House hunting Part 2
Well my forms are off and running for a "pre-qualification."
What programs does the city have for first time homebuyers?
Who's a decent realtor?
Anyone have experience with FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Loans?
Also, one annoying thing: Dauphin County doesn't offer an easy way to see its assessment data like York and Lancaster Counties do. It'd be helpful to have a parcel viewer.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Buying a House Part One
buying a house: Part One
So . . . I am considering buying a home this year. And after a bit of research I have come to some conclusions as to what I want:
So . . . I am considering buying a home this year. And after a bit of research I have come to some conclusions as to what I want:
- Older construction with character and uniqueness. This is one of those "I'll know it when I see it" things.
- Gas or electric heat. Oil is too much to frak with in this unstable oil economy. I expect an attack on Iran soon and that will just send the market beyond bonkers.
- A reasonable sized yard(or as they call what these town,er rowhouses have--courtyards. I have a green thumb I'm itching to use. Might plant some hops or kiwi or get real experimental and put palmettos or needle palms back there. Maybe a little rain barrel to act as a fish pond in warmer weather. And a tall privacy fence, I don't plan on wearing much out there.
- Something that might need some work. I found a federal loan program designed just for fixer-uppers. I'm sure there are others out there too. Since I need to be doing something with my free time other than moping, a rehab project might be fun.
- A basement, so I have space for my beermaking hobby. Preferably something that might be easy to turn into a nice lounge/work area too---I really have this dream of building a huge 300 gallon+ aquarium someday and that needs to be on the floor.
- Lots of natural light. My apartment is dark, it faces north and east, and gets no sun except early in the morning. I hate it. I can't have any plants.
- And finally, must be in the range of $0 to $90,000. The mortgage people I'm talking to say I can afford much more, but I'm being realistic.
So this is my "wish list." I'm not too picky about space. It can be 1000 sq. ft or 3000 sq. ft. Indifferent about garages too, since I don't know how to drive.
I bought a book that's something along the lines of Housebuying for Dummies, so when that arrives I can start on Part II: Finding a realtor.
Sunday, January 8, 2006
Saturday, January 7, 2006
GRRRRRRRRRRR
Did you know that for $110 dollars anyone could buy your complete phone records?
Does that bother you as much as it bothers me? It really should.
Did you know that for $110 dollars anyone could buy your complete phone records?
Does that bother you as much as it bothers me? It really should.
katrina
By the numbers:
As of yesterday, 1,386 deaths are attributed to the hurricane, with 6 more victims, Americans, Louisianians, found in the last week.
Katrina was an equal opportunity killer when it comes to race and ethnicity. However she was not equal opportunity when it comes to class: most of her victims were poor, regardless of race.
And while the focus is primarily on the urbanized areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans, we hear desperately little from the inland Delta region of Mississippi, and the lower parishes of Southeast Louisiana. Remember, at the height of the crisis the nearly entire state of Mississippi was without power.
Both Louisiana and Mississippi are going to be in a world of hurt this coming year with the lost revenue--Louisiana losing for all intents and purposes its largest city and Mississippi losing one of its largest sources of revenue.
6,644 people remain unaccounted for. 1,000 of them are children. Statistically many of these people could be alive, but FEMA is working with a deathtoll of roughly 3,000---equal to the last "worst day in American history," 9/11.
A horrible person in history once said "one death is a tragedy. 1,000 is a statistic." Actually I believe that's a paraphrase of what Stalin said.
But each of these numbers is a fellow American. A person. They have a story.
And I think their story is being forgotten as we move on into the election year. Let's keep Katrina in our minds this year, please.
By the numbers:
As of yesterday, 1,386 deaths are attributed to the hurricane, with 6 more victims, Americans, Louisianians, found in the last week.
Katrina was an equal opportunity killer when it comes to race and ethnicity. However she was not equal opportunity when it comes to class: most of her victims were poor, regardless of race.
And while the focus is primarily on the urbanized areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans, we hear desperately little from the inland Delta region of Mississippi, and the lower parishes of Southeast Louisiana. Remember, at the height of the crisis the nearly entire state of Mississippi was without power.
Both Louisiana and Mississippi are going to be in a world of hurt this coming year with the lost revenue--Louisiana losing for all intents and purposes its largest city and Mississippi losing one of its largest sources of revenue.
6,644 people remain unaccounted for. 1,000 of them are children. Statistically many of these people could be alive, but FEMA is working with a deathtoll of roughly 3,000---equal to the last "worst day in American history," 9/11.
A horrible person in history once said "one death is a tragedy. 1,000 is a statistic." Actually I believe that's a paraphrase of what Stalin said.
But each of these numbers is a fellow American. A person. They have a story.
And I think their story is being forgotten as we move on into the election year. Let's keep Katrina in our minds this year, please.
Monday, January 2, 2006
awesome
Bryan, a cool guy I went to Millersville with, reports Futurama may be making a comeback!
Now if Fox would put Arrested Development back on a night where it could get some real ratings, because it is an extremely hysterical show, I'd be one happy camper.
Fox, put Arrested Development back on SUNDAY!
Bryan, a cool guy I went to Millersville with, reports Futurama may be making a comeback!
Now if Fox would put Arrested Development back on a night where it could get some real ratings, because it is an extremely hysterical show, I'd be one happy camper.
Fox, put Arrested Development back on SUNDAY!
Good Riddance to 2005
2005 was a somewhat average year. The only great things that occured were that I graduated, found a job and jumped two tax brackets. However between scandal after Washington scandal, Katrina---just finally came out of my "PKF" (post-Katrina funk), and endless war...lot of bad went down. So let's wave good riddance to 2005.
2006
I'm not making any resolutions, because I usually break them. If I had kept last years resolutions. . . well I did keep two which was graduate and find a job. . . but I'd also be 25lbs heavier from my weight-lifting program.
Since I have no real major personal goals for 2006, maybe get a haircut, maybe buy a home, maybe stick with PennDOT, maybe learn to drive, I think I'll just call 2006 the year to "go with the flow."
Happy New Years!
2005 was a somewhat average year. The only great things that occured were that I graduated, found a job and jumped two tax brackets. However between scandal after Washington scandal, Katrina---just finally came out of my "PKF" (post-Katrina funk), and endless war...lot of bad went down. So let's wave good riddance to 2005.
2006
I'm not making any resolutions, because I usually break them. If I had kept last years resolutions. . . well I did keep two which was graduate and find a job. . . but I'd also be 25lbs heavier from my weight-lifting program.
Since I have no real major personal goals for 2006, maybe get a haircut, maybe buy a home, maybe stick with PennDOT, maybe learn to drive, I think I'll just call 2006 the year to "go with the flow."
Happy New Years!
Friday, December 30, 2005
hburg
As you all might have guessed, I have a love/hate relationship with Harrisburg. I like my job. I hate the "Strip." I love the architecture. I hate having everything worth shopping at in the 'burbs. And so on.
However, this place is starting to grow on me. Oh no, I said something nice!
To make a long story short, because I really don't know where this post is going, I'm starting to sniff out whether I want to buy a house. I'm pre-qualified (though they want me to fill out more forms than my FAFSA, an experience neither I or my mother enjoyed doing) up to an obscene amount that I could never possibly afford.
I of course know next to nothing about buying anything bigger than a cheese sandwich, which is why I tend not to buy large expensive things like laptops and cars and houses and such. So I'm glad I found Jonathan, who has recently gone through the process himself.
Other things about Hburg---I plan on writing Mayor Reed's office a letter about my idea for a real shopping district(meaning NON restaurant, lets try a different type of economic development)for 3rd Street. Dick (from WITF) wrote me that such a district existed in the corridor I described, but suburbanization more or less wiped it out.
However such a shopping district would appeal to people like me, even though I hate to admit it, I'm a Yuppie. (yes I did gag thinking about that). I'm the worst kind of Yuppie too: I'm from a planning background.
And it's Yuppies buying those expensive townhouses in the Capitol Heights development, and in the MarketPlace Townhouse development slated to go in, and it'll probably end up being Yuppies that buy the Towns at Governors Square (which I think is at 5th and MacClay, but Streuver Rouse is vague on this on their website). It's going to be Yuppies buying houses in the city and spreading the gentrification east from 3rd Street and north to Division. Why, maybe even someday, Allison Hill will be a nice neighborhood to live in!
Harrisburg could become a New Urbanist dream, borrowing a concept from my very work field. Places people could walk to, work at, and live at without cars. And with much of the city's largest employer's workforce retireing in the next 15 years, the time to get this started is pretty much right now. It'll be younger people taking those jobs and some of them, (hopefully most of them) will choose not to crowd out more lots in the suburbs. Did you know that Pennsylvania's population will probably not grow at all, yet the state will lose more and more farmland in this 15 year period? Sprawl folks. It costs us money. The traffic issues around Harrisburg are only going to get worse with less money to pay for it. Think about it. Redevelopment in the city is probably cheaper in the long run.
That is all I have for now.
As you all might have guessed, I have a love/hate relationship with Harrisburg. I like my job. I hate the "Strip." I love the architecture. I hate having everything worth shopping at in the 'burbs. And so on.
However, this place is starting to grow on me. Oh no, I said something nice!
To make a long story short, because I really don't know where this post is going, I'm starting to sniff out whether I want to buy a house. I'm pre-qualified (though they want me to fill out more forms than my FAFSA, an experience neither I or my mother enjoyed doing) up to an obscene amount that I could never possibly afford.
I of course know next to nothing about buying anything bigger than a cheese sandwich, which is why I tend not to buy large expensive things like laptops and cars and houses and such. So I'm glad I found Jonathan, who has recently gone through the process himself.
Other things about Hburg---I plan on writing Mayor Reed's office a letter about my idea for a real shopping district(meaning NON restaurant, lets try a different type of economic development)for 3rd Street. Dick (from WITF) wrote me that such a district existed in the corridor I described, but suburbanization more or less wiped it out.
However such a shopping district would appeal to people like me, even though I hate to admit it, I'm a Yuppie. (yes I did gag thinking about that). I'm the worst kind of Yuppie too: I'm from a planning background.
And it's Yuppies buying those expensive townhouses in the Capitol Heights development, and in the MarketPlace Townhouse development slated to go in, and it'll probably end up being Yuppies that buy the Towns at Governors Square (which I think is at 5th and MacClay, but Streuver Rouse is vague on this on their website). It's going to be Yuppies buying houses in the city and spreading the gentrification east from 3rd Street and north to Division. Why, maybe even someday, Allison Hill will be a nice neighborhood to live in!
Harrisburg could become a New Urbanist dream, borrowing a concept from my very work field. Places people could walk to, work at, and live at without cars. And with much of the city's largest employer's workforce retireing in the next 15 years, the time to get this started is pretty much right now. It'll be younger people taking those jobs and some of them, (hopefully most of them) will choose not to crowd out more lots in the suburbs. Did you know that Pennsylvania's population will probably not grow at all, yet the state will lose more and more farmland in this 15 year period? Sprawl folks. It costs us money. The traffic issues around Harrisburg are only going to get worse with less money to pay for it. Think about it. Redevelopment in the city is probably cheaper in the long run.
That is all I have for now.
ID Plants
These plants are growing in the woods across from my parents house. They've been there for decades.
I snapped some poor pictures with my cell phone, thus the poor quality.
I think they are needle palms, a species of palm native to the Southeast and very cold hardy.
Plant experts? can ya help? thanks.
These plants are growing in the woods across from my parents house. They've been there for decades.
I snapped some poor pictures with my cell phone, thus the poor quality.
I think they are needle palms, a species of palm native to the Southeast and very cold hardy.
Plant experts? can ya help? thanks.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
scam
In life you're permitted a certain amount of really stupid mistakes. What follows is mine:
In March I signed up with this online marketing firm. The pitch: dropsell stuff on Ebay. Long story short, I got scammed. It really was a stupid thing to do.
So, if you ever get emails from http://e-incomesolutions.com/ or get something that points you to this site, avoid. They are not only a scam, they hit you up with hidden fees INCLUDING a $350.00 cancellation fee when you decide they are useless, which they are. This is probably how they make their money.
Now, if they had withdrawn the $350.00 two weeks ago WHEN I SENT THEM THE CANCELLATION LETTER---AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO SUCH A THING, I would not be as pissed as I am now. At the end of the month I have a shitton of bills to get paid, and now I'm writting rubber. I've NEVER written rubber before, even when I was eating ramen and baking powder paste for food those last months in college. I'm set back a good two weeks on planned purchases and account transfers to various savings things I have set up for my future. Irked I am, Irked.
Lesson learned. I got scammed. Reporting to the BBB, maybe try to get my money back. And everyone else, AVOID THESE PEOPLE LIKE THE PLAGUE.
In life you're permitted a certain amount of really stupid mistakes. What follows is mine:
In March I signed up with this online marketing firm. The pitch: dropsell stuff on Ebay. Long story short, I got scammed. It really was a stupid thing to do.
So, if you ever get emails from http://e-incomesolutions.com/ or get something that points you to this site, avoid. They are not only a scam, they hit you up with hidden fees INCLUDING a $350.00 cancellation fee when you decide they are useless, which they are. This is probably how they make their money.
Now, if they had withdrawn the $350.00 two weeks ago WHEN I SENT THEM THE CANCELLATION LETTER---AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO SUCH A THING, I would not be as pissed as I am now. At the end of the month I have a shitton of bills to get paid, and now I'm writting rubber. I've NEVER written rubber before, even when I was eating ramen and baking powder paste for food those last months in college. I'm set back a good two weeks on planned purchases and account transfers to various savings things I have set up for my future. Irked I am, Irked.
Lesson learned. I got scammed. Reporting to the BBB, maybe try to get my money back. And everyone else, AVOID THESE PEOPLE LIKE THE PLAGUE.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
comment
I've turned comment moderation off. I keep missing comments, and I really did feel bad about that, so we'll just put up with the porn spam. It is more amusing than annoying anyway.
christmas
was quite nice.
Hburg
This town is an enigma. One moment I hate it. The next, I want to buy a house. The architecture around here is awesome. Even those who absolutely hate Harrisburg have to admit to the uniqueness of the neighborhoods in this small city.
I also think that Upper Darby's 69th Street could be a great model for revitalizing the Third Street Corridor from Forester to Reily. 69th Street is about five blocks of stores. It's very much like an open air mall. At the southern end at 69th and Walnut is Sears. At the northern end is the Tower Theatre. Marshalls and Staples are also represented, along with a United Artist Movie theater. In addition, at 69th and Market, is the western hub for SEPTA's suburban service.
There used to be a website for the shopping district, but I can't locate it on Google.
(Oh Upper Darby is also my hometown.)
3rd Street already has one anchor: the Midtown Theatre. In a way it already has another with Broad Street Market at 3rd and Verbeke. Now it needs the infill.
I think this is a good idea. Attract *something* to get people shopping in the city. Restaurant Row is okay but in all seriousness, watching other people get fat really isn't all that appealing to me. I'd like places to shop in walking distance...but I'm used to that from growing up 5 mins walking distance from 69th Street.
I've turned comment moderation off. I keep missing comments, and I really did feel bad about that, so we'll just put up with the porn spam. It is more amusing than annoying anyway.
christmas
was quite nice.
Hburg
This town is an enigma. One moment I hate it. The next, I want to buy a house. The architecture around here is awesome. Even those who absolutely hate Harrisburg have to admit to the uniqueness of the neighborhoods in this small city.
I also think that Upper Darby's 69th Street could be a great model for revitalizing the Third Street Corridor from Forester to Reily. 69th Street is about five blocks of stores. It's very much like an open air mall. At the southern end at 69th and Walnut is Sears. At the northern end is the Tower Theatre. Marshalls and Staples are also represented, along with a United Artist Movie theater. In addition, at 69th and Market, is the western hub for SEPTA's suburban service.
There used to be a website for the shopping district, but I can't locate it on Google.
(Oh Upper Darby is also my hometown.)
3rd Street already has one anchor: the Midtown Theatre. In a way it already has another with Broad Street Market at 3rd and Verbeke. Now it needs the infill.
I think this is a good idea. Attract *something* to get people shopping in the city. Restaurant Row is okay but in all seriousness, watching other people get fat really isn't all that appealing to me. I'd like places to shop in walking distance...but I'm used to that from growing up 5 mins walking distance from 69th Street.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
from the PBeM I play
This was just too funny to pass up.
For context, our alien bad guys remove "irrational species" from their homeworlds.
*Report forwarded us from the Species self identified -intercoursers- subject species self identified -humans-*
*Subject custom/cultural activity indicating irrational behaviour*
*Activity process on annual cycle, coinciding with annual daylight minimums at homeworld major population centers*
*Activity involves mass acquisition of material goods, followed by mass ceremonial redistribution of goods acquired.*
*Biological/environmental source rejected as phenomenon occurs in all environments. Note population centers identified -Australia- -Argentina- -South Africa- show similar patterns, yet local daylight is at annual maximum.*
*Mating Ritual rejected as phenomenon appears focused on redistribution of goods to juvenile members*
*Review Evidence- Image recording of ceremonial goods acquisition at population center identified -New York-. Note extreme stress/conflict associated with goods acquisition, despite ready availability of same goods during remaining 90% of annual Human activity cycle.
*Conclusion: Human Activity Process identified -Christmas- 88% likely to be ritualized combat behaviour.
*Warning Species Likely Highly Irrational.*
Well, I thought it was funny.
This was just too funny to pass up.
For context, our alien bad guys remove "irrational species" from their homeworlds.
*Report forwarded us from the Species self identified -intercoursers- subject species self identified -humans-*
*Subject custom/cultural activity indicating irrational behaviour*
*Activity process on annual cycle, coinciding with annual daylight minimums at homeworld major population centers*
*Activity involves mass acquisition of material goods, followed by mass ceremonial redistribution of goods acquired.*
*Biological/environmental source rejected as phenomenon occurs in all environments. Note population centers identified -Australia- -Argentina- -South Africa- show similar patterns, yet local daylight is at annual maximum.*
*Mating Ritual rejected as phenomenon appears focused on redistribution of goods to juvenile members*
*Review Evidence- Image recording of ceremonial goods acquisition at population center identified -New York-. Note extreme stress/conflict associated with goods acquisition, despite ready availability of same goods during remaining 90% of annual Human activity cycle.
*Conclusion: Human Activity Process identified -Christmas- 88% likely to be ritualized combat behaviour.
*Warning Species Likely Highly Irrational.*
Well, I thought it was funny.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
fundamentalism
Parabola Magazine, a magazine I had never heard of until I went to the B.Dalton in Strawberry Square this evening, is running a nice series of articles on religious fundamentalisms of all kinds. It's $7.50 and a good read. On bookstands until the end of January.
snow
Harrisburg apparently doesn't believe in clearing streets. I'm somewhat spoiled I guess. The side street I grew up on in Upper Darby usually got cleared fairly well. Then again, Upper Darby has about 40,000 more people than Harrisburg does.
Winter sucks. I'm already sick of it. And meteorological winter does not end until March 1st. That damn groundhog better see an early spring.
War onHoliday Christmas
Much has already been said. I think Bill O'Reilly has completely missed the point of the season. May he get coal in his stocking. And Happy Holidays.
Harrisburg
I'm new to this whole autocratic mayor thing. Is Mayor Reed always so combative toward the press? And does he always bash the City Council?
suggestions and things heard on the bus this week
"Mayor Reed should sell back those Wild West artifacts and use the money to clear my goddamn street!!"
"The Republicans were better with the state workers which is really weird." (in reference to last nights ever so fun commute. There should have been a 2 hour early release according to some. Buses did not run at all. 2 hours to get home--in hindsight, I should have walked. It's only 20 blocks.)
"That Governor is just pushing my buttons."
"Damn Judges!" (in reference to the judges fighting the pay raise repeal.)
doctors
I need to find a doctor. Who's good? (I have Blue Cross, if that helps.)
T.O.
That punk needs to stop whining.
domestic spying
I'll make it easy for them so they don't have to harass my neighbors (who I don't know, by the way), or my friends (whom I haven't seen in 6 months or more) or my family (who will just slam the door in your face.) Here goes:
I wear size 28 waist. I drink tea, not coffee. With 2 sugars. Sometimes with creame. I leave the house at 750 and get home at 430. I don't drive. I read sci-fi. I do not like George W. Bush.
Easy enough? Good, that should keep you spooks busy.
next up
I'm going to make a mead next. Any beekeeprs in the area?
domestic spying part two
Even though my outrage meter is long broken, I'm really quite disturbed by this "Bush personally ordered spying on American citizens" thing weaving its way through the press.
You know, I could go into a rant about the Constitution of this great land, and how I personally feel this current crew of "leaders" (yes I'm looking at you too Congress and Judicial Branch) has more or less used it as asswipe paper. But you know what? I'm just too tired to do it anymore.
I will continue to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights. And I'm really starting to like the 2nd.
Parabola Magazine, a magazine I had never heard of until I went to the B.Dalton in Strawberry Square this evening, is running a nice series of articles on religious fundamentalisms of all kinds. It's $7.50 and a good read. On bookstands until the end of January.
snow
Harrisburg apparently doesn't believe in clearing streets. I'm somewhat spoiled I guess. The side street I grew up on in Upper Darby usually got cleared fairly well. Then again, Upper Darby has about 40,000 more people than Harrisburg does.
Winter sucks. I'm already sick of it. And meteorological winter does not end until March 1st. That damn groundhog better see an early spring.
War on
Much has already been said. I think Bill O'Reilly has completely missed the point of the season. May he get coal in his stocking. And Happy Holidays.
Harrisburg
I'm new to this whole autocratic mayor thing. Is Mayor Reed always so combative toward the press? And does he always bash the City Council?
suggestions and things heard on the bus this week
"Mayor Reed should sell back those Wild West artifacts and use the money to clear my goddamn street!!"
"The Republicans were better with the state workers which is really weird." (in reference to last nights ever so fun commute. There should have been a 2 hour early release according to some. Buses did not run at all. 2 hours to get home--in hindsight, I should have walked. It's only 20 blocks.)
"That Governor is just pushing my buttons."
"Damn Judges!" (in reference to the judges fighting the pay raise repeal.)
doctors
I need to find a doctor. Who's good? (I have Blue Cross, if that helps.)
T.O.
That punk needs to stop whining.
domestic spying
I'll make it easy for them so they don't have to harass my neighbors (who I don't know, by the way), or my friends (whom I haven't seen in 6 months or more) or my family (who will just slam the door in your face.) Here goes:
I wear size 28 waist. I drink tea, not coffee. With 2 sugars. Sometimes with creame. I leave the house at 750 and get home at 430. I don't drive. I read sci-fi. I do not like George W. Bush.
Easy enough? Good, that should keep you spooks busy.
next up
I'm going to make a mead next. Any beekeeprs in the area?
domestic spying part two
Even though my outrage meter is long broken, I'm really quite disturbed by this "Bush personally ordered spying on American citizens" thing weaving its way through the press.
You know, I could go into a rant about the Constitution of this great land, and how I personally feel this current crew of "leaders" (yes I'm looking at you too Congress and Judicial Branch) has more or less used it as asswipe paper. But you know what? I'm just too tired to do it anymore.
I will continue to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights. And I'm really starting to like the 2nd.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
comments
I have turned the comments back on. While I found the porn spam rather amusing, from now on the comments are moderated. That means, if you make a comment, it might be a bit before I approve it so that it's seen, especially if you comment during the Eastern standard work day since I'm not supposed to be blogging at work.
war on christmas
Not much to say about this except bah-humbug. Bill O'Reilly needs to 1.) Grow up. and 2.) read some history. People have been turning Xmas into a "war" for at least a century. Henry Ford complained about it himself nearly a century ago.
hburg
I still really dislike Hburg, but I really enjoy my job. So I'm here for the long haul. And since Hburg isn't making me happy, my job can, and at least I get paid so I can then go out and buy said happiness.
job
My job is cooler than your job. ;-)
beer
My first batch of beer was a stout. It is a bit on the bitter side for my liking, and a bit alcoholic, nearly 10% by my estimation. It needs a name. And---I need some ideas on what to brew up next. I'm thinking something for Valentines Day.
sci-fi friday
One more month. I'm suffering.
idea
I think a Borders or Barnes and Nobles would go great downtown. I think I'll write Mayor Reed and tell him just that. I hope I at least get a form letter back. Still waiting for the one I wrote post-Katrina about the city's disaster plans.
That's all the updates I have for now.
I have turned the comments back on. While I found the porn spam rather amusing, from now on the comments are moderated. That means, if you make a comment, it might be a bit before I approve it so that it's seen, especially if you comment during the Eastern standard work day since I'm not supposed to be blogging at work.
war on christmas
Not much to say about this except bah-humbug. Bill O'Reilly needs to 1.) Grow up. and 2.) read some history. People have been turning Xmas into a "war" for at least a century. Henry Ford complained about it himself nearly a century ago.
hburg
I still really dislike Hburg, but I really enjoy my job. So I'm here for the long haul. And since Hburg isn't making me happy, my job can, and at least I get paid so I can then go out and buy said happiness.
job
My job is cooler than your job. ;-)
beer
My first batch of beer was a stout. It is a bit on the bitter side for my liking, and a bit alcoholic, nearly 10% by my estimation. It needs a name. And---I need some ideas on what to brew up next. I'm thinking something for Valentines Day.
sci-fi friday
One more month. I'm suffering.
idea
I think a Borders or Barnes and Nobles would go great downtown. I think I'll write Mayor Reed and tell him just that. I hope I at least get a form letter back. Still waiting for the one I wrote post-Katrina about the city's disaster plans.
That's all the updates I have for now.
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