Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Baltimore help ...

These are excerpts from email replies to my request for information about Baltimore:

- they have awesome crab cakes.
- If from Michigan, you will experience severe sticker shock at the housing prices here.
- Beltway traffic (and traffic in general around the District) is HORRIBLE.
- It is in general, a fairly dangerous city. Areas to recommend - essentially the Northwestern part (NW of the JHU main campus) or the suburbs such as Columbia, MD.
- Going south on 695 from Woodlawn, keep in mind that anything in this area will
probably be in BWI's flightpath.
- I seem to remember lots of traffic.the metro subway system doesn't go out that far.
- Holy Cow!
- I've never lived anywhere but the mitten state.

Some funny, some helpful, some scary.

I'd like to thank everyone who made an effort though.

Monday, March 20, 2006

huh?

Me: I have a job
My sister: Congrats! Way to go, didi (older sister). Now all you have to do is have a baby.
Me: Oye ve, let me have a couple of years alone with my husband.
My sister: no, didi, you have to have a baby before you are 30.

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Why don't I get started on that?

Thursday, March 16, 2006

A real portfolio

Umm I figured it was about time I had a page that looked somewhat like a portfolio and not like a 13 year old's first webpage.

So, goto : My Portfolio, and tell me what's wrong with it. It could be anything from a missing link, to hideous colors or something major (like me syaing I did something that I really didn't).

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Pooperz bowing to the porcelain God




Poor Pooperz after a night of hard partying!

E-Dork

I thought I had coined a new term when I called my wonderful husband an E-Dork. But no, somebody has that term since 1997 - eDork - Rocking it since 1997.

But, with all the sites that call themselves eDork sites, I haven't found a good definition fo what an E-Dork is. So, come on, all my lovely dorky friends, define E-Dork for me :-)

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Is that a hearing aid? No, moron, it's a ...

Bluetooth headset.



Jeff and I just got new phones and since they are Bluetooth enabled, I got him a Motorola headset. He loved it so much that I decided to try it out too. Why would anyone want a wireless headset?

1. Convenience: I can answer and end calls with the push of one button.
2. No wires involved.
3. I can walk upto 30 feet away and still get my calls.

Here's a LifeTips website that offers more reasons on why you should use a wireless headset, and asnwers questions about them.
In December 2003, England passed a law against drivers using any mobile phone while driving. BBC News had a good article where they answered top ten questions. Main gist was that if you had to hold the phone for anything, you could be fined 30 pounds. According to the Trusted Reviews website, “ever since it became illegal in the UK to drive while holding a mobile phone the popularity of Bluetooth headsets has, not surprisingly, rocketed and it’s now a pretty common site to see them being worn by drivers.” Even before that, in 2001, New York became the first state to pass a law prohibiting the use of a cell phone when driving - unless you are using a hands free device. In 2004, New Jersey and DC adopted this law as well. You can read about it at the Be Hands Free website.

I just got back from CA and after 2 weeks of using my wireless headset, I have gotten some comments about it, both in CA and in MI.

In MI:
1. A 20-year old in a bar asked Jeff if he was wearing a hearing aid (the person was serious).
2. I got asked why I needed it on my ear all the time. Let's see, in lieu of that, let me keep it in my pocket or my purse and then when somebody calls, I pull it out and answer the call. BUT, how is that different form just using my phone?

In CA:
1. A 60-year old grandma comments "Oh, where did you get the pink one?"
2. Another really old lady asked Jeff if he got good range with his headset.

I realize that CA is ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to technological advancements. Bluetooth technology is not new. Bluetooth SIGs were formed in 1998 and the headsets have been out for at least a couple years now. So, why is it that something that is commonly seen attached to people's ears on the West Coast is so unknown elsewhere in the same country?

I have been telling myself in the past few months of my job search that I wouldn't mind staying in the Midwest. But, this ONE incidence (more than one but same context) has made me realize I miss CA. I miss being among people who know what the latest and greatest things are and are comfortable trying them out. I miss the fact that I could wear my 48" bell bottoms with wooden heels and a wireless headset and not have people stare at me or ask stupid questions.

A Michigander commented to me a couple of days ago "What? CA has culture?" No, moron, only this corn growing flatland Midwest has culture. I have also been lectured on how all the culture in CA comes from Midwesterners moving there and raising their children with morals. You know what? Come back. Come back to the mothership please and leave us cultureless, sinning, morally abhorrent, naked hippies in CA alone. I cannot wait till I can be back on the West coast again. This middle class morality of the Midwest is killing my free spirited hippy soul.