Pete Lee

Breaking The Hiatus

2007-09-26T08:43:00.001-07:00

I've been quite busy with work over the last eight months, but hope to devote more time to blogging in a few weeks. I decided that a case regarding censorship and legal bullying of Craig Murray (former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan) deserves some attention from us.

After perusing the items below, I'd also recommend that you take a peek at an impressive documentary I watched last week: Maxed Out. This hair-raising movie reveals sordid details about predatory lending, and the mysterious passing of a recent bankruptcy law.

In a word: it may be time to cut up some of those credit cards and switch from banks to credit unions; the neck you may save may eventually be your own.

From the UK Register:
"Downed blogger Murray vows to continue Usmanov attacks"

A metablog on the situation:
http://b-heads.blogspot.com

Craig Murray's original blog text:

September 2, 2007

Alisher Usmanov, potential Arsenal chairman, is a Vicious Thug, Criminal, Racketeer, Heroin Trafficker and Accused Rapist

I thought I should make my views on Alisher Usmanov quite plain to you. You are unlikely to see much plain talking on Usmanov elsewhere in the media becuase he has already used his billions and his lawyers in a pre-emptive strike. They have written to all major UK newspapers, including the latter:

"Mr Usmanov was imprisoned for various offences under the old Soviet regime. We wish to make it clear our client did not commit any of the offences with which he was charged. He was fully pardoned after President Mikhail Gorbachev took office. All references to these matters have now been expunged from police records . . . Mr Usmanov does not have any criminal record."

Let me make it quite clear that Alisher Usmanov is a criminal. He was in no sense a political prisoner, but a gangster and racketeer who rightly did six years in jail. The lawyers cunningly evoke "Gorbachev", a name respected in the West, to make us think that justice prevailed. That is completely untrue.

Usmanov's pardon was nothing to do with Gorbachev. It was achieved through the growing autonomy of another thug, President Karimov, at first President of the Uzbek Soviet Socilist Republic and from 1991 President of Uzbekistan. Karimov ordered the "Pardon" because of his alliance with Usmanov's mentor, Uzbek mafia boss and major international heroin overlord Gafur Rakimov. Far from being on Gorbachev's side, Karimov was one of the Politburo hardliners who had Gorbachev arrested in the attempted coup that was thwarted by Yeltsin standing on the tanks outside the White House.

Usmanov is just a criminal whose gangster connections with one of the World's most corrupt regimes got him out of jail. He then plunged into the "privatisation" process at a time when gangster muscle was used to secure physical control of assets, and the alliance between the Russian Mafia and Russian security services was being formed.

Usmanov has two key alliances. he is very close indeed to President Karimov, and especially to his daughter Gulnara. It was Usmanov who engineered the 2005 diplomatic reversal in which the United States was kicked out of its airbase in Uzbekistan and Gazprom took over the country's natural gas assets. Usmanov, as chairman of Gazprom Investholdings paid a bribe of $88 million to Gulnara Karimova to secure this. This is set out on page 366 of Murder in Samarkand.

Alisher Usmanov had risen to chair of Gazprom Investholdings because of his close personal friendship with Putin, He had accessed Putin through Putin's long time secretary and now chef de cabinet, Piotr Jastrzebski. Usmanov and Jastrzebski were roommates at college. Gazprominvestholdings is the group that handles Gazproms interests outside Russia, Usmanov's role is, in effect, to handle Gazprom's bribery and sleaze on the international arena, and the use of gas supply cuts as a threat to uncooperative satellite states.

Gazprom has also been the tool which Putin has used to attack internal democracy and close down the independent media in Russia. Gazprom has bought out - with the owners having no choice - the only independent national TV station and numerous rgional TV stations, several radio stations and two formerly independent national newspapers. These have been changed into slavish adulation of Putin. Usmanov helped accomplish this through Gazprom. The major financial newspaper, Kommersant, he bought personally. He immediately replaced the editor-in-chief with a pro-Putin hack, and three months later the long-serving campaigning defence correspondent, Ivan Safronov, mysteriously fell to his death from a window.

All this, both on Gazprom and the journalist's death, is set out in great detail here: http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2007/06/russian_journal.html

Usmanov is also dogged by the widespread belief in Uzbekistan that he was guilty of a particularly atrocious rape, which was covered up and the victim and others in the know disappeared. The sad thing is that this is not particularly remarkable. Rape by the powerful is an everyday hazard in Uzbekistan, again as outlined in Murder in Samarkand page 120. If anyone has more detail on the specific case involving Usmanov please add a comment.

I reported back in 2002 or 2003 in an Ambassadorial top secret telegram to the Foreign Office that Usmanov was the most likely favoured successor of President Karimov as totalitarian leader of Uzbekistan. I also outlined the Gazprom deal (before it happened) and the present by Usmanov to Putin (though in Jastrzebski's name) of half of Mapobank, a Russian commercial bank owned by Usmanov. I will never forget the priceless reply from our Embassy in Moscow. They said that they had never even heard of Alisher Usmanov, and that Jastrzebski was a jolly nice friend of the Ambassador who would never do anything crooked.

Sadly, I expect the football authorities will be as purblind. Football now is about nothing but money, and even Arsenal supporters - as tight-knit and homespun a football community as any - can be heard saying they don't care where the money comes from as long as they can compete with Chelsea.

I fear that is very wrong. Letting as diseased a figure as Alisher Usmanov into your club can only do harm in the long term.

Censored

Beach Trip I

2007-03-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the beach with my lovely girlfriend and her roommate. Accommodations were courtesy of the roommate's in-laws, and consisted of a rather pimp pad at The Capes near Tillamook, OR.

For reasons I can't explain, I never tire of visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory. While there are other cheeses in the world that are truly gastronomic treasures (parmigiano reggiano, triple-creams from the Alps), there is something comforting about eating the common-yet-personable cheddar from Tillamook. While thought of as bland by my European acquaintances, I still look forward to the occasional ghetto-style croque monsieur after a long evening of drinking local microbrews. Anyone who has grown up eating relatively flavorless mass-marketed cheese has been robbed.

I also visited the neighboring Blue Heron Cheese Factory. Unlike the vapid conversation overheard from the teenagers serving samples, the brie was creamy and unoffensive--ready for extended aging alluded to by their website. Alsatian it's not, but neither was the reasonable price--with forthcoming rewards from a little time aging in the fridge. I also tasted several fine examples of something you former Oregon residents should be regretting about right now: jam made from Marionberries. Overall, while strange in its kitschyness (the next picture is of some art for sale there), Blue Heron did offer a taste of the 'Keep Oregon Weird' quality that seems to be slowly sanitizing away at its neighbor.

The fresh oysters on-the-half-shell were delicious, but the seafood in nearly all restaurants was overcooked. And, we're talking about $15-20/entree food here. Caveat emptor. That said, I do feel very grateful to have a girlfriend who indulges my need to try every local jerky and sausage shop to-and-from a place.

Next week, I'm off to Newport, OR for a second beach trip with Cynthia, Michael, Herr and Frau Friedrichs, and our new little prince Alexander. With any luck, I'll visit my new favorite brewery.

Nuevo Job

2007-03-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Most of you likely know already that I have a new job for a health system in Portland. Here's one of the perks:

Cafe Ex Machina

(No, I do not work for Microsoft, but geeks and coffee have been a love affair that's spanned millenia.)

Yes, I know it's Starbucks, but hell, it's always fresh and free (I've only been at one company in the last three years that had free coffee). As a result, I've been drinking a lot more coffee. To keep things mellow in the afternoon, I use the Half-Caf button--how L.A. of me!

Woo-Hoo

2007-03-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Marcus left a little comment for me to start blogging again. With that exhortation, I present to you the Official First Post of 2007(TM).

Gentlemen, start your blogs...

"Hi, I'm a Mac Home Fatwa"

2006-11-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been under the gun, with your editor yelling that you're not leaving the office until "that hostage beheading video's been edited"? Well, it looks like the aptly named Final Cut Pro will be coming to your rescue...

Al Jazeera International chooses Apple technology

Turkey Week Update

2006-11-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

Well folks, it's been a little while since I've posted an update. I've been very busy with some short-term IT contracts while trying to find a good longer term (3-6 month) opportunity.

Tales from the Kitchen Lab
With a lot more spare time, I've had more time to hone my cooking skills. My new favorite discovery is that delicious soups can be created from relatively few ingredients. For example: caramelize one large diced onion, a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and a couple of pinches of kosher salt over low heat for 20-30 minutes (no burning!), then combine with four pieces of whole browned chicken thigh and add just enough water to cover to produce a very thick mixture. Bring to boil, then allow to simmer at low heat for three to six hours, adding only enough water to keep things covered. This basic recipe produces a surprisingly rich soup, to which you can conservatively add salt and other herbs (black and/or red pepper, Italian seasoning, etc.). For even better results, refrigerate this mixture and skim the fat off. If you're wary of leaving a stove on unattended for four hours, use a crock pot. Total cost of this meal: about $2--and much better than Taco Bell.

Opera Season, Act I
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending Portland Opera's performance of Faust. This experience reminded me of opera's unique place in the arts: a glittering, spectacular amalgam of poetry, theatre and music. In the alarmingly evocative Act I, I thought about periods in life where I traded my own time and person for something that, in retrospect, left me woefully impoverished. This experience reminded me that in a world full of pop music, rife with hooks and salacious videos, the fine arts still have their place: to take our minds and hearts to places within we fear to tread, much less discover.

Turkey Day--And A Rant
My friends Eric & Chandra have invited me (and twenty five of their closest friends) over to their house for thanksgiving. A storied master of grilling, roasting and pickling alchemy, Eric will undoubtedly amaze us again with a sumptuous dinner. A little while ago, we talked about the amazing flavor of Heritage Turkeys (see this write up). Despite the cost (2-3x), I highly doubt you'll ever want to go back to the Beverly Hills-styled turkeys sold at the store. Fashioned by their agrarian masters with voluptuous breasts and dry personalities, these mass-marketed fowl provide but a wispy memory of the rich, full flavor enjoyed at harvest dinners past. Spend more on that turkey, and I'll guarantee you'll have something to celebrate about.

At last, I've found the woman of my life!

2006-10-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

I received this amazing letter today. It tugged my heartstrings clean off:

"This is the first time I ever try to write someone through the Internet. But I decided to try and to use my chance to find my second half, my beloved one. Perhaps, you know the legend that God has divided a person into two halves. And scattered these halves all over the world. And now they are looking for each other to be the one complete again. And I believe that my second half is walking somewhere in this world waiting for me.

I dream of love, love that inspires, love that makes you feel passion
and desire, love that makes you feel complete. I have so much love,tenderness, warmth inside of me and I want to give this all to one person who deserves it. And I believe you could be that one. I will be waiting for your response impatiently. And hope this correspondence could lead into deep feelings. Actually I live in R_us sia. I was mistaken when filled a profile. I hope in it there is nothing terrible and you don't afraid Russian woman! I promise you will not be disappointed!!! Please, don't make me wait for long.:-)"

I'm set.

WTF?

2006-10-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

No, my site hasn't been hacked. I've changed my template to this retina burning color in support of one very clever initiative. If that doesn't make sense to you, look here.

A couple of thoughts on this:
-Yes, snarky men are right when they say that prostate cancer is similar or greater in prevalence than breast cancer.
That noted, many men actually die with prostate cancer present, but they've succumbed to other things first (like heart disease). Women who get breast cancer tend to get it at a considerably younger age.

-Mammograms are better than a sharp stick in the eye, but...
While discussing medical imaging in my A&P class, a distinct weakness with current mammogram technology came up: imaging that relies on x-rays has inherent weaknesses in the arena of detecting soft tissue masses. A better (and safer) alternative? Ultrasound. Why isn't this point better known? Because they cost more--and I suspect that insurance companies aren't terribly interested in paying for the increased costs of sonography. Sigh.

A Quick Update

2006-09-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted something. I've been quite busy with a very difficult new contract I got at Regence Blue Cross about a week and a half ago, and I can't find the WiFi card for my laptop. Regence frowns upon non-work web usage, and I need to wait for a new broadband data connection card from Sprint.

There was a lot of tense work prior to my new contract: negotiations were difficult, but we were able to come to a decent compromise. The fun part is that I'm not working directly for my consulting firm, but for a new company I started.

Why did I name it QRS? A little explanation...

If everything goes well during a special meeting on Friday, I hope to be selling satellite phones too.

I hope you're doing well, and I promise more will be up soon...

"Stuff + Cats = Awesome"

2006-08-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

How my friend Matt Dunphy found this is beyond me, but the name says it all...
http://stuffonmycat.com

Yes, safe for work.

The Jill Carroll Story

2006-08-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've written about Jill Carroll (the journalist who was kidnapped and released in Iraq) previously in my blog.

The Christian Science Monitor has an excellent series running on her experiences there now. Absolutely riveting.

Michael's New Job & Updates

2006-08-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

Michael's New Job

Michael Totten and I were in the same boat together a few years ago. While the income and lifestyle of working in IT was moderately lucrative and generally convenient, both of us itched to spend our professional lives doing something else. I opted to start on Family Nurse Practitioner schooling. Michael chose something quite different: with a year's worth of living expenses stashed in the bank and his wife's concordance, he headed off to the Middle East to try his hand at something new.

Thanks to some published pieces, including one in the Wall Street Journal, he's been able to make a sustainable living as a freelance journalist. You can read about his adventures and observations on his blog. I'm honored to have the acquaintance of someone who has courageously switched his daily commute from some joyless tech campus in Hillsboro to Northern Iraq.

Updates on Yours Truly

Much of my time and energy over the last few weeks has been consumed by some tricky assignments at work, yoga, and Tai-Chi. A formulaic, but healthy, grind.

One blessed respite was provided by my PR friends Kyle and Annie, who were nice enough to hook me up with a pass to the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. I had the opportunity to listen to some excellent jazz, and briefly meet Antonio Hart (an astoundingly good sax player), Duane Eubanks (whose brother Kevin leads the Tonight Show band), and the indomitable David Sanborn. That Saturday, overcome by the Cascading Cavalcade of Sonic Chronic, I felt like the luckiest person in the world.

This experience reminded me that I needed to exploit the many excellent opportunities to listen to jazz in Portland. None finer value in jazz can be found than the pittance of a cover charged by Jimmy Mak's on its resident musician nights. Important note: excepting the fiery works performed within, Jimmy Mak's is non-smoking.

My next adventure will be to see my family in Korea for Chusok. I'm hoping that The Oregonian will publish my experiences on it--keep your fingers crossed!

I'm an uncle, again!

2006-07-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

My cousin John & his wife Bennia just had their first child, Madeline (link to QuickTime movie).

Even with the decidedly Blair Witch video quality, I think you'll agree that she's easily the cutest new member of our family!

Today's Report

2006-07-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Quit Date: 7/17/2006 8:00:00 AM
1 day, 3 hours, 5 minutes and 12 seconds smoke free
17 cigarettes not smoked
$3.75 and 3 hours of life saved

I feel a little miserable in that Bukowski/Thompson sort of way, but that's to be expected. I'm trying to make this the last time I quit...

Why I Love Portland, Reason #3875

2006-07-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

First off, I'll fully admit it's been too long since I've last posted. I'm finally recovering from a hellacious month of work and Human A&P finals. Expect to see more from me in the coming week.

Chuck Palahniuk quoted Katharine Dunn as saying that "Everyone in Portland is living three lives... they're a grocery store checker, an archeologist, and a biker guy. Or they're a poet, a drag queen, and a bookstore clerk."

This certain quirky, eclectic je ne se quois is part of Portland's oblique charm. I can't say we're the best city in the world, but I'm hard pressed to think of another one I'd rather call home.

I mean, what other place would allow a local bakery to situate a 100 foot long hot dog in the middle of downtown?

There were free hot dogs to be had, but just seeing the happy people chuckling at the engineering and baking marvel before them was food enough for me.

Cornhusker Safari

2006-06-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this missive to you from the campus of the University of Nebraska Lincoln. That's right, the home of the Cornhuskers. As much as I'd like to make fun of them, they do have a pretty nifty campus, and some cool art and music events going on here.

That said, based on the weird looks I regularly get around town (whaddya mean, you don't see many Korean guys in Aloha shirts?) I don't think this is going to be my #1 pick for an out-of-state campus (UW's Nursing program in Seattle or one in the Bay Area would be it).

My mission for this trip: avoid all arguments with family, and find a good butcher to buy steaks from to bring back for friends (the somewhat fetching co-eds are too big for carry on, sadly).

Hey Ken: Jesus Called And Says You Suck

2006-06-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I used to work for a little Texas company called Enron. I was fired from the company by some management who discovered that I wasn't terribly interested in towing the party line in terms of lying.

I was gratified that Ken Lay (former chairman and CEO) was found guilty, but was tremendously amused by what I found on his decidedly self-aggrandizing website. I hate to break it to you Ken, but folks who "love our Lord" don't build empires that are out to jam overpriced power up Grandma Millie's ass.

If I could have a brief conversation with Ken Lay or Jeff Skilling, I'd say four things:
1) You are both brazen fucking hypocrites. I am amazed at your collective temerity.
2) Jeff, everyone at EBS knew you were a complete snake.
3) Ken, plausible deniability ends with Enron Security & Business Controls. Remember that mini-CIA-like team you set up that reported directly to the Chairman of the Board (that would have been you). You guys knew Enron Broadband better than the division managers did.
4) I've had few finer hours of my life than the ones spent talking to five Houston FBI agents, and feeling more than willing to testify against you.

Typing this with my formerly nicotine stained fingers...

2006-05-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

As of 8:09 AM this morning, I have quit smoking (well, it was actually around 2:25 AM this morning, but I don't count sleeping as quit time).

A few reasons:
1) I'm a pretty energetic individual. However, when both school and work start getting rough, I get really, really tired. I really felt that last night. I'll do whatever it takes to get more energy.

2) I don't want to date anyone that's a smoker.

3) Last time I checked, smoking is still bad for you.

To reward myself for two glorious hours of fresh-air-only living, I believe I'm entitled to as much sushi as I can eat for lunch.

Kidneys, You Suck

2006-05-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I loves me some Kidneys. That said, studying about them is a humongous bitch. Of all the body systems and organs we've studyed, the kidneys are easily the hardest system. I am, admittedly, humbled by how complex and sophisticated the kidneys are. This will all be over at 9 PM tonight when my exam is done.

That said, my friend Dr. Michael recently did a show on AM Northwest (our local morning show on KATU). I've had a conversation with him in the past about The Four Horsemen of marriages. I think they apply quite elegantly to relationships as well. You'd do well to read them.

Random Wish For Today

2006-05-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

If you happen to win the lottery (or really, really feel the need to get me something expensive), feel free to get me one of these.

I've been in noisy places (music venues, back of a moving ambulance, people screaming) enough to really, really want one of these. See the Wall Street Urinal article.

Pete's Latest Gamble

2006-05-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Albeit, a relatively small one: I just purchased $117 worth of stock in a company called Indevus Pharmaceuticals solely because I was very interested in a product called PRO 2000.

This product is currently in FDA trials and is slated for release in about a year-and-a-half. It appears to offer some promise in the area of STD harm reduction: the product's microbicide effects appear to dramatically increase the difficulty of HIV and HSV-2 transmission, something I'm supportive of.

Even though it has a Buy rating, I think the company is still a high-risk investment, but fun to watch nonetheless.

Nope, Still Here

2006-05-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Well, Sarah was a bit concerned I had stopped blogging. Reports of my (er, blog's) demise are highly exaggerated!

I've just been very busy. Even though this term in Anatomy & Physiology is relatively easier that last, there are a few gotchas: the kidneys and electrolytes. Fortunately, I got a new copy of Guyton's Medical Physiology to replace the one taken from my car by some enterprising jackasses.

I've also had the pleasure of going out on a few dates over the last week or so. Nothing that I'd really bank on for the long term, but all around good fun nonetheless. Additionally, my friend Bob introduced me to what is my new favorite restaurant, Fenouil, which was good enough to move my #1 restaurant, Genoa, to second place. Mind you, Genoa was my #1 restaurant in the US for the last five years. The price was a little scary (picture on right), but the starred items on the list were expertly prepared and delicious. Bob and I had the pleasure of parking it there for well over an hour and a half to enjoy a delicious meal, an excellent Cote du Rhone with nice glasses and decanter, and great conversation.

The two following restaurants are my Favorites Of All Time:

Le Bistrot de Papa

Photo shamelessly stolen from this page.
In the charming Rue Cler arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower and other tourist traps.
81, Avenue Bosquet / 75007 Paris
Metro stop: Ecole Militaire
Tél. 01 47 05 36 15

Sadly, I cannot remember the name of my favorite Italian restaurant: it was sometime in 1998 when I was in Italy. Rick Steves' recommended it in his guidebook, and the Risotto alla Pescatora convinced me that when the angels sit for dinner, this is one item on their table. I do remember the place was near the Vatican. If you're going to Rome, let me know, and I'll look it up.

I give up.

2006-04-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

After some thought, I decided that paying $12.95/month for TiVo service (plus $100 or so for the "80 hour" box, USB Ethernet adapter and 50' cable) far outweighed the sheer pain of watching horrible television or annoying advertising. I consider the latter to be time stolen from me. And, lets face it, anymore, recording things with your VCR is just a Victorian-era pain-in-the-ass.

Because of my schedule, it's been hard to sit down and watch movies as often as I'd like. And, despite what most snobs say about TV, there are some good shows here and there. Unfortunately for me, some of my most favorite ones air when I'm eating dinner or in school.

After spending several hours buying it, setting it up, and waiting for countless software updates, I've finally got the thing working. Looking back, I wished I would have just bought that TiVo Wireless Networking adapter. I spent just a few too many hours this weekend trying to find one at the store that was compatible (which I didn't), and the wired Ethernet setup worked only after I got a TiVo software update via dial-up. Big tip: if you don't have a landline phone, do this at a friend's house with either the same satellite or cable service and a landline.

What's on my Season Pass Manager now:
1. CSI
2. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
3. The Daily Show
4. MythBusters
5. The Office
6. Iron Chef
7. Globe Trekker
8. Good Eats
9. 30-Minute Meals
10. Power Yoga
11. Family Guy
12. American Dad
13. Rick Steves' Europe
14. Cold Case

Interesting statistical sites

2006-04-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

Something I stumbled on--you're just going to see for yourself:
StateMaster & NationMaster

This blog can Cannes it!

2006-04-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

Thought I should share my most recent award with you:

Where it came from.

In honor of 4/20

2006-04-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

Today's story courtesy of my friend Deputy Laura:
"2 Very Cool Dudes just got arrested. One wearing a Hwy 420 Tshirt, the other wearing a Bob Marley pot leaf tshirt....both crying. They got caught smoking pot in Pioneer Courthouse Square....one told the cop that nabbed them that they had heard that the cops leave people alone today that want to smoke in public....they read it on the internet."

Christ. I also found out from Deputy Laura that they were also being just a tad lippy toward PoPo, which is highly not recommended.

I've seen more than enough instances where the PoPo will look the other way on these sorts of things, but talking smack is definately not a Charm School attribute.

It's True

2006-04-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

Despite rumors to the contrary, I discovered last Friday that the Easter Bunny does exist, and that he was trying to get all up on me in this shot.

UPDATE: Christ, people. By "all up on me," I was not referring to "copping a feel" or like lascivious behavior. Review your urban idioms before saying shit like that again.

Wealth

2006-04-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Wealth isn't just about how much money you have. It's how long you can live doing something fun and enriching, while taking care of basic needs and having enough to cover unforseen things in the future.

Super Hai, Buffett, and Homies

2006-04-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a fun day at work (I won't bore you with some of the mind-numbing details on the Rational Unified Process), along with a few other interesting things...

My mechanic Hai managed to pull off a minor miracle. After doing a few things (check/repairfuelleaks, checkfuelpump, replacerightsideenginemount, changeoil, replaceallfuelinjectors, installIPDflametrapkit, replacewaterpump, replacealldrivebelts, checkbrakesystem), my total bill came out to be $700, which is pretty reasonable considering that half of that is parts. It drives with more power and more smoothly already. Completely worth it, and the total cost of this repair will pay itself off in less than a year of driving (more fuel efficient). Hell yes!

Warren Buffett has demonstrated once again that corporate annual reports don't have to be completely boring or obfuscated. Using funny stories, anecdotes and plain English throughout (and clear definitions when it wasn't possible), he shows why he's still the Wizard of Omaha. Interesting facts: he has apparently never sold a share of the Berkshire-Hathaway stock that makes up most of his $30+ billion net worth. He notes in his 2005 Annual Report that every single share he owns of Berkshire-Hathaway is destined for philanthropic work (see page 21).

Oh yeah, remember that mention in my last blog entry about mutual funds and management costs? See page 18. If you don't feel like reading it, Warren basically feels that Americans lose 20% of their investments over time to not-so-valuable "management" by hedge funds, mutual fund managers, etc. If that doesn't mean anything to you, how about this: that 20% is paying for the bar tab of a fund manager, and not yours.

Homies. This is a slide show my friend Laura made with music and pictures of a number of friends of mine (I've got a couple in there too). Amazing how many great memories you can evoke in eight minutes. I need to note that this is mostly safe for work, excepting one picture with one errant penis. That's the breaks.

Random Thoughts Of The Day

2006-04-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

A fine piece of art from my co-worker:

Also, my mechanic gave me some OK news. Yes, the aged Volvo still has problems (we're going to conveniently ignore the fact that the tranny is going south), but he's trying to...
--Fix the fuel leak without doing anything major
--Replace a motor mount (which should kill a lot of funky vibrations)
--Perform the infamous Volvo water pump replacement
--Install a new IPD flame trap kit (Volvo's version of the PCV filter, a head gasket killer if there's a problem)
--Change the belts, and
--Install the fuel injectors he's getting refurbished, which will hopefully up my fuel efficiency by about 10-15%.

Le grand totale: between $700-900. This may seem like a lot, but it's not unheard of for a less scrupulous outfit to charge $500-700 alone for a water pump replacement. Hai is the man when it comes to mechanics.

My only major annoyance today is eating a tasty cinnamon roll, with a resultant sugar coma. Blech. I should have known better: in class last term, we were futzing with Blood Glucometers. After sucking down a can of Coke in five minutes, I immediately felt extremely woozy and light-headed. My lab professor commented that I had a rather fast insulin response--nothing I didn't recover from in about an hour.

Oh yeah: I'm trying to consolidate (rollover) the bits and pieces of various retirement funds I've had with different companies in an effort to clarify my financial status for future Nursing school. I'm happily using Scottrade, which is dramatically better than the horrible experience I had a few weeks ago with E-Trade. David Wallingford of the SW 6th downtown office has been giving me a lot of gracious assistance--ask for him if you decide to do the same.

Scottrade costs nearly next-to-nothing to set up an account at, and the $7-per-trade for stocks (including Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)) is dirt cheap. They also don't charge for transferring money out of an account. In comparison, E-Trade is charging me $60 for this privilege. Even nicer, my Notre Dame MBA-alumni buddy who is a finance analyst for Tektronix has had excellent luck with Scottrade.

Every bit of efficiency I can wring out of my investments will make life just that much better for Nursing school. I don't think people are aware of the fact that "no-load" mutual funds are actually not free. ETFs, by comparison, are generally used by institutional investors for things like investing in S&P index funds. In sum, I get the same relative convenience of an S&P 500 mutual fund, but without the annoying management costs.

If you want to know why I think an S&P 500 index-based investment is a pretty good deal, check out the "Wizard of Omaha" blog entry below.

Buenos suerte!

2006-04-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I got some bad news from my mechanic today. The Volvo wagon I've grown to know and love has some serious mechanical problems. But, much like the family dog with an expensive disease, I'm opting to spend a little more money than I normally would to get it fixed. He looked at me askance for even considering it, but hey, it's my car and my (soon-to-be-his) money. Unfortunately, it's going to take him longer than he originally thought (the three man shop has about twelve cars parked in it). Hard to go wrong with Dan's Automotive though (run by a Vietnamese guy named Hai). Honest, fast, and always giving me cheaper options, or telling me that other mechanics were wrong about the need for expensive repairs to my car.

However, that was not nearly as scary as the Radio Cab ride to work downtown. I told him, get me downtown cheaply and quickly. I wasn't careful with what I wished for, and I got it: my friendly driver, born and raised in Mexico City, cut off almost every car we drove by and nearly caused a couple of accidents. My favorite moment: seeing the grille of a Ford truck rocketing toward me, and then stopping about two feet away from my window.

I couldn't sign that Visa receipt and get out of that cab fast enough.

A little prayer for my friends...

2006-04-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

I heard this on the news this morning and, much to my shock, I know them.

Angie and Jaime (who is on the left of this photo) are very dear friends of mine. I've known Angie for over four years, and Jaime for two. They are both exceedingly kind souls, and even though it's been a year or so since I hung out with them extensively, I have many excellent memories that they are an integral part of (including Burning Man).

While it sounds like they'll be OK, they were hurt pretty badly, with some broken bones and organ damage. I'm comforted by the fact that they're probably under the expert care of Rose's aunt, a charge nurse at the OHSU ICU, whom I respect tremendously.

You probably don't know them, but please keep them in your thoughts. If you've ever had fun with me, it's because years ago, they helped me learn what fun is like.

Free[d] Jill

2006-03-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

I've been keeping a fairly close tab on the kidnapping of Jill Carroll, a journalist with the Christian Science Monitor (apparently called CSM by newsies). I felt extremely bad for her, as she was the kind of journalist whose work you wanted to read. Eschewing the "Iraq News--As Reported By Our Man At The Baghdad Hilton" mentality, she apprently spoke Arabic and followed Islamic customs regarding dress. She gathered news the old-fashioned way: learn from the Iraqi people and translate those experience and contexts into something those external to the situation can digest.

The tremendous amount of support she got from many disparate people and parties was just amazing. I don't know about you, but if I was your run-of-the-mill insurgent, and saw this missive from Hamas, I'd probably think twice about double-tapping her in the head for the sake of the revolution.

If you haven't read it before, or are leery about the Christian Science religion, as I am, consider putting your worries to rest. Robert, a Socialist-leaning acquaintance of mine who worked for CBS and BBC in Europe and Asia had extraordinary respect for the CS Monitor. Pretty much, the only other paper he thought was close was the New York Times. He also noted that many journalists (left and right-leaning) respect the CSM because they have well-established bureaus in many countries, and focus on covering issues to greater levels of detail, with a minimum of sensationalism. Mind you, my friend Robert thought that NPR was way too conservative for his taste. And it probably wouldn't surprise you that he worked for KBOO.

I am happy for Ms. Carroll's safe return, and look forward to seeing her work in CSM soon.

Much better

2006-03-27T13:38:00.000-08:00

It's amazing what nine hours of sleep can do. I woke up this morning feeling much better, with hopes that this cold is more along the lines of the 72-hour-crud and not the stomach flu that my project manager is sick with. He warned us he wouldn't be back until Wednesday, a remarkable statement since he's a limitless font of energy at work.

I discovered this weekend that, much like a fine cheese, one can't just roll into any old store and get duplicate keys for my cave-aged Volvo. The manager of my parking garage referred me to his favorite locksmith downtown. The seemingly mundane ten block walk I was expecting turned out to be a stroke of serendipity: Portland was being blessed with a beautiful day. I took a moment to feel the gentle caress of a cool breeze on my face, and contemplate how lucky I was to live in a city with so many beautiful friends.

I was also grateful to have a knowledgeable locksmith cutting my keys. She noted that there was a problem with my original key, and that the slight bend in it and a crack were signs of impending breakage. I took two keys, and was grateful for her advice; she probably saved me from the horrors of dealing with a key broken off in my door or ignition switch.

Not a bad day!

Christ, what a week

2006-03-26T13:30:00.000-08:00

Just to get this off of my chest...
1) The excruciating midterm and final for the A&P class I had to take last Wednesday. While I have to say that it really has been a pleasure to learn about some really neat stuff (immunology is very cool). Sweet lord, that was NOT an easy test.

2) Now that that's over, I go to text message my half-sister Angel, to find out how she's doing. I get a message back saying "Not well. I have aids." WHAT THE FUCK?!?! I steel myself for what will be an depressing conversation and call her back. Some dude picks up the phone, and I ask if Angel is there. He says yes, and then he notes that she has AIDS. I then hear laughter in the background. Come to find out, this guy is really mad at me for having text messaged or called this number a few months ago, and he things it's hilarious to joke that someone has AIDS. I let him know how amazingly cruel it was to do such a thing, but his sentiments of inconvenience from a couple of wrong phone calls apparently mean more to him. Horrible.

I have a lot of respect and admiration for my half-sister. While we have different priorities in our lives, I have tremendous respect for her compassionate nature and love of art.

3) In an effort to police my place up a bit more, I go to Target and pick up a chrome-plated garment rack and a medium-size set of plastic organizer shelves. I'm trying to save money, but I figure that $45 isn't going to bust my balls. After excitedly assembling it halfway, I do an inventory check and I discover that it's missing two key parts (namely, two chrome rods that give it height). I now have to lug the whole kit-and-kaboodle back to Target to get another set.

4) I'm coming down with cold.

Sigh.

02-28-2006 - BI 232 Lecture on Blood Physiology & Histology

2006-02-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for the lecture, please go instead to the new Club Anatomy blog.

Rummy Rumsfeld's Fighting Style

2006-02-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

My friend Doug sent this link to me, and it's priceless. Rose and I would be formidable opponents, however, since we're training to be cage fighters.

I Spy

2006-02-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

I had some time between studies this weekend to steal one of Rose's books to read during the afternoon. Blowing My Cover is an excellent story about a young CIA case officer, and how she managed to avoid The Dark Side. It's a relatively quick read, and makes for a very fulfilling Saturday book reading marathon.

For espionage and politico-types, I can also recommend Man Without A Face, the memoirs of Markus Wolf, a spymaster for East Germany. Exceptional political observations, as well as rather funny pictures of himself with CIA staff he knew of--but never met in person--whilst on the DDR payroll.

Back to school...

2006-01-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well, today's my first day back at school, for the second of three terms of Human A&P. Around 8 pm, I'll get tired and probably let my mind drift off to thinking about some of the thoughtful gifts I got from people. Here are my favorites:

-- My friend Bob Beckman gave me a really nice bottle of Pinot Noir from Patricia Green Cellars. "Patty Green" is well-known to many cork dorks in Oregon: the 'winemaker's winemaker,' her name is synonymous with skill and consistency over the years. Formerly at Torii Mor, she started this small, but auspicious, winery a few years ago. Some weekend, I hope to have an opportunity to crack this bottle open with Bob and enjoy good conversation: an essential complement to any wine.

-- My parents sent me a new laptop. I specifically told my parents not to send me anything expensive, but they ignored me. My mother is especially concerned about ensuring that I have all the tools I need to be insanely successful at school (a common Korean mother neurosis, my girlfriend tells me). It was a nifty toy: an eight pound behemoth that sported a 17-inch LCD, a DVD burner, Bluetooth, wireless Ethernet, and pretty much everything but the kitchen sink and a hot tub. Unfortunately, it was also simply too big for school. It's already backbreaking lugging three textbooks and a binder for my A&P class through the parking lot. I am waiting with baited breath for the new Intel-based Apple 15" PowerBook that should be arriving in the next month or two, funded mostly by the proceeds from my parents' gift.

-- Rose gave me a really nice scarf. Lacking any pictures, I can tell you that it is made from a mohair-like yarn, has a very soft hand, and is fairly wide. Wrapped around my neck, it's about an inch thick and has the propensity to create a furnace-like environment around my neck--very handy on some of the chilly days we've had this winter. I'm delighted that someone would spend a couple of months knitting something for me, and there's an intangible-yet-visceral quality to it. It's my most favorite gift.

As the days pass, it seems that I long less for the nice cars and trips to Mexico I used to take. This holiday season, happiness was really about the simple things: drinking a nice wine, feeling the caress of a warm scarf and spending time with people whose company I relish. Perfection.

What I did this Christmas

2005-12-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

Ah, this Baby Jesus Birthday Holiday sure was sweet! A few of the things I did:

Sang a bunch of Karaoke and saw lots of friends. Can't do Karaoke midweek much anymore because of work and school, and it's hard to catch up with friends. I took care of a lot of both.

Experienced a (more or less) proper British Christmas dinner. Courtesy of my friend Kirsteen, it was a fascinating view into some of the culinary traditions of the British. WINNERS: British Ginger cookies, mulled wine, Marmite twigs (must be a Mr. Bean thing), and Kirsteen's secret family roasted potato recipe. LOSERS: Well, I thought I'd like the Christmas Pudding, but it was simply too rich for me. Fun to try it, though.

Exchanged gifts with Rose. This should be self-explanatory. I'll note though: I hate sitting on gifts for weeks and weeks (I'm dying to give them), but patience is a virtue.

Watched more Bond movies than anyone should be allowed. I've always loved the Bond franchise: campy, goofy, misogynistic at times. Unfortunately, I'm unable to resist it, and could watch this stuff for hours. And by god, I did.

Did a whole bunch of nothing. I never thought that doing absolutely nothing would be so enjoyable, but shit yes, it was. La dolce far niente, indeed. A pleasant break from A&P studies starting up on January 9th, if not a bit earlier, but at least I'll have help from a special furry friend. Doesn't he look ever so smart?

One Term Down, Two Left. Oh yeah--and SantaCon!

2005-12-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I've survived my first term of Human A&P with an A. I'm excited, as this will help make my application to Pill Hill's Nursing Program much more competitive. Thanks to everyone who has supported me through this crucial first step...

In other news, I could hardly think of a better way to kick of the Winter break than with SantaCon. Okay, so this year there was some bad PR, but the one in Portland went off very smoothly.

This year, Korean Santa (aka "Santa Craus") had the pleasure of doing SantaCon with "Mrs. Craus"--my lovely girlfriend Rose in the matching Chinese silk dress. Good stuff!

SantaCon isn't just about copping a nice buzz (a critical part of it, but I digress). One of my favorite activities involves handing out Asian Santa candy to the kids. That went splendidly, excepting one incident at Meier & Frank:

SANTA PETE to PARENTS: Can I give your child some candy? (Permission's important, IMHO)

MEIER & FRANK SECURITY: No, you may not give the children candy.

Sheesh! Saying that to someone dressed up like Santa (with about 150 others) has got to be great PR. That said, I smiled and moved along: we make it a point to avoid causing store security and the police grief.

Interestingly enough, we did the same going through Powell's Bookstore, without a hitch. Nobody messed with Santa, ergo, nobody got hurt. See, easy stuff, really!

eBay & Cellular Oasis

2005-12-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

12-8-2005 UPDATE: Minutes after I posted my negative feedback, I see a reply on the Feedback page: "No contact from buyer. Item was shipped within 24 hours". Uh, huh, sure. I recommend you try calling 1-866-54-OASIS and check out their "24/7 Customer Service."

12-9-2005 UPDATE: In a strange twist of fate, I received the package yesterday. First off, the comment left by Cellular Oasis was WRONG! This item was NOT shipped within 24 hours: the shipping label clearly states that it was shipped on 12/6/2005. That's about, oh, seven days off. And, to add insult to injury, they didn't send me the car charger they promised. I ended up with some earbud headset--a design I never use. Pffft! To their credit, the data cable does work, and I was able to make a data connection. Thank god.
See tracking information for yourself:
1) Go to usps.com.
2) Enter this tracking number:
4209 7239 9101 0105 2129 7948 4402 81
I'll be contacting Cellular Oasis--stay tuned!

------------------------

I've purchased some items from eBay, Half.com, and Amazon, and have had excellent experiences overall. Unfortunately, one recent purchase is becoming a serious nightmare:

I decided that I wanted a data cable to use with my Sprint Sanyo 8100 phone. The one offered by Cellular Oasis on eBay appeared to be a good choice.

A timeline:

1) I receive an e-mail on November 28 at 11:24 AM indicating that Ilana@cellularoasis.com has received my payment of $18.32 for a data cable, a CD with a driver for the phone, and a bonus car charger. Sounds good by me!

2) I receive several messages from the sales@cellularoasis.com indicating that all is well, I won the item, etc. Sounds great.

3) Eight calendar days later, on December 6th, I ask for a tracking number. No big deal--the seller asked all purchasers to wait seven days prior to asking about anything. My house, beginning with the infamous zero (021 SW Bancroft) sometimes eludes the post office, UPS and FedEx. No response.

4) Over the next two days, I'm asked (by automated e-mail) to resend all requests to TWO DIFFERENT e-mail addresses. Which I do. No response. And did I mention, no package yet?

5) I'm starting to get concerned. I decided that perhaps I should call the toll-free number they list (866-54OASIS) listed on their website as well as their eBay ad. The number rings about ten times, then some cryptic machine voice tells me that there are zero messages. Or something like that. This does not sound like the 24/7 customer service that their web site touted.

Sigh. Mercifully, there appears to be protection offered by PayPal. This won't stop me from using eBay or like sites, but this is definately a case of Caveat Emptor.

Just like Frankie said...

2005-12-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

And now, the end is near. Okay, so the song really goes here and not near, but after having sung My Way at karaoke nearly every week for almost three years, I think I'm entitled to some artistic license (or licentiousness, as the case may be).

I'm exceedingly happy that my first term of Human Anatomy & Physiology is almost over. I survived my last hellish midterm (muscle physiology and action potentials) and ended up at an A- overall. I've only got one final exam left, which is mercifully more predictable as it covers only the items on the three midterms. Unmercifully, Dr. Ed will be using all the questions that everyone missed. Oh, snap!

Despite the fact that my professor is perhaps more difficult than most, I have to credit him for his hard work: he makes himself available quite a lot for one-on-one or small group discussions, and teaches us relatively new developments in physiology. The "more difficult" part comes in because missing a lecture is academic suicide: he mentions new research material not found in textbooks that invariably lands in exams. His take on the matter is that anyone going on to med or nursing school will be better prepared with his mode of teaching. I'm hard pressed to disagree with the wisdom of this.

Anyhoo, I'm looking forward to wrapping up this byatch, and spending some relaxed time with my girlfriend that doesn't involve burying my head in a book. Finally, I can do stuff on weekends and not feel all jonesy about school!

Portland people: what are you guys doing during the Christmas holidaze?

27 Days Later

2005-11-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

Well, Sarah and Marcus, I'm finally posting a blog entry for yous...

School has become increasingly hard. Well, I'm not going to lie and say that I'm studying the 12-16 hours a week recommended by my A&P teacher for an A. Outside of the 8 hours of week in class, I've probably been studying an average of eight hours a week. It's not the most optimal of study, but it's been enough to get me by. I'm confident I'll be in B grade range for the class, or perhaps an A. I am, however, needing to kick it up a notch: memorizing muscles and bones is not difficult, but very time consuming. (I've discovered that physiology is considerably easier for me to learn over rote memorization of body parts.) And, around December 12th, we've got a lecture and lab final that will prove to be an ass-kicker. Going out to drink midweek has been more or less impossible (good news for my liver, really).

Work has been troubling. Everything is going a bit smoother now, but a few weeks ago, I wasn't 100% certain that I'd have a job past the end of December. A detail that I either missed or wasn't mentioned was that my consulting gig was basically on a month-to-month basis. I'm not complaining: I'm doing a job I generally enjoy, for which I'm being paid a respectable salary. However, the day-to-day pressures of work, stress from studying for school and significant fears about whether or not I'd be able to pay for Nursing school next Fall resulted in some very acute anxiety. Week before last was absolutely hellish: I had an emotional meltdown over the entire melange of things happening.

The journey is the reward. All of the above has encouraged me to put things in a different perspective. During the meltdown, I felt as if I was in a deep, dark pit, having climbed up a ladder into a future for which the next rung was missing. Now, I've had to confront my fears about what the future holds. There are no guarantees, but I now understand that I have to plan both my finances and time better. And, I am very grateful for the support and sage words of my girlfriend and long-time friends to get me through to the next step. As much as I hate to say it, it's confronting and overcoming these challenges that is the path to wisdom. Easier said than done, for sure. Trying to improve circumstances one day at a time: that's my goal.

In the words of a journalist whose storied life is the subject of an excellent movie, "Good Night, And Good Luck."

A reason to keep on living

2005-10-31T11:02:00.000-08:00

Whenever studying the nine trillion bones in the skull weighs heavily on me, I just remember that SantaCon is in 35 days. This is the "Santa Rampage" that Chuck Palahniuk referred to in his book Fugitives and Refugees, A Walk in Portland, Oregon.

If you are planning on coming to this, I highly recommend that you arrange for a designated driver or pool for a taxi. Copious amounts of holiday cheer will be available, and public transit will be taken from place to place (an all-day TriMet ticket is a very good idea).

Oh yes, my friend who made the "Reindeer Fucker" that Palahniuk mentioned will be there, very likely with samples. Sweet baby Jeebus.

WHEN? December 17th, 12:00 NOON
WHERE? Portland Saturday Market (food-court area)
WHY? HO.

From Santarchy.com, The Rules:

SANTA DO'S:
* Every Santa is referred to as Santa, in the first, second, and third person, singular and plural.
* Have something ready to hand out, even if it's just candy canes.
* NEVER wash the suit.
* And, uh... I forget the rest. Pass me the Pine-Sol bottle....

SANTA DON'TS:
* Don't fuck with the cops. If the cops tell you to do something, DO IT. If you want to get busted, do it when you and I aren't dressed the same.

* Don't fuck with little kids. I'm serious, this is supposed to be fun. Holidays are unpleasant enough for kids these days. If we can't brighten it at least we can be one less worry for them. Remember: The kids of today are the weirdoes of tomorrow.

* Don't fuck with store security. If they ask you to leave a store, get the hell out and be nice about it, or other Santas will take shit for it.

* Don't fuck with Santa or I'll puke on your suit, you damned imposter.

RANT: Willamette Week's Salt Debacle

2005-10-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Messrs. Meeker and Zusman,

I've been an avid reader of Willamette Week for many years. Despite the fact that my friends involved in journalism are periodically very critical of the quality of your publication, I've found the investigative reporting (e.g. Goldschmidt) and movie reviews (David Walker) to be insightful and useful.

That noted, the recent review on Castagna struck me as highly inappropriate on several levels.

First of all, I would assert that it's generally accepted that "appropriate" salt levels in food is, indeed, highly subjective. I am not aware of the travel habits of WWeek's food review staff, but the "salt debacle" is just one more issue that makes me question whether or not the staff of WWeek are qualified to review Italian (among other) culinary traditions.

In the last few years, I have spent over two months in Europe, primarily with the purpose of experiencing local cuisine. Almost half of that was spent in Italy. The level of salt does, indeed, differ regionally in Italy, from restaurants that were widely accepted by a local populace to be representative of their regional culinary traditions. In my opinion, if there is an error to be made, it would be to undersalt, rather than oversalt. In Ms. Clarke's response, not a single mention of the subjective nature of food reviewing was made. This subjectivity should be obvious to the public, but the sway that food reviews hold on the short-term success of restaurants demonstrate this otherwise.

Additionally, it should be apparent that commercial conflicts of interest have no place in culinary writing. I am sure you are well acquainted with Phil Stanford's recent article. [Pete's note: my friend, a freelance food reviewer, pointed Phil's article out to me.]

Secondly, I should note that WWeek's review of Bewon as somehow representing authentic Korean food is highly specious. I was raised Korean, have visited Korea, and have made the study of Korean, as well as other Asian and European cuisines (and European enology/viticulture), a serious personal interest. I and many others I know (some of whom have lived in Korea for extended periods of time) are of the opinion that while Bewon's decor is certainly interesting, the food is overpriced, mediocre in quality, and unrepresentative of Korean cuisine in flavor. In the future, please avoid sending out writers who have little knowledge of a culinary tradition's background--or at least have them mention this in their review. There is nothing wrong with saying that one does not have much experience in a culinary tradition.

As an avid and loyal reader of WWeek, I believe that I am reasonable in my expectations that your paper be truly independent and subscribe to the highest standards in journalism, and am confident that your staff are capable of doing so.

Sincerely,
-Pete Lee

New Codephrase For Today

2005-10-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

One example of community improvement through technology is the Wireless AMBER Alert. Based on the area code of your phone, this system will send AMBER alerts to your phone when one is announced in your area. Set up in conjunction with cell phone carriers and the CTIA, an international cellular consortium, it greatly extends the AMBER Alert effectiveness beyond the previous Emergency Alert System, which is where I see most AMBER alerts.

On that note, a funny story: a few nights ago, Rose pointed out the fact that a police car had its lights on in our generally sleepy, slightly-more-affluent neighborhood, notable for it's nearly complete lack of black people. I informed her that an Umber Alert must have went out. She thought it was funny. I didn't see a mention for it in the Urban Dictionary or in Google, so I'm claiming the phrase-coining rights.

Portland isn't exactly the diverse town it's residents envision it to be (if you want diverse, try San Francisco or New York). Seriously, while living in Beaverton, I've more-or-less have had women in bars tell me that they thought I was cool, but "asian guys" weren't their type (the usual caveat about expecting to meet a huge pool of decent people applies here, but I digress). Fine (people should have choice) but after several years of hearing this regularly in the 'burbs, the "asian guy" thing got tiresome. I'll move back to the 'burbs the moment I declare celibacy, believe you me.

Count how many minorities live in "progressive, liberal" neighborhoods like Hawthorne and Belmont for another example of what I'm getting at here.

My post-Vegas report & attempts to stay out of trouble

2005-10-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

A few things I learned whilst in Vegas:

1) For the most part, the Strip sucks.
The traffic is horrendous and everything is really, really expensive. (That said, if you're travelling on a company junket, by all means, stay at a nice place on the Strip.) For example, I caught the Pussy Cat Dolls show (by Carmen Electra) at the Pure bar (owned by Shaq) at Caesar's Palace. My weakly mixed vodka soda was $9, and I saw the girly-girls ponying up $20 for a sour apple martini. Yes, that's $20 for ONE drink. The fun-to-cash ratio was simply not good enough for me to ever recommend that sort of chicanery: if I want to be in the company of high-maintenance women and asshole guys, I can do it far cheaper elsewhere.

2) Staying off-Strip: a far better choice.
I stayed at a property my friend is a bar manager at, the Palace Station Hotel and Casino. The Irish Pub there was quite nice, with prices roughly what you'd pay in your average brewpub in Portland. The food at the various restaurants was tasty, affordable and served in generous portions (the Grand Cafe is probably the best value, overall). I opted for a value room: after a $5 a night "service charge", it ended up being $60 per weekend night. Sure, it didn't have a pretty view of the pool one would find at the Bellagio, but quite frankly, my requirements for a room in Vegas are cleanliness and suitability for passing out. This place did it in spades. I'm not willing to spend an extra $190 just for a nice view.

3) Taking my money elsewhere.
Some of that "extra" money came with me to Ellis Island, which was hailed by my friend's Vegas veterans as the place to sing karaoke. Despite what a Citysearch user review said, I found the beer to be quite tasty, and reasonable in price ($3-4/pint). The karaoke system was one of the best I'd seen (LCD TVs everywhere with the lyrics), and the host was quite good.

I won't bore you with the details about the hellacious flight back--and the fact that Alaska Airlines lost my luggage. Talking about it depresses me.

I'm needing to stay out of trouble at the moment: my Human Anatomy & Physiology class is easily the hardest class I've ever taken, and is requiring a lot of study time. Fun stuff, but it's hard to find the energy to concentrate after working a full day. I'll be a bit scarcer these days, but I'm sure I'll meet up with y'all at some point soon on the weekend.

Time to say "hi" to my money...

2005-09-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Yup, I've decided to take my karaoke tour on the road with a trip to Lost Wages.

The purposes for this trip are threefold:
1) For Rose to visit her friend, Jessica, who moved to Las Vegas a little while back.
2) For me to visit my friend Jason, former bartender at Madame Butterfly and karaoke DJ extraordinaire.
3) For Rose to take me to the Coach outlet store, under the nefarious pretense that I need a wallet.

I wouldn't normally undertake such a trip (budget considerations being what they are), but I burned a bunch of Alaska miles to get a 50% discount on my ticket, and Rose & I will stay at Jessica's house. Which is very cool.

I could use a little break from the daily grind. I started up my three term sequence in Human Anatomy & Physiology at PCC, and have discovered that I've got some catching up to do, especially in the realm of basic chemistry. Mercifully, I have a good professor who is both challenging and accessible (and who gives us lots of ways to avoid spending $215 on A&P textbooks), and a lab partner(s) who look like they're both driven, hardworking and took the initiative to solicit my partnership, all of which is cool.

Since this first quiz is relatively easy, this visit to Vegas is well timed. It'll be a nice opportunity to proverbially "snort coke off a hooker's ass" before I have to buckle down and behave myself.

Things that go BANG in the night.

2005-09-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

A post on Slashdot about the controversial issue of gun ownership.

My response.

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

2005-09-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks, I've heard some criticism leveled at the American Red Cross from various individuals and local groups. I had the interesting experience of listening to a representative from KatrinaHousingNW.org obliquely criticize the Red Cross' sheltering efforts, noting the indignity of the whole situation.

I fully agree that, compared to being at home or in a nice hotel, it would completely suck to be in a shelter. And, even as a supporter and volunteer, I'd note that the Red Cross could certainly stand some improvements. That said, I think that caution should be exercised before those with little or no disaster relief experience level criticism.

My friends who have worked extensively with the Red Cross thought back on their experiences, and expressed some observations regarding sheltering individuals in private homes. Three key issues include:
-Inadequate security to protect refugees from individuals who may harm them (this is a critical point when it comes to children).
-Logistical issues with management of food, healthcare resources, and other refugee needs.
-Problems with refugees not leaving temporary housing.

Another issue is a bit complicated: a temporary shelter is just that: temporary. While I would hope that Portland would openly and warmly welcome anyone from New Orleans, the main focus of a shelter operation is to provide refugees with the readiness and means to return home, if that is their choice.

To illustrate my point, I'd note that there are few groups who are as well prepared to provide disaster resources as the American Red Cross. For instance, since the hurricane, they have provided the following:
-2.1 million overnight stays in 896 shelters across the US
-112,000 Red Cross workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
-Specialized training for an additional 74,000 people in disaster relief
-Over 8.8 million hot meals and more than 6.7 million snacks, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention
-Mental health resources to over 178,000 people
(derived from this press release)

While there are many Americans who would generously provide such things, it's important to remember that the good or service being delivered for emergency purposes is only as good as the logistics and infrastructure behind its delivery. If you need an acronym to remember this by, think FEMA.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

2005-09-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

In my observations of social practices, it seems that it's relatively hip and easy to be cynical. Cynicism is a great excuse to not do anything because it's fatalistic. "Why help when it's just going to happen all over again. Bah." Great excuse to stay home, really. This cynicism seems to be paired, frequently, with hurtful experiences: either to oneself or others.

I don't know why bad things happen in this world--it's the topic of too many literary and artistic works to mention. That said, I think this interesting missive from a blogger in the New Orleans area can put an interesting spin on a conversation about the value of cynicism vs. altruism.

Primum Non Nocerre

2005-09-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

"Primum non nocerre, not knowingly to do harm, is the basic rule of professional ethics, the basic rule of an ethics of public responsibility."

A quote attributed to Peter Drucker, noted for work that is critically important in the praxis of business philosophy. Any self-respecting business major, MBA graduate or corporate manager will be amply familiar with his work, and have at least read Management Challenges for the 21st Century.

The Wikipedia entry (see above Peter Drucker link) notes this interesting tidbit:
His most controversial work is on compensation schemes, in which he said that senior management should not be compensated more than twenty times the lowest paid employees.

If you don't have the time or inclination to read his work, I can wholeheartedly recommend Five Temptations of a CEO. It's a quick read, but summarizes important leadership concepts and mindset. One does not need (or want) to be a CEO for this book to be useful.

Part of the reason for Dubya's delayed response...

2005-09-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

More photos.

How You Can Help

2005-09-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

I've seen lots of e-mails from various mailing lists around with people asking how they can help. From everything I've observed thus far, here's what I'd say...

1) Donate cash to the American Red Cross. Yes, it seems very mundane, but quite frankly, it's on par with actually volunteering. Because of logistical issues and policies regarding equitable treatment of victims, things like used clothing and canned food drives aren't very useful in terms of this disaster. From the experiences I've gotten with the Red Cross from training this week, I'd have to say that I'm impressed overall. The cash is used to support volunteer efforts (plane tickets, incidental expenses), buy food and supplies for shelters, replace prescriptions and eyeglasses, and lots of other things. I'd say of all the organizations I've seen, the Red Cross is probably your best bet for monetary donations. Any extra money they collect will be used to help other victims, both here and abroad.

2) Immediately donate your time to the American Red Cross. You can go down to 1712 NE Sandy Blvd and fill out a local volunteer form. They especially have a need for people who can help out in the daytime hours during the week. This will allow you to start helping almost immediately, and is based on whatever free time you have.

3) Get involved with something a little more specialized. You can start immediately with #2, or start by getting online training. The Introduction to Disaster Services is required for any of their specialties, and is a quick and simple primer on the history, mission and general policies of the Red Cross. This will allow you to specialize in areas such as case work, feeding and sheltering. The Red Cross training is free and of very good quality. If you opt to go this route, take the online course, and then call the Oregon Trail chapter for the latest information on new classes scheduled for this disaster. (You didn't hear this from me, but you can also just try showing up when you see the class time. Let the folks at the security desk know you're there for disaster relief training.) People from all backgrounds are useful: secretaries, business consultants, sales/marketing/PR, healthcare workers, carpentry, food service industry--it's all good and useful. There is also a urgent need for case workers (you can get trained on this) and mental health professionals for adults and children.

Good Stuff

2005-09-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

I got calls this morning from both my consulting firm managers at Excell and my client managers at Regence Blue Cross. They both indicated that they are very supportive of giving me a three week leave-of-absence to assist with Katrina relief efforts. While I won't be paid, my consulting firm will keep my benefits and health insurance going.

Most likely, my work will be with the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross. I got permission to leave for a battery of classes tomorrow during the day, which is also cool. Depending on how the Red Cross wants to use me, I may be leaving as early as September 24th. Keep your fingers crossed!

Up until about six years ago, I was very active in local search & rescue (SAR) and disaster relief (DR) efforts. For about four years, I was active with Civil Air Patrol, Pacific NW SAR and Yamhill Co. Sheriff SAR. I had the benefit of receiving over 200 hours of excellent training that covered things like search techniques, downed aircraft location, management of wilderness injuries (hypothermia, packing people out) and emergency radio communications. Unfortunately, the nature of my work changed, making my schedule very inflexible, and compromising my ability to help out these organizations.

I became recertified as an EMT two years ago with the intention of becoming more involved in volunteer work. Should I be shipped out, this will likely prove to be one of the longest and most challenging things I've done, and will also be a good test to see if that nursing school idea is still wise...

Irritation Central

2005-09-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

From what I observe, one of the biggest issues currently afflicting New Orleans is the lack of security. I'm sure that a number of charitable organizations (including the Red Cross) are staged several hours away, but won't go in because they fear their staff will be beaten or killed. Not everyone is willing or able to be as hardcore about it as this ex-Marine.

Our national response has been less than credible. This CNN article compares and contrasts statements made by the Feds, Mayor Nagin and others. To put it mildly, there's a ginormous disconnect between what these parties are saying.

The Charity Hospital situation is also very disappointing. I'm sorry, but doesn't our nation have resources like a Hostage Rescue Team? The Federal Government is notoriously bureaucratic, but you know, we have a certain someone in government who has taken his time to turn the heat up on response. I mean, how many days does it take before someone figures out that protection is needed before high-risk patients can be evacuated?

Well...

2005-09-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not even going to comment on how bad the disaster in NOLA is right now--that should be obvious.

My friend Aaron, a nurse and experienced in search and rescue, should be leaving on Monday to volunteer for the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. He asked me to consider volunteering with his peers at the American Red Cross, and my brief meeting with them at lunch today tells me I could be of use to them.

I had to decline an opportunity to go to Banda Aceh (Indonesia) after the tsunami there because it would have been too hard on the small company I worked for (a rule of thumb: don't make other people's emergencies yours). This one is so damn huge that I can't really turn away--and I work with a large project team, so my work can be deferred for three weeks. Keep your fingers crossed: if my consulting firm and clients are game, I'll probably be gone by the end of next week.

Blogging disaster

2005-08-31T16:16:00.000-07:00

I noticed that a local TV station in the NOLA area had news and pictures about the disaster in their blog.

F*cking, Austria!

2005-08-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

And I mean it! Where else would you find "F*cking Hotels, F*cking Jobs, and Schools in F*cking." Hilarity brought to you by the inherent fun in foreign languages. While we're on the topic, let us not forget about being able to cheer for a place in Thailand by chanting "Go Phuket!"

That search was prompted by the following Furthermore article in today's Wired Magazine:

It's All in a Name
British visitors find the name of F---ing, Austria, so funny they keep stealing the village signs. Local authorities are not amused. "We will not stand for the F---ing signs being removed," the town's police chief told the The Sunday Telegraph. "It may be very amusing for you British, but F---ing is simply F---ing to us. What is this big F---ing joke?" Local guide Andreas Behmueller says only the Brits seem to focus on the name -- Germans want to see the Mozart house in Salzburg, Americans are fascinated with the setting for The Sound of Music and the Japanese want to visit Hitler's birthplace in Braunau. "But for the British, it's all about F---ing," Behmueller said. Guesthouse manager Augustina Lindlbauer complains, "Just this morning I had to tell an English lady who stopped by that there were no F---ing postcards."
-- Beverly Hanly

T.G.I.F. / H.F.B.E.G. / W.T.F.?!?

2005-08-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

It's official: my most favorite day of the month is Check Day. No more hunting around the house for change to buy beer. Woo-hoo!

And, lest I forget, Happy (Fine) Birthday Eric Garner! He's been my buddy since we met the summer of 1999 at the (now defunct) Cobalt Lounge in Chinatown. Thanks to the great folks at The Internet Archive, I was able to find this link. Ah, those were the halcyon days: nights of Red Bull & Vodka, booty bass, DJ P, and the social machinations of my friend Candace on Catholic Schoolgirl Sunday nights, and mornings of hangover recovery with iced lattes and Diet Coke while working long hours for Enron.

Anyways, Eric shares some eclectic tastes in hobbies with me, and also shares my fervent belief that if God didn't want us to eat animals, why would he make them out of meat? A dinner he prepared of smoked ham hocks braised in sauerkraut is easily one of the best examples of German cuisine I have eaten. We've both changed a lot over the last few years, and I am lucky to have had him as a friend this long. Some of you happen to know Eric: send your birthday greetings to him at garnere -=[at]=- gmail -=[dot]=- com.

W.T.F. is with all of my friends with birthdays in August. No joke, this is like the SIXTH one I've been to this month. Yeah, yeah, I know the seasonal thing too, but it still amazes me.

The Savvy Traveler, R.I.P.

2005-08-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

The Savvy Traveller was one of my most favorite National Prozac Radio shows. Unfortunately, they didn't get enough sponsorship to continue, which was very disappointing.

However, their former host, Rudy Maxa continues to post some excellent tips. My favorite is his reference to SideStep, which you could think of as a super search engine for flight prices. I'm planning a trip to Lost Wages, NV and found some excellent deals there.

I'm going back to say hi to my money--and yours too.

Leadership Philosophies

2005-08-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

I've always had an interest in models of leadership, governance and culture. We may not explicitly consider it on a daily basis, but it's an integral and intrinsic part of many aspects of our daily lives: how seriously we take our managers at work, the person organizing the party, or the current POTUS.

[=] One that I've always thought was really nifty, and is intended for use by charities and international NGOs. This model happens to be used out a local organic product co-op, Food Front:
Policy Governance Model

[=] Self-governing online worker communities

[=] Somewhat related to governance, The Peter Principle

[=] A discussion of governance from one of my favorite movies:
ARTHUR: Old woman!
DENNIS: Man!
ARTHUR: Man, sorry. What knight lives in that castle over there?
DENNIS: I'm thirty seven.
ARTHUR: What?
DENNIS: I'm thirty seven -- I'm not old!
ARTHUR: Well, I can't just call you `Man'.
DENNIS: Well, you could say `Dennis'.
ARTHUR: Well, I didn't know you were called `Dennis.'
DENNIS: Well, you didn't bother to find out, did you?
ARTHUR: I did say sorry about the `old woman,' but from the behind you looked--
DENNIS: What I object to is you automatically treat me like an inferior!
ARTHUR: Well, I AM king...
DENNIS: Oh king, eh, very nice. An' how'd you get that, eh? By exploitin' the workers -- by 'angin' on to our outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic an' social differences in our society! If there's ever going to be any progress--
WOMAN: Dennis, there's some lovely filth down here. Oh -- how d'you do?
ARTHUR: How do you do, good lady. I am Arthur, King of the Britons. Who's castle is that?
WOMAN: King of the who?
ARTHUR: The Britons.
WOMAN: Who are the Britons?
ARTHUR: Well, we all are. we're all Britons and I am your king.
WOMAN: I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective.
DENNIS: You're fooling yourself. We're living in a dictatorship. A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes--
WOMAN: Oh there you go, bringing class into it again.
DENNIS: That's what it's all about if only people would--
ARTHUR: Please, please good people. I am in haste. Who lives in that castle?
WOMAN: No one live there.
ARTHUR: Then who is your lord?
WOMAN: We don't have a lord.
ARTHUR: What?
DENNIS: I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.
ARTHUR: Yes.
DENNIS: But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting.
ARTHUR: Yes, I see.
DENNIS: By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,--
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: --but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more--
ARTHUR: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!
WOMAN: Order, eh -- who does he think he is?
ARTHUR: I am your king!
WOMAN: Well, I didn't vote for you.
ARTHUR: You don't vote for kings.
WOMAN: Well, 'ow did you become king then?
ARTHUR: The Lady of the Lake, [angels sing] her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. [singing stops] That is why I am your king!
DENNIS: Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: Well you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: I mean, if I went around sayin' I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me they'd put me away!
ARTHUR: Shut up! Will you shut up!
DENNIS: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! HELP! HELP! I'm being repressed!
ARTHUR: Bloody peasant!
DENNIS: Oh, what a give away. Did you hear that, did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about -- did you see him repressing me, you saw it didn't you?

About those international flight attendants...

2005-08-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

From a missive to my friend Doug:

> Hmm, so what airline has the best FAs? Care to comment about the
> quality of my fellow Texans (i.e., CO, AA)? Do the Britts indeed have
> better service (BA)?

I think it depends on all on what you like. I've noticed only slight differences between airlines, and most are charming:

*United, NWA, etc.: Plain old American service. That's about it. I think my flight to Seoul in 1987 served a somewhat dessicated-looking piece of bul-go-gi on rice. While lacking in the aesthetics department, it was an adequate comestible.

*KLM: Stewardesses walked down aisles with trays of beer during the "lights out" portion of our flight. YEAH! The bread served with meals was very good.

*SAS: Stewardesses offered aperitifs and digestifs with each meal (the latter being cognac), and along with the great bread, offered the Scandinavian favorite, Wasa rye crackers, with each pass of the bread basket. I actually thought that was pretty nifty.

On the European airlines, there seems to be more focus on really tasty (and potent) tea, coffee and breads. I'm sure BA will not disappoint, with midflight announcements about the health of the Queen's pinky toe, as well as hourly renditions of "Hail Britannia." If they're gonna be really authentic, bland British food will be served--along with options for Indian, Indonesian and Italian.

"For Sail and For Sale"

2005-08-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my roommate Rich showed off Margarete, his 15' Glen-L sailboat, at the Portland Wooden Boat Show. While it's always looked pretty in the garage, the true splendor of the boat is only apparent in bright sun, where depth of the varnished mahogany can really be appreciated. The witty title of this blog entry comes from his boat's "for sale" sign. And check out that flame job!

I also stumbled on some interesting organizations, including Willamette Riverkeeper and the Portland Boathouse, whose programs really show off the strength of Portland's community ethos and eclectic notions of fun.

A real treat was an opportunity to take a free kayaking class, sponsored by Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe. The one-and-a-half hour intro class was amazingly fun, and fulfilled a long-standing desire to experience kayaking. Kate, the instructor, was both fetching and distinctly qualified in newbie-herding. She was also nice enough to help extricate me out of the murky Willamette on an accidental (but humorous) wet exit. I am planning on taking their day-long Jumpstart class. If you're interested in coming along with me, e-mail me at kayak [at] petelee [dot] org. If that class goes well, I'd love to purchase some sort of kayak and go on my own Paul Theroux-inspired journey. Yay!

Today is always better when you can look forward to an adventure tomorrow...

Powell's Responds

2005-08-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

For the record, despite the fact that I was recently irritated by an experience at Powell's, I continue to support the store (heck, I spent $35 there yesterday). I should also note that I received exemplary service from every employee I encountered.

My friends from Chicago (Kara and Alex) toured Powell's yesterday, and were completely jealous. They sadly noted that their only practical bookbuying option was to go to The Great Satan: Barnes & Noble.

The majority of books I've purchased at Powell's are at list price, unlike the discounted prices found at Amazon.com and the large sale tables at B&N. However, I like to support local business as much as possible, and would hope that the extra money I spend there supports good service and fair treatment of their employees.

From: Marketing@Powells.com
To: pete@petelee.org
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 14:35
Subject: RE: My comments on the Powell's college text buying experience

Hello Mr. Lee,

Thank you for your message. I appreciate your taking the time to write to us and share your experience and your very valid frustration. It sounds like you were treated very rudely during your recent visits to our store and for that I do sincerely apologize. I will check in with the managers of our buying counter and make sure that your feedback gets to them.

Regarding pricing, we generally pay 25-30% of what we expect to be able to sell a book for. That margin is standard in the used book industry and accounts for the large degree of labor involved in our business. The price may have been lower than you would have liked because, as I'm sure you know, we're now all competing in an online universe that has dramatically driven the price of books down. If another business will pay you more for your textbooks, then of course that makes more sense for you as a customer.

Regarding student ID, we require a student ID from folks selling textbooks as a means of verifying that the book is currently being used in classrooms. As I'm again sure you know, textbooks go out of date very quickly. Our hope is that a current student is selling us a relatively current textbook. If we buy a book and then can't sell it because no schools teach that text any longer, we have to absorb that significant cost.

That being said, all of the documents that you presented should have been sufficient verification for our buyers. Clearly the person you worked with felt more comfortable simply following our standard policy, but that doesn't excuse their poor service. I apologize.

I hope that I have addressed your concerns to some degree. And, again, I will speak with the managers of our buying staff about your experience. If you have any further questions or concerns, or if I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,
Emily
Marketing

Holy Sh*t!

2005-08-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

The rant I made about Powell's has, mysteriously, become the most read page on my blog. Ever. No such thing as bad publicity, I suppose.

One other thing: I've enabled anonymous comments precisely because I don't think people should have to sign up for Blogger to comment. However, if you're going to wuss out and not add your name to the end of the comment, well, who's being the whiner here?

I've gotten into knock-down, drag-out arguments with my friends--and that's good. Lord knows that it's good to have opinions: I own several.

Caveat Emptor: Selling textbooks at Powell's

2005-08-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Despite just having started a job that pays well, I found myself in the unpleasant predicament that befalls non-Trustafarians from time-to-time: the cash flow problem. With the change jar now empty, I needed to find other options.

Like many past and present college students, my IMF (Indigent Monetary Fund) savior appeared in the form of textbooks I didn't necessarily need anymore. Not that I was in a hurry to sell them: my Frank Tirro Jazz and Cultural Anthropology texts were dear friends, with whom I had spent many pleasurable hours of didactic companionship. Like many affairs to remember, our time had come to part, and I resigned myself to the tyranny of the college book buy-back.

Because of my work schedule, I couldn't just pick up and leave. So, I trekked down to Powell's Bookstore. Twice. On consecutive nights. The first book buyer was willing to purchase the book for the princely sum of $31 (N.B.: the book was $90), but needed to see some sort of proof that I was registered at PCC, which I had absolutely none of. The second book buyer, after 10 minutes of waiting, blew me off with a "we need to have student ID," turning a completely deaf ear to the fact that my ID had been stolen, and that I had five pages of proof that I was registered at PCC (including term schedules, bills, and the syllabus for the class)--all better proof than a piece of plastic with my name on it. That's the thing about Powell's: I love shopping there (beats the mega-opoly that is Barnes & Noble), but their staff periodically act as if dealing with us mere mortals is a task below their Divine station. Hey, I'm sorry that their Comparative History of Tribal Basket Weaving degree at Reed didn't pay off, but they don't need to be taking their erudite aggressions out on me.

This irritating experience paid off, however, during my visit to the PCC Sylvania bookstore during lunch. There, my driver's license sufficed, and I was offered a more-reasonable buyback value of $48 for my book. The buyer, after hearing my Powell's experience, lowered her voice and noted that Powell's uses the same book pricing system, but that they take their "cut" and subtract that from the price they're willing to pay.

This offends me, as the entire textbook buying experience is one that has only gotten worse as time goes buy. It seems like the cost of textbooks has doubled in ten years, and on top of that, they're no longer in hardback form. You know, as if students needed even more expenses, on top of tuition which has easily outpaced economic growth and cost-of-living indices. The beatings will continue until education improves...

The Music of Words

2005-08-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

In the last few years, I've grown more appreciative of the beauty of poetry. I've even tried my hand at it, and must admit, it's difficult.

I take Tri-Met to work frequently; it's a fraction of the cost of paying for parking and, ironically enough, faster than driving. One of my most favorite aspects of Tri-Met bus interior decor is their display of pieces from the Poetry in Motion initiative. Prior to working at my current job, I spent several months taking Tri-Met to Hillsboro--a 45 minute (at best) proposition. After reading the last newspaper, book, and Federal omnibus budget proposal I had with me, boredom would set in, mercifully offset only by the poetry on the bus.

One of my favorite pieces:

I Confess

I stalked her
in the grocery store: her crown
of snowy braids held in place by a great silver clip,
her erect bearing, radiating tenderness,
the way she placed yogurt and avocados in her basket,
beaming peace like the North Star.
I wanted to ask, "what aisle did you find
your serenity in, do you know how
to be married for 50 years, or how to live alone,
excuse me for interrupting, but you seem to possess
some knowledge that makes the earth burn and turn on its axis-"
but we don't request such things from strangers
nowadays. So I said, "I love your hair."
--Alison Luterman

Excerpt of an e-mail to my friend Doug...

2005-08-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Doug asked me to give him some basic survival Italian. My grammar and/or spelling is off, but it'll get the job done, and is beyond the "dos cervezas por favor" bullshit that makes the frat boys think they know foreign language. If you're in Portland, you can try your Italian out at the Piazza Italia restaurant in the Pearl District on Thursdays. It's pretty easy to learn, and the rhythmic cadence and intonation of Italian spoken at moderate speed makes it easier to understand than Spanish.

"As for survival Italian, I'll give you just some things to consider (my spelling may be off):

What you say when walking into a store/restaurant/shop:
si/no: obvious

Good morning/day/night:
Buon giorno: morning to noon
Buona sera: noon to evening
Buona notte: very late night (past 10 PM) Usually said if leaving a restaurant for home late at night.
Ciao: (listen closely, they'll pronounce it CHAU, with an a pronounced "oo" sound) I don't know where this "ciao bella" shit came from. Maybe it's real.
Arrividerci: Goodbye!
Buon viaggio: Basically, "have a nice trip"--said when someone is leaving town...

Mi scusi...: Excuse me (e.g., bumping into people, asking for help, etc.)

Parle inglese? Parle italiano?: Obvious

Cuanto questa? (check): How much?

Vorre un... per favore.: I would like a... please.
For example: "Vorre due etti di proscuitto di parma, per favore." (I believe "etti" is 100 grams, two of which is a good serving size of meat or cheese.) If you're getting something "da porta via"--to go (literally means something like "for the road,") you should interject that somewhere. I spent many an evening getting slices of tasty "pizza rustica" at Florentine pizza shops.

Grazie: Thanks.

Grazie, mille: Thanks a lot! (thousand, I think is what Mille means)

"Niente.": "It's nothing." (you're welcome)

Tutti va bene?: Is it all OK/good?

Va bene, grazie.: Very good, thanks

Benissimo, grazie!: Extremely fricken good, thanks!

Como se chiama?: What's your name?
Me chiamo Doug: "I'm Doug."

Sono americano: "I'm an american."

Dove ...: where is...
strada: street
primi strada: first street
secundi strada: second street
diretto a...: direct to...
sinistra: left (yes, the root word for sinister comes from this word--look up the etmology)
derecha (check): right
toilette: da pisser, yo. Also marked with signs saying "WC"

A real life example (although I can't remember Guido's real name, but...):
Me: "Mi scusi. Dove Basilica di Santa Maria Novella?" (I asked this lots--it's the main basilica next to the "Firenze Termini"--Florence train station.)
Guido: "Allora."(OK, look...) "En la prima stradra--sinistra, en la secundi strada--derecha, diretto a la Basilica di Santa Maria Novella. Va bene?" (Is that OK?)
Me: "Tutti va bene. Grazie mille!"

Numbers (uno, due, tre) are easy to learn, and this is less important because they're on the Euro. Lira was commonly used in 10 and 20 thousand increments, e.g., "due mille"

Random shite:
"Pane i coperto": "Bread and cover" -- the standard tip included in a restaurant, posted outside on the bottom of the menu. Tipping over this is neither necessary or appropriate.

Note the two sets of prices in small cafes: one is if you're sitting down (higher), one is if you're taking your comestibles "da porta via."

"Un cafe, per favore." This will get you a shot of espresso, not coffee. If you want just plain coffee, you can attempt to order a "cafe americano," but a cappuchino is better. "Cafe corretto" is coffee with a shot of booze, I believe (probably Tuaca or the like).

Fernet Branca: the magic Italian digestif that un-bloats you after a big meal. Very medicinal/herbal in flavor.

Borsaiolo: pickpocket

Acqua minerale: mineral water, carbonated
Acqua frizzante: same, but with very light, naturally occuring carbonation. My fave.
Acqua rubio: tap water. Don't bother drinking this unless you're broke.

I've typically allotted 1.5-2 hours for lunch, 2-2.5 for dinner. This is to allow me to order each course individually, not all at once. (antipasti, primi piatti, secundi piatti, dolce, etc.) This ensures that the food is very hot, and fresh--no heat lamps. I recommend you do the same.

In Tuscany, "vino di tavola" is perfect for a casual lunch. Very inexpensive, and generally very tasty."

As if you needed another reason to use Firefox

2005-08-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

Ginormous identity theft ring found, related to CoolWebSearch spyware. There is very little reason to use MS Internet Explorer anymore--Mozilla Firefox is well-supported and more standards-compliant.

Kitchen Stories

2005-08-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

A great film for a slow, relaxing Saturday afternoon hiding from that dangerous heat outside. Dark, wry Scandinavian humor, with subtle poignancy.

Speaking of Scandinavian things, Anthon Berg's Cherries and Rum confection is simply amazing. I'm usually not a fan of cherry-filled anything, but these have an incredible fresh cherry flavor. Sadly, the last time I bought these, it was because I was laying over at the Copenhagen Airport and was shopping for a gift to thank my friend Eric. It's expensive--and completely worth it.

That one suspicion about guys who drive Hummers confirmed, empirically.

2005-08-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

It's official. (from today's Wired.com)

Real Men Drive Compacts
Men who feel anxious about their masculinity are more likely to support war, buy SUVs and be hostile to gays, according to a new study from Cornell University. Robb Willer, a sociology doctoral candidate at Cornell, gave men and women a gender-identity survey in which they received feedback saying that their answers were either masculine or feminine. Women's responses weren't affected by this feedback, but men whose manliness was threatened reacted strongly. "I found that if you made men more insecure about their masculinity, they displayed more homophobic attitudes, tended to support the Iraq war more and would be more willing to purchase an SUV over another type of vehicle," Willer said. He plans a follow-up study on men's attitudes about violence toward women, and another to see if testosterone levels are a factor.
-- Debra Jones

The Week in Review

2005-07-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I apologize if it seems I've been off the planet. It's been a very busy and tiring week...

Recovering from Phoenix Festival. I've spent most of the week doing this. In addition to being tired from doing volunteer EMT work during the day, I spent about five hours on Monday helping take down my friend's theme camp, Novatron Lounge (that photo does require some explanation--just not today). During the course of doing so, I got very badly sunburned on my back. PHOOEY! I should have known better, especially with direct sun at 3000 feet. I really am ashamed of myself sometimes.

I'm now a kept man. It's official: I've inked a 12 month+ contract to be a Business Systems Analyst for Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Unfortunately, that has also meant that I spend a lot of time driving all over god's creation trying to figure out where FedEx has put my paperwork. I've spent many sweaty hours this week filling out forms, faxing, doing a whiz quiz at Quest Diagnostics, and getting everything shipped back via FedEx to Seattle. I would bitch, but the job pays pretty well, and the people are super nice. I'm praying that this isn't a torturous stress fest during the first month, as things there are quite busy.

Madame Butterfly closes. A truly sad, sad thing. From the first time I met their staff about four years ago, I've had many good times and hung out with many great people here. All kinds of interesting music and the occasional famous person (Elvis Costello, Gov. Kitzhaber, Junki Yoshida). The almost two-year long Wednesday karaoke tradition is now dead. I'll be sad to hoist my final martini on Sunday evening. Like many good things, this too must pass.

Other than that--I'm just really pooped. The weather here has been quite hot. I have friends from other states who regularly respond, "You guys ain't got shit. It's blahblah degrees here." Hate to break it to you, but Portland is simply not equipped to deal with this kind of hotness. Most houses here do NOT have air conditioning (nor does my car), and many of my favorite small restaurants and cafes are struggling to stay cool. The outside weather matters not when you're living and working a sybaritic existence with refrigerated air...

Miscellanea

2005-07-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well, Sarah may have beaten me to the punch, but I've been very busy indeed.

Looking, looking, looking... DING! We may have a winner, and it might just be me: I finally got a job interview yesterday! It started off slow: I had just run down five flights of stairs to get there on time, in a dark suit, and as a result, I was sweating like a whore in church during the first 15 minutes. I thought, "this absolutely cannot look good." The astute project manager that was grilling me asked some tough questions, and I had to struggle to come up with an answer that I thought would be appropriate. After a terrifying start, I began to find the zen of the experience, and acquired flow and focus. The interview ended on a strong note, but the 'first impressions' situation really made me wonder what would happen.

Two hours later, my recruiter called to tell me that the hiring manager was really impressed--and that if they didn't hire me for this role, he was strongly considering creating another job opening specific to my background! The job I interviewed for is much more analytical, involves very little engineering work, and provides an increased level of human interaction that I've been craving. If I get this job, my office will only be a mile-and-a-half away from my house, AND it's only a few blocks away from the Pilsner Room, where my friend Marcus works. I just can't lose! Keep your fingers crossed for me...

I've got to keep this brief because I'm very busy getting ready for volunteer EMT work at Phoenix Fest this weekend. If you want to combine some car camping with great music, friendly people, and cool art, come on up!

N.B. On NPR, I just heard a white interviewer on "The World" ask an old lady why someone would want to "get up in someone's grill"? I have no idea what they're prattling about, but that got my attention. Apparently, the Terry Gross interview with Dave Chappelle got everyone Hooked on Ebonics(TM). I'm Riiiiich Biiiiiich!

"A vertical expression of our horizontal desires."

2005-07-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

That quote about dancing is from The Fifth Night, locally-produced indie film I worked on as a Production Manager. (This film is also where I met my friend Marcus, who did a fantastic job as the Director of Photography.)

I just heard an interview on NPR with The Big Pharoah, an Egyptian blogger. I find his writing to be quite fascinating, as he possesses some seemingly progressive views for a Muslim.

He also had some pictures of Ruby, a very fetching Egyptian singer with dancing that is reminiscent of Shakira (which makes sense, as Shakira is from a town in Brazil (Barranquilla) with past Arabic influences.) While I find her music interesting, what's really fascinating to me is the fact that she is banned from Egyptian media for her relatively licentious dress and dance, yet is listened to throughout the Arab world. Definately check out the "high bandwidth" video on the page. Ooooo, shiny and pretty!

It may take a while, but indeed, times are a-changing...

Amazing what can happen in a day

2005-06-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well, after recovering from a mini-bender yesterday, I've had some interesting things happen:

1) First off, it pays to be nice to the state workers who work on unemployment claims. I don't make a habit of getting on unemployment, but thanks to the up-and-down tech market in the last few years, I've been on it twice. After nicely asking for help, the claims processor I got on the phone noted that waiting until this Sunday to start as my first unpaid day of work would up my unemployment from $300 to $417 a week (gross).

2) Two recruiters are submitting me for good opportunities. The difference between the jobs is about $7-13K at this point, as well as the environment. One would be me working as an engineer for a research lab in Vancouver, which is apparently quite plush, flexible on personal time, and an overall great place to work, except that it's less money. The other would be for Freightliner here in Portland, which is OK to work in (they've got a bad case of the Office Space look, down to bad ties and ugly cubicles), but would be for a more exciting job and much more money. If I get interviews for both, it's going to be a tough decision that I hope to get.

3) Wednesday karaoke at Madame Butterfly. I have yet to have a bad day that could not be reversed by the application of a well-mixed cocktail and belting out the hits. Of the 1950s. As in Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Ask Marcus about "Fly Me To The Moon." Most weeks are insanely fun. It's not about the singing, but having a good time. None of this American Idol shit.

State-sponsored vacation, again.

2005-06-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

Christ, the last four weeks have just been nuts. First, there's the ordeal of the surgery. Second, the car is on the fritz. Third, the few dates I've gone on recently have been borderline surreal. Fourth, I got laid off.

I can live with the first three (well, except getting another surgery), but the guys at work made getting laid off very hard. The team of guys I work with didn't know I was laid off last week, and were very sad about the whole situation, which in turn made me quite sad. The whole thing was very difficult. One of the software developers I worked with very closely with got watery eyes. I can't be angry about anything: I knew the company was having serious financial problems, and I'm not as critical to the long-term success of my former employer compared to the other guys on my team. The VP of Engineering told me to spend some time to say goodbye to everyone. After my exit interview, I asked the VP of HR if she was going to escort me out. This has been the case at almost every big company I've worked at). She said, "nope, I trust you." Both of VPs are part of the "gang of seven" that own the company, and have their personal funds in it. I honestly hope that they survive and do well.

I did what any good, well-adjusted person would do and had a slew of drinks at Mother's and Madame Butterfly downtown. It's good to know bartenders. I didn't pay for a single drink for two hours.

Now, I have a few things to look forward to: find out if I'm going to get interviewed for a project management job at Regence Blue Cross, starting in on that assessment at 24 Hour Fitness that I've been procrastinating on for months, figuring out what state to file unemployment in (Oregon or Washington--don't ask me why, I don't know either), and doing exactly what I want (as long as it doesn't cost a lot of money).

SHT! FCK! CHENEY!

2005-06-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Damnit, one of my worst nightmares is coming true: I may very well have a head gasket leak on my 1983 Volvo wagon. Apparently, oil is "pouring out like a faucet" from the top part of my engine at high RPMs. According to several web sites, if a little doo-dad called a flame trap is not checked, cleaned and/or replaced regularly (as in every oil change), oil leaks start happening. Considering that the previous mechanic was likely a complete dolt, and the Inge's got 200K miles on her, well, you do the math. The increased pressure in the engine could also mean (dum-da-dum) a blown head gasket. Be grateful: when I scream in the blogosphere, nobody can hear it.

This sounds like a boat payment ($500) to my mechanic. I'll be recommending a Boston Whaler to him.

My letter to Senator Gordon Smith

2005-06-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

MoveOn.org has a fairly comprehensive summary of the issues surrounding the funding of public broadcasting. It would be shameful to see CPB become a government-supported analogue of Fox News. Sending a letter or e-mail to your representative or senator would be a good idea.

Dear Senator Smith,

As a member of your constituency, I am writing to ask that you support any and all efforts to restore full funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

I am puzzled by the GOP's categorization of public broadcasting as a mouthpiece for a liberal agenda. As someone who was raised to appreciate conservative thought (and a former volunteer for the Bush/Quayle campaign), I am qualified to assert that this is simply not the case.

My immigrant mother, fearing television overrun with marketing and programs of dubious worth, mandated PBS viewing in our household. I, as have millions of other children, learned the importance of consideration for others and a love of learning from shows such as Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and Sesame Street. NOVA helped me develop an apppreciation for the sciences, a key component of my professional life today. I learned about the importance of political dialogue and discussion from shows like Firing Line, hosted by none other than noted conservative William F. Buckley. I developed a taste for epicurean pursuits courtesy of the enthusiastic first lady of French cuisine, Julia Child. Rick Steves' European travel shows, produced by OPB, encouraged me to journey abroad to experience other cultures. I developed an appreciation for our nation's history through Ken Burns' shows on the Civil War. I challenge anyone to tell me how are these things are bad.

In addition to funding cuts, I am highly dismayed by the impressive hubris demonstrated by CPB chairman Kenneth Tomlinson in hiring a former RNC chair. This blatantly partisan action is deleterious to the credibility of the Republican party. It will also encourage Americans to find other sources of information that lack the depth and breadth of research that goes into public broadcasting collateral. Many alternatives are simply sub-par.

I believe that we share a belief in meritocracy, an important conservative ethic. Because of that, I support public broadcasting with my donations. I put my money where my mouth is.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration of my letter, and respectfully ask for your support.

Sincerely,
-Pete Lee

Back from the abyss. Mostly

2005-06-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

Ah yes, it's been a crazy two weeks. Allow me to recap:

On June 9th, I went in for surgery to ditch the tonsils, remove a lower set of adenoids and reshape some structures in my throat. All in the name of a better nights worth of sleep.

Arriving at 6:30 AM at Providence Hospital in Portland, I was amazed at the speed and efficiency of how everything operated. I probably waited no more than 30 minutes without something happening.

The whole thing was an agglutination of first experiences. I've watched people get IVs for years, but this is the first time I've gotten one. It was also the first time I've ever been put under general anesthesia. My misgivings and weeks of general anxiety of being put under were, obviously, rather unfounded. I asked the anesthesiologist a few questions to ease my mind about the experience and, good doctor that he was, received excellent responses. In sum, one of my greatest fears was "coding" (cardiac arrest) under general. Dr. Brown didn't lie: in the last 2000 generals he's done, two patients have died. But, he pointed out that, despite the fact that I had been an avid smoker, I was still very low risk: generally healthy, of average weight, and younger. The two patients that died--well, he noted that their tickets were due for being punched anyways because they were in very poor health.

After six years as a volunteer EMT, this was the beginning to my first real patient experience. Sure, I've been to doctors plenty, but I've never experienced what it was like to be the supine member of the show. The world is a very different place when you're lying down in a hospital bed.

Just prior to the surgery, I remember seeing a mask over my mouth, breathing deeply three times, then waking up. As advertised earlier by the nurse, it really was just like waking up from a short, deep nap. The remaining seven hours were spent in recovery. The morphine was great, but the transition to the Roxicet (basically, a mixture of Tylenol and Oxycodone) was not so pleasant. Toward the end, the nurses were leery of feeding me too many drugs, perhaps because of the nausea factor on the ride home.

Otherwise, I have to say that nurses really are visions of loveliness. The ones I had at Providence were very compassionate, which was especially appreciated while I was coughing up blood and mucus and could barely move. Not one of my finer moments, that was for damn sure.

I have to give a lot of credit to my friend Samantha, who drove me home and spent the first few evenings post-surgery with me, and my roommate Rich, who regularly checked in with me during the next few days. Most of the experience was quite hazy: I felt very sedated. My memory was more or less non-existent, and I spent days watching TV for hours on end. Thank god for cable, that's for damn sure--I was watching it constantly, in and out of sleep, in between doses of pain medication. Sleeping sitting up the first few days was also not a fun aspect of recovery, and the TV was handy to have there.

The remaining days, my friends were nice enough to drive me around and help me with a few minor things here and there. Courtesy of good genes and an excellent surgeon (Dr. Michael Flaming), I healed up quite quickly. I stopped taking the prescription pain medication a couple of days ago; most patients would be taking it for another week.

In the event that you, too, end up needing a tonsillectomy, here are some things that you should consider:

* Friends or family to help take care of you. You can walk around and stuff, but accomplishing things like buying medications or driving around are simply impossible heavily medicated. Also, it gets very lonely to be stuck at home with your throat hurting, and I looked forward to having people visit.

* Ice. In many forms, ice was my friend. The ice packs I wore helped take the edge off the pain, especially after waking up. Also, after what must be an eight year hiatus, I rediscovered a love of the Slurpee. Even on high doses of Roxicet, my throat still hurt, but the Slurpee was very pleasant. Ironically enough, ice cream did NOT feel good. Not sure why. As an aside, I'd note that while the Ensure was not my favorite thing to drink, it wasn't unpleasant and probably helped speed healing with decent nutrition.

* Good pain management. The nurses at Providence were nice enough to clearly explain how best to manage pain with ice and medication. This is important, as being in excessive amounts of pain delays the healing process, in addition to just being plain unpleasant.

Anyways, I'm still a bit tired overall and my throat hurts, but am healing quickly. I already feel like I sleep much better: even after staying up late (with no urgent need to get up at any particular time), I'm waking up rested after about seven hours of sleep. That's in comparison to previously sleeping for 9 hours, and waking up groggy. I'll take it.

Out for a while...

2005-06-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, I'll get a call from one of you guys about going out, grabbing a beer, whatever. FYI, I'll probably be unresponsive for the next few days. I'm going into surgery tomorrow for a tonsillectomy and some work on my nose (of the non-cosmetic kind). Afterwards, I will be treated to the champagne of painkillers (oxycontin), which I don't look forward to because, well, that means the pain is going to be nasty.

I'm likely going to be home-bound for the next week, so enjoy the sun for me! If you're feeling particularly generous, feel free to bring by DVDs for me to watch. It'll be about all I can do.

O Canada

2005-06-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my trek to Vancouver B.C. Some random thoughts and observations:

The traffic in the Seattle area can be absolutely horrendous. Using the expressways is definately the way to go. And, the argument for driving defensively (i.e., not tailgating) was demonstrated in spades as we drove by a three car/one truck accident. The freeway was closed in the opposite direction for five hours as investigators picked through the wreckage. The verdict: three people dead, and a handful of others seriously hurt. Is it going to kill people to add 15-30 minutes to a six hour trip from Portland to Van B.C.?

The Chinese food was delicious, although I went to more expensive restaurants this time around. My verdict on their value was questionable. I ended up at this whole in the wall (Park Lock Seafood Restaurant) which turned out to be better than a fancier restaurant recommended to me. The dim sum was absolutely delicious, and was a step up from what I've eaten in Portland (pretty good) and San Francisco (better).

A great place to stay is the Dufferin Hotel. You're not going to confuse this place for a Relais & Châteaux establishment, but the accommodations are simple and adequate: clean, safe, and well-located. It's in the Granville Street area, which is much like the area around Kells and Barracuda's on steroids. One difference, though: people in general are amazingly kind, talkative in clubs and helpful on the street. It's easy to see why Canadians are well-liked in my travels abroad.

From there, it's a 5-7$CAD (roughly 4-6$USD) taxi ride to my favorite clubs, the Lotus Sound Lounge (known locally as "The Lotus") and Shine. While the club music is passable on Friday and Saturday, Sundays are fairly dead in Vancouver, with the only viable options being Lotus and Shine. Non-teetotalling Portlanders take note: your favorite imbibes will not be mixed nearly as strong as you might expect. All bars use measured pours here. Pre-func'ing with liquor that you've brought from the US would be the way to go; wine, beer, booze and tobacco are all fairly expensive.

If it's a nice day out, I can think of few better things to do than to go bike riding in Stanley Park. I highly recommend Spokes, where you can rent a nice bike of your choice for between 10-40$CAD for six hours. I ended up with a 19$CAD model that was comfortable and well-equipped. The paths along the water in Stanley Park are absolutely beautiful.

If you're getting cabin fever, I can think of fewer better places to go (other than Mexico). All you need is a birth certificate (passport starting in 2006), driver's license, an ATM card, some basic maps of Vancouver, and you're set!

One small addition: my friend Samantha's Bank of America ATM card was not taken at many ATMs in corner shops. (My Electra CU debit card was.) The store owner indicated that it was very likely that she needed an ATM that is connected to a real bank (Royal Bank of Canada, CBIC, etc.). This was true. I also shouldn't have to explain why ATMs trump money exchangers...

Things to do...

2005-05-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Well, my friend Samantha has finally convinced me that I need to leave the city over Memorial Day. I'll be taking advantage of fabulous exchange rates and the best Chinese food (on the Left Coast) up north. However, this doesn't mean that I don't have a list of things to do that are just chock full o' fun!

1) For you, only the finest in Blaxploitation:
I'm talking about Shaft, Dolemite, and (arguably) Jackie Brown. P.Diddy, Snoop Dogg are called "pimps" but really, they're neopimps. Extravagant, flashy clothing was the domain of Rudy Ray Moore long before these jackals hit the scene. It's time to crack that 40 you bought at the stop and rob, tuck into that box of fried chicken, and get your groove on.
(Adding funk to your diet may have some side effects, including purchase of Parliaments records, rhythmic pelvis unlocking in white people, and an inordinate attraction to Kangol hats. Do not mix funk and soul without supervision.)

2) Check out 4play
My old stomping grounds, the 1201 Lounge, was previously the haunts of the Rat Pack back in the day. Though mostly stripped of its previous Cocktail Nation finery, some excellent club music pervades to this day. After several decades of operation, it's finally closing, but not before some excellent DJs play. No cover, great staff, strong drinks, and fine, fine beats. The last show will prove to be especially good, with Ben and Ravi (former resident DJs of the mostly-defunct Ohm) and friends.

3) The Jap Garden
I call it that strictly because I'm lazy. After a multi-year hiatus, I visited last week; it's still as beautiful as ever. Lots of little trails and walkways abound in an ocean of Zen stillness and quietude. The Portland Classical Chinese Garden is beautiful too, but the coolness of the Japanese Garden is a welcome respite from our newly-found heat.

Funniest blogger profile ever...

2005-05-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

You just need to read it.

There Is No "Now."

2005-05-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

Article in Wired magazine about changing theories of time, through Newton, Einstein, and some new guy named Peter Lynds.

"Time is an illusion." I don't really understand this stuff, but it makes for something really neat to think about.

Gripes o' The Day

2005-05-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

Two things that chafe my hide:

Rubberneckers: I'm responsible for a large amount of work on a project which is critical to an internet firewall/router software release happening realsoonnow. They're already antsy, and the fact that I'm gone for 2 1/2 weeks from June 9th for surgery is only making things worse. The whole situation is very anxiety-provoking, and it's not helpful to have one's commute doubled to 45 minutes because a bunch of dipshits have never seen a car get pulled out of a ditch by a towtruck before. It didn't even look that cool! I'm well aware of the fact that a consequence of working in suburbia is traffic. That's fine. But traffic because of rubbernecking? Give me a fucking break.

Portland State University Financial Aid and All Of Their Evil Works: I've been enrolled at PCC for a couple of years working on pre-nursing requirements for OHSU's or Linfield's Bachelors in RN program. After receiving the FAFSA, it takes PCC about 4 weeks to process a Financial Aid application and return an award. Now, PCC is one of the largest colleges west of the Missisippi--and ranks as one of the top 3 community colleges in the nation. In the presence of such sublime greatness, I would expect PSU to have similar qualities--through sheer geographic osmosis.

I'm such a silly goose--this is clearly not the fucking case! It's super-easy kids. Let Uncle Pete tell ya how it works at PSU:

1) Bust your ass to submit a FAFSA on January 4th. Yup, I even did it on my New Years vacation time.

2) On March 15th, drag out every piece of financial paperwork I have to complete the Independent Verification Worksheet, and submit it to PSU. This also means that my taxes need to be completed early.

3) Every two weeks, e-mail and call PSU about what's going on with my award. I take these things seriously: I don't take 20% of my pre-tax earnings and dump them into savings for no apparent reason. Even with that, I still need help. To that cry for help, PSU responds, "Well, it takes about two to four weeks."

4) Four sets of "it takes about two to four weeks later," I find out that "oh, they'res a problem with your admissions status." Telling me about this two months prior would have been wiser, wouldn't it? I tell the Admissions person that there are two options: either take care of this now, or transfer me to someone who WILL take care of this now. The very kind person who called me back four hours later apologized, took care of it immediately, and said that the computer inadvertently booted my ass out despite the fact that I am a PSU/PCC co-admit.

5) Today, I'm told by Financial Aid that processing my award for 2005 will be processed in four weeks. I tell them that it will be processed far sooner than that because of their inability to inform me of what they needed on a timely basis. Four days would be more appropriate.

6) Next Monday, I'll be speaking with a Financial Aid counselor who has the ability to award aid. If this person magically does not have this ability, I'm ready to protest outside of PSU with a sign that says, "PSU Financial Aid Hates You & Me--Pitchforks, Here, 4 PM"

In sum, I'm confused how the humble Portland Community College (with 180,000 students on multiple campuses) can process financial aid faster than Portland State, with a tiny fraction of those students. I know that I'm not the only one to harbor these thoughts, either.

I feel better already.

Redneck Neighbors

2005-05-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's funnier, the antics of this guy's redneck neighbors (they do live in Georgia), or the commentary.

Arms are, apparently, not for hugging

2005-05-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

I tend to think that Oregon has a leg up in certain ways over other states. For instance, we were a blue state during the presidential elections, thanks to people like my friends' old, wealthy, white, Catholic, Republican fathers, who voted for Kerry because they tired of Bush's antics. Or maybe it's because we've long permitted the shipment of wine to residential addresses, bypassing the beer/liquor/wine distribution cartels. Or, despite Oregon's political differences, a greater appreciation for good agricultural and environmental practices than other places.

Unfortunately, my appreciation for our fair state dimmed upon reading an AP wire entitled "Hugging Ban Sparks Dispute at Ore. School." (Original article.)

History is a sage mistress, and tells us that a return to Victorian-era ideals is hardly a good idea (see "The Importance of Hugging" in Howard Bloom's book, The Lucifer Principle). The perenially vitriolic George Carlin groused about how parents hold their kids less: "Touch the little prick every now and again--he'll thank you for it later."

These days, parents are bent out of shape about one letter drugs, drunk driving, and trans-fatty acids. And by all means, I'm not saying that they shouldn't be concerned. Of all the social problems we face, is a ban on hugging really a good use of our time?

Where are we going when parents are raising their children with some demented suburbian ideal of peace through mental, physical, and emotional disassociation with others? Do we want our kids to have no appreciation for self-determination and a mode of living that craves approval by "The Man" (Homeland Security, fashion magazines, large corporations, big pharma).

We all too easily forget that our country derived its early energy and influence from dialogue and challenge to the dominant paradigm--even to the point of lawlessness. Lest I be accused of being a pinko commie (my background hardly backs that), I'd note that those early challengers were the men who signed The Constitution, and the many immigrants that followed.

My advice to the school: more hugging, less Animal Farm.

Napoleon Dynamite

2005-05-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

This is a fantastic movie, and features a scene towards the end that has one of my favorite musicians, Jamiroquai.

Pedro offers you his protection.

Dances With Bees

2005-05-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm an avid reader of Wired magazine, and make it a part of my morning ritual. This fine article I came across talks about the new research in how bees communicate sources of food to each other. The level of sophistication in the bees dances and "waggling" is really quite amazing.

Geek Joke-of-the-Day

2005-05-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Two math consultants are sitting in the studio cafeteria, and one says to the other: "I'll bet you $50 that waitress is an unemployed mathematician."

His friend takes the bet. Then while his friend is in the washroom, he calls the waitress over and says "There's a $20 tip for you if, after my friend comes back, you come over and answer my next question "four thirds pi r cubed."

So his friend comes back from the washroom, and the waitress comes over and he says to her, "What's the integral of pi r squared?"

"Four thirds pi r cubed," she says, "plus a constant."

The Indomitable Churchill

2005-05-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Lady Astor, first woman elected to the House of Commons, to Winston Churchill:

"If you were my husband, I would poison your coffee."
"If you were my wife, I would drink it."

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a pig.

2005-05-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

I love animals. As a kid, I enjoyed riding llamas. As a college student, I helped train dogs. And, as a busy adult, I enjoy the company of melodic and sociable finches. At my house a short walk from downtown Portland, we have egg-producing chickens. I especially love tasty animals, including the epicurean delights of Wagyu-strain beef, Oregon dungeness crab renowned for its delicate flavor and sweetness, and wild salmon raised in Oregon and Alaska.

However, I found the entire saga of the Treasury ducks just a bit troubling. Honestly, folks, aren't ethical problems regarding my former employer, apparent lack of understanding about Social Security, and our current "three hour tour" of Iraq worthy of more attention from the American public?

With those items on the agenda, it's nice to know that we've got our priorities straight. No less than three federal agencies (including the Secret Service) worked together to ensure that a bunch of ducks had A-list security and treatment at the White House. Those ducks are obviously the envy of average citizens in Baghdad who wonder if their morning commute justifies life insurance. Americans may love bacon, but how much more pork do we want in our politics?

That thought should ruffle some feathers.

Don't spectate - PARTICIPATE!

2005-04-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

The classic exhortation, familiar to Burners, printed on the backs of the tickets for Burning Man.

I had the pleasure of being a volunteer EMT at Burning Man in 2003. While some will, without a doubt, take issue with counter-cultural aspects of the event, I think that everyone can agree that basic aspects of the event ("gift" economy, participation through contribution of one's talents, community building, etc.) are meritorious.

I think that Burning Man is something everyone should do once. Are there hippies/ravers there? Yes. Are there people who aren't hippies or ravers there? Yes. Have Christian groups shown up there? Yes. Is there a phenomenally good 24-hour live jazz camp there? Is there some serious drinking going on? Yes. Are there AA camps and meetings there? Yes. Much like movie critics, ask 10 people about what Burning Man is, and you'll get 12 answers. All will be correct.

However, for those of us who can't make it there, I present to you a complementary experience: SOAK*2005
(more on the location).

There will be some great parties, excellent music (mostly electronica ranging from ambient to progressive house), fine people and breathtaking natural surroundings. Since it will be a minor miracle for this event to break even, supporting the estimated 500 people that will be a part of this experience requires volunteers. I'm coordinating the on-site Emergency Medical Response team. Other groups could use your help: greeters, DJs, communications, signmaking, sound stage fabrication, artists, etc. The SOAK link has a questionnaire that can be filled out if you're interested.

If you've always wondered what Burning Man is like, but haven't been able to commit to going, here's your chance to get a small taste of what it's like to be with Burners.

Know how to catch a rabbit?

2005-04-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

Lay in a field and make a sound like a carrot.

To the moon, Alice

2005-04-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Doug sent me a must-read article from the IEEE Spectrum. (IEEE is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.) While I respect the IEEE, I'd say that most electrical engineering topics are way beyond my scope of knowledge.

This article, however, is simply incredible: it goes into the details of how they solved problems that occurred on the Apollo 13 mission. It's a bit long, but definately worth a read.

Morrissey & Butter

2005-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

I'm curious: is it required that one be very depressed and frustrated about something to develop an appreciation for Morrissey?

I've generally thought that Morrissey was a good musician (along with Johnny Marr and the rest of those cats from The Smiths days), but thought he was too whiny. My typicial summary of the subject matter of most Morrissey songs was "I'm so happy I could kill myself," sung mostly in minor keys.

However, I heard "I Have Forgiven Jesus" while strugging to wrap my mind around lipid structure (tryglycerides, cis- and trans- fatty acids, saturation, etc.) and metabolism for a Nutrition exam I have this week. This level of frustration is a culmination of a few things: being sick for several days, having my wallet stolen, 55+ hour work weeks, not having had a weekend off in three weeks. Somehow, the Morrissey song expressed my sentiments in spades.

Therefore, I've learned two things:
* Much to my horror, I'm developing a taste for Morrissey.
* The road to hell is paved with butter.

Movie Time

2005-03-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

This has been a week of ups and downs:

UP: At the end of finals week, putting in what felt like hellishly Herculean efforts paid off: I received an A in both my Technical Writing and Sociology classes.

DOWN: Both of my finches died without warning. I thought there was enough food in the cage, but I discovered that they sure as hell didn't like the "finch food bar" I left in there for them.

DOWN: Just in time for spring break, work has become extremely difficult. It's been stressful trying to shake out problems in a new product that my company is releasing. Getting everything tested to the standards of my company's reputation is an arduous process. (It's fun, however, to freeze (-20 C) and bake (+70 C--about 149 degrees F) a piece of network hardware in the course of an hour. Now that I think about it, this environmental chamber (5x5x5 foot) would be a fantastic keg cooler...

UP: I've had a chance to catch up on one of my favorite pursuits: cinema. A brief synopsis:

Bad Education: Another incredible movie by Pedro Almodovar. True to my previous experiences with Almodovar's work, the experiences of the characters in this movie draw you in, and challenge you intellectually and emotionally. I do, however, still prefer Talk To Her, one of the most beautiful moves ever committed to celluloid. It's also the only movie I've ever watched to lead me on a "conscience journey" that ended in sheer guilt for judging one of the characters. Watch "Talk To Hear" to see what I mean. (N.B. This movie is in Spanish with subtitles.)

Two other movies I'm interested in:
The Ballad of Jack and Rose: Terry Gross interviewed Arthur Miller's daughter (who wrote the screenplay) yesterday on Fresh Air, and I must say, it was impressive to hear her basis for this movie.

Up and Down: Favorably reviewed by one of my preferred critics (David Walker of the Willamette Week). I'll get to combine nostalgia for the Prague trip I took with Jonathan (see Links on the right side) with a love of indie film. The name is mellifluous ("Horem pádem"), and the movie is in a combination of Czech, English, German and Russian.

Education and Community: The War on Poverty of the Spirit

2005-03-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

I've finally completed another term (half-time, six credits) of Portland Community College's Distance Education program. While I am grateful for a break from late nights and terror-filled moments of writer's block, I'll miss the interesting assignments and excellent discussion facilitated by Nell Johnson (Technical Writing) and Dr. Jan AbuShakrah (Sociology).

In a previous blog entry, I discussed the NCLB's fallacious sentiment that there is a pragmatic link between testing and educational excellence.

I've recently finished a capstone essay for this class. Starting with two quotes from Mother Teresa and The Dalai Lama, I discuss the concept of "poverty of the spirit." The essay continues on to discuss essential aspects of community and its development, areas of weakness with current educational improvement initiatives, and a case for the creation of a new community development program as the only credible, self-sustaining way of improving education in a community.

I'll fully admit that problems with community development and sustenance are more complicated than the scope of this essay can address. That noted, I believe that I can make a strong case for this program through consideration of its qualitative merits and philosophical basis.