The Flatlanders

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ICanHasCheezburger/~3/hCPGOEYlfc8/

http://icanhascheezburger.com/?p=88084

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ICanHasCheezburger/~3/Tgc9qrCvvuU/

http://icanhascheezburger.com/?p=87663

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/015967.html

Blond: She says UCLA Santa Cruz is, like, 7 hours from LA.
Brunette: Weird. Well, I want to apply to the UCLA that's in LA.
Blond: Oh my god, I've been telling my dad since I was like four that I wanted to go UCLA. You know, the one in LA.
Brunette: We should totally both go there together!

--Penn Station

Overheard by: really?

I've joined the work ranks yet again, to give Turk some time off. So far it's just him and me, three days a week, five hours a day -- but the lady we directly work for is going on vacation for the next two weeks, then maternity leave in October -- for two months. We've already told them we'd love to get more hours, even if it's just temporary to cover her leave. Here's hoping!

And I realized today, we haven't really posted an OMGSQUEEBLATHER post about this job, have we?

The place is amazing. It's a little run-down, with mismatched computers scattered around the work stations (all Macs, but of varying ages and pedigrees) and old chairs. The ceiling has a tendency to leak in a couple of spots when it rains.

But the people...the people are just as weird and odd and awkward as we are. We blend right in! And when we say things like "this is the sanest place I've worked in a long time," they look at each other and bust out laughing.

Hell, one of the more notorious columnists has a flying pig hanging over his desk.

Another guy has that groundhog from "Caddyshack" next to his cubicle.

Of course, we've got our little yellow VW bug, a plushie Cthulhu (with an All Your Base button), and teeny figurines of Cloud and Tifa (coincidentally just the right size to go with the car) that we rearrange from time to time to look like (a) he's taking her car; (b) she's taking his car; or (c) they both got out of the car to deal with Cthulhu. And when our computer acts up (which it has a tendency to do), we wave Cthulhu at it -- and nobody blinks.

Then, there's the books. It's like a scene from "Read Or Die": every conceivable surface is covered in books! People's desks, bookshelves, unused chairs...

There's a table that's reserved for give-aways: FREE BOOKS!!!!11!

Even the lunchroom has books -- in the cupboards!

The place...is amazing. The work is invigorating -- we're honing our writing skills by learning how to edit news and editorials, and how to write headlines from 2-word-length to full sentence style and everything in between. It's fun, we like it, and we're good at it. What's not to love?

Oh, and it's right across the street from where the Romys are going to college. :3

Speaking of the Romys, it was so good to see Yazuu happy out here today. His first day of school EVER, the system's first day at a real university, and it was like the sun coming out from behind a storm front. I went to work today specifically to see him after his classes -- and I'm so damn glad I did! He was so happy, it made my heart sing.

Now, tomorrow they have off, and we get to find out what kind of hours we'll be working for the next two weeks. I'm hopeful, but not counting on it -- I know their budget is pretty bad right now. Still, we've asked nicely and shown them that we're (a) capable and (b) flexible, so let's see how this plays out.

Either way, we're doing the route for this holiday weekend, and I know that always leads to "interesting" blog entries; just for you, we'll write all the good stuff and leave out the smell. ~_^

http://www.metafilter.com/74467/Fly-the-NotSo-Friendly-Skies

It started earlier this year with airlines charging fees for checked baggage. Then came charges for pillows and blankets, not to mention paying for bottled water or an inflight meal on international flights. Now one carrier has decided to remove life vests to save on weight and fuel. What's next? Fees for overhead storage, reclining your seat or access to a restroom?

http://www.metafilter.com/74466/Heres-looking-at-youme-kid

More good stuff for people who like visual ("optical") illusions (previously): A nice Scientific American article, a particularly creepy illusion, and a link to the "Best visual illusion of the year" contest. Given that the eye/mind/brain is so easy to trick, a person might wonder what's really out there in the world.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/stuffonmycat/CiFL/~3/377474959/index.php

Cat: Tiger Lilly

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/015966.html

Man: Who was that chef who said "Butter, butter, bring me more butter."?
Woman: Umm, I think you just made that up.
Man: No, he said it. And he meant it, and he was right! (butters roll)

--Brazil Grill, 8th Ave & 48th

http://www.metafilter.com/74465/Wilder-Penfield

Wilder Penfield, Neural Cartographer.

http://www.metafilter.com/74464/Pharma-reps-from-another-planet

Feast your senses (including, perhaps, your sense of outrage) on this Merck Vioxx sales training video, presented in 3 parts without commercial interruption (heh) by the often interesting Pharmalot.
Vioxx was pulled from the market a few years ago because of cardiovascular risks (increased incidence of MI associated with Vioxx in clinical trials and post-marketing reporting). There is currently a huge class-action suit going on over Vioxx deaths, so it is interesting to see what Merck brass was telling the reps back in the early 2000's. Of particular interest is the bit about Vioxx and MI (heart attack) about 2:15 into the second clip.

http://www.metafilter.com/74463/Je-me-souviens-laccord-de-partage-de-lutilisateur

Facil, an open-source community based in Québec, is suing the Québec government for buying Microsoft software when free alternatives are available. Facil's press release says, in part, "From February to June 2008, FACIL has noticed sales of proprietary software for more than 25 million dollars. These purchases were made for products offered by large multinational enterprises, with no regard to suppliers in Quebec. ... While most of the developed countries have started, a few years back, migrating their technological infrastructures to Free Software, Quebec's public administration is far behind." Some applaud Facil's move. Others, not so much.

http://www.metafilter.com/74462/Hill-races-on

Phil Hill, the only American ever to be winner of the Formula One Championship, a mulitple time winner of the 24 Hours of LeMans races in 1958, 1961 and 1962, and automotive journalist, has died at age 81.

http://www.metafilter.com/74461/The-Middler

Your Gmail account isn't secure. Announced at Defcon 16, Jay Beale's tool, The Middler (man-in-the-middle) to steal session ID from not only Gmail users, but LinkedIn, LiveJournal, Facebook, and presumably any site that uses a session-based cookie. Enable https permanently. (previously)

http://community.livejournal.com/cat_macros/4613666.html

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/015965.html

Girl #1: I wonder where Austria is.
Girl #2: It must be by Australia, because they sound the same.

--Bus

Overheard by: David

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/015964.html

Construction worker #1: This place is expensive.
Construction worker #2: Ca-ching.
Korean store owner: I'm not fucking Chinese.
Construction worker #2: It's the cash register sound.
Korean store owner: I don't care, I'm not fucking Chinese, get out of my store.

--Canal & West Broadway

Overheard by: also not chinese

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/stuffonmycat/CiFL/~3/377378697/index.php

Cat: Vala Jean

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/stuffonmycat/CiFL/~3/377297755/index.php

Cat: Tibalt

http://www.qwantz.com/archive/001293.html

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Project Wonderful - Your ad here, right now, for as low as $0.00

August 28th, 2008: The talented Andrea Heins sent me a song she wrote inspired by one of my earlier comics, about declaring parts of your life non-canon. The song is called "Non Canon" and I listened to it with a big grin on my face, especially with lines like "I will declare your lack of passion for me: non-canon." You can listen to the song on her MySpace page here: if the song doesn't play automatically, click on "Non Canon" in the song list. Her other songs are really good too!

Also I want to link to Nedroid because these are some totally sweet comics that deserve all the praise in the world. I keep re-reading this one in particular and I think I want to be - like, living in this comic or something. What I'm saying is I like it you guys

I left my first class about a half hour ago.  It was actually very interesting and I look forward to more of the lectures!  This professors is wonderful and animated - he vows to remember everyone's name by the sixth week of class, to which the ones shadowing me today had abit of an internal snicker.

After this class, I am not so intimidated by the labe work.  It sounds like it will be just as interesting and even...fun.

We're starting to set up that GEO 150 team and I am certain to be on it!  (We talked about Climate Change today!!!) 

After class, I walked down by the river and sat to have my lunch.  I had packed up some veg and fruit to eat with a small muffin as a dessert.  Kristi...the river has a dam like device that produces a waterfall.  it was wonderful to listen to the water there as I ate.  And just for you, Kristi, I had a fly-by of some canadian geese - six of them.  And they flew so low, I could see all their underfeathers!

Can you all tell that I am having a fabulous day?  ^__^

The library is to die for!  i have never been in a library this big and I am loving it.  I don't think I will be able to explore this whole building in 14 weeks.  

Now, I am going to go transcribe my notes from Geo 150 so that they are legible and in some correct order, listen to the ipod and kill time on Philosophy until 2:30 pm.  Then it is off to Archaeology, which i am incredibly excited to get into!