Eli Waite

Gray... Already!

2009-05-29T20:32:00.000+05:00

A major discovery was made this last weekend, my first gray hair. Granted it was only one, but still I am not even 30 yet, why the hell is my hair turning gray. I assume it is stress related, guess I need to change something in my life to reduce the stress...

Embrace the gray.

Action Needed on Montana State Bills

2009-03-09T21:23:00.000+04:00

The Missoula Democrats are looking for support on the following bills which are being past through the Montana State Legislature. Please take a look at the following bills and contact the indicated committee to voice your support or opposition for the ones you fancy. Remember it only takes a couple minutes to make your voice heard.

HB 307: Sponsored by Rep. Don Roberts. Gives doctors the ability to dispense drugs locally. This is for rural areas where pharmacists refuse to dispense birth control. Headed for Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety on March 11. Please support. Committee Secretary: jlinkenbach@mt.gov.

HB 372: Sponsored by Rep. Franke Wilmer. Gives breastfeeding mothers exemptions from jury duty. Heard in Senate Judiciary on March 6; action pendingTK. Please support. Committee Secretary: pschindler@mt.gov.

HB 2: This is the big one. It is the budget. This is where the Healthy Montana Kids initiative is (CHIP), (HB 155 & HB 157). It also contains other very important issues such as contraceptive funding and environmental issues. There will be a hearing for the CHIP part of this bill on Monday, March 9. Please send an email before then. The budget has to be finished and authorized by April 4, or Montana will not get the Economic Stimulus money. It is going to be heard in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, and then in the Senate. There are many Senators on the far end of conservative who do not want to accept the stimulus money and are committed to right-to-life. A strong show of support for the Dems values will be helpful! Committee Secretaries: sspeerschneider@mt.gov (House Appropriations) & pgilroy@mt.gov (Senate Finance & Claims)

HB 214: Sponsored by Rep. Margie MacDonald. Amend Medicaid eligibility requirements for pregnant women to expand women eligible for assistance when pregnant. Heading to Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety on March 16. Committee Secretary: jlinkenbach@mt.gov.

Anti-Choice Bills in the Legislature

SB 46: Sponsored by Senator Dan McGee. Weakens the Montana constitutional right to privacy to provide a compelling state interest to “protect the unborn”. Hearing in House Judiciary Committee on March 13. Please oppose, and write to committee members and your representative and senator. Committee Secretary: jeck@mt.gov.

SB 406: Sponsored by Senator Dan McGee. Amends Montana Constitution to say that life begins at the moment of conception. Please oppose, and mention with SB 46 in your letter. Hearing in House Judiciary Committee on March 13. Committee Secretary: jeck@mt.gov.

SB 142: Sponsored by Senator Gary Perry. Eliminates gender equity in the pricing on all insurance products in Montana, and reinstates gender differences when paying out pension and life insurance plans. This will lead to higher premiums and fewer benefits for women. This passed in the Senate 27-23. Next hearing not yet scheduled, but will be in House Business and Labor Committee. Please oppose. Committee Secretary: sbaglivo@mt.gov.

SB 374: Sponsored by Senator Gary Perry. Amends unconstitutional statute regarding parental notice for abortion. This would take away a minor’s right to seek an abortion. Statistics show that the majority of girls who are pregnant confide in their parents. Those that choose not to often have good reasons not to do so, that are too upsetting to recount here. Please oppose. Hearing in House Judiciary Committee on March 11. Committee Secretary: jeck@mt.gov.

SB 327: Sponsored by Senator Aubyn Curtiss. Includes “unborn child” from the moment of conception in the state’s homicide statutes. Hearing in House, not yet scheduled, but will be assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Please oppose. Committee Secretary: jeck@mt.gov.

Civil Rights

HB 591: Sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Pease-Lopez. This would require at least one Native American on the state’s Pardons and Parole Board. Heading to Senate Judiciary Committee. This will be a tough fight! Please support. Committee Secretary: pschindler@mt.gov.

HB 228: Sponsored by Rep. Krayton Kerns. Citizen defense and firearm rights. This bill is frightening. Read the text. It is not about gun rights; it is about legalizing violent behavior. The law enforcement agencies do not support this bill, and have written strongly to oppose it. It presumes that anyone who shoots someone else has the right of self-defense, and works to eliminate permits for concealed weapons. This passed the House 60-40, and is headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee, hearing scheduled for March 17. Please oppose. Committee Secretary: pschindler@mt.gov.

HB 550: Sponsored by Rep. Diane Sands (Missoula). This bill would double the funding for Indian Education for All, which is presently at $20 per student. This program received no funding until the previous legislative session two years ago. If an effective educational program is to exist, it needs to be funded. Please support. Hearing scheduled at House Appropriations on March 11. Committee Secretary: sspeerschneider@mt.gov.

Economic Justice

HB 360: Sponsored by Rep. Mary Caferro. This would create an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) at the state level. The EITC makes work pay for the working poor and is one of the best things Montana can do to help lift industrious people out of poverty. Read more at http://www.session61.com/2009/02/state-eitc-would-add-fairness-to.html Sitting in House Taxation Committee without a vote. Needs to be passed to Senate chamber by 3/26 to remain alive. Please support by writirepresentativeentative to support a motion to blast this bill from committee where a committee chair who styles himself as anti-tax (but apparently like taxing the working poor) has sequestered it.

HB 569: Sponsored by Rep. Betsy Hands (Missoula). Asks for appropriation of $10 million into the Housing MT Fund for low-income housing. Hearing in House Appropriations Committee on 3/10. Needs to be passed to Senate chamber by 3/26 to remain alive. Committee Secretary: sspeerschneider@mt.gov.

2008-12-28T00:13:00.000+04:00

The only reason to visit the Southwest, In-n-Out.

2008-12-26T20:24:00.000+04:00

It's snowing in Tucson, AZ!

2008-12-25T20:36:00.000+04:00

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T20:34:00.000+04:00

I thought the kids are suppose to wake up the parents on Xmass, not the other way around. I mean it is not even double digits yet!

2008-12-25T04:35:00.000+04:00

Have safetly made it to Phoenix, now for the drive to Tucson before I get to eat, so hungry.

2008-12-24T23:36:00.000+04:00

A mother sitting next to me just asked her 10 year old son how to spell "dinner"! I know I'm not a good speller but really... dinner?

2008-12-24T22:44:00.000+04:00

At the Missiula airport waiting for my flight to AZ, it's only two hours late... At least it's not cancled.

2008-12-22T19:28:00.000+04:00

First day of skiing yesterday, a lot of fun and really cold. Now I have skies in every NW state, WA, OR, ID, MT, and of course AK.

2008-12-17T22:07:00.000+04:00

Exxon is finally paying out for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Just heard one of my family friends got their check.

2008-12-15T21:46:00.000+04:00

So cold in the office that I had to get an extra heater and I am still wearing my jacket! It is -3F outside.

2008-12-13T03:01:00.000+04:00

The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable. - John Kenneth Galbraith

2008-12-11T02:08:00.000+04:00

Just bought a new pair of skis, got the Volkl Mantra with Marker Baron on them, couldn't justify the Duke.

2008-12-11T00:41:00.000+04:00

Got my first annual performance review but I have only been here for four months... I have exceed their expectations!

2008-12-10T01:13:00.000+04:00

Looking at getting the Volkl Mantra with Marker Duke bindings. Any thoughts?

2008-12-08T22:48:00.000+04:00

Just found out one of my skis is broken, going to have to get new ones. Anyone have any recommendations?

2008-12-05T03:40:00.000+04:00

I have spent 7 hours and 40 minutes at work with hardly anything to do and then with 20 minutes left my boss gives me a project...?

2008-12-04T22:49:00.000+04:00

Stage 3 of making my life better is now complete. Only two more steps to go... yeah!

2008-12-04T21:29:00.000+04:00

If I have ever been more bored than I am now, I don't remember it.

2008-12-02T09:41:00.000+04:00

I feel as though I should say something but I have nothing, so instead I'll wish everyone a goodnight.

2008-11-30T00:38:00.000+04:00

I guess we no longer have a credit problem in this country because every store I went to today offered me a credit card.

2008-11-29T03:48:00.000+04:00

Working on a Friday after a holiday should be outlawed. Hardly anyone is around, nothing gets done, what's the point.

2008-11-27T20:26:00.001+04:00

Came home early from work yesterday with a terrible stomach ache and then slept for 21ish hours.

2008-11-27T20:26:00.000+04:00

Oh, and happy thanksgiving everyone.

2008-11-26T18:32:00.000+04:00

I love waking up to snow on the ground. Yippie!

2008-11-26T04:58:00.000+04:00

Anyone in Missoula interested in a Poker Night? Trying to set something up for Wed night. $5 buy-in. DM me if you're interested.

2008-11-26T04:44:00.000+04:00

Love the feeling of going toe-to-toe with your CFO and finally getting him to see your point of view. Oh how sweet.

2008-11-25T01:39:00.000+04:00

If there is one redeeming thing about Thanksgiving, it’s pumpkin muffins. Mmm, mm, tasty.

2008-11-24T08:49:00.000+04:00

Update on turkey cooking experience: took 3 1/2 hours to cook & ended up tasting really good. Now I have turkey for the rest of my life.

2008-11-24T08:45:00.000+04:00

Step 2 of my 5 step plan for a more rewarding life is now done. Now I get to wait for step 3. This process is moving fast.

2008-11-24T02:06:00.000+04:00

The first turkey I have ever tried cooking is in the oven. I hope I don't dry the thing out.

2008-11-23T01:55:00.000+04:00

That game, Griz win 35 to 3.

2008-11-23T01:52:00.000+04:00

Touchdown Griz.

2008-11-23T01:46:00.000+04:00

End of the fourth quarter and it's starting to snow. Pretty excited about the snow.

2008-11-23T00:32:00.000+04:00

Halftime at my first Griz game. Griz 14, Cats 3

2008-11-22T05:03:00.000+04:00

Any of the Missoula people have a recommendation on Thai Food?

2008-11-21T10:12:00.000+04:00

Off to bed. Need to get a good night sleep, I have a big, big day tomorrow.

2008-11-20T10:13:00.000+04:00

Following one's dreams may be the most rewarding path and possibly the most daunting. Dream. Believe. Achieve.

2008-11-20T03:08:00.000+04:00

Moving on to step 2 of my 5 step process to having a more rewarding life.

2008-11-19T09:37:00.000+04:00

So happy that my home State of Alaska didn't elect a convicted felon to the Senate.

Garrison Keillor on the Obama's Win

2008-11-19T03:51:00.000+04:00

Sitting on Top of the World
Wednesday 12 November 2008

by: Garrison Keillor, The Chicago Tribune

The city of Chicago is celebrating the rise of one of their own to the
office of president of the United States.

Be happy, dear hearts, and allow yourselves a few more weeks of quiet
exultation. It isn't gloating, it's satisfaction at a job well done. He was
a superb candidate, serious, professorial but with a flashing grin and a
buoyancy that comes from working out in the gym every morning. He spoke in a
genuine voice, not senatorial at all. He relished campaigning. He accepted
adulation gracefully. He brandished his sword against his opponents without
mocking or belittling them. He was elegant, unaffected, utterly American,
and now (Wow) suddenly America is cool. Chicago is cool. Chicago!!!

We threw the dice and we won the jackpot and elected a black guy with a
Harvard degree, the middle name Hussein and a sense of humor - he said,
"I've got relatives who look like Bernie Mac, and I've got relatives who
look like Margaret Thatcher." The French junior minister for human rights
said, "On this morning, we all want to be American so we can take a bite of
this dream unfolding before our eyes." When was the last time you heard
someone from France say they wanted to be American and take a bite of
something of ours? Ponder that for a moment.

The world expects us to elect pompous yahoos, and instead we have us a
47-year-old prince from the prairie who cheerfully ran the race, and when
his opponents threw sand at him, he just smiled back. He'll be the first
president in history to look really good making a jump shot. He loves his
classy wife and his sweet little daughters. At the same time, he knows pop
music, American lit and constitutional law. I just can't imagine anybody
cooler.

It feels good to be cool, and all of us can share in that, even sour old
right-wingers and embittered blottoheads. Next time you fly to Heathrow and
hand your passport to the man with the badge, he's going to see "United
States of America" and look up and grin. Even if you worship in the church
of Fox, everyone you meet overseas is going to ask you about Obama, and you
may as well say you voted for him because, my friends, he is your line of
credit over there. No need anymore to try to look Canadian.

And the coolest thing about him is the fact that back in the early '90s,
given a book contract after the hoo-ha about his becoming the First Black
Editor of The Harvard Law Review, instead of writing the basic exploitation
book he could've written, he put his head down and worked hard for a few
years and wrote a good book, an honest one, which, since his rise in
politics, has earned the Obamas enough to buy a nice house and put money in
the bank. A successful American entrepreneur.

Our hero who galloped to victory has inherited a gigantic mess. The
country is sunk in debt. The Treasury announced it must borrow $550 billion
to get the government through the fourth quarter, more than the entire
deficit for 2008, so he will have to raise taxes and not only on bankers and
lumber barons. His promise never to raise the retirement age is not a good
idea. Whatever he promised the Iowa farmers about subsidizing ethanol is
best forgotten at this point. We may not be getting our National Health
Service cards anytime soon. And so on and so on.

So enjoy the afterglow of the election awhile longer. We all walk taller
this fall. People in Copenhagen and Stockholm are sending congratulatory
e-mails - imagine! We are being admired by Danes and Swedes! And Chicago
becomes The First City. Step aside, San Francisco. Shut up, New York. The
Midwest is cool now. The mind reels. Have a good day.

---------
Garrison Keillor is radio host and author.

--
"Whatever you can do or think you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
-Goethe

2008-11-19T02:58:00.000+04:00

Just found out my trial contacts are in. I pray to every higher power there is that they work. To get out of my glasses would be a blessing.

2008-11-18T09:33:00.000+04:00

Woke up with a headache, going to bed with a headache and a tummy ache. Kind of scared to think about what I'll wake up tommorow with.

2008-11-17T20:42:00.000+04:00

Waking up on a Monday with a headache is no way to start a week.

2008-11-17T03:20:00.000+04:00

Why are there so many people on the UM campus?

2008-11-16T21:55:00.000+04:00

Just got tixs to the Griz/Cats game!

2008-11-15T22:05:00.000+04:00

Prop 8 rally at 11:30 at the X's on North Higgens. If you're not inn Missiula go to jointheimpact.com to fin yours.

2008-11-15T04:42:00.000+04:00

Just got my copy of the Chicago Tribune's Nov 5 edition!

2008-11-12T00:50:00.000+04:00

My jaws is killing me. Good thing I'm going to the dentist tonight.

2008-11-10T08:02:00.000+04:00

Got my season pass to Snow Bowl then went for a run. Going to be a hard season if I don't get in shape soon.

2008-11-09T05:36:00.000+04:00

Ready for the grand daddy of all ski movies, Warren Miller's Children of Winter.

2008-11-08T03:26:00.000+04:00

With a half hour of worked left on a Friday, would you start working on a new project?

2008-11-07T09:30:00.000+04:00

Finally starting to change course in my life, but it's going to take a long time to turn this ship.

2008-11-06T08:11:00.000+04:00

Going to bed early tonight, oh how I love my bed.

2008-11-05T09:25:00.000+04:00

I'm tingly all over.

2008-11-05T02:57:00.000+04:00

Cannot get anything done at work today. I keep checking the news and tweets for election updates. GO VOTE!

2008-11-04T09:03:00.000+04:00

Make sure to vote tomorrow. If you have any spare time we could use your help getting others to vote. Let me know if you will help.

2008-11-03T19:08:00.000+04:00

Avoid the chaos tommorrow, early vote today by noon in MT at your county election office, aka the courthouse in Missoula.

2008-11-03T05:27:00.000+04:00

Knocked on doors all day in the rain for Obama. Remind me of being back home in Juneau.

2008-11-02T04:03:00.000+04:00

Spent all day knocking on doors for Obama and will be back at it tomorrow.

2008-10-31T07:49:00.000+04:00

Get Out The Vote (GOTV) starts tomorrow. If you're not signed up to help let me know and I'll find you something to do.

2008-10-30T08:05:00.000+04:00

Colbert endorses Barack Obama, probably the last one to come around but still nice to see.

2008-10-30T05:16:00.000+04:00

Making calls for Obama. Oh, and his 30 minute special was great, looking forward to seeing him on the Daily Show later tonight.

2008-10-29T22:58:00.000+04:00

For the record I hate grapes with seeds in them, especially when you don't know they're there.

2008-10-29T05:18:00.000+04:00

Any Peace Corp volunteers out there that want to talk about their experiences? DM me.

2008-10-27T09:05:00.000+04:00

Cannot believe that after 28 years I finally raked and bagged leaves for the first time. It was actually kinda fun.

Obama's 30 Minute TV Special Schedule

2008-10-26T23:39:00.000+04:00

1) Michelle Obama will be on Jay Leno tomorrow, Monday, October 17th. Jay Leno airs on NBC at 11:30 pm Eastern.

2) The Barack Obama 30 minute special airs this Wednesday, October 29th - check on the stations and times below.

NBC/CBS/Univision/BET:

Eastern: 8:00:00 thru 8:30:00 PM
Central: 7:00:00 thru 7:30:00 PM
Mountain: 7:00:00 thru 7:30:00 PM
Pacific: 8:00:00 thru 8:30:00 PM

FOX:

Eastern: 8:00:00 PM thru 8:30:00 PM
Central: 7:00:00 PM thru 7:30:00 PM
Mountain: 7:00:00 PM thru 7:30:00 PM or Immediately following World Series Game 6 (if necessary)
Pacific: 8:00:00 PM thru 8:30:00 PM or Immediately following World Series Game 6 (if necessary)

MSNBC/TV One:

Eastern: 8:00:00 PM thru 8:30:00 PM
Central: 7:00:00 PM thru 7:30:00 PM
Mountain: 6:00:00 PM thru 6:30:00 PM
Pacific: 5:00:00 PM thru 5:30:00 PM

2008-10-25T08:13:00.000+05:00

Going to the Top Hat to see the Clumsy Lovers.

2008-10-24T07:50:00.000+05:00

I love that ski movies are showing how great the skiing is in SE AK (Haines), but must it be every other scene?

2008-10-24T06:27:00.000+05:00

How does Haines, AK make it into so many ski movies?

2008-10-24T06:18:00.000+05:00

The guy next to me at the movie is trying to impress his lady friend on how much money he spends on his ski trips. Guess he doesn't know you can sleep in the back of your car.

2008-10-24T05:58:00.000+05:00

Oh, and I'm on campus for the TGR "Under the Influence" movie. Same people who came to Juneau to do some base jumping on skiis.

2008-10-24T05:51:00.000+05:00

I cannot believe UM doesn't have campus wide Wi-fi.

2008-10-23T22:54:00.000+05:00

Obama has taken a small lead in Montana! Turning another State from Red to Blue. http://ping.fm/n4X7Z

2008-10-23T08:12:00.000+05:00

My house is so freaking cold! That's probably why my energy bill is so low.

2008-10-23T01:36:00.000+05:00

I feel like the Prez, going through a budget and crossing items off line by line.

2008-10-22T10:05:00.000+05:00

Pollster.com has listed MT as a toss-up. I'll be so happy when this State turns blue.

2008-10-19T23:45:00.000+05:00

Colin Powell endorses Obama. http://ping.fm/y7Mgl

2008-10-19T07:21:00.000+05:00

Palin on SNL tonight... the real Palin. http://ping.fm/omKVW

2008-10-16T06:41:00.000+05:00

I guess when you get old your hearing goes, cause McCain isn't listening to anything Obama says.

2008-10-16T06:36:00.000+05:00

Why does McCain keep inturpting and over talking Obama.

2008-10-16T06:26:00.000+05:00

Bob is calling them both out, sweet.

2008-10-16T06:25:00.000+05:00

This the best debate so far, they are talking to each other and asking each other question. They finally figured out what a debate is.

2008-10-16T06:18:00.000+05:00

John is getting his housing rescue plan from Clinton, doesn't he have his own ideas.

2008-10-16T06:13:00.000+05:00

Was John there when Barack was talking with Joe Plumber, he seems to know a lot about what was said.

2008-10-16T04:24:00.000+05:00

$2.99/gallon for gas in Missoula, first time I have seen it under $3 in a long time.

2008-10-15T18:58:00.000+05:00

Watch the final presidential debate at the Press Box tonight.

2008-10-15T09:02:00.000+05:00

You ever get the feeling that the internet is moving too fast? I'm going to go read a book.

2008-10-15T03:30:00.000+05:00

Testing out ping.fm

Digsby

2008-06-19T07:54:00.000+05:00

I just came across Digsby and even though I have no idea what the name means, I think it could most possibly be the ultimate multi-IM interface (at least until Trillian Astra comes out and even then...) Basically it combines IM, E-Mail, and Social Networking into one neat little package. Currently it can handle Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, ICQ, Jabber, and Facebook for IM. On the e-mail side it has Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, AIM, IMap, and Pop3. Finally on the social networking, it does Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

The one feature I am really thankful for is that you can combine multiple IM accounts into one profile. You know people like me that have Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and Facebook, instead having me listed three times you can combine all my accounts into one, so I only show up once in your list.

If you like to stay connect and/or have more than one IM account you should defiantly check it out, just click on the title of this post and you will be taken to their website.

Got It - Firefox 3

2008-06-18T00:15:00.000+05:00

After a little trouble I finally got Firefox 3 download and installed. There are a few add-ons that are not supported yet, but most of the big ones work fine like Google Toolbar, Adblock, Greasemonkey and so forth. I would the rest of them will catch up in very short order.

As far as Firefox being faster, it would appear to load pages faster however I have no way verify that, could just be my perception. Also the new interface gives it a nice new look without being so different that you do not know where anything is.

If you are having trouble getting the install file, just send me an e-mail and I will e-mail it back to you. The setup file is 7.1 MB, so make sure your e-mail account can handle that.

Firefox 3 - Download Today!

2008-06-17T23:38:00.000+05:00

Mozilla is releasing Firefox 3 today (was suppose to be at 10 AM PST but they are having some server trouble... go figure). The new Firefox has about 15,000 fixes/improvements, most you will probably never notice, but lets just say it will make your surfing faster, safer, and smoother.

Mozilla is trying to set a worlds record for the most downloads in a 24 hour period. I think they are shooting for 5 million downloads, so go do your part and download the new version, for Mozilla, for yourself, and sticking it to the man.

Google Street View

2008-06-16T10:17:00.000+05:00

I just found out that Google Maps now has a street view of my house. Now I know they have been working on expanding their street view service but I always figured it would be in major cities not little old Salem, and especially not on the dead end street that I live on. I also noticed that the pictures were taken since I have been living here because my old BBQ is out on the porch. Anyways I am not about to give out my address in this blog, but if you know me, then you know my address, or at least know how to get it, and can check it out if you want.

Sisters' Rodeo

2008-06-16T05:30:00.000+05:00

The Sisters' Rodeo, where to start, well it was not so much the rodeo that made it special but the party that went all around it. It was a wonderful day with a lot of food, drinks, fun and of course... a little trouble.

The day began at 9:30 AM with some drinks and a lot of foosball. We had to get in the competitive spirit of the rodeo before we actually got there. I think at some point we managed to get some food in us as well. Around noon we wondered over to the Rodeo. We had pretty good seat when you consider that they were the cheapest ones we could get. They were directly across from the chutes and we had the sun to our backs all day, so a nice vantage point. The different events were quite entertaining with bucking horses, roping and tackling calves, barrel racing, and of course bucking bulls. The highlight of the rodeo and the the last rider of the contest was a bull rider who got bucked off pretty quickly and landed by the head of the bull. One of the rodeo clowns went in to try and protect the rider and the clown got tossed, and then the bull picked up the cowboy with his head/horns and through him pretty high into the air. To the best of my knowledge everyone was alright... considering you have just been tossed around like a rag doll.

Now I have only been to a few rodeos in my life, but everywhere I have been the rodeo has included fair like activities, however the Sisters' Rodeo was just the rodeo with nothing extra. Wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it was defiantly a good show all the way around.

After the Rodeo we headed back into Bend were there was a BBQ, more foosball and drinks along with an assortment of other games. Later on in the evening we went to a few bars. One of my favorite events of a rodeo is watching drunk guys trying to pick up girls. Not that I had anything in promoting such activities... but it was an excellent evening for high quality entertainment. I am also happy to report that no one got hurt in the cross fire, at least to best of my knowledge. We finally wrapped up the party at about 1:30ish AM (the next morning).

Looking forward to Beerfest now...

New Blogs

2008-06-11T10:43:00.000+05:00

So as you all know already this is my personal blog to tell the world about the whoas of my life. I did want to take this opportunity and tell you about two new blogs that I have just started this fine evening.

The first one is very exciting to me, as it deals with finance and investments. I share my ideas and views on the world through the lens of investments, and the blog can be found at http://elisinvestments.blogspot.com/.

The second one will be much more boring, heck I don't know why anyone would actually want to read it, and no this is not some sort of reverse psychology. This blog is about my daily trips to the gym. Basically it is a way for me to keep track of what I am doing to try to get fit and remain fit. If on the off hand chance you are interested you can see it at http://elisworkout.blogspot.com/.

Well anyways it is late, and I would like to get to bed, so until next time ta, ta.

Apple iPhone 3G with A-GPS

2008-06-09T23:55:00.000+05:00

The love of my life, the sparkle in my eye, it is finally here... well technically in a month, July 11. Apple just announced the iPhone 3G with A-GPS. Not only that but they slashed the price and put it inline with other phones, $199 for the 8GB and $299 for the 16GB version. Personally, unless something does not work as advertised, this will be the best phone... EVER! Seriously I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these things. And with all the 3rd party apps that will be available, being able to use MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint on the phone, there is just no way to beat it. I am sure you can find all the details on this beauty so I don't need to list them here, but man am I so excited, and just wanted to make sure everyone knew that.

Life of the unemployed

2008-06-09T05:53:00.000+05:00

So in a couple days it will be one-month since I have graduated and still no job. I did have two interview on Friday and one coming up on Monday plus I have a few applications outstanding. DOES ANYONE WANT TO HIRE A MBA, anyone at all?

With all this time on my hands, one might think I could get a lot done, do a bunch of cool things, like read those books I have always meant to read, learn a language, workout, go on hikes and camping, heck maybe even go skiing up at Timberline. But funny thing when there is no structure to ones life, time goes by very quickly. For instance I just got this blog up and running and last time I looked it was 2:00 and now it is 6:00. When one has structure to their life, school, work, and/or a family, they have to plan their day and things get done. When one does not have any of this, it is more of a, "Well I have all the time in the world, I will get to that soon," and then of course you never get to it or at least not until much later.

Tomorrow is shaping up to be one of my busiest days I have had in a long time. My interview is at 8:30, so I actually have to get up at a decent time. Then I plan on tuning into Mr. Jobs keynote at the WWDC 2008 (keeping my fingers crossed for something really cool, say a 3G iPhone with GPS...) then I need to follow up with a few companies I have not heard back from, and then finally in the evening I have a BBQ to go to. Tomorrow is going to be a seriously busy day, hopefully I can everything done...

On top of all my frustration I have an open invitation to go to Thailand at the drop of a hat for half the price of a plane ticket and when I get there my costs would be close to nil. How does one choose to struggle with no job in the US (in a rainy, crappy weather US), when he has the option of kicking back in paradise and making new friends. I guess I still have a few responsibilities here which keep me tied down... sort of. At the end of the month I will be leaving my house, where I am going I don't know, but Thailand is sure high on that list.

Being that I am unemployed I guess you will be hearing more from me as I rant about whatever comes to mind. Of course that is only if I can fit in blogging to my busy, busy schedule.

First

2008-06-09T05:38:00.000+05:00

Just getting something posted, for posting sake.