Christmas decorations *yeah*

I forgot that the fun part of setting up Christmas lights is the one time of the year I use my staple gun....







If only I knew WHERE it went to.

Me sees a storm cloud ahead

The end of the year will be here soon, which will bring to an end the email address I've had for over seven years. I had partly expected to die with this address, but University's changing policies will bring that to an end.

I've changed all (that I know of) subscription services to the new address. I've changed my blogger account to reflect the new address. I've changed listservs to the new address (well, listservs that were easy enough to change - if it's an important one, I'll figure out a way to get back on it). I've told the family and friends I email the most that the address has changed.

But my boss being a creature of habit, still sends me mail to the soon to be extinct address. Mind you, I can go through my Sent Mail folder and probably find three emails I sent him personally to tell him to change his address book. But so far, he hasn't done it yet.

I could be a nice person, go to his laptop, and update his address book entry for my name. Instead, I will probably just wait until January 3rd, when he comes storming in the lab with something like this:

"I tried to send you an email, but it was returned to me."

"Yes sir, I sent you four emails in the last two months saying that it was going to die at the end of the year. Would you like me to forward them to you again?"

Come on, I don't get to play BOFH very often.

Border life

Slate Magazine started a series of articles of Arizona residents living on the border of Mexico. It's worth checking out. So far, issues such as drug runners, trash, and aggressive migrants have been covered.

I know my parents won't admit it, but I'm sure stories such as these are the reason why they don't move to Patagonia, AZ. And I'd worry about them as well. They have 17 acres of land with a wash running through the property, and only 20 miles from the border. They said if they lived there, they wouldn't get a dog, and they don't have any working guns (antiques).

So the land sits vacant - at least there's no home for migrants to break into and no water source for them to use (the well is capped).

A little too much holiday cheer?

After I watched the Christmas display this guy put up, all I can say is "Wow".

Could probably make a lot of money doing something similar for Vegas hotels and casinos.

Too bad it caused a traffic problem and watching this movie is the only way to see it now.

I knew there was a reason I didn't buy a HDTV yet

I suppose something similar happened with the first programmable VCR's, but half HDTV owners think they're watching HDTV, but really are not.

This is the best part of the article:

The survey confirms the long-standing prejudice of many of us non-videophiles that HDTV really isn’t all that impressive. Still, it is milding shocking that so many people plunk down money for an HD set, but never catch on that it isn’t actually turned on.

Heck, if millions of people are willing to plunk down hundreds of dollars for the latest iPod or digital camera, why not piss away the money for a HDTV set, and not activate it.

I suppose part of the problem is that they buy their TV's at places like BestBuy where the minimum wage salesman doesn't know that you need more stuff to watch shows in HDTV. That's why it's helpful (if you have the money) to buy at speciality electronic stores - those guys know their stuff.

It's Friday - hold the brain

Nothing from the clinic today - so it's going to be a quiet day (I think). Which is probably good because my lower back is acting up again.

So I am just catching up on news articles. Shame the kid in Chicago didn't make it - at least the plane didn't take out any houses like one did 33 years ago (along with 47 people).

But perhaps this is the reason why I should take a mental day off. I was reading an article titled "Snowbirds stay" from the Arizona Republic. I thought for the longest time it was referring to more Canadaians staying in the Phoenix area (but really it has to do with geese that migrate from Canada, but are now staying).

Of course, you get a taste of the nice winters here, why would you go back?

Maybe a cup of coffee will help.