Freakin' Gooooood

I just started reading Freakonomics last week and it's faaaaaascniating. I'm not done yet, but as I read I keep thinking that I wish they'd keep writing this books because this approach can be applied to pretty much anything! Well, today I realized there's a Freakonomics Blog on the New York Times website. Check it out! It's good, smart stuff!

Rotten Apple

Computer hunt follow up...

Sorry Mac lovahs, I'm going with a PC.

Why?

"Green washing" (among other things).

Apple (a trendy/fab company), is always aware of what is well, trendy and fab and being "green" is all the rage these days (or rather being, "light green"...most folks aren't willing to push to total GREEN). Is Apple making efforts? Yes. But there are many GOOD and GREENER computers. Apple has toxic history (literally) and only after a big Greenpeace campaign to call them out on their shenanigans did they finally start taking note.

Also, Apple's bells and whistles aren't what I'm looking for. I quote Nick (one of my tenants/computer expert):

"...Macs on the other hand can be a little more difficult to become acclimated to if you've ONLY used PCs before. Apple computers DO have more advanced graphic capabilities which is the main reason why they tend to be pricier. The graphics may be good but that's all you'll really get. It's GREAT for those that are in to digital/graphic design, photography and movie editing, etc etc. BECAUSE of those graphics capabilities."

I'm currently consulting Greenpeace's GUIDE TO GREENER ELECTRONICS. It's updated regularly, so I won't make my final call until just before I set out to make the purchase!

Helllllp me!

So, I'm on the hunt for a new laptop. I'm hoping to purchase one some time next month. The search is a bit confusing, as I am pretty much a tech doofus.

Originally I wanted a MacBook. They're so sleek, streamlined and seemingly efficient. BUT then I hear maybe I shouldn't go that route. HELP ME!!!

- I want something environmentally friendly (developed with that in mind)
- I want something that will LAST. I know most notebooks are built to crash so you can go out and buy a new one, but I want to make my money go as far as it can. I want my computer to have staying power and strength.

So...where to?

If anyone happens to come across this little desperate blog, please clue me in! (You can comment on this blog if you have gmail, people!)

Mmmmm, beefy

Had to share this hilarious Hungarian sausage commercial that was posted on boingboing.net today.

Boy, do I miss meat!
(NOT!)*

















*Every once and awhile I find it's nice to bring back hip 90's phrases. Keep your eyes peeled for "no duh" in upcoming posts.

Deck the Sales Associate

I just heard this story on NPR about a man being trampled to death at a Wal-Mart in Long Island...

By 4:55, with no police officers in sight, the crowd of more than 2,000 had become a rabble, and could be held back no longer. Fists banged and shoulders pressed on the sliding-glass double doors, which bowed in with the weight of the assault. Six to 10 workers inside tried to push back, but it was hopeless.

Suddenly, witnesses and the police said, the doors shattered, and the shrieking mob surged through in a blind rush for holiday bargains. One worker, Jdimytai Damour, 34, was thrown back onto the black linoleum tiles and trampled in the stampede that streamed over and around him. Others who had stood alongside Mr. Damour trying to hold the doors were also hurled back and run over, witnesses said.

WHAT-THE-...?!!

I want to say, "What is the world coming to?", but really...I think it's clear that the world got itself into this abhorrent state awhile ago. "Shop til you drop!" (or til someone else does). This entire season is so off course and the masses/the majority/EVERYONE accepts it, embraces it and partakes. I have to wonder what Christians are thinking as they bust into stores at 4am to get MUST-HAVE deals while maxing out their credit cards all in celebration of the birth of Jesus. Does it occur to anyone that Jesus probably wouldn't be a fan of desperate, angry, consumptive, entitled shoppers?

Clearly not.

Wouldn't make more sense to actually give the gifts Christ really wanted us to give? Like love, generosity, and empathy? I know, go figure. I'm at this point in my life where the more I learn, the more disillusioned I become. What is going on here and why aren't more people REALLY disturbed?! My 8th grade teacher used to have a poster on her podium that said, "What's popular is not always right and what's right is not always popular." I still appreciate that basic sentiment, but it seems that a sentiment is all it is.

The warmth of my grandparents' home on Christmas eve, their small, tasteful tree, the smell of spinach casserole and honey baked ham, after dinner walks with Dad and Uncle Jimmie, and my grandma in her red-checkered apron are the memories of the Christmas season that have the most weight in my heart. Why is it that the most beloved Christmas films and stories end with sentiment that the "real message of Christmas" really is love, generosity, and hope, but our society seems to counteract that message more and more each year? I suppose that's just a well-intentioned sentiment too.

You'd think a story about a man being trampled to death by fat, greedy Americans at a store filled with cheap gifts made by exploited people in third world countries would be cause enough to make most folks question what has gotten into everyone...but if his dying body didn't stop the shoppers, why would the story stop anyone else?

Dan Savage said something on his podcast today:

"Every relationship you are ever going to be in is going to fail..until one doesn't."

I find it to be realistically reassuring, don't you?

So, to all you fellow Parties of One- I pass along this adage. (I also pass it along to those of you who are in a relationship, holding out for something that you know ain't comin'!)

Typs

Lately I've noticed that abbreviations (abbreevs?) are all the rage.

Well, I'm here to share one that's been working very well for me lately..."Typs".
(Short for "typical")

Now, maybe some trendy scenester has already coined this term, but I'm hear to stake my claim as current "typs" representative in the Edgewater neighborhood (also known as Edubz).

"Typs" is used best when frustrated:
"UGH- that is SO typs!"
or
"Jeffrey left the seat up again...TYPS!"

It helps to roll your eyes at some point in the delivery. Also, please make sure to emphasize the "p" and the "s". Whoever you're talking to will really feel your displeasure with whatever typs behavior is currently frosting your cookies.



Spread the "typs", love the "typs", but don't be "typs"!