen to you--not that it would, but it isn't totally out of the realm of possibility--but if you have no sense of responsibility whatsoever and want your children to be sold to third-world countries to work as Dell customer service representatives to pay your credit card bill when you die, please press 2.
[I press 2]
Voice: Thank you. Your card has been activated. If you would ever like to give us more money to try to stave off your untimely death, please call.
So, since I was going to have to buy a textbook, I decided to call to activate my new Visa so I could get points (woohoo!) when I bought the book. So I called Bank of America. Do you have any idea how many additional products they try to sell you when you call to activate your card? Sheesh!
Prerecorded female voice: If you would like information on how you can protect your account and give us more money by enrolling in a special program, press 1 now.
[long pause while I refrain from pressing 1]
Voice: We're sorry that you aren't interested in our offer to protect your account from blah blah blah by giving us more money. This is a very good idea, because people could steal your credit card and use it and ruin your credit rating and you'll never be able to buy anything again and your family will starve in the streets. We tell you this because we care about our customers. For more information, please press 1 now. Otherwise, press 2.
[I press 2]
Voice: We're sorry that you don't want to give us more money and we sincerely hope that nobody steals your credit card, but they probably will. We care about you. Please enter your 16-digit credit card number.
[I enter it]
Voice: Thank you. While we are processing this information, I will ramble on about a special service in which you give us more money and if you die we'll pay at least part of your credit card bill because we care about you so much.
Me: Cut the crap and activate my card already! I have class in 15 minutes!
Voice: If you would like more information, please press 1.
[I wait]
Voice: Are you sure, you idiot? With this service, you will give us money, and in the unlikely event that you are hospitalized or die or are dismembered in a tragic accident involving a farm implement, we will pay up to $10,000 of the amount that you irresponsibly charged to your credit card, because obviously your family can't afford your entire credit card bill in addition to your funeral, and we'd rather you not rot in the street unless it's far away from our office, because we care about you so much. Blah blah blah blah give us money blah blah blah blah blah. Please press 1 now if you realize how important this is. If you care nothing about your family's future security in the unlikely event that something should happen to you--not that it would, but it isn't totally out of the realm of possibility--but if you have no sense of responsibility whatsoever and want your children to be sold to third-world countries to work as Dell customer service representatives to pay your credit card bill when you die, please press 2.
[I press 2]
Voice: Thank you. Your card has been activated. If you would ever like to give us more money to try to stave off your untimely death, please call.
Rainy days...
I'm glad I have a third-floor apartment. If I didn't, I wouldn't get to listen to the rain on the roof.
9.12.2006
9.11.2006
Where were you?
It's hard to believe that it's been five years since September 11, 2001.
So... where were you?
I was a college freshman. I had a horn lesson from 9-9:30 that morning, and instead of going to the Snack Shop during my free half hour (as I usually did), I went back to my dorm room to think about whether I should tell my ex-boyfriend happy birthday if I saw him that day. (Yes, that was my biggest worry that day--although I was probably also worried about how to keep my horn teacher from noticing that I hadn't practiced.) I went to my 10:00 class--Principles of Christian Growth--and a girl in the row in front of me came in and asked, "Did you see? They flew a plane into the World Trade Center!" I thought she was kidding, until the teacher got up and started talking about it. I think we stopped and prayed--I can't remember for sure, but it seems like we would.
It's funny how, after that, it didn't seem to matter so much whether I wished that guy a happy birthday, or whether I was prepared for my horn lesson.
I went home for dinner that night and watched the evening news--saw the towers collapsing, the Pentagon burning, the ground in Pennsylvania smoldering. It was scary. And it made me stop to think about the eternal destiny of the people who died, and about what I was doing with my life. If I had been on one of those planes, or in one of the buildings that was hit, would I have been ready to die? I mean, I know I would have been ready in the sense that I was trusting in Christ alone for salvation. But would I have been able to look back on my (short) life and see anything of real value accomplished?
What about you?
So... where were you?
I was a college freshman. I had a horn lesson from 9-9:30 that morning, and instead of going to the Snack Shop during my free half hour (as I usually did), I went back to my dorm room to think about whether I should tell my ex-boyfriend happy birthday if I saw him that day. (Yes, that was my biggest worry that day--although I was probably also worried about how to keep my horn teacher from noticing that I hadn't practiced.) I went to my 10:00 class--Principles of Christian Growth--and a girl in the row in front of me came in and asked, "Did you see? They flew a plane into the World Trade Center!" I thought she was kidding, until the teacher got up and started talking about it. I think we stopped and prayed--I can't remember for sure, but it seems like we would.
It's funny how, after that, it didn't seem to matter so much whether I wished that guy a happy birthday, or whether I was prepared for my horn lesson.
I went home for dinner that night and watched the evening news--saw the towers collapsing, the Pentagon burning, the ground in Pennsylvania smoldering. It was scary. And it made me stop to think about the eternal destiny of the people who died, and about what I was doing with my life. If I had been on one of those planes, or in one of the buildings that was hit, would I have been ready to die? I mean, I know I would have been ready in the sense that I was trusting in Christ alone for salvation. But would I have been able to look back on my (short) life and see anything of real value accomplished?
What about you?
Good for Richard Daley!
Chicago mayor vetoes big-box wage increase
Glad to see a politician who, apparently, has at least thought about the possible repercussions of government interference in business. I'm sure his veto won't make him terribly popular (except with those big evil filthy-rich corporations), but he very definitely has a point.
Glad to see a politician who, apparently, has at least thought about the possible repercussions of government interference in business. I'm sure his veto won't make him terribly popular (except with those big evil filthy-rich corporations), but he very definitely has a point.
9.10.2006
Whoa.
"Does God Want You to Be Rich?"
I hardly think an explanation is necessary.
One thing, though: If you were planning an affordable-housing development, would you call it Corinthian Pointe? Tell me again what the church at Corinth was like? Sign me up to live there!
I hardly think an explanation is necessary.
One thing, though: If you were planning an affordable-housing development, would you call it Corinthian Pointe? Tell me again what the church at Corinth was like? Sign me up to live there!
9.09.2006
Something worse than cost accounting???
Yep, believe it or not. It's called Accounting Information Systems.
It's almost funny; this book (supposedly teaching us Great Plains) goes from the first chapter's "To close the window, click the 'x' in the upper right corner" to chapter four's "Prepare a pivot table. If you don't know how, see the reference book." Um, and they think people who don't know how to close windows are going to figure that one out?
Yes, I know how to close windows. I even figured out how to make a pivot table. Just don't know how to make a report out of that, and since the wretched book doesn't say how...
It's almost funny; this book (supposedly teaching us Great Plains) goes from the first chapter's "To close the window, click the 'x' in the upper right corner" to chapter four's "Prepare a pivot table. If you don't know how, see the reference book." Um, and they think people who don't know how to close windows are going to figure that one out?
Yes, I know how to close windows. I even figured out how to make a pivot table. Just don't know how to make a report out of that, and since the wretched book doesn't say how...
Personality profiles
Every personality profile that I've ever done has told me that I'm task-oriented rather than relationship-oriented. I used to think those results were a little off--that I was sort of balanced between the two extremes.
I'm not. I'm very definitely task-oriented. I guess I've finally admitted it to myself, or something. (I think I've noticed it more since I've moved away from home. I'm not good at staying in touch with people because I'm too busy doing homework and housework--that's right, tasks are coming before relationships.)
Anybody else have this problem? And how do you keep from becoming too task-oriented?
I'm not. I'm very definitely task-oriented. I guess I've finally admitted it to myself, or something. (I think I've noticed it more since I've moved away from home. I'm not good at staying in touch with people because I'm too busy doing homework and housework--that's right, tasks are coming before relationships.)
Anybody else have this problem? And how do you keep from becoming too task-oriented?
9.08.2006
I've been tagged.
All right, Monica tagged me a few days ago, so here we go:
(Disclaimer: obviously, the Bible could be the answer for several of these questions. However, I'm going to list other books in most of those cases, so my readers can get a better feel for what other books I've read.)
1. One book that changed your life: The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
2. One book that you've read more than once: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. One book you'd want on a desert island: OK, have to put the Bible for this one. And also maybe an encyclopedia. (That counts as one book, right???)
4. One book that made you laugh: Almost anything by Dave Barry
5. One book that made you cry: Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (the part where Rilla--Gilbert and Anne's youngest child--gets a letter from her brother, Walter, that he wrote the night before he was killed in WWI.)
6. One book that you wish had been written: How to Get the Perfect Internship When You Don't Know Where You Want to Start Your Career
7. One book you wish had never been written: The Qur'an
8. One book you're currently reading: The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur
9. One book you've been meaning to read: The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom
10. Now tag five people: Monica already tagged everybody! Well, almost... OK, I'll tag The GGG Man. And Bret.
(Disclaimer: obviously, the Bible could be the answer for several of these questions. However, I'm going to list other books in most of those cases, so my readers can get a better feel for what other books I've read.)
1. One book that changed your life: The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
2. One book that you've read more than once: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. One book you'd want on a desert island: OK, have to put the Bible for this one. And also maybe an encyclopedia. (That counts as one book, right???)
4. One book that made you laugh: Almost anything by Dave Barry
5. One book that made you cry: Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (the part where Rilla--Gilbert and Anne's youngest child--gets a letter from her brother, Walter, that he wrote the night before he was killed in WWI.)
6. One book that you wish had been written: How to Get the Perfect Internship When You Don't Know Where You Want to Start Your Career
7. One book you wish had never been written: The Qur'an
8. One book you're currently reading: The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur
9. One book you've been meaning to read: The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom
10. Now tag five people: Monica already tagged everybody! Well, almost... OK, I'll tag The GGG Man. And Bret.
9.06.2006
Ecampus.com
I wanted to let the general public know that I just spent $6.40 on photocopies.
Why did I feel compelled to make such liberal use of the copier in the campus library, you ask? Well, it was because I am still waiting for the Business Law textbook that I ordered from www.ecampus.com (at 7:24:41 p.m. on August 21) to arrive, and I thought I should start catching up on reading while I'm only four chapters behind.
To be fair to them, they at least let me know (on the last possible day the book was supposed to ship) that they were still waiting for their supplier to get the book to their shipping facility. And I can't complain too much, because the book, assuming it actually shows up, is costing me around $50 less than it would if I bought it in the bookstore on campus. I just hope it shows up before I spend that $50 (along with quite a bit of time) on the copier!
Oh, I emailed the website about this order, and they actually sent me a response within two days. But I replied to that email with another question on September 3, and have yet to hear back. I know there was a long weekend there, so we'll see when they get back to me. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Updated, 9:12 PM: I just received notification from ecampus.com that the book I ordered after the Business Law book has not yet arrived at their shipping facility. That's actually good; that gives me a chance to email them a second time telling them to cancel the order. Hope they get the message this time!
Why did I feel compelled to make such liberal use of the copier in the campus library, you ask? Well, it was because I am still waiting for the Business Law textbook that I ordered from www.ecampus.com (at 7:24:41 p.m. on August 21) to arrive, and I thought I should start catching up on reading while I'm only four chapters behind.
To be fair to them, they at least let me know (on the last possible day the book was supposed to ship) that they were still waiting for their supplier to get the book to their shipping facility. And I can't complain too much, because the book, assuming it actually shows up, is costing me around $50 less than it would if I bought it in the bookstore on campus. I just hope it shows up before I spend that $50 (along with quite a bit of time) on the copier!
Oh, I emailed the website about this order, and they actually sent me a response within two days. But I replied to that email with another question on September 3, and have yet to hear back. I know there was a long weekend there, so we'll see when they get back to me. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Updated, 9:12 PM: I just received notification from ecampus.com that the book I ordered after the Business Law book has not yet arrived at their shipping facility. That's actually good; that gives me a chance to email them a second time telling them to cancel the order. Hope they get the message this time!
9.05.2006
"Grisley" murders?
FoxNews.com strikes again.
This time, it's "grisley" murders at a Maine bed and breakfast.
The misspelling is on the headline on Fox's main page, and I expect it will be corrected before too long.
Scratch that--it's already fixed. I'm impressed. (Although I'd be more impressed if Fox proofread their headlines before posting them to their site.) (I'd also be--well, not impressed, but less unimpressed at least--if Fox taught its staff how to spell "grisly.")
This time, it's "grisley" murders at a Maine bed and breakfast.
The misspelling is on the headline on Fox's main page, and I expect it will be corrected before too long.
Scratch that--it's already fixed. I'm impressed. (Although I'd be more impressed if Fox proofread their headlines before posting them to their site.) (I'd also be--well, not impressed, but less unimpressed at least--if Fox taught its staff how to spell "grisly.")
9.04.2006
"Grizzly" discovery?
I'm glad FoxNews changed the headline for this article.
When I first saw it this morning, the headline on the FoxNews home page announced a "Grizzly discovery" in Iraq.
When I first saw it this morning, the headline on the FoxNews home page announced a "Grizzly discovery" in Iraq.
9.02.2006
Aaurgh!
A couple weeks ago, I posted remarks on people who consistently drive in the left (i.e., passing) lane on highways.
Today, I began to suspect that those left-lane drivers are also Saturday-afternoon Wal-Mart shoppers.
You know the ones I mean--the shoppers who manage to, with a single cart, block three aisles simultaneously. And, like Visa, they're "everywhere you want to be."
I'm also convinced that I saw a left-lane-20-mph-under-the-speed-limit driver at Wal-Mart; she was the woman who was at the photo center, hogging the only scanner (and, incidentally, the only place to print photos from a USB drive) while she printed out a large stack of photos. Oh, and she was editing each individual photo, too--and taking her time about it. When I walked up, the other people waiting in line had just given up and were walking off. I waited about five minutes and left to do the rest of my shopping. I came back 25 minutes later, and the woman was still there.
I didn't print my pictures.
But I did buy ice cream.
Today, I began to suspect that those left-lane drivers are also Saturday-afternoon Wal-Mart shoppers.
You know the ones I mean--the shoppers who manage to, with a single cart, block three aisles simultaneously. And, like Visa, they're "everywhere you want to be."
I'm also convinced that I saw a left-lane-20-mph-under-the-speed-limit driver at Wal-Mart; she was the woman who was at the photo center, hogging the only scanner (and, incidentally, the only place to print photos from a USB drive) while she printed out a large stack of photos. Oh, and she was editing each individual photo, too--and taking her time about it. When I walked up, the other people waiting in line had just given up and were walking off. I waited about five minutes and left to do the rest of my shopping. I came back 25 minutes later, and the woman was still there.
I didn't print my pictures.
But I did buy ice cream.
9.01.2006
"Many hedgehog lives will be saved"
McDonald's Succumbs to Hedgehogs' Needs
I'm all for being kind to animals, but does anyone else think people tend to go a little overboard here? I mean, they have a Hedgehog Preservation Society? Come on. I'm sure there are people starving somewhere in the world who need help more than the hedgehogs starving because their heads are stuck in McFlurry cups. And I suspect that there are some resources being used up on the hedgehogs that could be reallocated to help actual human beings.
I'm all for being kind to animals, but does anyone else think people tend to go a little overboard here? I mean, they have a Hedgehog Preservation Society? Come on. I'm sure there are people starving somewhere in the world who need help more than the hedgehogs starving because their heads are stuck in McFlurry cups. And I suspect that there are some resources being used up on the hedgehogs that could be reallocated to help actual human beings.
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