Back, sorta?

Well peeps, I haven't been around in a LONG while. It's because I haven't had internet at home. I don't know, I hated dealing with Comcast so much that I just put it off, and off....until the New Year. Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to keep up your "online presences" when you don't have an internet connection? Obviously, it's really really hard.

So, hopefully I'll be around more often now.

Comcast is stupid, Part II

Ok, so I just tried again with the LiveChat, and again, they asked for my SSN and said it was to comply with some FTC rule. But when I said, "I've been assured by a Comcast rep that an SSN is not necessary", they said, "oh, well ok then, how about a driver's license number?" So I said, ok, let's do that. Great to know that if I hadn't objected or known, I'd still be made to feel that it was necessary to give it.

So then, we're setting up the appointment, and I distinctly remember a screen telling me there would be a $23 installation fee as I clicked through the order.

She then tells me that installation will be $123 dollars! Turns out it is only $23 for the television, and, get this....$99 for the internet. $99!!! That is anal rape.

1. I do not need ANYTHING special for this. I've got a freakin PhD in Computer Science, I can handle my networking stuff. So I did not ask for any sort of professional installation in terms of setting up a router, installing software on my computer, or anything like that.
2. I don't need anythign wired at the place, the place is fully wired.
3. I LITERALLY need them to remove a trap and configure me. I can't believe people pay $99 for that. That is just the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!

She also tells me that because I have been so nice (I have, I am generally always nice to service people because they are people too), she can get me to just under $50 for the install. This STILL seems crazy to me. People will come install satellite dishes for $0. SATELLITE DISHES. It is much more complicated than removing a trap from a house that is already totally wired.

So, I think...well, there's a coffee shop nearby, work is not far...Maybe I won't get internet...maybe it's not REALLY necessary. That's how against paying this fee I am, because it just completely offends my sense of what things should cost. So I ask the person, "What if I just got TV, then?"

You know what happens?

She ignores me. I sit at my computer for minutes, thinking maybe she is checking with a supervisor or something...but no, I am literally hanging for minutes. I am much more patient than your average person here, so finally, I just typed, "hello?" and waited a minute or two more. Finally, I realized that somehow, asking a legitimate question had pushed the wrong buttons, and I was being frozen out.

So, I wrote, "Ok then. Thank you for your time," waited about 30 more seconds, and logged out. I wish in hindsight that I had timed the difference in time between my messages, but then, I didn't think that I was going to get ignored. But I think I probably waited a total of 7-8 minutes or so....in a LIVE CHAT.

Goodness gracious. I would have been willing to pay around $25 or so, but instead I didn't sign up. Again. Sigh. It shouldn't be this hard.

Comcast is stupid

Comcast wants my social security number in order to get service.

I googled it and apparently they've had this policy for a while, but it's the first time since I last signed up. I'm like, whaaa? Yeah right! You've gotta be fucking kidding me, I don't trust my number with them (or anyone for that matter - I am very stingy with that number). With all the brouhaha today about being careful with your SSN, you think I'm just going to type it over the internet to some person? You think I'm going to give it to a cable company? Please!

What the hell is that about? I want TV and internet, but I do NOT want to give them my SSN. Even their customer service czar has twittered that they don't require it, but that doesn't stop their representatives from trying to get it from you. That's the biggest rub. When exposed, the Comcast customer service czar twittered that their policy was not to require SSN. This happened in 2008. And yet, reps are still trying to tell you that you have to give it to them (that's what happened to me today). So they are either hugely ineffective at getting training to their reps, or they are purposefully trying to get people to give SSNs because they assume people will eventually just give it to them. Well, I pushed back, and I said no. They said, you have to, there is no other way. I said thanks and hung up on the chat.

The worst part is that the rep tried to tell me that the reason they needed the number was to make sure I qualified for the best service and deals, and to see if I needed to put in a deposit for service. I told them I had an account that I canceled several months prior before I moved and couldn't they just look that up to see that it was in good standing...and the answer was No. If you need it to make sure I'm not going to stiff you, can't you just see that I've been a good paying customer for years?

There's a reason why Comcast was runner up to AIG in this years Consumerist Worst Company in America contest. I've always used them because I've never had another choice. This is not the first time they have pissed me off. I think this time I'm going to try to find something else though. I'm going to try hard, because I really, REALLY don't think I should have to give them my social.

The state of science education

I was listening to NPR the other morning. I like NPR. I generally give NPR the benefit of the doubt, that they're not going to be a bunch of blithering idiots going on about stupid shit.

So it's an episode of Weekday, and the interviewee is some guy who has just written a book about the periodic table. The interviewer asks a few questions which I think are reasonable considering this is going to a wide audience: "Can you tell us, what really is an element, what defines an it?" Fine, fine.

Then she asks some sort of question saying something like, "So let's say you've got this element with 2.4 protons...."

WHAT? It made me sad.

Note to Traveling Parents

It seems every time I get on a plane these days, there is a parent who is traveling with 1-2 small children who don't seem to get that children cannot be still for 3+ hours, no matter how much you shush them.

A few months ago, I went on a flight with a young mother and her two sons, I'm guessing 3 and 5 years old. a 5-6 hour flight, and she had NOTHING for them to do the whole time. I felt so sorry for the poor boys, who I'm sure were getting sooooo restless. The whole flight, she just said to them, "SIT. DOWN." or "STOP IT." I thought, if they have no toys, no coloring books, are not allowed to get up and run around for a few minutes, what do you think is going to happen? They are going to fuss, we are talking about little boys here!!! She basically wanted them to sit completely still the whole time. Whaaaa?

Yesterday, I was on a 3-hr flight and a mom was holding her ~1 year old baby. She was sooo in love with her kid, and he *was* cute. You could tell she's a new first time mom though. This kid fussed for a long time, just kicking his legs around and squirming, and I thought...lady, this kid needs to stretch his legs! The more he squirmed, the more she tried to swaddle him with a blanket and hold him tight. She endlessly wrapped this blanket around him while he kicked his way out of it. And I'm like, this kid needs some activity!

Anyhoo. That's just my random advice to people.

Hello Peeps!!!

So I emerge from a house with no internet, and from a cold that knocked me flat - the first really, really, REALLY bad cold I've had in a long time. The kind of cold I hope I never get again because now that I'm a working woman, I can't afford to deal with that kind of inability to move.

This is my first post in what feels like a long time. Longer than it's been. So much has changed - I'm several times zones away from where I lived, and also from my husband. I'm living in new quarters. I don't have most of my stuff. Even Mr. Phizz has moved out of our old place and living somewhere else. Everything is discombobulated. I don't have a car.

How do I find mooring?

I find mooring with books. I found a book from a roommate's shelf and began to read. And read. And read. If you haven't read "Rhett Butler's People" and you loved Gone with the Wind, then go out, get the book, and read it. If you read "Scarlett" as the sequel to GWTW - forget it. We know it sucked. Replace it in your mind with this book. It was so wonderfully done. The author was selected by the Margaret Mitchell estate to write the authorized sequel, and I really think he did a fine job. It's not nearly as good as GWTW, but many parts evoke it very strongly, and I think it's just far and away a trillion times better than Scarlett. It's well worth reading.

I will try to catch up with everyone's posts. I am so behind.

ERGH

I am super excited about my new life but I have a 101 degree fever. Too much excitement I guess. Eck.

I will try to get to regularly blogging again soon, when I am more settled and not sick anymore.

Doing the Bullet Thing

• I leave TODAY!!!!!!!!!! (corollary: AAAAAAAAAH) (2nd: corollary - also excited!)
• I found out yesterday a girl I knew from my hometown just lost her newborn preemie, after one month. That....floored me. At that very moment I was looking outside my window into the park nearby and there were no less than 4 young mothers with their small children outside playing, and my heart ached for this girl.
• The older I get, the more I realize how cruel the world can be. Somehow I managed to be shielded from tragedy my entire life until the last several years.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!

As a person who lived near our nation's Southern Border, Cinco de Mayo was often a big deal when I was growing up. Not so much here in the Northeast, but maybe I'll have some tequila today anyway :).

The Power of Music

This video brought tears to my eyes. It shows how technology can be so transformative these days - a laptop, a microphone, a great song, and thousands of frequent flyer miles will get you this amazing video. Basically the video makers flew around the world with a base track from a street performer in Santa Monica and had musicians all over the world perform on top of it while listening to it on headphones, and the compilation is basically fucking awesome. Read more about it and some of the artists on gizmodo.

Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

My Parents

My parents came to visit this weekend, for a really short visit from FarAwayState.

I love them and I miss them already. They are the best parents ever. EVAR.

On Children

I had a conversation with Mr. Phizz yesterday about children.

I have always assumed I would have a few, because...well, that's what you did. You grew up, got married, and had children. I did not grow up with an all-consuming desire to be married and have a family, I just assumed I would.

Well, I've (kinda) grown up and gotten married. But damned if I feel like having any children right now (or any time soon). But the idea of deciding to not have any seems sooooo radical to my previous assumptions, my upbringing, and that of my husband's, that I'm a bit thrown by the idea.

Mr. Phizz says to just not worry about it. We don't want any now, so that's that. We have a number of years before push will really come to shove and we have to decide if we want to avoid having to use fertility treatments and such. So we really don't have to make any decisions now. I suppose I'll just let it go and stop wondering if I want any kiddos at all. Because, while I like kids, I really...really...REALLY cannot imagine having one of my own any time soon.

I know a number of you science bloggers don't have kids and have actively and overtly decided you will not have any. How did you come to that decision? Do you ever fear you will change your mind?

STUFF - too much of it

In my young life, I have moved all of my "stuff" 14 times. I think that's about right.

As a result, my natural pack-rat sensibilities have been quashed by my hatred of moving "stuff". Every time I know I am going to move (which, let's face it, is like every year), I go through a frenzy of throwing things away. Just...getting...rid...of...stuff. It hurts so good.

I am currently listening to loud rock music and going through my clothes and getting rid of stuff I don't think I ever want to wear again and putting them in a Goodwill pile. Unfortunately, since I do this practically annually, I have not come up with a lot of stuff. However, I have ditched 3 pairs of daisy dukes I have not worn since early grad school. Husband was a little disappointed, but agreed that someone my age should NEVER wear those shorts. Ever. Ever. I can't believe I even have them.

So there - more grown-up-ifying of my wardrobe. I am also going through my purse collection. I used to have a big thing for purses and handbags. But that seems to have faded and I see no reason to drag a purse I won't ever use again that was in style 5 years ago from domicile to domicile. Especially since I have seen the light and don't even use purses at all anymore - I am now a wristlet girl. No more purses sliding off my slippery REI jacket!!

Any time I think about "stuff", I also think about how freaking lucky I am. Here in the US, we just have so much STUFF, most of it superfluous but much if it quasi-necessary to keep up with the pace of life we have here. I don't think I am particularly wasteful (I use cameras until they are no good - years, and same with my phones. I think it's insane to buy new ones every year or season or whatever - and I wonder what people who do so do with their old ones. I hope they dispose responsibly or donate or SOMETHING instead of tossing them in the garbage). However, I realize that I have more stuff than entire villages of people in Third World countries. And it makes me feel a both guilty and fortunate at the same time.

I just want FSM to know that I am very grateful for the life that I lead. But a little bit mad that life needs me to move. Again. Not only out to my internship for the summer, but out of our little apartment too. Sigh. And I don't know where I'm going to live come Sept. Awesome.

Many a Geek will be saddened by this

Co-creator of D&D dies.

I never played, but I know it's one of the first loves of many a geek.

The Internet is Crazy

And I don't feel like being on it for a little while.

Instead, I'll meet JLK IRL today.

And I'll leave you with the totally awesome webcomic to read while I take a hiatus of undetermined length. It could be only a day or two, or it could be a week. Anyway. Geek girls, check it out. It's seriously, seriously rockin'.

www.planetheidi.com/

Bike Snobbery

To you bike commuters out there (Cath, Dr. J, anyone else?) - I am considering doing the same for my internship, I think it will be eminently bikeable (~6 miles each way?) and good for me. However, I have a SWEET road bike which I do not think should ever be "locked up" anywhere but always kept inside unless I am riding her many many miles.

So the plan is to get a commuter bike. However, my perspective is skewed in terms of what is ok or not ok to commute with since I generally road bike with probably excessive snobbery. These are things I have learned from my bike snob friends which I think are probably not true for commuting, please correct me if I am wrong, plus a few random questions.

1) "It is never ok to ride a bike with Sora components".

That may be true if one is planning to ride 60-70 miles at a time, regularly, on hilly terrain, and race. However I realize that may not be true for a commuter bike. Does your bike have good drivetrain components or do you find entry level just fine?

2) "Don't get a bike without a carbon fork."

Again, probably true if you are planning to ride century rides all summer, but probably not so if you're going to ride an hour a day commuting? Or maybe it would be nice to have a carbon fork if you're in a pothole-y area. I don't know. What about a CroMoly fork? That seems ok. Or maybe even a steel bike in general? That would be sexy, retro, and old school.

3) Do you ride a double or a triple front crank?

My inclination is to get a double because I don't plan to bring a ton of bike tools (or any, even) with me and won't be able to maintain my bike. The less can go wrong, the better. I am not a good enough biker to go single-speed.

4) Recommendations on panniers? I've never had one, and I think I should get one if I am going to use my bike to carry more than just a spare tube and a multitool.

5) Am I just being a total ridiculous snob and you just got your bike for free from a neighbor who didn't want it anymore and you don't know anything about it but it's fine?

In that case, I am overthinking this. Like I over think....lots of things :).

This is me

Ada Lovelace post forthcoming.

I'm an Idiot

I use *nix as an OS.

In *nix, there is a utility called wc (word count).

It provides number of lines, words, and characters in a given document or set of documents.

I looked at the wrong column for my thesis. I do not have 42K words. I have 6370.

Oops. I suppose that makes a lot more sense. Now I question my own sniff test skills - DUH. What was I thinking?

Oh yeah

And what the hell, ACC? Why are you being so embarrassing?????????

BC - spanked.

Florida State - lost to a 12 seed! (though I predicted it - booyah).

Maryland - spanked.

Wake - lost to a 13!!! wtf!!!

Clemson - out!! (even though I predicted it).

Seriously guys - apparently this is not your year. Wtf. I'm disappointed y'all! You need to step up.

Lots of good shit

This will be a brief update of everything that is going on, mostly good, until I have time to put up a post with a few choice pictures from my trip.

1. FIL is home!!! He went home the day we left for our trip, and he's doing ok. He's not nearly 100% but seems to be on the up and up, and I hope within a month or two he'll really be back to his old form. I know he hates being like this, so I feel bad, but it's as long as he's on an upward trajectory, however shallow, we are all glad.
2. Trip was AWESOME!
3. While I was away, I got MORE job nibbles! One is kind of weird though - they really REALLY want me but can only offer an internship right now, and say they hope it can become a full-time later. This is a tough one. It's right up my alley, plus, it's great to be wanted, but it's a bit scary without knowing about the full-time. Another was for a postdoc possibility from a mentor. But as I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm not sure I want academia anymore. So I don't think I'll pursue that, as amazing as it would be if I wanted to be at an R1. So, still nothing totally straightforward about what I should do with myself, but prospects seem better than before.
4. March Madness has begun. And I freakin LOVE March Madness. Like, seriously, love that shit.
5. I had a kind of productive day and have written a non-trivial number of words.

Woooot!!!!