“Note: On April 30, 2009, the World Health Organization announced its plan to stop referring to the “swine flu,” instead calling the disease by its scientific name, H1N1 influenza A.” via City of Minnetonka: Emergency Management: Pandemics.

This is good.  The public should know that chauvinism is bad, but probably does not increase the likelihood of transmitting H1N1 whatever. 

Harvard just emailed to ask for money, and report that “the family tuition contribution for more than 3,000 undergraduates is now at or below tuition levels of the top twenty U.S. state schools, as identified through US News and World Report.”  I’m happy to hear that, though the cynic in me adds that many Harvard students were probably offered a full ride at one or two state schools.  I also wonder about loans (does “family contribution” exclude loans which must be repaid?), though I think Harvard finally followed Princeton’s lead and replaced all loans with grants.  Finally, what about the other 3,000 or so?  Doubtless many of those families can afford large contributions, and should make them.  But there are probably others who are stretched.

Cynicism aside, this is good news, and a sign of progress.  I’m going to get back to work so I can afford to contribute to the scholarship fund (someday.)

Greetings,

Under Harvard’s low- and middle-income initiatives, the family tuition contribution for more than 3,000 undergraduates is now at or below tuition levels of the top twenty U.S. state schools, as identified through US News and World Report.

This is your Harvard. This is the impact of your gift.

I hope you will take this moment to support Harvard College by clicking the “Donate Now” button, calling 1.800.VERITAS, or responding to our printed appeal.

Gratefully,

Charlie Cardillo ’91
Executive Director, Harvard College Fund

From Facebook
Travis Jones 10:25pm March 30

nothing more depressing than the local news

Josh Powell at 10:29pm March 30
Dude, I was just thinking the same. Best not to watch.
Travis Jones at 11:28pm March 30
keep thinking about “body count” idea, just don’t have the time right now to make it happen
Josh Powell at 2:54pm March 31

Was wondering if you’d remember that.  I’m in the same boat, but it’s a good idea.  We should be asking ourselves what nightly news is for (currently), and what it should be for.  There’s a legit argument that the public should know about crime – both to protect themselves, and to support police.  Emphasis should be switched though – currently seems we have 75% “shit happens”, weather, and 5% “human interest.”  Perhaps we should spend more time on that which is of interest to humans, and 5% on body count/be careful out there.  As a consumer, I want to be aware of bad news, but dwell on the good.

As for making it happen, I don’t have unlimited time either, but how cool is it that we *could* start today?  I could shoot a “newscast” on this laptop and publish it to the world without standing up, or even plugging in.  Ignore how bad the cast would suck, and revel in the possibility.  This was not possible in 1985, probable in 1995, or realistic in 2005.

Ok…back to work.

So apparently this has been around for a few months, and it’s huge/heavy, but once I saw that its price is closer to $3k than the $5500 PC Connection wanted in their March 1 catalog, I looked closer.  Now that I’ve seen integrated Wacom, 1920×1200 + 768×1200, I start to ask myself if OS X is really that much better than Ubuntu.  Oh, and do Linux drivers exist for the pretty toys?  Might be the new hotness.

Gizmodo is one source for a review.

Strange this is my first post of 2009, but this is a great story:

“Meet Me At the Kissing Post

The kissing post, supporting Ellis Island’s registry room, is a famous column at which millions of US immigrants reunited with family. At the registry room, final stages of the immigration process were completed. Then, as immigrants moved towards the pillar it marked a significant moment in their journey. Processed immigrants would search for family members who were to meet them at the kissing post. The once ordinary post was named the kissing post by staff members at Ellis Island in reaction to the “joyful reunions” and kisses between relatives and loved ones. [10] Not only did immigrants endure the long passage to the United States but upon arriving they underwent a lengthy inspection process. [11] This emotional process included physical exams, medical detentions, Board hearings for unaccompanied woman and children and separation from family members. [12] Seeing the kissing post at the end of their journey to America was an emotional conclusion to their experience. The kissing post signifies freedom, reunion and a new beginning.”

From “Kissing traditions.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Jan 2009, 03:46 UTC. 26 Feb 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kissing_traditions&oldid=261211648.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

I decided to try the world of reliable, spacious, Japanese transportation. Check it out:
1999 Subaru (Legacy) Outback, 5sp Manual, 2.5L Boxer 5cyl, “Big Backseat”

The Register‘s hardware site has a review of the NEW Jawbone.
It’s pretty, but no longer available in Nerd red.
Improvements include smaller size, lighter weight, and better noise canceling.

Amazon links to buy Jawbones (old and new, respectively):

(Warning: stop reading if you are offended by gratuitous, though sparse, profanity.)

I arrive at Logan airport around 5:15 am, and am reminded by many signs that American Airlines is charging $25 for each (>1) checked bag now. Stupidest business move in accessible memory (this early, I’ll admit that’s limited). So I thinks, “self, let’s carry on blue duffel and avoid $25 fee.” Impressed with cleverness, and having located the poorly labeled but shorter line for self checkin, I checked big bag and proceeded to security with blue duffel and bright red nerdbag.

Guess where I put Buck knife and Swiss Army pen knife, plus an apparently prohibited socket wrench.

Back in shorter poorly signed self line. Wait. Tell “Severely Stupid Device” (so pet named by SEA AA agents – corporate probably prefers Self Service Device) that I’d like to check a bag. Q. Guess how many minutes before flighttime it has become. (A. 20) I’m checking in too late, it cheerfully and judgmentally announces. It prints “information” to take to agent. Walk to agent, stand behind lady he’s “helping.” She leaves, and, impressively rapidly, so does he. Chase up and down counter a bit. Winded, he stops and I pounce, ignoring his attempts to dissuade me by sticking bag tags to his shirt and studying a computer. “Go talk to manager”. “Ok. Will I have to pay $25 for this? When was that policy announced?” (I growled, politeness no longer being necessary with this particular individual, who does not know my name.) “Uhh, only applies if you bought your ticket after May 12.” Very interesting. Wish I remembered when ticket purchased.

Find manager, now completely ignoring lines, signs, etc. She suggests I have two options: throw bag away (said straightfaced…most impressive), or…actually, I forget the other, similarly ridiculous choice. She tires of my staring at her silently, and suggests I could take a later flight for $35 change fee + $25 2nd bag fee. I ask when ticket was booked, to which she replies, “May 3…oh…there’s no bag fee.” I smile. “So just the change fee?” She nods, looking nervous that I might actually go for this and become a satisfied customer. “Let’s do it,” I say, fetching my checkbook. Yes, I was going to write a personal check to AA for $35. I’m sure it would have cost the airline, paragon of efficiency, at least $100 to process that. “Say, is there a discount since it’s my birthday?” Fee disappears in a “donworryboutit” grumble. For this I consider nominating her for sainthood. (If I had any idea which Vatican official to contact.) Apparently she senses this, because she becomes very friendly, gives me an exit row seat (oooh!) and points out that my now-nonstop flight gets in earlier. If only that were true…the nonstop actually gets in 2h later than STL-connected arrangement.

Typing to you having leisurely eaten croissant and sipped coffee. Flight now leaves at a civilized…oh…SHIT!

Gotcha. Ha! Boards in 2 hours, 6 minutes, which is sufficient for me to feel comfortable sipping coffee in the baggage area, listening to piped in …huh…I’ll be damned…learned a new artist…the familiar ditty is “Harden my Heart” by Quarterflash. A band formed in…wait for it…nine motherfuckin’ teen eighty, bitches. (My birth year, yes, now the internet can deduce my DOB. I’ve considered that for awhile, but can’t summon sufficient paranoia to change it.)

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me…

Bank of America sent me a Home Depot gift card recently. “Thanks for using your Check Card.” Not a huge dollar amount, but as they say, it’s the thought that counts. This move was totally unsolicited and unprovoked, except by the occasional use of my B of A check card (definitely not my primary card.)

Classy move. It’s not often I’m impressed as a customer. Thank you B of A.