Blog Master G

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life
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This is so cool: Google’s latest feature that makes it the one-stop destination for pretty much anything you need to do is the Google Calculator. How do you use it? Just type whatever math problem you want to solve into the search box. Whether it’s 1+1 or the formula that will tell you the monthly payments on a $450,000 home loan financed at 6% over 30 years (450000*(1+(.06/12))**360*(.06/12)/((1+(.06/12))**360-1), the Google Calculator does it all.

[via Google Weblog]

Those of us who rely on our Windows-based PCs and Internet connections to do pretty much anything we normally do in our jobs were reminded today just how dependent we are on technology. One little worm sneaks in and half a day of productivity is lost, thanks to the W32.Blaster.Worm. We’re more vulnerable than we realize.

CNET: “MSBlast (alias Lovsan, Blaster, and Posa) is an Internet worm that takes advantage of the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) Remote Procedure Call (RPC) interface buffer overflow flaw. Although Microsoft issued a patch on July 17, 2003, many people have yet to patch their systems. Ironically, the worm threatens to shut down the windowsupdate.com site, the source of Microsoft security patches. Because MSBlast is spreading quickly via the Internet and could shut down infected machines, this worm rates a 7 on the CNET Virus Meter.”

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that Jen and I had been at each other’s throats since the end of the wedding. I realized that that may sound worse than it actually is. Not that things aren’t wonderful nor that we love each other any less. Quite the contrary. I thought I would try to explain what I meant a bit more. Simply put, this explanation I IM’d to a friend earlier today is the best way to describe how married life has been:

gabe: it’s good. we were talking last night about how nothing has really changed, but there’s this weird societal pressure that makes us feel as though things should be a certain way.

In other words, our relationship is still the same…we still live together, go to the same jobs, care for the same dogs. But now we wear these rings and have this certificate that says we’re married. And society dictates certain things about marriage — that it should be immediately happy and wonderful. Now that we’ve realized this unspoken pressure and how silly it is, we’re OK to move on. That and we’ve had time to process all the little wedding things that weren’t quite right. We’ve accepted those and continue to reminisce about what a wonderful time it was.

Now that I know what to expect and have met Jen’s entire extended family, I’m ready to go back to the wedding to enjoy it all over again.

It’s interesting. Since returning from the wedding and honeymoon, I haven’t really been inspired to write too many words here. I’ve posted the occasional selection of photos, which we’re still sorting through and slowly assembling into a forthcoming new site just for photos, but I guess I just haven’t really felt like doing much writing.

This weekend flew by. It’s Sunday night and Jen and I have both felt incredibly drained today. We did quite a bit — went to four open houses around the city, did some shopping at Bed, Bath & Beyond (hooray for gift certificates), and got some groceries at Trader Joe’s. Then the rest of the night we’ve just been lazily lounging about, watching the Dennis Leary Roast on Comedy Central and waiting for Sex and the City to come on in about 20.

Last night was really cool — our first interaction with friends since returning from the honeymoon. It was the Leo Trio Birthday Bash for our three awesome Leo friends — Jeanine, Katie, and Tiffany. About 16 of us ate at McCormick & Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant in Ghirardelli Square. I had this delicious wild king salmon entree, stuffed with shrimp and crab cake.

I think we really needed a night out with friends. We had been at each other’s throats since the wedding was over with, and it was good to interact with other people, share wedding photos and stories, and do something not wedding-related.

I slept until about 11 or so today, which was good (didn’t go to bed until 2:30 or so this morning), but I woke up still feeling really out of it.

My body feels tired and my throat a bit sore. I hope I’m not getting sick. So I’ll try to fight it off. This weekend went too fast.

Has KB Toys no shame? This is so bad it’s laughable. Tasteless. It’s almost as though they’re trying to invent this image of Bush as a heroic fighter pilot, which, of course, couldn’t be farther from the draft-dodging truth.

Via Common Dreams: “BBI proudly introduces the latest issue in its Elite Force series of authentic military 12- inch figures, President George W. Bush in naval aviator flight uniform. Exacting in detail and fully equipped with authentic gear, this limited-edition action figure is a meticulous 1:6 scale recreation of the Commander-in-Chief’s appearance during his historic Aircraft Carrier landing.”

I already told KB Toys how disgusting I think this is.

(Thanks to Fran via Jen for the link.)

Arianna Huffington via CNN.com: “Let’s get real. As ineffectual as Davis may be, there can be no doubt that it is the Bush administration — with its tax cuts for the wealthy, its perverse political priorities, and its way-too-cozy relationship with Enron and the other energy companies — that have gotten California where it is.”

Of course, Schwarzenegger has been stealing all the headlines, including a giant headline in yesterday’s SF Chronicle that spanned all columns and took up all real estate above the fold. I think the Chron gave this story more weight than the day the war on Iraq broke out.

Arnold has the bigger name recognition, no doubt, but with California being as progressive as it is, I’m keeping my fingers crossed — and registering my vote — for Arianna Huffington this October (assuming, of course, that were I to vote “no” for the recall, my vote for another candidate would actually count…something that apparently is still under debate and is such a catch-22 if “no” voters don’t get to vote for a replacement in case the recall goes through).

My post to a craigslist forum string:

I just read through this discussion. As an owner of a 2002 WRX wagon (http://gabeanderson.com/wrx), I can say that it is one seriously kick-ass car.

Let’s start by pointing out the obvious: You’re comparing the WRX to a CORVETTE. That in itself speaks volumes. Of course a (stock) WRX isn’t going to take a Vette off the line or even at the tracks. But as folks have pointed out, the AWD is what makes the WRX so powerful. It’s glued to the ground and I can take corners like you wouldn’t believe (stock wheels & tires).

It is a 4-cylinder car, so its real power is in the high RPM range – upwards of 3,000 RPM is where the turbo kicks in.

Fastest 0-60 time I’ve read is 5.4 seconds. I’ve taken a number of V8 Mustangs and Camaros off the line, as well as an Audi Allroad Quattro on the freeway (a 300hp, $50k car). All I have to do is drop it down to 4th and I’m gone.

For its price, the WRX can’t be beat. When you talk about an STi, only the Lancer Evo can compare.

Plus, as someone mentioned earlier, show me another car that hauls this much ass, takes corners like it does, can carry around 100 pounds of dogs in the back, AND drive to Tahoe without any chains (leaving all the SUVs in the dust, of course).

Show me a Vette that can do that.

You’re comparing apples and oranges.

For the price and what it does, there’s no car like the WRX.

-Gabe

Tiki bad…

Tiki threesome…

Starting to feel better today. More on top of stuff. Returned my camera phone since the AT&T service was horrible. If you can help it, don’t get service with them. Picked up quite a bit around the house. It’s looking and feeling much better, but still not totally there. Got rid of all the boxes and packing material, so at least we can walk through the apartment now.

Still taking in all the wedding stuff. All these photos. I was just browsing through some of what we have on Ofoto and realized that we haven’t even looked through everything yet. In fact, there are still two 128MB memory cards of Hawaii photos yet to be transferred to computer and uploaded. So much to do, so little time.

So many projects. My wife (it’s great to be able to say that) tallied up what each of us spent personally on wedding-related expenses. Not even counting what went on our shared credit card, it’s pretty intense. Glad those expenditures are over for now.

Yesterday we gave the dogs baths. I think I forgot to mention that when I wrote yesterday. So now they’re mostly clean.

Slowly getting caught up at work, so that’s good, I guess.

Feeling hot tonight. Legs are sweaty. I hate that.

We’re still finding mold and stinky smells in our closet. I talked to our landlord today. His solution for everything: Paint. He suspects the water heater in the basement (who knew we had one of those in this building?) may be leaking. He’s supposed to look at that. And maybe bring us some of us this mold-fighting paint. I also told him we wanted to pay less rent, given that there’s a 2-bedroom directly across the street that’s going for $1,500. We have a 1 bedroom, albeit with a private yard, and we pay more than that. He said he’d get back to me. Apparently “everyone” has been asking him to lower rents, too. It would be nice to save some bucks.

We did one load of many on the laundry front tonight, but still lots more to go there.

This is quite the week. We have a dinner party to attend with a bunch of friends this Saturday — a joint birthday affair for Katie, Jeanine, Tiffany — that I’m looking forward to. That should be lots of fun.

Weekend after this one we have at least a couple events lined up already, too — a party for Jen’s coworker’s wife and a wine tasting party at Jane and Sarah’s; those are always good.

The fun never ends. Hopefully I’ll feel more on top of things before long. Have a couple lunches this week with friends — tomorrow and Thursday. Good breaks from the office. Up in Marin, I usually do my own thing for lunch.

Caught up on this past weekend’s Sex and the City and Real Time with Bill Maher tonight — in between all the clean-up activities.