My ancient iPod is still kicking and has lots of room for new stuff. Leave your audio (remember, ancient iPod) podcast or song recommendations in the comments or DM me on Twitter!
Also I finally did something I’ve been meaning to do for awhile. I love my Panasonic TZ1 camera except for one thing- instead of a retractable lens cap like most non-SLR digitals it has a removable one, attached with a little string. It’s always getting in the way. Recently I read somewhere (and I don’t remember where or I’d totally give credit) to attach a little velcro to the lens cap and the bottom of the camera so I can tuck it away when I’m shooting. Genius! (yes, it’s the little things.)
Monthly Archives: August 2007
Tell Me What to Listen To!
August 10, 2007 – 11:41 am
Do you know what’s happening in Newark?
Random violence. Children afraid to walk outside. Parents afraid to let their teenagers out the door. People rushing to get home before dark. Politicians calling for action, but it’s so late in that game.
Twenty minutes away from my quiet suburban existence. In Newark NJ.
Killed in the attack were Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20 and Iofemi Hightower, 20. Aeriel’s 19-year-old sister was wounded and is expected to recover. All four were shot in the head and found behind Mount Vernon School in Newark’s Ivy Hill section.
McCarthy said the victims - all current or entering students at Delaware State University - did not know their attackers, a group of at least five men.
Kids are being murdered every week. This time it grabbed more attention because these were “good kids.” So the governor said his piece:
“I have to say it is beyond comprehension,” [Gov. Jon] Corzine said in a statement. “It is more than statistics and more than a story. It is about a failure of us to be inclusive and holistically look to bring everyone into our society. I’d ask all New Jerseyans to pray for the families of those involved in the violence and help us look for ways to make a difference, and push to make a difference in other peoples’ lives.“
Lead us, oh great Corzine. Seriously. I don’t know what, if anything, those of us outside of Newark can do other than stuff like this- make it known, say our piece as well.
The mayor comforted “the children”:
During [Newark Mayor Corey] Booker’s visit, the children, who are in grades 1 through 8, peppered him with questions about their safety. They asked why they don’t see more police in the neighborhood, why the gangs have been able to take over the city and why such bad things happen to people who just want to live in peace.“I want you to know,” Booker told the children, “we’re not going to let that happen again.”
Parenting 101 tells us don’t make promises you aren’t sure you can keep, Mayor. Don’t let those kids down.
[Police Director Garry] McCarthy played down speculation the murders were related to street gang activity. The schoolyard is full of gang graffiti, which detectives are analyzing, but other than that, there aren’t any connections to gangs, he said.
Twenty minutes from my safe little home.
We can’t keep an American city safe. Just think about that.
(edit- more bloggers’ takes on the topic are gathered here.)
August 6, 2007 – 11:55 pm
Who took my summer?
Good lord, it’s August? Three days in? I guess that’s the drawback of not scheduling a vacation till the end of summer. Next year, TWO vacations, one in June, one in August. Gotta kick off the summer right!
Tomorrow is my mom & dad’s 45th anniversary. We’re having a little party here to celebrate (and once again won’t be using the new deck because it’s too ridiculously hot) (but nevermind that.) My mom is excited about it, I think. She’s bringing her wedding album and plans to force her grandkids to look through it with her and hear the stories. Good for her. I plan to torture entertain my grandkids the same way someday, a privilege of grandparenthood . Of course, said grandkids are almost all teenage boys so we’ll see how entertained they are.
Work has kept me both busy and entertained, which is nice. Would be even better if it kept me in diamonds and Jaguars, too, but things are moving along on that front. I’m considering employment options for the fall. A nice clerical or retail job with flexible hours and face time with humans would be nice. I’d like to save the brain power for other things. Of course, if the perfect job (say, Brogan’s) comes along I’m ready to jump (well, not necessarily that job, but something as well-suited to me as Chris’s job is to him.)
I’ve ratcheted way back on the social networking. Not so much burn out as settling in. Twitter seems to work best for me, and by work I mean I’ve made some quality connections with people there (who I’m happy to introduce to anyone who would like to join up!) I don’t have time for much else, but I peek in at Facebook each day and I’d like to participate more with the Grasshoppers when things settle a bit.
Settle. I’m working on that. I’m reading/working with a book called Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher and it’s pretty cool. I’ll blog more about that as time goes on.
And now it’s late, I’m tired. End post.
August 3, 2007 – 10:24 pm
