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Friday, August 29, 2008
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Call me a cynic, but...
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You may have heard of "Freecycle" on the web. If not, it is a network implemented through local Yahoo groups, whose stated mission is to help reduce the amount of "stuff" that ends up in landfills. The general idea is that if you have something you no longer need or want, rather than throw it away, you can post a notice on a local Freecycle stating that you have an unwanted but still good widget. Other people in your area who subscribe to the group will receive an email about your unwanted widget. If one of them can use said widget, they email you directly and you can arrange to meet with them to give them your widget. One less thing in the dump. A proverbial win-win deal, you get rid of an unneeded item, someone who can use it gets it. I love the concept, and have been a "stuff" recycler long before it was fashionable and long before there was Freecycle. Things like freecycle make it much easier. I hate throwing out stuff that is still serviceable and have given loads of stuff away via freecycle, and gotten some goodies as well. Apparently lots of other people like the idea as well, there are over 4500 of these groups now. Like I said, win-win. Freecycle rules allow one to occasionally request an item or two, but over doing that is strongly discouraged, as is "begging". Postings like: "I am a one-legged blind single mother of 12 from Sri-lanka in DESPERATE need of a ...." are a definite no-no. They go to some lengths to explain that freecycle is NOT a charity organization. Posting requests for expensive items is generally not allowed and is considered bad etiquette. You are also specifically forbidden to ask for or offer money or "swaps" for you wants or offers. Doing any of the above occasionally results in someone being banned from a group. Of course, there is ALWAYS someone too rude, clueless, or stupid to abide by such conventions. I saw the following posted the other day: "I need wheels BAD! I take walk and buses to at least 4 medical appts. each week, (im disabled) and I need wheels to help this , the appointments take HOURS longer cuz I need public trans. So I can come get that eyesore out of our yard and then fix it up and wont have to walk or bus to my doctors appointments. Plus I can offer to trade you out some help for it... Like the stairs in the back you need replaced, or it's time to clean the chimney, maybe you just need help in the yard to remove a few bushes." Aside from the multiple obvious violations of the rules and "spirit" of the whole freecycle thing, look at what this guy is telling us. He's disabled. He does not like to rely on public transit, as it wastes too much of his time. He obviously cannot work due to his disability, but he can fix the free car you give him and possibly rebuild your stairs (!?), dig up some bushes for you, or CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY!!. HUH? Yeah, that's just what I want, a DISABLED guy up on my roof with a 30 foot long wire brush scrubbing out my chimney. Great plan. Amazing! But wait, there's more. The same guy also posted 3 other requests. One under the title of "Pennies, pennies, pennies for charity" and in the body of the message stated only: "You got pennies, I got charities..." Yeah, I'll bet you do. He also, in three other posts, requested a "large cooler so that we can go camping this weekend" and "luggage suitable for international travel", and "An LCD monitor because I have no more room on my desk." I swear I am not making this stuff up. In fairness I must mention that he did also post some offers to give stuff away. A couple of partial cans of house paint, some shower curtain hooks, a 50' network cable, and a brake cylinder hone (with extra replacement stones!).* It never ceases to amaze me how people can take the most simple and well intentioned thing, and abuse it. * Full disclosure - I sort of wanted the brake cylinder hone and considered responding, but decided against it. I already have one. |
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| thus voiced The A, Mistah @ 7:49 PM | |
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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Not that I want to give cyberspace to this guy, but...
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He wants to disarm the United States of America. Hear it from his own lips: |
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| thus voiced Mrs A @ 9:24 AM | |
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Miro-Muffiny Beaver hits the road!!
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| As some of you may know, a few weekends ago Micro-Muffiny Beaver, Sue and I hit the road for a marathon run to Pennsylvania and back. MMB was thrilled at the prospect as he does not get out too often, and could not wait to get rolling. Unaccustomed to auto travel, he was a bit scared at first but once we hit the open road, he could not get enough! So much to see. He was amazed to see this airplane rolling down the highway. We stopped for a quick muffin-and-coffee lunch. Both Sue and MMB were refreshed from the break. We finally arrived after about 7 hours on the road. MMB took the opportunity to grab a nap in the luxurious accommodations. After a nice nap, MMB freshened up a bit, checked out the fridge, sat around, and read for a while. The following morning, he was up to take in the sunrise and even made coffee for us. He even managed to make a few friends, finding some birds to hang out with. All in all, it we had perfect traveling weather, and smooth sailing all the way there and back. What an adventure!! | |
| thus voiced The A, Mistah @ 8:39 PM | |
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
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Teds in a Nutshell
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 This is Teds. He likes to go to museums. He's homeschooled. "What kind of animal do you think this bone came from, Ted? I'll give you a hint. It's something in the ocean." "Um, an octopus?" |
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| thus voiced Mrs A @ 4:01 PM | |
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Monday, August 11, 2008
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New Cannon Power Shot A590 IS
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I recently purchased a new camera. My previous camera was a Nikon EM 35mm that my Dad had given to me when I was in college. I LOVED that camera and took it to school with me every day. I was even the photographer for my college yearbook. Alas, 35mm has gone the way of the 8-track tape. My poor Nikon is in the closet. Whenever I've taken pictures these past few years it's been with one of Alan's nifty high tech digital wonders. My new camera (which by the way cost LESS than half of the cost of Alan's telephoto lens) has something that his camera does not- a video mode. I just had to post my first video of "Ray the Wonder Angler" fishing at the Lowell Sportsmen's Club's trout pond. We also did a bit of .22 caliber rifle shooting. Here's another clip of the boys. Thankfully,Teddy wears his hearing protection when shooting as well as when he fishes. |
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| thus voiced Mrs A @ 9:37 AM | |
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Sunday, August 10, 2008
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OH NO!!!!!!!
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We simply cannot let this happen! I read this just now: AUSTIN, Minn -- Times are tough for the folks who bring you Spam. Not the e-mail -- the meat.Hormel Foods, which makes meat and food products, including Spam, said it expects third-quarter results below expectations and lowered fiscal-year guidance due to higher-than-expected costs.The company expects earnings between 37 cents and 39 cents per share, down from 41 cents per share a year ago. Hormel chief executive Jeffrey Ettinger said higher-than-expected feed and fuel input costs at the company's Jennie-O Turkey Store segment are the primary reason for the shortfall expected in third-quarter results.He said selling-price increases were not enough to offset higher input costs, and an oversupply of turkey-breast meat also hurt results. We cannot let the makers of Spam fall on hard times. SPAM has always been there for us when we needed them, it's now time to return the favor. Buy SPAM now! Lots and lots of it! You can store it away, it is after all "The Meat That Needs No Refrigeration!" I have some great recipes that feature spam, if you need them. SAVE THE SPAM!!! |
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| thus voiced The A, Mistah @ 9:35 AM | |
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Friday, August 01, 2008
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Just so you all know...
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... I would like to make it official that I am sick to the point of gagging from hearing the name "Manny". As in that idiot baseball guy. All I heard all day today, on the news, at work, at the gas station, was ... Blah, blah, blah, Manny. Yadda, yadda, yadda, Manny. Yak, yak, yak, Manny. Yadda, yadda, blah, yak, Manny, blah, blah, blah.. It's enough to make you yak. Sorry, I can't believe the extent to which people can discuss this. I'll bet Massachusetts companies incurred millions in lost productivity today, just from idiots endlessly discussing this non-issue. Worst of all, I had to listen to my coworker "Bob"*, who you may recall feels the need to assault me with this sort of drivel. "....Ya know, Manny's jus afta da money, he don't give a [hoot] about da Boston Red Sox team or da Tradition, or nothin'...". Ya know what "Bob"? Neither do I. I too, am only after the money. Really, WHO CARES!!! Good riddance, Manny! Go, shoo, leave, nothing to see here Manny, move along. Come back when you can't stay so long. Don't let the door hit you, and all that. Here's an idea. Perhaps we can trade the whole team to some other city, they can even take their grimy, crumbling stadium with them. And then we could build a nice potpourri shop in its place, or a junk yard, or a maybe a good Greek restaurant. Much better. *See Fetafilter post, Feb. 27, 2007 |
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| thus voiced The A, Mistah @ 5:27 PM | |
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