Category Archives: the usual drivel

I don’t know where else to put this stuff

Worst Items to Move

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There are three qualities you don’t want in items when you’re planning to move: heavy, oddly shapen, and larger than a box. My strategy for packing these things was to pile them on as many pillows and soft, unbreakable items as possible and hope that they didn’t get throw onto, into, and through more fragile items.

Here are were the worst items from our recent move:

[Satellite dish]
#3 – Satellite dish – Not very heavy, but terrible shape for packing. If anyone knows of a use for this (other than signing up for dish tv service), let me know.

[Bicycle trainer]
#2 – Bicycle trainer – Just as bad a shape as the dish, but heavier. At least it’s increasing in value moving from sunny CA to the frozen tundra.

[Chubby's table]
#1 – Chubby’s table – This table from a defunct burger place has been passed around since its glory days in El Cerrito Plaza. It’s also the worst item to move. Yes, the base is removable from the top, but that base is heavy. It also has sharp edges which thankfully didn’t slice off any limbs or digits.

I talked to a cowboy last night!

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I was leaving work last night, and just as I was about to call Melissa, I saw a guy hanging out near the chemistry buildings. He was wearing a large cowboy hat. In Berkeley, a place renowned for people and things not-normal, this was not normal.

“Excuse me,” the guy called out in a distinctly Texan accent.

I walked toward him and could now see him better in the dim light. He had one of those shirts with the fringe on, and I thought he was also wearing one of those bolo tie.

He wasn’t just some student wearing a cowboy hat. He was a cowboy!

“Is the organic exam in Pimentel?” he asked.

“Sorry, I have no idea.” I replied.

“Oh, thanks anyway.” he said, and I started walking down the hill.

Kind fella, that cowboy. I wish he would have given a little more cowboy speak, like, “I’ll let ‘cha wrangle on home there, chuck-eater,” but alas…

ND vs. Michigan: Mr. Brightside

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Not only did Notre Dame lose to Michigan, and looked bad doing it, but that means I have to do this:

[Something I really don't want to be wearing]

However, in the interest of maintaining optimism, I present to you five things that make me happy.

5) I saved 50 cents with a coupon at lunch yesterday.
4) Today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day.
3) My bike is functioning again and serves as the best way to get to work since I’m not eligible for a bus pass anymore.
2) I have my health, which is important since I don’t know if I have health insurance.
1) Baseball.

White Sox at Athletics: Where to focus your attention at a baseball game

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Last night, we went to see the A’s host the Chisox at the Coliseum. Loaiza started for the A’s and continued his second half resurgence, allowing 2 runs only four baserunners in 7 innings. The offense had plenty of opportunities and did enough damage to give Oakland the 4-2 victory. The win lowered the A’s magic number to 11, with 16 games to play. The two points I’d like to make are two examples of incompetence due to lack of focus of what was happening on the field.

  • In the fourth inning, Chavez led off with a walk, and Payton followed with a double to right center, giving the A’s runners at second and third with no outs. Swisher came to the plate, and hit a shallow fly ball to right field. RF Dye, who has an outstanding throwing arm, settled under it and made the catch flat-footed. To his surprise, Chavez dashed for the plate and scored ahead of a delayed throw from the outfield. On the play, Payton moved up to third, scoring when Ellis hit a sacrifice fly to center. Replays of Dye showed him in absolute disbelief that Chavez, who’s been hampered by leg problems this season, would attempt to score on a shallow fly ball to a strong-armed outfielder. If he would have set up to catch the ball and get it back to the infield, he could have prevented a run (for a play at least). The result of the inning was a 2-1 A’s lead, which they would not relinquish.
  • There were a group of French-Canadians down the row from us. I suspected early on that they weren’t entirely familiar with the game. My hypothesis was confirmed when I saw one of them taking a picture of the guy selling churros in the stands. Bizarre.

    • Who’s fault is this?

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    In a recent press conference, the President clarified his opinion on the connection between Iraq and 9/11:

    BUSH: The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East.
    QUESTION: What did Iraq have to do with it?
    BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
    QUESTION: The attack on the World Trade Center.
    BUSH: Nothing. Except it’s part of — and nobody has suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — Iraq — the lesson of September 11th is take threats before they fully materialize, Ken. Nobody’s ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq.
    [ThinkProgress.org]

    I wonder how he explains the results of this recent CNN survey:

    Do you think Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September 11th terrorist attacks, or not?
    43% – Yes
    52% – No
    6% – Unsure

    It’s a funny thing to believe if nobody has suggested the connection…