New computer

I have been trying to decide what I want to do about a computer for two weeks now. At first, I tried to buy a new Dell. They were running fantastic deals, but I kept getting an error page when I tried to check out.

This morning it hit me that I might be approaching this from the wrong direction.

Computers are getting more and more common, to the point that they're almost an essential appliance in every home. I think in another ten years, every home will have computers like every home now has a refrigerator (but they'll still need refrigerators, I'd guess).

So I'm going to approach this new computer like buying a new refrigerator. In fact, I'm going to do one better: I'd assume that every laptop on the market now will only last 2-3 years (between planned obsolescence and the demands of laptops). So instead of plunking down $1,500 for a computer that will be gone in three years or less, I'm going to the low end:

A $600 laptop from Circuit City.

It's not top of the line, but it's disposable.

Most ... interesting story of the week

(I hope)

Angry dog owner beats breeder with dead chihuahua

Having your new puppy die can be tough. But it may have pushed one Missouri woman over the edge.

Investigators say she went back to the breeder's home and forced her way in. A fight broke out, and eventually the two women ended up on the porch. That's where police say the angry owner used the dead Chihuahua puppy to repeatedly whack the breeder over the head.

According to the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, the breeder told a neighbor to call police. That led the dog owner to get in her car -- taking the dead puppy with her, which she waved from the sunroof as she drove off.

Police aren't identifying the woman, but say she could face burglary and assault charges. The breeder wasn't seriously hurt.

Cornerstone of society

On NPR this morning, Bill Frist called marriage "the cornerstone of society."

Ok, when did this happen?

My family

Did I never think that my family would discover my blog?

I don't know.

But they have, and now I'm not sure what to think.


any comments? (family can comment, too, of course!)

Blockbuster

I have officially given up on Blockbuster. Their card is no longer in my wallet. If I were Stephen Colbert, Blockbuster would be dead to me.

They're simply too much of a hassle.

You see, I'm living in the world of Netflix. With Netflix, as I'm sure you know, there might not be the convenience of "running out to Netflix for a movie," like there is with Blockbuster, but Netflix also doesn't have Blockbuster's decidedly inconvenient fines.

Over the last few weeks, I have racked up about $20 in fines from Blockbuster because I've forgotten that there are businesses out there that still charge "late fees" (incidentally, even the UT library has ceased that quaint practice).

And if Blockbuster really cared about customer service, you'd be able to return a movie at any Blockbuster store.

I'm not giving any more business to a place still working under such an antiquated and customer-unfriendly business model.

Congratulations

Yay for Katie on selling her book!

Congratulations!

Technology and fate

So my computer died a few weeks ago. It was still under warranty, and I sent it off to get repaired, but my inclination at this point (almost 3 years in and twice in the shop in the last year - this time at a crucial point) was to get a new computer.

And Dell has been doing some fantastic deals.

(And to be honest, I like new gadgets.)

But whenever I try to order a new one, I get an error page. And I need to finance it (six months no interest) because I currently don't have a debit card.

Fate is telling me not to buy a new computer. I wonder why.

Concert tomorrow

I just read about a concert tomorrow night that I don't want to miss:

Danielle Howle & Carl Snow At: Corner Lounge, Thursday June 8th, 5 bucks.

Now I just need to find a way to be free tomorrow night.

Beautiful weather

I am a winter person.

Anecdotally, I've always assumed that made me a rarity. I simply enjoy winter more. If it's hot, you are hot; if it's cold, you put on a coat.

And it doesn't help that my A/C is (still) out (at what point do you start pro-rating your rent payments?).

But I have to say, the weather has been absolutely gorgeous this week. Don't you think?

Rocky Top Brigade

I don't know what's going on with the Rocky Top Brigade.

It's a great little resource. My old blog was listed on it and I always got some links from it. But I can't seem to get this blog listed (yes, I have tried emailing).

I always forget

I always forget how hard it is to do that first homework assignment of the year.

I can handle the reading, it's turning in assignments that I dread.

Two days down, 18 to go.

Moods

At times like this, I find myself pondering the question of moods. I had a professor in college who told me he didn't believe in moods. At the time, I thought that was silly. How could you not believe in moods? Hell, I'd even seen him in a "bad mood."

I still don't have much incite on what moods are, but I can tell you this: I feel fine.

I recently got divorced. I am in class in the middle of the summer. My air conditioning isn't working. My computer broke down at the worst possible time - right before school started - taking away some of my favorite things (and making blogging rather difficult). Dell keeps giving me error pages when I try to place orders for a new computer. I had a not-too-pleasant run-in with Nashville's finest last weekend. And Blockbuster just left me a nasty message on my voicemail.

But I feel fine. And I generally feel fine.

And I have lots of reasons to feel fine: a great family, wonderful friends, a girlfriend I totally don't deserve, a roof over my head.

I don't know why, but life is good.

Who are you?

Please tell me a little about yourself, dear reader, and how you stumbled upon my blog.