In which there’s not much going on, really. Yay Christmas break!
Went to a great pre-solstice party Sunday night, hung out with fun people and ate great food.
Volunteered at Helpline on Monday afternoon; it was great. Got to give away blankets and gloves and food and fix a computer and everything.
Did my Xmas shopping (since I’m unemployed, everybody gets the same thing) finally. Had leftover chili at Amity’s house Monday night. Continue reading Oh, not much. And you?
In which I got up early… and it was actually a pleasant experience!
I got laid off a year ago yesterday.
Since then, I looked for work for six months and had a total of two responses, and then I applied for and returned to school but my classes are 85% online. I have an on-again/off-again contracting gig for a friend in California, but it’s also online. Other than the occasional gig, running into G’ma in the kitchen, and the nights I go out to bars (something I’d like to do less of, really), I’m very much isolated. Continue reading Volunteering. It’s gonna be freakin’ awesome, you guys.
In which the term is over and I’m on Christmas break!
I barely left the house. I declined three different social invitations. I studied and studied and studied. Then I studied some more.
I powered through the Windows Client practice tests and the rest of the Linux + class. It took several tries to pass the final, but I managed it. Then I opened my Cisco Certified Network Associate course and realized that there was no way I could get through it and study for my other CCNA final too, so I emailed my instructor and told him that I was totally freaking out. Continue reading After all that, and I still got a freakin’ B.
In which today’s news storm has got me pretty bothered.
Why is no news source mentioning the most salient fact about WikiLeaks, which is that all the information given to WikiLeaks came from individuals who believed that the information needed to be made public?
None of the information was stolen. WikiLeaks has committed no crime, and neither has Assange.
The idea that government must keep secrets is a wrong one, but it’s so pervasive that questioning it isn’t even part of the current dialog. Military secrets, well, it seems obvious that they need to be protected, but how can any thinking person sanction hiding data on climate change? Continue reading WikiLeaks
In which I update you on my educational progress.
As you know, I went back to school full-time this fall. I’m taking 4 courses: Windows Client, Linux +, Cisco Certified Network Associate (all online-only, via TestOut LabSim), and CCNA Exploration (also online, but with a classroom/lab component). The term is over next Thursday.
I’ve finished all the coursework for the Windows class and taken all the tests. I have one chapter and the tests left for the Linux + course; I expect to finish that tonight. I’ve done all the coursework for CCNA Exploration, and have a final next Thursday that I need to STUDY MY ASS OFF FOR. I have SEVEN CHAPTERS AND ALL THE TESTS remaining in the Cisco course. Gah. Continue reading School.
In which the banking industry has no manners because it feels it doesn’t need to.
I’m listed at Chex Systems.
The reason for this starts with a d and ends with ivorce; long story short, all the bills were in my name and we lived just at the very edge of our means and then he quit working and a bunch of shit went ballistic. An unscrupulous creditor put a lien on my checking account and fucked up my financial life. But instead of going bankrupt, I found a debt reduction program and I’ve been paying off my debt for the past three years. Even though it was our debt. So I’m not only not bad, I’m good, mmm’kay? Any bank should be pleased to have me as a customer, because if I were to find myself owing them money I would pay it back. Continue reading Banking.
In which there’s a quote.
Do you know how to make a match from scratch?
Could you grind lenses for your glasses? Do you know how to make guns or bullets? How to refine ore, how to make aluminum? Could you build a battery? Do you know how to wire an electrical circuit?
How about penicillin, do you know how to make that? Or sulfa drugs, could you make those? Continue reading Science and technology.
In which there’s a quick update.
2. I’ve redecorated the ‘box for Xmas!
3. This is the 9th week of a 10-week quarter. I’m freakin’ out because I think I’m behind in my coursework, my practice test scores are all over the place, and I’m half-convinced I’m gonna flunk outta freakin’ school. Argh!
4. The contract QA thing ended. There’s a small hope that I will be given more work, but it’s a small hope.
5. I will run out of UI benefits before school is out. I must finish school or I’ll have to pay back the benefits I’ve already received. I think I’m going to have to take a food handler’s certification class so I can wait tables or bar tend or something, but a P/T minimum wage job will bring in even less than I’m getting now on UI benefits. Gah.
Okay, yeah. I have to get back to studying now.
In which I tell feminism to take a chill pill. Again.
Okay, so there’s this gay guy, okay? And he’s famous and a lot of people really like him because he’s charming and funny and intelligent and gregarious and because he’s Stephen fucking Fry, okay? Continue reading In Defense of Stephen Fry: A Woman's Viewpoint
In which I voted, so I get to share a few opinions. With liberal amounts of gratuitious cursing!
1. I think the GOP has lost its bloody mind. THE SKY IS NOT FALLING, you stupid chickens. Shut up, for the love of God, you’re giving me a fucking headache.
2. I think the Tea Party is made up entirely of idiots. The bulk of them apparently are racists, for fuck’s sake, and I really want them to shut up about bailouts already. Let it go. It’s done. Move on. Jesus. I am, however, glad that the GOP is internally divided in this way because they’ll waste a bunch of cycles trying to redefine themselves. Continue reading Nine things on Election Day.