Project Pengu
Vision: Save money and rescue penguins via greater resource conservation
Objective: To purchase a reasonably priced refrigerator to replace vintage model in current home within 2 weeks
Background: Current month's electricity bill sky rocketed to a very large sum. Whilst it is partially an administration error by PG&E, HH has agreed to utilise this opportunity to implement ways to reduce energy consumption and upgrade appliances to more energy efficient model where possible.
Actions: Research and select desired fridge models through recognised, informative websites. Cross reference with Craigslist and retail pricing. Wash and repeat.
Selection criteria (in order of importance):
- Price
- Same size as allocated kitchen space
- Improved energy efficient from current fridge
- Ascetically pleasing
- Proximity to home - convenient to transport back to apartment
Budget and expectations:
$400-500 is a solid amount for second hand fridge. It will unlikely be new. Delivery approx $60 additional
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
hmmm HOW to tell a relative no...
A relative sent me a necklace for my birthday. Very nice, choker style, silver with cubic zirconia charm of a cross.
So I know people wear crosses a fashion accessory... but I've never been a fan and would really want to keep that symbol as a sign of church, religion etc. With the way the world is, I would rather not have to wear it and deal with people thinking 'gee I didn't know she's religious'. For heaven's sake half the things I do would point to NOT being so church choir girl!
As I didn't want to have that necklace on my shelf - I wrote back to my relative and said the above. Some people say it might have been less trouble to just keep it and not wear it. But why bother carting around stuff I don't want? At the end it'll end up in the Goodwill bin, or as a recycled gift to someone. Either way, that's not fair to the person who got it for me in the first place.
I have a suspicion my relative liked the necklace herself... that formed my decision to send it back. It's not being ungracious about gifts, but just being honest in that it did not fit into my own philosophy.
On the other hand I ought to have learnt to pick my battles better... eek.
So I know people wear crosses a fashion accessory... but I've never been a fan and would really want to keep that symbol as a sign of church, religion etc. With the way the world is, I would rather not have to wear it and deal with people thinking 'gee I didn't know she's religious'. For heaven's sake half the things I do would point to NOT being so church choir girl!
As I didn't want to have that necklace on my shelf - I wrote back to my relative and said the above. Some people say it might have been less trouble to just keep it and not wear it. But why bother carting around stuff I don't want? At the end it'll end up in the Goodwill bin, or as a recycled gift to someone. Either way, that's not fair to the person who got it for me in the first place.
I have a suspicion my relative liked the necklace herself... that formed my decision to send it back. It's not being ungracious about gifts, but just being honest in that it did not fit into my own philosophy.
On the other hand I ought to have learnt to pick my battles better... eek.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I might have, er, bought cereal made by peace lovin hippies
So I went to the shops for groceries yesterday. Just to the local supermarket since I was still coughing up a lung, and weren't really energetic. To be fair, the Cole Valley grocer is quite well stocked. It has a fresh meats section, a mainly organic veggie stand and quite a big selection of breakfast items.
I wanted to stock up cereal for breakfast, and didn't want something sugary so went for the Granola. They only had one kind of granola..
It wasn't till this morning that I realise I bought something called Peace Granola. It is made by the Golden Temple of Eugene, Oregon... a non-profit peace organisation founded by Yogi Bahjan.
Whilst I have no problem with promoting peace etc, I do have a problem with the label 'peace'. It is an all encompassing word that isn't anywhere close to being a SMART objective. Peace requires step by step action, with chanting and meditation needing to work hand in hand with things that cause an effect.
Anyhooo... it's just my way of saying I am just not so sure the notion of peace on my cereal made me feel good. In fact, it made me question whether my financial contribution (through purchase of this cereal) was the right step towards peace.
PS - it's pretty tasty granola
I wanted to stock up cereal for breakfast, and didn't want something sugary so went for the Granola. They only had one kind of granola..
It wasn't till this morning that I realise I bought something called Peace Granola. It is made by the Golden Temple of Eugene, Oregon... a non-profit peace organisation founded by Yogi Bahjan.
Whilst I have no problem with promoting peace etc, I do have a problem with the label 'peace'. It is an all encompassing word that isn't anywhere close to being a SMART objective. Peace requires step by step action, with chanting and meditation needing to work hand in hand with things that cause an effect.
Anyhooo... it's just my way of saying I am just not so sure the notion of peace on my cereal made me feel good. In fact, it made me question whether my financial contribution (through purchase of this cereal) was the right step towards peace.
PS - it's pretty tasty granola
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
its not just me who has a problem with Sarah Palin!
Go Brigitte!!! As seen on AFP Newswire...
Brigitte Bardot slams Palin as a 'disgrace to women'
French film legend-turned-activist Brigitte Bardot took a swipe at Sarah Palin on Tuesday, saying the US vice-presidential candidate was a disgrace to women.
"I hope you lose these elections because that would be a victory for the world," Bardot wrote in an open letter to Republican John McCain's running mate in the November vote.
"By denying the responsibility of man in global warming, by advocating gun rights and making statements that are disconcertingly stupid, you are a disgrace to women and you alone represent a terrible threat, a true environmental catastrophe," wrote Bardot.
The screen icon from the 1960s, who now heads an animal rights foundation, went on to assail Palin for supporting Arctic oil exploration that could jeopardise delicate animal habitats and for dismissing measures to protect polar bears.
"This shows your total lack of responsibility, your inability to protect or simply respect animal life," Bardot wrote.
In a final salvo against Palin, the 74-year-old picked up on Palin's depiction of herself as a pitbull wearing lipstick and said she "implored" her not to compare herself to dogs.
"I know them well and I can assure you that no pitbull, no dog, nor any other animal for that matter is as dangerous as you are," Bardot wrote.
Brigitte Bardot slams Palin as a 'disgrace to women'
French film legend-turned-activist Brigitte Bardot took a swipe at Sarah Palin on Tuesday, saying the US vice-presidential candidate was a disgrace to women.
"I hope you lose these elections because that would be a victory for the world," Bardot wrote in an open letter to Republican John McCain's running mate in the November vote.
"By denying the responsibility of man in global warming, by advocating gun rights and making statements that are disconcertingly stupid, you are a disgrace to women and you alone represent a terrible threat, a true environmental catastrophe," wrote Bardot.
The screen icon from the 1960s, who now heads an animal rights foundation, went on to assail Palin for supporting Arctic oil exploration that could jeopardise delicate animal habitats and for dismissing measures to protect polar bears.
"This shows your total lack of responsibility, your inability to protect or simply respect animal life," Bardot wrote.
In a final salvo against Palin, the 74-year-old picked up on Palin's depiction of herself as a pitbull wearing lipstick and said she "implored" her not to compare herself to dogs.
"I know them well and I can assure you that no pitbull, no dog, nor any other animal for that matter is as dangerous as you are," Bardot wrote.
a dinky-die DBag if you've ever seen one...
Below is a real email from someone confirming their 1st interview with a relatively established San Francisco tech co.
Needless to say the interview was promptly cancelled by the CTO.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Subject: Our meeting tomorrow
To: xxxx
Joe,
Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me today. I am
looking forward to meet your team tomorrow at 4 pm.
Concerning the interview style: Of course, it's entirely your choice
and it works really well indeed, but only if we'd remain confined in
the realm of existing technologies known to your team. As I would like
to propose something much more advanced, you might want to talk to
your team first and ask them to keep open mind and maybe check up on
TRIZ and Domain Specific Languages (DSL) methodologies before the
meeting. Speaking from my previous experience, it would save us a
significant amount of time and make conversation much more to the
point.
I would also like to have a few minutes of your time (or we could
leave it to a follow up interview) to discuss some of the questions
that I have, mostly related to the markitecture of your company.
See you tomorrow!
--xxxxxxxx
Needless to say the interview was promptly cancelled by the CTO.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Subject: Our meeting tomorrow
To: xxxx
Joe,
Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me today. I am
looking forward to meet your team tomorrow at 4 pm.
Concerning the interview style: Of course, it's entirely your choice
and it works really well indeed, but only if we'd remain confined in
the realm of existing technologies known to your team. As I would like
to propose something much more advanced, you might want to talk to
your team first and ask them to keep open mind and maybe check up on
TRIZ and Domain Specific Languages (DSL) methodologies before the
meeting. Speaking from my previous experience, it would save us a
significant amount of time and make conversation much more to the
point.
I would also like to have a few minutes of your time (or we could
leave it to a follow up interview) to discuss some of the questions
that I have, mostly related to the markitecture of your company.
See you tomorrow!
--xxxxxxxx
Thursday, October 2, 2008
New neighbourhood, and the big race
I recently moved to the leafy neighbourhood of Cole Valley, where there is a mixture of designer dogs, ladies of leisure and more recovered hippie-veggie living folks than I could poke a stick at. Its just off the madness of Haight-Ashbury, and backing onto the gentile of Twin Peaks/ Diamond Heights. All in all it makes an interesting neighbourhood.
With the new neighbourhood comes an interesting mix of people to observe on the buses and light rail. I now have 3 (!!) options of how to get to work. Unfortunately they're all at slightly different places so you have to make a call when you leave the house. I've been crashing with J last few days (since bed hasn't arrived)... we haven't killed each other, and truth of the matter is it's going pretty well. I think he's going to last a little while (we ARE going away together soon... must last till then!)
The line-up for Treasure Island came out yesterday. I was at first jealous that C, who has 2 months less experience than I, is a stroke for my boat. But after analysing everything - over a tequila, couple of glasses of wine and long talk with J - fact of the matter is that she wanted it more. And she has worked hard, plus I paddle on the other side of the boat so... all in all, I am now comfortable with it.
Just ordered 48 bagels from Noah's as my contribution to the paddler's food pile... I might as well order the best for us, and our Long Beach visitors!
With the new neighbourhood comes an interesting mix of people to observe on the buses and light rail. I now have 3 (!!) options of how to get to work. Unfortunately they're all at slightly different places so you have to make a call when you leave the house. I've been crashing with J last few days (since bed hasn't arrived)... we haven't killed each other, and truth of the matter is it's going pretty well. I think he's going to last a little while (we ARE going away together soon... must last till then!)
The line-up for Treasure Island came out yesterday. I was at first jealous that C, who has 2 months less experience than I, is a stroke for my boat. But after analysing everything - over a tequila, couple of glasses of wine and long talk with J - fact of the matter is that she wanted it more. And she has worked hard, plus I paddle on the other side of the boat so... all in all, I am now comfortable with it.
Just ordered 48 bagels from Noah's as my contribution to the paddler's food pile... I might as well order the best for us, and our Long Beach visitors!
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