Monday, July 31, 2006

The Hollywood Dirt


Hollywood Dirt
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Apparently while I was partying with the parents this weekend (mine and his!) I missed some of the Hollywood dirt. I give you here the two most talked about stories among Los Angelinos...

Gibson's Anti-Semitic Tirade -- Alleged Cover Up

TMZ has learned that Mel Gibson went on a rampage when he was arrested Friday on suspicion of drunk driving, hurling religious epithets. TMZ has also learned that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department had the initial report doctored to keep the real story under wraps.

TMZ has four pages of the original report prepared by the arresting officer in the case, L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy James Mee. According to the report, Gibson became agitated after he was stopped on Pacific Coast Highway and told he was to be detained for drunk driving Friday morning in Malibu. The actor began swearing uncontrollably. Gibson repeatedly said, "My life is f****d." Law enforcement sources say the deputy, worried that Gibson might become violent, told the actor that he was supposed to cuff him but would not, as long as Gibson cooperated. As the two stood next to the hood of the patrol car, the deputy asked Gibson to get inside. Deputy Mee then walked over to the passenger door and opened it. The report says Gibson then said, "I'm not going to get in your car," and bolted to his car. The deputy quickly subdued Gibson, cuffed him and put him inside the patrol car.

TMZ has learned that Deputy Mee audiotaped the entire exchange between himself and Gibson, from the time of the traffic stop to the time Gibson was put in the patrol car, and that the tape fully corroborates the written report.

Once inside the car, a source directly connected with the case says Gibson began banging himself against the seat. The report says Gibson told the deputy, "You mother f****r. I'm going to f*** you." The report also says "Gibson almost continually [sic] threatened me saying he 'owns Malibu' and will spend all of his money to 'get even' with me."

The report says Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: "F*****g Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?"

The deputy became alarmed as Gibson's tirade escalated, and called ahead for a sergeant to meet them when they arrived at the station. When they arrived, a sergeant began videotaping Gibson, who noticed the camera and then said, "What the f*** do you think you're doing?"

A law enforcement source says Gibson then noticed another female sergeant and yelled, "What do you think you're looking at, sugar tits?"

We're told Gibson took two blood alcohol tests, which were videotaped, and registered at 0.12.



Hollywood Big Blasts Lohan: Movie boss warns actress over "so called" exhaustion, heavy partying

JULY 28--Lindsay Lohan's hard-partying antics and recent bout of "heat exhaustion" has left one Hollywood big shot steamed, The Smoking Gun has learned. In a blistering July 26 letter to the 20-year-old actress, James G. Robinson, who heads the L.A. firm producing Lohan's current movie, calls her recent erratic behavior "discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional." Robinson, the 70-year-old chief executive of Morgan Creek Productions, writes that Lohan has "acted like a spoiled child and in doing so have alienated many of your co-workers and endangered the quality" of "Georgia Rule," a movie now being filmed and which stars Lohan, Jane Fonda, and Felicity Huffman. A copy of Robinson's letter--which was delivered to Lohan at the Chateau Marmont hotel--can be found below. A Morgan Creek official confirmed to TSG that the missive was sent to Lohan and her various representatives earlier this week. Robinson notes that while Lohan's aides have chalked up her lateness and absences to illness, he is "well aware that your ongoing all night heavy partying is the real reason for your so called 'exhaustion.'" Noting that Morgan Creek refuses to "accept bogus excuses for your behavior," Robinson warns Lohan that she will be held "personally accountable" for losses caused by her actions. Claiming that Lohan's behavior has already "resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage," Robinson hints at possible legal action against the actress unless she begins honoring her production commitments. He concludes, "I urge you to take this letter seriously and conduct yourself professionally."

See the full letter here.

Monday Humor: Pet Style


Dog and Cat
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I am not a pet owner, nor do I intend to be, but this one cracked me up. Enjoy!

A Dog's Diary

7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite!
8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!
2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite!
7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!
8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!
11 pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite!

A Cat's Diary

Day 183 of my captivity. My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Maybe I should try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. I must try this on their bed. Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little kitty cat I was. This is not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing something called "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant. He speaks with them regularly, and I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait.

It's only a matter of time.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Pet Peeve #54: The USB Drive on the Dell Dimension 8200


USB Dell
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
An open letter to the Scuzbucket who designed the USB Drive on the Front of the Dell Dimension 8200:

I have a bigass computer tower under my desk. You know, where you're supposed to keep bigass computer towers. It's a trusty black Dell and I like it just fine. It ain't never done me wrong.

EXCEPT. FOR. THE. USB. DRIVE.

I want to personally find you and shoot you between the eyeballs. Being the fine upstanding chumpbucket that you are, you put a handy USB drive on the front of the tower. Except you must have been asleep at the wheel because this drive slot is at a 45 degree angle, facing DOWNWARDS, at the bottom of the tower.

You know what this means? I'm going to tell you.

For the average USB use, this means I am on the floor, feeling for the USB plug, trying vainly to insert the USB drive when I CANNOT SEE A DAMN THING. This happens MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.

Thank you for making me a dusty sneezy mess. I hope you don't mind when I curse and shake my fist at you 3 times a day. It's only bad karma and voodoo vibes I'm sending your way.

-the trusty little devil

Beware of Dog


Beware of Dog
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Woman in doghouse over Jehovah's Witness sign

LONDON (Reuters) - A British woman has been ordered by police to take down a sign on her garden gate which read "Our dogs are fed on Jehovah's Witnesses."

Janet Grove, who owns a terrier puppy called Rabbit, insisted the sign was a gentle joke to discourage callers at her front door.

Her late husband put the sign up more than 30 years ago when members of the church called at their house on Christmas Day.

But police were forced to act after receiving a complaint.

"We were informed by a member of the public who found the sign to be distressing, offensive and inappropriate," a police spokesman said. "Officers attended the address and the sign was voluntarily taken down."

Thursday, July 27, 2006

WTF Thursday


WTF Thursday
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Do you know anyone who would wear a mesh camo thong with bullets? I don't.



Me: I posted
Him: You did? *blink* Yeah you did.
Me: Funny huh?
Him: Are the bullets real?
Me: I don't think so. *pause* Would it make it better if they were?
Him: Well, if they were real it would be a cooler gimmick. Not really washable if they didn't come off though. *chuckle*

The Weight of the World.


atlas
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Last night was a somber evening. Despite Wes' arrival (and I'm so glad he's here!), I spent most of the evening in class, where we engaged in a discussion of politics and worldwide current events, most notably the conflict in the middle East, the price of oil and the ramifcations for world economy, culture and military involvement. I came home and continued the discussion with Wes as well.

For the most part, I'm not a globally conscious person. I say this full well knowing that I am part of the somewhat apathetic generation of Americans. I confess I don't vote in all the elections. I don't vote for my city officials, I don't know what propositions are up for vote. Honestly, the last time I voted was probably the last Presidential election and I was so disgusted with the outcome it hardly made it worth it.

On the other hand, I pore over Yahoo and Google news daily. I watch the 11pm news almost every night.

I don't confess to understand the Middle East conflicts. I understand that at base it's about poverty stricken individuals who have been put down and kept down for generations. It's about self determinism and self survival and anger at being able to accomplish neither of the two. It's about an intricate and complex web of oil and money and religion and people in power. And there is no end in sight.

Last night we talked about what it will take to end the current Israeli-Lebanese-Hezbollah conflict. We talked about how this would affect American economy - rising gas prices, fewer luxury expenses, a slowing housing market, potential inflation. We discussed how the US economy faltering would affect the Chinese economy, so inextricably linked with ours. How our reducing our dependence on foreign "black gold" would help us, but also damage the already poor regions of the Middle East. About how there is no easy solution, about how this is like lighting a match and starting a world fire, a war, that we won't escape from unscathed. And that this weight is on our shoulders. My generation. The future ones that will have the biggest impact and be the most impacted by the next 10-15 years.

And it makes me sad. And hopeless. And cautiously hopeful that my classmates (who are among the smartest people I know) and I will have a chance to make a difference.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Blankets Blankets everywhere.

I saw this blanket today and fell in love with it. This woman is AMAZING. She has done 107 blankets and is still going. I WISH I could spend my life knitting like this.

Snakes on a Plane


Snakes on a Plane
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
So according to Crazy Aunt Purl, everything is "SNAKES ON A PLANE". I thought this was just some cute southern expression until I saw the following.

I would like to counter with "SNAKES IN A POST OFFICE" and today's Darwin Award.

Woman mails five-foot python

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German woman sparked panic at her local post office when a 1.5-meter (5-foot) albino python escaped from a packet she had mailed, police said Tuesday.

The 28-year-old woman, who had sold the snake over the Internet, stuffed it in a package labeled "attention -- glass" to be sent to its new owner.

"Staff accepted the package and put it in the back of the office -- they had no idea what it was," said police spokesman Andreas Blum. "All of a sudden, they noticed that it started moving around and then saw a big snake wriggling out of it."

One of the postal workers in the western city of Mechernich, who was familiar with snakes, wrestled with it and locked it into another container, while her colleagues ran away.

While it is not a crime to send snakes by post, the woman is being investigated for the improper treatment of animals.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

The Fixtures of my Life


Fixtures
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I had planned a more serious post for this evening on the current events in the middle east and how hopeless I feel about the whole situation, but I guess I will leave that for another time.

So instead I give you: my fixtures.

1. Jay Leno at 11:35pm. His monologue is a nightly ablution for me. The only time I skip is if it's a repeat I've seen. Boooo.....

2. Knitting. There's always something going on. This is a lacy throw for a couple getting married next weekend. Luckily I'm only invited to the reception which is later this fall - otherwise there's no way I'd be done in time.

3. Boxes. These are temporary in nature, but are everywhere, stacked on everything. And you want to talk about feeling hopeless - I've been packing for several days and I've barely made a dent.

4. The fan. I may have bemoaned my lack of AC in the last few weeks, but it bears repeating. This fan and that open window are my only salvation during this beastly summer. I'm looking forward to losing this third floor, western exposed hideaway. No... really.

Please notice my other fixtures: cable and dvd (for Netflix!) and my shredder which keeps me entertained for hours.

Ok, time for bed. Nite all!

Digital Blasphemy - Endless Blue


endlessblue
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
One of the very few things that my ex introduced me to and that I enjoy despite the fact that I associate it with him is Digital Blasphemy. The creator, Ryan Bliss, does some amazing things and I have long used his pictures as wallpaper on my computer.

If you like mind-blowing cg images, you should check him out.

Biting the hand that feeds you.... and puts your kids through college.


Alex 'n Ken
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
`Jeopardy' champ Ken Jennings blasts show

NEW YORK - "Jeopardy!" ace Ken Jennings, who won $2.5 million during his 74-game winning streak, has a few unkind words to say about the show — and dapper host Alex Trebek.

"I know, I know, the old folks love him," Jennings writes in a recent posting, titled "Dear Jeopardy!" on his Web site.

"Nobody knows he died in that fiery truck crash a few years back and was immediately replaced with the Trebektron 4000 (I see your engineers still can't get the mustache right, by the way)."

Trebek, 66, has hosted the show since 1984. In a "correction" posted Monday on his Web site, Jennings offers an apology of sorts.

"We regret the insinuation that Mr. Alex Trebek is a robot, and has been since 2004. Mr. Trebek's robotic frame does still contain some organic parts, many harvested from patriotic Canadian schoolchildren, so this technically makes him a `cyborg,' not a `robot.'"


Read the full post here.

Now I think the original post on July 19th was very funny, but given that Jeopardy made him a millionaire, perhaps a softer touch would have been a bit more appropriate.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Hellwatch 2006


Dead Heat
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Death, thy name be global warming.

Luckily I got to go to work today (when did you think I'd ever say that??) where there was AC and all was happy. By the time I left work at a few minutes past 6, Marina del Rey was cooling off, and by the time I was done with my manicure, it was almost 8pm and downright beautiful and breezy. Of course, then I got home and opened up the place after it had been shut up all day and it is still positively beastly.

Salvation, thy name be air conditioning.

I would like to extend a warm and wonderful welcome to the Powerwatch 2006 team that suggests we're going to be having rolling blackouts any moment now.

Newsflash: July 24, 2006. Reports that there really are fiery gates of Hell on Earth.

Wanna buy a lady a drink?


Ay tequila!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
For the richest guy in Margaritaville...

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Forget about the kind of tequila you slam down on the bar or knock back at parties in throat-burning shots with salt and lemon. If you're paying six figures, you might prefer to savor it in small sips.

An impossibly upmarket brand of tequila -- 100 percent blue Agave lovingly aged for six years and sold in a limited edition platinum bottle with fancy artwork on the label -- went on sale in Mexico on Thursday night for $225,000 a bottle.

Tequila Ley .925 has produced 66 bottles of the "Pasion Azteca" tequila, half of them pure platinum bottles and half of them gold and platinum-decorated bottles that sell for the slightly less extravagant price of $150,000.

"Since we started out, we began with the idea of making the finest, most expensive bottle of tequila in the world," Altamirano told Reuters.

For those on a smaller budget, there are 999 bottles of the same tequila in silver and gold bottles priced at $25,000.

Altamirano, whose company has won awards for its stylish bottles, said his next goal was to create a million-dollar tequila bottle made from diamond-encrusted platinum and auction it at Sotheby's next year.


I don't know about you but I ain't paying 225 g's for something I'm just going to piss away ... literally and figuratively.

Phew!


Interns 2006
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Today was the big Intern Luncheon to close out the summer intern program. I know, it's only July 24, but many are leaving in the next two weeks so we threw them a lunch party today. These are all the students I've been looking after this summer.....

Lunch was yummy and the party went off without a hitch. I wish I could say the same for my anxiety - last night I barely slept worrying how things would get done today.

Now I'm sitting down to my desk and my email for the first time today. Not for the faint of heart I tell you!

More news later on!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Philisophical musings...


The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.

-Lorraine Hansberry, playwright and painter (1930-1965)

Saturday, July 22, 2006

The World's Fastest Indian and The World's Slowest Knitter


Indian Knitting
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Ok, maybe not the world's slowest knitter, but I haven't been knitting all week so there's not much progress to speak of.

However, tonight Wes and I tried to beat the heat by sitting still in front of fans and having a Netflix date. Tonight's choice was Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World's Fastest Indian. This was an excellent movie. It's the story of New Zealander Burt Munroe, a sextegenarian who wanted to set land speed records on his Indian in the 60's. The movie is his journey to Utah to achieve his goal.

Tomorrow will be spent trying to keep cool (I just found out the parents may have a washer and dryer for free laundry, but not AC!), get some laundry done, and knit!

This is it. This is it. Look what you did.


Me 'n the Bowl
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Last night was a BLAST! Tom Jones was as crazy as can be and put on an amazing show. Pete Escovedo and his band (including his entire family and his daughter Sheila E who is our new hero) started off the show and had us grooving to Latin tunes. Then Tom Jones came out and dazzled us with old songs (She's a Lady, It's not Unusual, What's up Pussycat?, Delilah) and new.

Interesting funny things that happened last night:

My coworker Miss J leaned over in the middle of the Pete Escovedo set and said "Is that a midget on the congas?" I almost snarfed my diet coke.

My coworker Miss D revealed that when her 14 year old Chihuahua Daisy dies, she wants to have her stuffed and keep her for all time. This is going to result in endless fodder for years to come. I, for one, will be gifting Miss D a jumbo bag of stuffing for her birthday next year.

Another colleague, who I may in fact be working for shortly, told me to be sure to keep my panties on for Tom Jones. I, being young and naive, had no idea what he meant. People threw their panties at Mr. Jones all night long.

Speaking of undergarments, the Bowl was basically a breast exposition last night. Ta-tas hanging out everywhere. Our sole male companion was amused that us girls kept a running commentary on it.

Tom Jones is not American. He's an amazingly red-blooded Welshman. He kept saying he needed a spot of water to wet his whistle and things were lovely. His voice was amazing.

Miss J kept leaning over to me with each new song and song style and remarked more than once, "This is like going to the circus, you never know what's going to be going on in the next ring!"

The drunk man on the bus kept asking us where we worked. When we answered "USC" he kept saying "My wife works at UCLA too." Amazingly enough, this got old after the 1st time.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Looks like someone needs more sexual harassment training...


Bush-Merkel
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I hadn't seen this until today, but apparently Georgie is making quite a name for himself overseas.

So watch as Jon Stewart and the Daily Show skewer the president yet again... (Is it wrong to find myself wishing Mr. Stewart were the POTUS?)

Tom Jones Baby!


Tom Jones Baby!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
It's Friday and the hallowed halls of the Institute are echoing the strains of "The Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. And what's more Tom Jones is at the Bowl tonight and I'm going!

Yes I know you're jealous for my nostalgic 80's trip but all I have to say to that is it's not unusual to be loved by anyone.... Ok, that was bad.

Anyway it's Friday, the dawn of a new weekend, and I have to say I'm glad. What with school, social engagements and packing I haven't TOUCHED my knitting since Monday. I'm hoping to make this weekend big on cleaning, packing and knitting.

Hope y'all are having a fabulous Friday. And just remember... she's a lady!

PS The Dirty Dancing Soundtrack courtesy of some interns we have who are preparing their end of summer slideshow....

Thursday, July 20, 2006

A book report on Peter Rabbit.

A prize to the first person to comment and tell me where the title comes from. (L'il Sis you're disqualified from this one because I know you know!)

Atonement by Ian McEwan

So I just finished what I would consider to be the best book I have read this summer. It's the tale of a little girl, a horrible crime she commits, and the years it takes that she atones for her sin. The first portion of the book is dedicated to a child's fantasy, a 13 year old growing up just before World War II. The second portion chronicles the war, and the lives of the girl and the people most affected by her crime. This was a wonderful read, full of summer innocence and youth, and the scary passage into adulthood.

Zut Alors! Dooced again.


blogging
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Blogger in France sues after being fired

PARIS - The 33-year-old British expat in Paris writes under the pseudonym "La Petite Anglaise" and tells of love affairs, single motherhood and office bloopers with self-deprecating, "Bridget Jones"-style humor.

She kept her popular blog anonymous, never revealing her full name or workplace. But despite her attempts at secrecy, her employer found out and fired her — unusual in labor-protected France, where workers have strong legal protections.

Now she's suing her employer in a case generating buzz on both sides of the English Channel.

The lawsuit is seen as a test case in France, where there have been few cases of bloggers getting fired, unlike in the United States, where there is even a word for it: getting "dooced," a reference to the author of Heather B. Armstrong, who was fired for writing about her colleagues.

The expat in Paris goes only by Catherine and declined to reveal her last name because of the personal tales she recounts on the site. She says she was careful never to reveal online the name of the British company she worked for as a bilingual secretary.

Most of her office stories were, she says, "fairly humorous anecdotes about things that happened to me" — accidentally exposing her cleavage on a video conference screen or tumbling down a staircase. She also poked fun at the office portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

"I wasn't describing what my employers did, or disclosing professional secrets or criticizing the firm or anything," she said in a telephone interview.

Her employers, the accounting firm Dixon Wilson, cited "loss of trust" and said they felt she had damaged their reputation, Catherine said. Though her name was never used online, her photo appear in a French newspaper article about her blog.

On July 10, Catherine filed a complaint with a workers tribunal, suing for up to two years of salary, or about $110,000.

On her blog, Catherine revealed her predicament this week, describing how she tried to keep up her spirits for her 3-year-old daughter the day she got fired by throwing an impromptu birthday party for a doll.

She had 10,000 hits the day of the announcement, and now she has more than 300 messages from well-wishers.

"What's the French word for dooced?" one well-wisher wrote. "Maybe you could make one up."

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Alone


Alone
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.

You come into the world alone and you go out of the world alone, yet it seems to me you are more alone while living than even going and coming.

-Emily Carr, artist and writer (1871-1945)

A tribute to the Brilliance of Scott Adams.


Decision Making
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Words aren't even necessary.

Muy caliente!


Muy caliente!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Well we here in the west seem to be cooling off a bit (if you can consider 80s at the beaches cool!) and I for one am breathing a sigh of non-central air conditioned relief.

For the past week it has been too hot to sleep or breathe inside my apartment, and after the sun goes down it's probably 20 degrees cooler outdoors than in.

Now for today's crazy news:

Runaway Circus Kangaroo on the Loose in Ireland

Vegetables get Olympic Identity Codes

And now for the sad but true horror story of the day:

20 Seriously Hurt When Cruise Ship Tips

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Naughty YP.COM. No cookie for you.


YP.com
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I thought I had seen it when it came to scams.

I've seen all the "sign here for your free gift and 12 more will come monthly" offer.

I've seen the "give us your credit card and we'll bill you weekly/monthly for the rest of your life or until your credit card runs out and we'll then track you down and threaten you."

I've even dealt with the State Claims Service and all those companies that extract money from you to get what is YOURS (which you can do for free).

So tonight I found a new one. I received an envelope today that looked suspiciously like a check. Since I have been participating in a lot of paid surveys, I figured it was one of those. Instead it was a $3.25 check from YP.COM. It was just a check, and a receipt, made out to me. I was skeptical.

When I flipped the check over I noticed the 2 inch disclaimer in the endorsement section. By endorsing a check made out to you, and depositing it, you agree to pay $27.50 PER MONTH for listing your business on YP.COM. No phone number to call with questions, no nothing. Just a check and some fine print.

Thanks but no thanks. And remind me to badmouth disparage you to warn my friends. Oh wait... I just did.

How many idiots does it take to turn off a microphone?

Bush caught swearing

LONDON: It was Tony and George Unplugged at the G8 summit on Monday. Unaware that a microphone was on and the conversation was being picked up on close-circuit TV and a powerful internal mike, Bush suggested to Blair a solution to end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

"See,"said Bush, "the irony is what they really need to do is to get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this s***, and it's over". He made the remark as leaders at the G8 summit in St Petersburg were sitting down to lunch.


That's our Georgie! Always on the ball.

School Books


school-books
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I could write many a diatribe on school books. I could argue vociferously about the price of today's text books and the burden this places on students. I could speak loquaciously about professors who require you to purchase multiple text books for a class, and then never actually assign anything from them. I could rail vehemently against all the text book buy back programs that pay you less than half what you paid for that book, even if it's in good condition.

But I won't.

Instead I'll tell you what I just did.

I'm pretty much a big dork, as I have stated before. I'm the student that tries to get all of the reading done before class, no matter how pointless I think it may be. I'm the one who always does the homework, even if it isn't going to be collected. In short, I'm a big nerd.

So today I sold one of my text books on Amazon. For a class that doesn't end for 3.5 more weeks.

And I sold it for more than I bought it for.

In between my chuckles, I am debating my capitalistic "pig-ness". But I'm almost $40 richer and I have one less book to pack. And "senioritis" has kicked in, full swing.

This was one of my better ideas.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Help me.. I'm moving and I can't get out of it.


A mess...
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I decided several things today:

1. People only offer to help when you don't need it. I appreciate all of my friends who have come forward and offered to help me move. However, I had already made the decision (after I did the last two moves virtually all alone) that it was time to call in the professionals for this job. Go figure. PS Thanks for the boxes and packing peanuts though!

2. I suppose I have some %&$* that I should get rid of. Hence the obsessive shredding tonight. 'Nuff said.

3. If I pack one box a day, I should be in good shape for the last week. This is more of a resolution than anything. I cannot believe how much crap I have, but at least if I start early maybe I'll be able to sleep between now and the move.

At least I got in a little knitting tonight, and the new episodes of The Closer and Saved. My jury is still out on Saved, but I LOVE Kyra Sedgewick and The Closer.

An Apple a Day + Breakfast is the Most Important Meal = EggBook


eggbook
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Cook breakfast with your MacBook

Everyone knows that Apple's Intel powered portable lineup gets hot, but this is insane! An enterprising fellow figured out that it would be possible to actually fry an egg on the bottom of his black MacBook. Granted, it probably took something like 3 times as long than if he had used a stove, but thats obviously not the point. For bonus points, keep your coffee warm by placing it on top of your MacBook power adapter.

While obviously a stab at Apple for releasing such hot machines, I think its important to understand the fact that Apple has no control over how hots Intel's processors run. I'm sure the engineers in Cupertino do their best to make the machines run as cool as possible, but there are some things that even Ive and his team can't do.


Stolen from here.

Someone needs a time out.


time-out
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Supermodel wrecks yacht in rage

NAOMI Campbell, the supermodel, wrecked her boyfriend's brand new yacht after a row with an Italian chef, it was reported yesterday.
Campbell, known for her outbursts, flew into a violent rage after an argument with the unidentified chef over antipasti on a menu and his choice of wine.

She is said to have smashed up furniture and fittings on the £1.5 million yacht, Nasma, belonging to her new boyfriend, Dubai-born Prince Badr Jafar.

Reports in the Italian press said that relations with the chef broke down as Campbell planned a romantic meal with his help aboard the yacht, which was anchored off Viareggio on the Tuscan Riviera.

News reports estimated the damage to be more than £30,000.

Staff on the yacht dived for cover as Campbell lashed out at furniture, including priceless antiques, light fittings and cushions, as well as smashing china plates and crystal glasses.

The model is known for her volatile behaviour and has a history of problems with employees. In 2003 she was sued by an assistant who said Campbell had thrown a phone at her during a tantrum.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Just call me Dora...


Knitting 'n Movies
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Well, another weekend has passed. I have to say I'm eager to be done with classes, moved and settled in, and I could use a vacation from work. Since only 1 out of 3 is on the horizon, I'm less than thrilled with the impending week.

That said, I enjoyed a few movies and some good knitting time this weekend. You can see my knitting progress to the right - I'm still not quite in the groove yet, but the blanket is coming along.

The movies:

Cutthroat Island - This was a swashbuckling adventure movie starring Geena Davis as a pirate. I was skeptical but in Wes' words "Wow she's a really good pirate!"

The Libertine - This was a dark and baudy look at a poet under King Charles. It was pretty graphic and pretty dark and depressing, but we both thought it was well done. Johnny Depp, John Malkovich, Samantha Morton and even the cast of coupling (Richard Coyle!) made this a great film.

Antonia's Line - This was a charming foreign film (Dutch I think...) about a woman who returns to her childhood home upon her mother's death. They live in a small village and it is here she raises her daughter, and the family grows generationally. It wasn't a serious movie, but it was a light way to end the weekend.

As for the title: I met my group at Starbucks in Encino today. (That alone is a story for later...) When I went up to order food they wrote Dora on my cup.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!


Ice Cream
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
JULY IS NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

The International Ice Cream Association (IICA) encourages retailers and consumers to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month. In 2006, National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 16.

The U.S. ice cream industry generates more than $21 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for thousands of citizens. About 9% of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, contributing significantly to the economic well-being of the nation's dairy industry.

Founded in 1900, IICA is the trade association for manufacturers and distributors of ice cream and other frozen dessert products. The association's activities range from legislative and regulatory advocacy to market research, education and training. Its 80 member companies manufacture and distribute an estimated 85% of the ice cream and frozen dessert products consumed in the United States. IICA, as a constituent organization of the International Dairy Foods Association, can be found online at www.idfa.org.

Well aside from the fact that it was created as another piece of useless legislation by Ronald Reagan, this is a holiday I can support. Please excuse me while I go get some ice cream....

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Wilting


Gerbera
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
An open letter to the City of Los Angeles:

I heart you LA. I have always been a fan, you being the city of my birth and where I feel most at home. So I have to say I'm very disappointed with your current behavior.

WTF is up with your weather lately? Do you think you have become the best of the Midwest? I enjoy life here in LA, on the left coast, where it is always room temperature and sunny, and we have no need for clothing that feels like furniture. But this week you have unleashed your caliente wrath on us with temperatures of 95-115 (95 at the beach!!) and we Los Angelinos are not equipped to deal. Our lovely Spanish haciendas, normally so cool they do not need central air, are sweltering. Our fans are going, we're on watch for blackouts (gotta love California power) and so we sit and sweat...and sweat some more.

And my lovely Gerberas, they are wilting in your harsh glare, rather than basking in your sunshine of love. Los Angeles, for heaven's sakes, CHILL OUT.

Uncomfortably sweaty,
the little devil

PS I hope you enjoy my photoshop tricks to create the eye popping wonder to the right. I LOVE photographing flowers.

Friday, July 14, 2006

My Two Favorite Things: My Honey and My Knitting


Flowers and Knitting
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
So I brought my flowers home this afternoon and changed the water and suddenly they look all perky again. While I was staring at them, I called my sweetie and he and I are chatting right now. And then I decided to throw a little knitting in there... that's the new blanket! It's a lacey, leafy/feathery pattern in the same yarn, TLC Amore.

So now it's weekend, and I've got my honey and my knitting. What more could a girl want?

Diet Coke & Mentos Revisited


Diet Coke & Mentos
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
After an exciting lunch discussion about the new/old? Diet Coke & Mentos phenomenon a PhD here brought the following (from Steve Spangler Science) to light:

Why do Mentos mixed with soda produce this incredible eruption? You should know that there is considerable debate over how and why this works. While we offer the most probable explanations below, we also understand and admit that other explanation could be possible... and we welcome your thoughts.

As you probably know, soda pop is basically sugar (or diet sweetener), flavoring, water and preservatives. The thing that makes soda bubbly is invisible carbon dioxide gas, which is pumped into bottles at the bottling factory using tons of pressure. Until you open the bottle and pour a glass of soda, the gas mostly stays suspended in the liquid and cannot expand to form more bubbles, which gases naturally do. But there's more...

If you shake the bottle and then open it, the gas is released from the protective hold of the water molecules and escapes with a whoosh, taking some of the soda along with it. What other ways can you cause the gas to escape? Just drop something into a glass of soda and notice how bubbles immediately form on the surface of the object. For example, adding salt to soda causes it to foam up because thousands of little bubbles form on the surface of each grain of salt.

Many scientists, including Lee Marek, claim that the Mentos phenomenon is a physical reaction, not a chemical one. Water molecules strongly attract each other, linking together to form a tight mesh around each bubble of carbon dioxide gas in the soda. In order to form a new bubble, or even to expand a bubble that has already formed, water molecules must push away from each other. It takes extra energy to break this "surface tension." In other words, water "resists" the expansion of bubbles in the soda.

When you drop the Mentos into the soda, the gelatin and gum arabic from the dissolving candy break the surface tension. This disrupts the water mesh, so that it takes less work to expand and form new bubbles. Each Mentos candy has thousands of tiny pits all over the surface. These tiny pits are called nucleation sites - perfect places for carbon dioxide bubbles to form. As soon as the Mentos hit the soda, bubbles form all over the surface of the candy. Couple this with the fact that the Mentos candies are heavy and sink to the bottom of the bottle and you've got a double-whammy. When all this gas is released, it literally pushes all of the liquid up and out of the bottle in an incredible soda blast. You can see a similar effect when cooking potatoes or pasta are lowered into a pot of boiling water. The water will sometimes boil over because organic materials that leach out of the cooking potatoes or pasta disrupt the tight mesh of water molecules at the surface of the water, making it easier for bubbles and foam to form.

When a scoop of ice cream is added to root beer, the "float" foams over for essentially the same reason. The surface tension of the root beer is lowered by gums and proteins from the melting ice cream, and the CO2 bubbles expand and release easily, creating a beautiful foam on top

Next question... Why should you use diet Coke or diet Pepsi? The simple answer is that diet soda just works better than regular soda. Some people speculate that it has something to do with the artifical sweetner, but the verdict is still out. More importantly, diet soda does not leave a sticky mess to have to clean up. Hey, that's important.

What's the record for the biggest Mentos fountain? My official record is a 18 foot blast that shot up and almost took out a half million dollar, high-definition television camera. You'll find video on-line at www.SteveSpanglerScience.com of some of our favorite eruptions.

Some people's kids...

A smattering of today's best stories:

Need a date? Call 911....


Woman asks 911 to send 'cutie pie' deputy

ALOHA, Ore. - A woman who called 911 to get "the cutest cop I've seen" sent back to her home got a date all right — a court date.

The same sheriff's deputy arrested her on charges of misuse of the emergency dispatch system.


And if tap water isn't good enough for your pooch...

Bottled water in meaty flavours? Dogs lap it up

SYDNEY (AFP) - Cool bottled water in three delicious flavours -- beef, chicken and bacon. Not tempted? Your dog will be.

An Australian man has taken pooch-pampering to the next level with the launch of Aqua Dog.


Have you noticed a reduction in the amount of mail you're receiving lately? This could be why:

Postal worker caught with thousands of letters

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Berlin postal worker who was caught with more than several thousand undelivered letters in his basement has admitted he was overwhelmed by the job but insisted he planned to deliver them soon.

Police recently found 90 boxes of post stacked in his basement. The postal worker, 36, identified as Thomas H., told Bild newspaper Friday he was only temporarily storing the post at his house and friends would help with delivery.


And finally, things not to do when on is on trial for theft.

Suspected thief robs judge at own trial

BERLIN (Reuters) - A 61-year-old German on trial for theft got himself into more trouble when he stole from the judge during his court hearing, police said Thursday.

Police in the central town of Coburg said that while facing her at the bench, the man pocketed a bunch of keys from the judge, who did not notice until he had left the room.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Summer Reading Program Book 6

The Cold Moon by Jeffrey Deaver

I'm not usually a mystery reader, so this wasn't one that I would normally pick up, but a good friend and former colleague in the publishing industry sent me an advance copy of this (obviously after its debut) and I've always liked her taste and gave it a go. It's a story of some bizarre and grisly murders and the two detectives who are on the case. The book takes an amazing number of twists and turns, and gets progressively more complicated as who you think "dunnit" changes over and over. If you're looking for a quick and scary read, this is it!



This book completes my Summer Reading Program goals, but it's whetted my appetite for "free reading." So expect to see more book reviews soon, as I plan to make more of a dent in my "to-read" pile before the summer is out.

Red Buttons and Hatari!


Hatari!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
When we were children, we used to go stay with my grandparents when my parents needed a little getaway. My grandparents had a fairly extensive VHS tape collection, and among their favorites was the John Wayne movie, Hatari!

It was only upon watching the movie more recently, that my sister and I realized that what we were watching was a fairly dated look at capturing wild animals in Africa to be shipped back to the US to be put in zoos.

However, if you can look past those moral issues, and just appreciate the film for what it was - good entertainment for it's time - it's a quite amusing movie.

The point of all this is that I was saddened today to read that our beloved "Tell me again!!!" Red Buttons has passed away. Today the world has lost a great comedian.

Comedian Red Buttons dies in L.A. at 87

LOS ANGELES - Red Buttons, the carrot-topped burlesque comedian who became a top star in early television then went dramatic to win the 1957 Oscar as supporting actor in "Sayonara," died Thursday. He was 87.

Buttons died of vascular disease at his home in the Century City area of Los Angeles, publicist Warren Cowan said. He had been ill for some time, and was with family members when he died, Cowan said.

With his eager manner and rapid-fire wit, Buttons excelled in every phase of show business, from the Borscht Belt of the 1930s to celebrity roasts in the 1990s.

His greatest achievement came with his "Sayonara" role as Sgt. Joe Kelly, the soldier in the occupation forces in Japan whose romance with a Japanese woman (Myoshi Umeki, who also won an Academy Award) ends in tragedy.

Josh Logan, who directed the James Michener story that starred Marlon Brando, was at first hesitant to cast a well-known comedian in such a somber role.

"The tests were so extensive that they could just put scenery around them and release the footage as a feature film," Buttons remarked.

Buttons' Academy Award led to other films, both dramas and comedies. They included "Imitation General," "The Big Circus," "Hatari!" "The Longest Day," "Up From the Beach," "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" "The Poseidon Adventure," "Gable and Lombard" and "Pete's Dragon."

A performer since his teens, Buttons was noticed by burlesque theater owners and he became the youngest comic on the circuit. He had graduated to small roles on Broadway before being drafted in 1943.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Oh what a dork am I.

According to the Toulmin Model(TM):

CLAIM: Oh what a dork am I.

DATA: (chonological or alphabetical?)

1. I enjoy Statistics so much I've been the TA for 4 straight semesters. (and somehow have 50 papers to grade by weekend.. hmmm)

2. The following conversation:

Me: Why is it that grad students don't turn in their homework?
Coworker: People are lazy.
Me: Of course I was the one who always did all of the homework.
Coworker: Because you wanted to pass?
Me: No, I was the one everyone wanted to kill. I was always the one to say, "Teacher teacher, you didn't collect the homework!" Sad but true.
Coworker: I was trained out of that rather rapidly.
Me: Well yes. You only do that a few times until someone beats it out of you. Literally or figuratively.

3. I take amused pleasure in this: www.penisland.net. And yes it's safe for your work browsers!

WARRANT: Displaying these tendencies makes me a dork.

Q.E.D. (and thank you for playing)

Answering the call of nature has never been so...


McDonalds Dutch
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
ODD.

This is what you would face were you in a Dutch McDonalds.

Disturbing, yet amusing.

You can find the source here.

A little word fun.

It was a long and twisting sentence...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An opening sentence containing a burrito, an angel and a shovel was judged appalling enough to win the annual Bulwer-Lytton literary parody prize on Tuesday.

Retired mechanical designer Jim Guigli of California was proclaimed winner of the contest, which challenges entrants to submit their worst opening sentence of an imaginary novel.

Guigli's winning entry read: "Detective Bart Lasiter was in his office studying the light from his one small window falling on his super burrito when the door swung open to reveal a woman whose body said you've had your last burrito for a while, whose face said angels did exist, and whose eyes said she could make you dig your own grave and lick the shovel clean."

Guigli's powers of invention and his determination to succeed -- he submitted 60 different entries -- also won him a "dishonorable mention" in the historical fiction category.

"My motivation for entering the contest was to find a constructive outlet for my dementia," Guigli quipped.

The Bulwer-Lytton fiction contest was started in 1982 by the English Department at San Jose State University to honor the Victorian novelist who opened his 1830 novel "Paul Clifford" with what were to become the immortal words, "It was a dark and stormy night."

It began as a quiet campus affair and now attracts thousands of entries from around the world. But the grand prize winner receives only a pittance and other winners "must content themselves with becoming household names," organizers say.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

The Wonders of Duct Tape


bush_ductTape
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
1. See image at right.

2. "Duct tape is like The Force: it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together." (Although I know she didn't invent it, I always attribute this quote to Light because it was her motto when we were wee lasses.)

3. Anybody Got Duct Tape?

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida -- Even in space, a little duct tape may work wonders. Astronaut Piers Sellers suggested using some of the multipurpose sticky material to fix a safety-jet backpack used during spacewalks after it almost came loose from him while he repaired the international space station.

I'm sorry... did NASA just admit that it used DUCT TAPE to hold a space suit together? What's next - DUCT TAPE shuttles to the moon?

He Loves Me.


He Loves Me.
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Thank you for brightening my day sweetheart. I can't wait until you're here again.

I love you.

Riddle me this...


You can't see me, but I'm always present.
Run as fast as you can, but you'll never escape me.
Fight me with all of your strength, but you'll never defeat me.
I kill when I wish, but can never be brought to justice.

Who am I?

Hoops & Yoyo Say Hello!


Hoops & Yoyo Say Hello!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
To those unfamiliar with Hoops and Yoyo you are missing endless hours of enjoyment. Hoops and Yoyo bring true joy and mischief to any work place. Check them out at HoopsandYoyo.com.

I HEART Starbucks.


Tangerine Frappuccino
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I know Starbucks is the evil coffee empire that is driving out the independent coffee shops. I know this. And yet I am utterly powerless to resist.

See Starbucks knows how to suck you in. Last week I was innocently minding my own business, when I received a post card in the mail inviting me to try the new Starbucks Tangerine Frappuccino for FREE. I was intrigued (much more so than when they tried to get me to try the Green Tea Frappuccino - that was a definite ICK).

Anyhow, as I was saying. They entice you with the free stuff. So yesterday I decided that I would breakfast at Starbucks for my free drink, and as a bonus I had a few Starbucks Dollars left on a card so I would get a scone to munch.

No sooner had I ordered my tasty frothy cool beverage than the barista mentioned that my receipt would have a survey on it. And if I went to the website and took this survey.... I would get ANOTHER FREE BEVERAGE!

So yeah, I went back this morning and got another Tangerine Frappuccino (so light, a bit sweet and perfect for waking up to!) and another scone (on my Starbucks Dollars card). I'm not sure how they plan to make money off of me, since I mostly go when I have freebie coupons, but I'm tastily appreciative.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Quote of the Day


One of my greatest pleasures in writing has come from the thought that perhaps my work might annoy someone of comfortably pretentious position. Then comes the saddening realization that such people rarely read.

-John Kenneth Galbraith, economist (1908-2006)

The limerick in which I reveal why I truly adore my travel agent.



There once was a poor Project Specialist
Her bosses, they just couldn't quite get the gist.
When travelling away
Changed their flights, time and day
So often, she couldn't help but make a fist.

The Keystone West Virginia Cops


Keystone Cops
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Police chase West Virginia suspect over the edge

PRINCETON, W.Va. - This police chase ended with a cliffhanger. A 30-year-old man fell 50 to 70 feet over a cliff near the West Virginia Turnpike while fleeing on foot from police Thursday. A police officer pursuing the man couldn't stop and tumbled after him, while a second officer jumped off the cliff to help his colleague and landed in a tree.

The suspect, who was not identified, rolled another 100 feet before stopping and suffered serious injuries, acting Princeton Police Chief W.L. Harman said. Sgt. W.E. Rose, whose fall was stopped by a tree, suffered some scratches and bruises while Sgt. C.T. Lowe, who jumped off the cliff, was not injured.

The chase began around 1 a.m. in Princeton when Rose saw a man whom authorities wanted to talk to get into the passenger side of a vehicle. The driver sped off when the officers' cruiser pulled up and the passenger jumped out.

"Everybody is real lucky that the injuries aren't worse than they are," Harman said.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

The White Flag


White Flag
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
As much as it pains me to do it, I have abandoned the pattern for the blanket. It just wasn't laying flat and it wasn't going to be my best work.

So I have picked up the same yarn, and a different pattern, and I'll have progress photos in another day or two when I have some length to show for my efforts.

As Monday approaches I leave you with these words of wisdom from Thomas Jefferson, arguing most eloquently for freedom of religion:

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.

-Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author
(1743-1826)

Exploding Head


Exploding Head
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Sinus headache. Head throbbing. Hurts. No sleep for me.

Back later when I can form coherent thoughts.

Gromit Knits, and so do I.


Gromit Knits
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Just got done watching "Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit" I would HIGHLY recommend it. It was silly, but I love me some Wallace & Gromit.

And better yet, Gromit actually knits!

Apparently so do I. I decided that today was the day I was going to fix the center part of the new blanket. So I gathered up my courage and took some scissors to the middle. It was pretty scary, but nothing fell apart.

I removed all traces of the old black yarn, and started with 3 DPNs and and a fresh black strand. Slowly I filled it in sort of gathering the stichest of the raspberry and green to close up the center. I'm not 100% happy with how it came out, but I was trying to avoid ripping things out and working backwards.

The final result after more knitting is what you see in the lower right. Unfortunately this yarn just isn't giving the way I would like it to. What you see is stretched out and pinned to keep it taut. In reality it bunches up. I'm undecided on whether I'm going to continue this or frog the project.

Augh I HATE knitting failures.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Summer Reading Program Book 5

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

This is the mystery and spiritual discovery of a man from the US who journies to Peru to unlock the secrets contained in a Manuscript that has been found. He is immediately plunged into a world of coincidences, energy and danger that makes him open his mind to what he thinks he knows of the world. As the book goes on he begins to discover the answer to the age old question: what is the meaning of life?

I thought this book was an interesting read - it held my attention and made me want to read more. What I am unsure of is if this is a book designed to have the reader gain greater spirituality or if it simply offers one explanation on what really is the true meaning of life. I could follow the book on its quest for great human connection and spirituality, but less so on its ties into religion. Nevertheless it was a really interesting read. I would recommend it.

TGIF - Even though it's Saturday.


Day 4
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Well I already feel a productive burst hitting this weekend and it's only 12:30am on Saturday. I've spent most of the week knitting on the beauty to the right. That bunchy middle is ticking me off... I'm working up the courage to cut it out and fill it in with DPNs so that I can continue with what I'm doing.

Please note the toes in the pic. With flowers. So chic. And yet so pathetic that I can't take a picture of the floor without getting my toes in it. And shame on iPhoto for not "seeing" my camera tonight so I can crop it without having to open Photoshop. Augh the effort.

Where was I? Oh yes.... productivity. I'm starting to get into that "must pack, must throw away anything possible, must shred anything remotely connected to me, must give away anything in good condition, must sell anything that might be Ebay-able". Yes it's a hectic mood. But I cleaned out three desk drawers tonight and am ready to pack/consolidate them. Here's to a few more drawers tomorrow. Also the kitchen. Must tackle the dishes. Oh yes, and the trash. And homework.

Thank goodness there's a movie date and knitting in there somewhere.

Happy Saturday!

Friday, July 07, 2006

It's Definitely Friday...

Vignettes heard around the office....

Co-worker: If you have a few minutes could you three pole hunch this stuff for me? Wait... three pole punch. Oh *&^%!!! You know what I mean.

***
A limerick in honor of the day of Sir PETAH's Birth:

A message for you on your day of birth
We will not mention age or girth
We'll take you to lunch
With sushi to crunch
And make fun of you for all that you're worth!

Happy birthday old chap!

***
It's CAKE time. There is always cake here. We are the Institute for Cake Technologies.

***
Does anyone have any boxes? I'm moving!

you rule, biscuit for you


Biscuit
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
That was the subject line of an email I got today.

Some days are just all baked like that.

The Seesaw of Life


The Seesaw of Life
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I'm finding that life has a great many ups and downs. This week's list:

The UPs
  • It's finally Friday! (well ok, we started on Wednesday so this week hasn't exactly been long.)
  • I get to look forward to a weekend of knitting and movies and reading.
  • I found a beautiful apartment and put in my application today.


The DOWNs
  • USC nixed the transfer credits, graduating early option. Why? JUST BECAUSE.
  • The beautiful apartment mentioned above costs an arm, a leg and my first born.
  • Most of my friends at work were out this week. This meant it was sort of desolate at work. Which means I actually got work done. What's up with THAT?

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Move: The ultimate 4 letter word.


Moving
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Since I was a child, and my family unexpectedly moved about 4 times in 18 months, my parents have always referred to move as a 4-letter word.

It seems that in one's college years and shortly thereafter, each year brings a new place, a new move and the reboxing of stuff. I have certainly done my share of moving: I lived in 4 different places when I went to school out of state. Since returning home I have lived in approximately 5 or 6 different residences. When I moved last time (almost 2 years ago) I vowed that I wouldn't move again until I either: (1) got married, (2) died, or (3) purchased a place of my own.

Oh how life changes things.

Here I am 2 years later. My lease ends in about a month and a half and I need a bigger place. To be fair, I want a bigger place. But practically speaking, my current studio is too small for Wes to come and live with me next summer and there's the minor issue of it being prohibited in my current lease.

So as an apartment dweller looking for a suitable apartment I'm "on the market" so to speak. And I'm finding that while the move itself makes me want to crawl under the bed and hide, it's the finding of the next apartment that is giving me panic attacks.

I think I've been living in my rent controlled little villa too long. I have now emerged and the world has passed my income by. Suddenly it seems like the only way to move beyond a studio and stay anywhere in LA is to fork over $2-300 more than I was prepared to. Well that's ok... I just won't eat or buy gas for my car any more.

More postings later when I step inside off my window ledge. (I'm kidding people, I don't even have a window... just a weird meshed in cubicle.)

Off to find a ledge,
the little devil

The Next Chapter


New Blanket - 2 days
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Knitting Project

Wedding Blanket
Pattern: My own design, geometric shapes
Yarn: TLC Amore in Black, Raspberry, Celery and Grape

The Book

The Celestine Prophecy
by James Redfield

Progress reports forthcoming.

P.S. I've noticed that the squares seem to bunch up a little in the center. Anyone else have this problem?

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Pinch me, I'm brilliant.


Eureka!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Ok that was a bad combination of "Pinch me I must be dreaming" and "Kiss me I'm Irish" with a smattering of brilliant inspiration.

So I'm on my way home tonight ranting and raving about my evening classes (tonight's was not to be believed.... more on that later). Basically I'm bitching that a "Doing Business in Another Country Report" is basically what I did as an undergrad when I took a few grad courses my senior year. And then it hits me.

I took Grad Courses. My senior year of undergrad. This whole time I have been sitting on 6 units of credit that could potentially be transferred as electives to my current master's program. And I could graduate....wait for it.......... EARLY?!?!?

So as an exercise in futility I have emailed the program director to find out if this is even feasible. I fully expect to be told no for one of the following reasons:

* The University is evil and wants as much in the way of tuition dollars as it can get out of me.

* There is a magical time limit on credits and mine have expired. (please note: whenever I might have tried to transfer them, they would have been expired).

* I have to produce a syllabus and some work from each of the classes I want to transfer. This could be hard considering it was 1998 and I think I threw most of my undergraduate career away when I was evicted from my childhood home's closet.

* Just no. JUST BECAUSE THEY SAY SO.

Stay tuned for my next flash of brilliance... I expect it within the next millenium.

Mission Impossible: Cable Knitting


Cable Knitting
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
I was just explaining to a new-ish knitter (she crochets a bit but is re-learning to knit from childhood) how there are parts of knitting that are easy and parts that aren't. For instance, once you know knit and purl, and can read a pattern, most patterns are just a simple mixture of those two basic stitches with a few yarn wraps and knitting stitches together thrown in.

Then. I. Got. To. Cabling.

For years any pattern that has the slightest mention of cabling throws me into a series of apopleptic fits. But today, upon trying to explain what I meant, I stumbled upon this. This wonderful Wendy proves that half a dozen pictures are worth a thousand words of explanations, plus books devoted to the topic.

P.S. Knitting is seriously catching on. In addition to this friend who started this weekend, I have been helping a friend at work too. We'll call him Knitmeister S for now.

(Edited to add: Friend referred to above shall now be referred to as (UN)Hooked based on a silly knitting/crochet pun she made.)

Marketing with a twist.


Dutch Advertising
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
Today in the news:

Fake agency offers ads on hookers' thighs

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch design student bored with conventional advertisements has set up a fake online agency offering advertising space for beer, cars and TV stations on prostitutes' thighs and cleavage.

On his website, Raoul Balai also proposed painting brand names on zoo animals and floating huge billboards off popular beaches to get vacationers' attention.

"I was getting sick and tired of advertising everywhere," Balai told reporters. "But I don't want to preach, and I thought satire would work better."

Far from taking his ideas as a joke, an Amsterdam zoo had its lawyer threaten Balai with a defamation suit after his website depicted fish from the zoo bearing the brand name of a frozen fish company.

Prospective customers phoning his fake agency are kept on hold and bombarded with sales pitches until they give up.


Also in the news:

Enron founder Kenneth Lay dies at 64

I was sort of shocked to see that. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. On one hand, we don't have to support him in prison for many years to come. On the other hand, he now doesn't have to serve time for the multitude of crimes of which he was found guilty. And on the other hand (yes that's three) where does that leave the prosecutors in trying to recoup some of the money that Lay received from the company for his record profits which came at the cost of so many of his employees and investors.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

And the knitting gods said...


It's a BUNNY!
Originally uploaded by littledevilworks.
"Let there be a fluffy blue bunny!"

I'm enjoying him quite a bit and I only hope that the new baby he's destined for will grow to love him too.

For photo documentation of the process, visit: How to build a Bunny!

(P.S. I'm thinking about building more and selling them at my Etsy.site. Let me know if you're interested!)