News commentary

I might be getting $125 as a member of the class that is suing Bar/Bri. I suppose it is better than nothing, but it still feels like a coupon. Bar/Bri remains an evil entity, and the monopoly will continue to reap in profits from the fears of would-be lawyers.

The potential buyout of TXU is also really interesting in how it affects 8 of the 11 proposed coal-fired plants. For those not in Texas, a gigantic energy company wanted to build 11 new coal plants to meet future energy needs for the state. The problem is that TXU didn't give a shit about air quality or other environmental impacts, arguing that it would be "too expensive" to install technology to reduce emissions, never mind that those costs would be passed along to consumers anyway. Also for those not in Texas, there is a surprising growing environmental consciousness in the state; a lot of people are upset over the issue and even have made some headway in litigation to stop the plants' construction. Maybe it would have been better to air out the issue in the courts, in the legislature, and in media so that more people would have been involved, but I guess the buyout produces a good end result, even if it feels murky and imposed from on high. There's a lot more I could say about this whole issue, but I'll stop for now.

Expectant father

The latest addition to the Blogazon family will arrive sometime this evening. Thanks to Raisins, I found a dog that apparently doesn't have separation anxiety and isn't part pit bull, something that seems to be common at the Dallas shelter, at least with the dogs that I liked.

Anyway, I am excited. I dropped some cash at Petsmart this week to get pet essentials like a bed, food, bowls, and a leash. This weekend I'll take him for a walk around the 'hood, maybe to the park, and maybe to meet some of his furry in-laws.

I have a name in mind; it is an awesome name, but I have to see if it fits before I christen him.

Am I a sucker?

A few months ago, my iPod died. I vowed to march to Cupertino, CA to stage a mass sit-in of one to protest the injustice of a dead $300 dollar luxury-cum-necessity after only 18 months.*

After 4 months and too many train rides being subjected to people who will NOT shut the fuck up, I realized that being able to tune out daily annoyances around me is an important component to my sanity. I don't need to hear your inane drivel at 6 AM, and I don't need to know about how your husband likes dragons, I just need to hear some New Order or Madonna while I DART to and from work.

I wasn't about to shell out another $300, but I still wanted an iPod. So I caved, sort of, and went for the entry-level machine that fits my needs.
Lime green was a close second.

Not being able to select what you want when you want it is a bit of a downside, but all I'm really going to use it for is transit and in the gym. And I guess not knowing which song comes next is part of the surprise. I got a great deal at circuitcity.com, with a sale, free shipping, and a gift card, so I think in the end I stuck it to the man.


*Okay, maybe I didn't, but I was still pretty pissed.

On television

I'm not going to complain about work except to say that this morning was a little annoying. Of the five attorneys at the pre-trial conference, none seemed to grasp the concept of a motion in limine. That didn't stop them from filing about a hundred, and that doesn't stop me from having to wade through their crap this weekend.

Anyway, on to more important things. I'm kind of hoping that ABC kills off Meredith Grey. I know it isn't going to happen, but she, in all her whinyness, is my least favorite character on the show. It would be nice to see her die from hypothermia.

In other television news, the season finale to Beauty and the Geek was last night. This season wasn't as good as seasons past, but I did like how Nate totally sabotaged his team's chances of winning $250,000 just so he could teach Cici a lesson. I wonder what she is going to do when she sees the episodes. I think the real lesson learned is that Nate blew his chance for $125,000. Now, if Scooter will just come out of the closet, then he can really say that the show has changed him in a positive way.

Happy Youth Day!

After weeks of practice, Cameroonian children 6,931.3 miles away* are marching out of step to the tune of nationalistic music. Teachers are gnawing on pepe-soup** soaked kanda***, enjoying their eighth 650 mL beer. And somewhere in the village, the principal is either beating a wayward Form 3 student, chopping money from the school fees, or both.

Today is Youth Day. I sometimes wonder what my former students are doing now.


*Dallas - Mamfé
**Pepper soup. Delicious.
***Singed skin of cow. Not delicious.

Adoption

I want to get a dog. Maybe this is a little irresponsible of me since I'm not certain what I'll be doing in the fall of 2008, but right now I have the time and the yard.

I'm thinking about adopting one from the animal shelter. Every Saturday in Yuppieland, a local non-profit has an open-kennel type thing where you can test drive rescued dogs. I found one that I liked last weekend, but I'm not going to get it. Turns out that the description "likes to be near people" on the info sheet really means "separation anxiety," which means that this dog and my empty house during the day would not be a good combination.*

I got an email this week about someone who is looking for a home for their super-cute chocolate lab puppy. I like labs, and the dog would fit right in as the preferred breed of the extended Blogazon family, but I'm a little put off by the fact that the owner wants to sell her used puppy for $400. You get a crate, but that is still full price and a lot of money to basically do this person a favor by letting her get rid of her dog.** I want a discount.

So, I'll keep looking. There's another adopt-a-dog thing this Saturday. I hope the one I like doesn't have emotional problems.


*Thank you, honest non-profit people for warning me of this ahead of time. Please tell your volunteers in the field to be as forthcoming.

**In contrast, adopting a dog from a Dallas-area shelter runs about $150, but the dog has been fixed, has had all its shots, and part of your money goes for room and board for other abandoned animals.