/blog-gone

Tire went flat again so I went to a local mechanic. Found out that it was a nail. When the guy pulled it out, he yelled, "Woooaaahh, it's a big one!!" He plugged my tire and I kept the nail. Sill, the issue of replacing my tires is still unresolved. The treads are getting low so I'll expect to replace them within 6 months.

On the computer front, I spent all night troubleshooting: deleting files, repairing utilities, reinstalling OS X 10.3. Nothing worked. So I came to the conclusion the either the upgrade disk I used wasn't suitable for a G3 iBook or the solution was too much of a hassle. And considering the fact that I could get everything I want (Shuffle and Gmail) with an updated OS X 10.2.8, I decided to start everything over. So I spent all morning to wipe the slate clean. Used my original OS disks and updated the rest through apple.com. As with the tire, this is only a temporary fix. I'm sure I'll eventually have to upgrade to 10.3 or 10.4.

Until then, I'm glad my two most expensive toys are back in action. It's a load off my mind. Now I just need to get some sleep.

Yesterday, a 40ish lady in a convertible was nice enough to let me know that my rear driver side tire was losing air. When she signaled to talk, I was sure that she was going to scream at me. Not that I had done anything wrong but you never know. I was already frustrated due to the accident induced traffic congestion. (I had tried to avoid the accident on the 110N, but soon found out that the 710N also had an accident.)

So I exited and drove off to the closest gas station I could find. I could hear the faint sound of air escaping as I filled it up. I made it home fine and used that canned tire fix stuff. It's pretty impressive. Just stick it on the valve and drive for a few miles to seal it up. Of course, it's only a temporary solution but it works in a pinch. I'll be replacing all four tires as soon as possible. It was about time anyway.


*Yawn*

My G3 iBook is falling apart. I tried upgrading my OS and I'm left with a franticly blinking finder bar and a desktop that is frighteningly absent of the harddrive. Based on some preliminary apple support discussions, the problem seems fairly common but I've attempted some of the proposed solutions and it hasn't worked.

It's very indulgent to have both Monday and Friday off. I could say something about how that makes for a more stressful three days but really, who would I be kidding?

Got my Shuffle last night. It's a glorified memory stick but I'm still very pleased. Now if I can only update my OS, I can actually use the darn thing...

And my American Institute of Certified Planners certificate arrived today. Now I have something other than maps to put on my cubicle wall. Along with it came with an equally sized AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. It's unclear whether or not the Code is going up next to the Certificate. Here's the first principle:

The Planner's Responsibility to the Public
A planner's primary obligation is to serve the public interest. While the definition of the public interest is forumulated through continuous debate, a planner owes allegiance to a conscientiously attained concept of the public interest.

Sounds nice, doesnt it? I think I'm leaning towards yes.

In the past few years, I've let go of my monetary hoarding habits. Frankly, I don't feel guilty spending money. I've become a whole new me! Just look at the past few months: I went to Japan, I have electronic toys, I won't order the cheapest item on the menu, I'll spend more for a little convenience. I've even got a mental list of new things I want to buy. They include: suit, dress shoes, and IPod Shuffle. I'm also more open to charitable giving. I don't think twice about giving to humanitarian causes. No more tithing grudgingly...

Saving is great but I wasn't wise, I just had a hang up. And who needs those? Of course, that hang up probably protected my credit score so I had best develop some wisdom soon.

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Oh, another thing I've noticed. I'm as fat and out of shape as I've ever been. I drink a few cokes a day, order a beer when I can, and eat with a hefty appetite. I also don't have any consistent physical activities either. I have no time. I don't get together with anyone to play. Gym membership was too expensive. (I know what I just wrote about spending but come on, $79 to sign up and $40 a month is not right). This is not a good trend, but I'm almost amused by it all... exactly the way a jolly fat man would.

And God bless us, everyone!

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Every once in a while, a movie will come around and become an instant top ten nominee. Yes, a top ten "ever" nominee. And Danny Boyle's Millions did just that. I had average expectations at best, but no more than five minutes into the movie, I got the feeling that it might be quite agreeable. Agreeable to my soul, even. Now, I hardly expect it be that exceptional for everyone, but I'm confident that it's a family friendly crowd pleaser. So go see it!

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Epicentre likes to hold Easter service at people's homes, so we celebrated in La Canada. It was a casual time, perfectly fitting today's sunny weather and optimistic sky. Because amid the ducks and bunnies, Easter is, at heart, a hopeful day. A day when life doesn't just postpone death, but renders it impotent. And for that I'm eternally grateful.

From MarkDRoberts:

Christ the Lord is risen today,
Sons of men and angels say.
Raise your joys and triumphs high;
Sing, ye heavens, and, earth, reply.

Just back from a wedding. In my opinion, a wedding is most successful when the couple's personality shines though. And that was certainly the case for Judy and Calvin tonight.

I haven't written a post since I've been back, but I've a sneaky suspicion that I'm back in a groove.

The Conference has been great. I'll be back wednesday night. (I'm at the apple store across the street.)

Isn't it always the case that when you are about to miss some time at work, the last few days become completely wild? I'll be headed to SF (yay!) but endured the most stressful Port week ever.

In fact, today I was cussed out by the city lawyer. Hey, I understand his frustration. I know it. This project stinks. But it doesn't excuse his behavior to me. It's real easy to shout at the low guy isn't it. I'd like to see him do it to the top dogs who are making the actual decisions.

Well I can't wait to blow this joint and hit the road. I'm going to love being away from it all. I'll even get to miss the board meeting (which is kinda what the whole situation was about).

Don't get me wrong. I don't hate work. Stress usually means important stuff right? If no one cared, then it probably is because it doesn't really matter.

Anyway. Is it irresponsible to feel like I wanna get faaaded this weekend?

Received both my online shopping orders last week. The shoes from Zappos will have to be returned (they were too big), but I'm still a very satisfied customer. The next day delivery and free return policy is impressive. I also got the Settlers of Catan expansions I ordered. Haha. Playing this game is good for my negotiation skills. Just like LOTR Risk helped with my... military tactics.

I'm leaving for SF on Friday for the planning conference. Looking forward to that one. I've never done much professional networking, so I'm nervous. I don't expect much so it'll be fine. I just want to go through the motions. I'm preparing crib notes and updating my resume.

It isn't that I don't have anything to blog about. The problem is that it isn't coming out right. I've written two draft blogs on my political evolution. You know, from hardcore minority advocate in college to pro-Dubya man.

But it's just too complicated. So I deleted both.

I'm also trying to write about how I would like to transcend political affiliation. I mean, I think one party has better ideas right now but can any one party have all the answers?

Anyway.

I've been singing on Karaoke Revolution. I can't seem to hit the even moderately low notes. But I have a great falsetto. When Cindy and I sing Duet Mode, I am relegated to the girl part.

I've noticed that there has been a shift in my reading habits. Less politics. More baseball.

This Sunday is our fantasy baseball draft too. Sorry. Gotta go research.

Yesterday, I was the proud recipient of a new Dell computer at work. It's quite nice. I've got a flat screen monitor, wireless mouse, and more importantly, enough memory to run mapping applications. Now I've just got to learn them.

I'm consider myself lucky to even get the new computer. Our budget didn't have enough for all of us and I didn't bother to lobby for one. So I was surprised when someone was able to help me out and "make it work".

Getting a new toy inspired me to organize my workspace. I've been meaning to clean up but put it off for a while. I'm also washing my hands before using it.

Robotsessions has been working on this website for the Star Wars Episode III video game. Well done, Roberto.

Antonio Villaraigosa will be in the runoff for mayor, with incumbent James Hahn holding a slight edge over Bob Hertzberg. LA Observed sets the stage.

On Hugh Hewitt's radio show, Hugh keeps saying that the Mayor doesn't really do anything in L.A. except try to attract business. That isn't entirely true. The Mayor does appoint the Board of Harbor Commissioners (my bosses).

Anyone bored with my posts on housing yet? Haha.

The Economist continues to argue that there is a world wide housing bubble (paid subscription required). I always appreciate their global perspective:

America's ratio of prices to rents is 32% above its average level during 1975-2000. By the same gauge, property is "overvalued" by 60% or more in Britain, Australia and Spain, and by 46% in France.

Sounds bad, but doesn't that also infer that it is possible to sustain property being "overvalued" by at least 60%? And if America is only at 32%, the eventual cyclical decline of housing prices might very well be a ways off.

My opinion is that the real estate bubble in Los Angeles will not strike quickly. Stocks can drop significantly with the click of a mouse. Property has an escrow period. First time buyers (like myself) are pretty much screwed, but if you have some existing equity to move around, you are still in the game. Changing now is premature. There will be clear signs that show that the gravy train is over and they haven't come yet. What are the possible signs? In my opinion, one sign is when other areas start to decline. L.A. won't be the first to go down. If London and Paris start to dip, start to watch. If Riverside and Ontario decline, I'd suggest half time adjustments.

Back but not quite ready for the week. The only thing I didn't do as planned was rest. But I did get to spend time with friends, clean up a bit, and even see a movie.

Constantine: For everyone who isn't in the "cool" crowd, this movie is based on a comic book called Hellblazer. Yes I read it. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with a scary guy with pins in his head. It's about a British, blue collar, con artist/magician in London who looks kinda like Sting (but the movie version is set in L.A. and stars Keanu). It's still the classic kind of stuff that I've always been partial to since high school. You know, the trench coat wearing antihero with a hidden heart of gold in an urban noir setting.

The movie was great. Great, I say! Plot problems? Details. Deadpan Keanu? I've always liked him. Heresy? Yeah but the bottom line stuff was good enough for me. It's a Hollywood crowd pleaser. Or shall I say geek pleaser? Whichever it is, consider me quite pleased.

Mrslunch's input: "pretty decent". See? Told ya it was good.

I've got one of those jobs where I get every other friday off. Isn't that pleasant? I'm so happy that my weekend has started. Sleeping in with the radio on and reading old 1950's Peanuts strips is so nice.

At the end of the book, there is a really interesting Charles Schultz interview, though I was sad to read that he could probably be best described as a "secular humanist". I always thought he was a great American Christian because of "A Charlie Brown Christmas". But these are all labels and only God knows what we truly are. Labels are useful for us limited humans but I'll bet the Big Guy knows us in a way that transcends labels. I hope.

So I've got three free days ahead of me. It's easy to get overly busy and fatigued (like last weekend). But my primary goal is to lay around and rest and get over lingering cold symptoms. Other things I'd like to do include getting organized at home and getting some exercise. We'll see.

I'm just posting the link. And don't even ask me how things are on the docks. Haha.

I have yet to have one, since I work in the public sector where salaries are set. I've always wondered how salary negotiations work. The salaries posted on the internet always seem a little lower than what people seem to be making. Is this done on purpose? The sites supposedly do adjust for location.

Of course, in the sports world, everything is topsy turvy. Salaries are out of control and owners don't have the leverage or self control (NFL being an exception) to keep from damaging the game (see the NHL lockout).

That said, the Angels are playing tough with Scott Boras and his client Jered Weaver. Looks like Jered is rejecting 5 million dollars and has decided to waste a year and reenter the draft.

It is unfortunate, but I'm very pleased that the Angels are not giving in to the evil sports agent, Boras. There seems to be a trend where teams that do that end up regretting their decision. Just ask Kevin Malone....

Plaschke's comparison between the Jose Guillen and Milton Bradley situations is fascinating (registration required), even if it is a bit harsh on the Dodgers. 2002 was the greatest moment of Angel baseball, but winning isn't the only thing to be proud about.

In my opinion, Angel fans owe it all to one time Dodger, Mike Scioscia.

Was really not looking forward to cooking dinner last night so Cindy and I went back to an old standby: A'Float Sushi.

Cindy first introduced this fine Old Town establishment back when we first met. She used to go there with her friend Misty, during the Pre-ArtCenter years.

Even though I wasn't there, I always imagine those times to be so fun for Cindy. I imagine her enjoying life without a care in the world. A kind of charmed, innocent sort of life.

And now it's a bit different. I can't help but feel like I've complicated her life somewhat... what with my problems, my faith and politics and family and friends and everything that comes with me. And not just me. There's the job. She's got bills to pay. She's got school loans.

It isn't a bad life. It's just part of the progression of life, but it just seems more complicated.

While I was telling her this, she said to me: That's true, but I was just going to say that 10 years from now, we are going to look back at nights like tonight and think about how carefree we were then.

And that's true too. I sincerely doubt that in 10 years we will be able to pick up and eat weeknight sushi on a whim.

I can't believe I originally wanted to poo-poo the whole sushi on a boat concept. I was so wrong. A'Float has become our favorite casual + affordable sushi joint. They are still surprising us too. Yesterday's gem: Escolar sushi for $2.60!!!

There's good news in the world too. From ABC:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed what she called moves to restore democracy in Lebanon.

"Events in Lebanon are moving in a very important direction," she said in London. "The Lebanese people are starting to express their aspirations for democracy… This is something that we support very much."

Rice and French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier repeated calls for Syria to withdraw its 14,000 troops from Lebanon. Such calls have grown louder since the Feb. 14 assassination of ex-premier Rafik al-Hariri.

Washington and Paris, co-sponsors of Security Council resolution 1559 demanding an end to foreign interference in Lebanon, called for general elections planned for May to be free and fair and suggested international assistance.

CaptainsQuartersBlog has got the skinny on big picture analysis. Check it out.

I'm sick to my stomach that the BTK suspect was a respected church official. He was the President of the Church Council for heaven's sake!

One evil horrendous man doesn't make the church as a whole impotent but it sure feels that way. It makes me feel like we are exactly what those who hate the church say we are.

I don't want to jump to any conclusions based on this one shocking case, but you gotta wonder... don't you know isolated, weird, messed up people in high church leadership roles? People who don't really open up to others and aren't truly known? People who aren't characterized by the love that we are called to have?

Just my tiny tidbit, it seems like the more institutional a church is, the easier it is to have crazies in leadership. It is awful because there are so many great church leaders too. Bleh.

No they aren't all serial killers but there are a lot of messed up people in there. I dunno, this is just my initial reaction.

UPDATE: It doesn't quite address the same issue, but Evangelical Outpost's Blog entitled: Deadwood in the Pews: The Trouble with Church (which cites Bono fav, Eugene Peterson) gives me some good perspective.