tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143074062009-07-14T06:41:13.244-04:00inane ramblings of an eye-rolling americanannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-77741460413302696432009-07-14T06:40:00.000-04:002009-07-14T06:41:13.251-04:00

And who said cats are stupid? Cats 'exploit' humans by purring

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-79918983723835832012009-07-05T09:24:00.005-04:002009-07-05T09:35:26.256-04:00

Scanning my RSS feeds this morning, I came across this headline:"Cambridge celebrates Lead Poisoning Prevention Week"My first thought was, what the hell is there to celebrate about lead poisoning prevention? Shoot the copyeditor!But on reading the story, there are indeed celebratory activities, including a Lead-Free Kids Jamboree with Davey the Clown. As I think this through, I guess we should

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-44740480320066633222009-07-03T09:04:00.001-04:002009-07-03T09:05:50.041-04:00

So, nearly a week later and I'm still in love with my new iPhone. And I still "slide to unlock" every hour or so, just to see if anything has happened since the last time I checked. Nothing ever has.But the device does make me feel like a complete tool some times. Like when I couldn't figure out how to play the iPod (I was looking in applications rather than in the main bar at the bottom), or

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-15368335064140466112009-06-27T20:26:00.001-04:002009-06-28T08:40:16.316-04:00

I took a leap into gadget geek today with my first iPhone. I resisted for months with the excuse that I hardly use my cellphone. But when my iPod started dying, and when I realized how much extra I'm paying for text messages on my Sprint plan, it became easier to persuade me. Of course, I will never be the cool, sophisticated iPhone user that Richard is -- deftly switching between apps, knowing

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-36380999341623030462009-06-26T11:46:00.001-04:002009-06-26T11:47:56.367-04:00

I want them!!!

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-74016785897731198522009-06-17T14:38:00.004-04:002009-06-17T14:43:52.699-04:00

I can easily be distracted by stupidity, and then led down a cynical path of emotional gloom and doom. Some days I despair for our future, and then other days I think: I don't have any kids to pass this crap on to or who will have to deal with our dying planet, so who the hell cares? Today I was distracted by this stupid story, which got my eyes rolling -- a sure first sign of cynicism. I find it

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-59272757157975337692009-06-07T16:10:00.004-04:002009-06-07T16:15:37.696-04:00

I love our new clothesline that Richard strung up yesterday in our back garden. I've already managed to get 2 loads of laundry to dry au naturel (that bit of itals is for you Richard!), and I'm feeling quite eco-proud.Bought way too much lettuce at the farmers' market yesterday. I noticed this morning that the arugula is already wilting. I won't get through it fast enough. I'm so happy the

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-75929864673288057792009-05-31T17:14:00.003-04:002009-05-31T17:18:01.552-04:00

Saturday: moths. Sunday: dead squirrels in rain barrel; Richard's bike chain came off during bike ride, walked back home in thunderstormTuesday: 2 siding contractors give cost estimates, one refuses the job as being too risky. We say official goodbye to that house. My boss resigns, chaos among team.Thursday: Notice that shower didn't get hot. (feeling damn lucky I got that shower in!) At night,

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-53019390487952202222009-05-23T20:01:00.004-04:002009-05-23T20:23:45.313-04:00

It has been a busy week. Work has been very busy (thanks in part to all the layoffs, but also because things are starting to turn around), and then there's this whole house thing.The short of it is: We saw a house in Cambridge that we really really like. Went back a couple times, put in an offer, then had the inspection. Inspection comes back not-so-good. We're in limbo right now, figuring out if

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-6320679632612307052009-05-23T19:59:00.004-04:002009-05-23T20:01:18.827-04:00

Who knew that big cats like pumpkins?

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-73210521624458176252009-05-18T21:09:00.002-04:002009-05-18T21:11:38.374-04:00

Anyone is better than Kornheiser, but this sounds especially promising. Hey, if Gruden can't coach the Browns, at least he can criticize them with a bit of knowledge.

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-12337401334812436262009-05-18T20:46:00.004-04:002009-05-18T20:49:49.835-04:00

The web is such a wonderful thing. Other people weed through the crap on Tv, radio, blogs, and the internet itself to find the most important things, like this cute little 9-yr-old japanese kid playing Ozzy Osbourne.

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-85127925651092376042009-04-26T12:32:00.005-04:002009-04-26T12:47:54.146-04:00

A good friend of mine, several years ago, said that all my maternal instincts were directed at baby animals. It's either that or I just enjoy being like a little girl, filled with the glee of little things and worlds of cute. And so I was thrilled yesterday to be temporarily 6 years old when I saw these adorable 9-day-old goats at the Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place in Waltham. Indeed, the

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-50808764265925599982009-04-03T16:25:00.002-04:002009-04-03T16:34:30.215-04:00

At the same time that Richard was sitting to take his US citizenship test this morning in Boston, 12 people taking the same test in Binghamton, NY, were shot to death by some idiot, who thankfully shot himself, too.Having quizzed Richard last night, I find it rather ironic that one of the questions on this test is: Name 2 rights in the Bill of Rights. Seems this NY gunman really took the 2nd

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-27469610880440755372009-03-30T10:11:00.005-04:002009-03-30T10:18:54.679-04:00

via BoingBoing. I have no desire to see this film, but I love the titles (both the European/Japanese and the US versions). Also, I don't see any cats in the trailer, just bunnies. What's up with that? Is the cat the man?

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-40215837920378735292009-03-25T13:17:00.004-04:002009-03-25T13:26:16.038-04:00

Just got back last night from a wonderful, but very short, trip to England. One of the highlights was seeing young lambs prancing in the countryside, so when I saw this piece on the Guardian today, I had to post the photo (especially seeing as how we didn't manage to take any such photos ourselves!):photo by Charm 1

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-38028941069923734272009-03-12T11:39:00.004-04:002009-03-12T11:41:39.177-04:00

From the AP:Madoff denied bail and ordered to jail

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-87281399552673813922009-03-12T11:37:00.002-04:002009-03-12T11:39:44.471-04:00

From the AP:Alaska Gov. Palin's daughter, fiance break up

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-71736516501477458732009-03-09T16:34:00.005-04:002009-03-09T16:48:12.616-04:00

Via Gawker. GOP to revamp their website (now that the Intertubes are all the rage!) Love this:Chairman Steele made his tech priorities clear... "bottom line is if we haven't done it — let's do it. If we haven't thought of it — think of it. If it hasn't been tried — why not? If it's going to be 'outside the box' — then not only keep it outside the box, but take it to someplace the box hasn't even

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-43380357929446189642009-03-09T16:26:00.000-04:002009-03-09T16:27:35.133-04:00

I've been cat sitting for over a year now, and been around cats since I was 4 or 5 years old. In all that time, I've never met a cat who didn't like being talked to. Until this weekend.I'm getting this cat's food ready and talking to him about it. He starts talking back, then walks over and nips me. I thought it was just a "get me my damn food" sort of thing.But after he ate, I'm giving him a

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-72342394717869210332009-02-18T08:44:00.003-05:002009-02-18T08:54:33.454-05:00

Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite authors. Her writing is never boring. She imagines concepts outside of the "best-selling" schmuck that is shoved down our throats, and writes so cleanly, sharply and beautifully. Now she's taking a stand for freedom of speech, pulling out of a book festival that has censored a fellow author's work. Another reason to admire Atwood.

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-48908652254574982272009-02-16T09:40:00.002-05:002009-02-16T09:44:32.636-05:00

Scanning stories this morning and read this first line of a story from The Guardian:A two-year-old girl died after she and her eight-month-old brother fell into the sea in their double pushchair in Folkestone, Kent, yesterday afternoon.Terribly sad.But it immediately sent me back nearly 15 years to the time I cocked up the pronunciation of that city in Kent. It was in the course of planning my

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-56133789095270942072009-02-15T17:45:00.001-05:002009-02-15T17:48:15.311-05:00

I’m not typically a nap sort of person, though after a rough night’s sleep last night, coupled by a pint of Sam Adams beer and a “chef’s favorite” burger for lunch today, I felt sleepy this afternoon. I’m hoping the ultra-fresh feeling I have now doesn’t cause problems tonight! But then, who the heck cares because I don't have to work tomorrow!

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-84479484551781865562009-02-14T16:32:00.001-05:002009-02-15T17:42:28.629-05:00

Walking around Central Square this morning, saw Jim Braude illegally cross Mass Ave and hold up several cars that had the right of way. What was worse was that he was limping, causing him to walk even more slowly than usual, so a couple of cars didn’t make the light thanks to him. Douche. But then he seems to have a history of doucebaggery and because he held “office”, I’m sure he feels some

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14307406.post-27472679921213841232009-02-12T20:28:00.002-05:002009-02-12T20:31:42.330-05:00

The good folks over at Gallop must've read about my desire to see how the Americans would match up against the Brits on the theme of evolution. They carried out their own little survey, though with slightly different questions.Now, I did take statistics in college, but because the class started at 8am, coupled with the fact there's a fair amount of math involved, I rarely attended. But I did

annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16233035725236678628noreply@blogger.com0