Migraine

This past weekend I spent my time in the haze of a migraine. But no pain could prepare me for the mockery of humanity that is the Republican National Convention.

Remarks by Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at last night's convention:

"We did the best we could to communicate a message of calm and hope, as we stood on the pavement watching a cloud come through the cavernous streets of lower Manhattan. Our people were so brave in their response. At the time, we believed that we would be attacked many more times that day and in the days that followed. Without really thinking, based on just emotion, spontaneous, I grabbed the arm of then Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and I said to him, 'Bernie, thank God George Bush is our President.'

I say it again tonight, I say it again tonight: thank God that George Bush is our President. And thank God that Dick Cheney, a man with his experience and his knowledge and his strength and his background is our vice president."

At which point, in what I thought was a very moving and honest moment, Rudy leaned over the podium while Karl Rove strode onto the stage, dropped trow and stuck Rudy right up the ass screaming "Who's my bitch?!"

Well done my fellow Americans, well done.

It's Such a Lovely Day and I'm Glad You Feel the Same

The beginning of this week has been nothing but aggravation and grief, but the end of this week is looking sunny and bright. I just received my loan amount from St. Andy's and it covers just about all of it! So hurrah for that! And this weekend I am going outlet shopping! Feels like I have just emerged from a tunnel.

Last weekend I went to Greenpoint to eat a yummy dinner at Betty's and get ridiculously drunk. Was a v. good time. We played Texas Hold'em and of course I administered a serious ass woopin.

Sunday was too tired to function so sat at home and watched Kill Bill 2, you know, a nice family flick.

And that is about it besides the tale of terror described below in my Apple letter. Seriously, caveat emptor with those ppl.

An Open Letter to Apple Computer

August 26, 2004

Apple Computer
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014

Dear Apple Computer,

I would like to comment on my recent experience with ordering from Apple. To begin, my order over the phone was placed wrong. I was charged for two printers instead of one. When I called back trying to rectify this error, I was told I would have to wait until Monday August 16th to talk to returns since they were closed on Sundays. When I got a hold of returns Monday they said the printer had already been shipped and that I would have to print out a Fedex label and bring it to Fedex to ship back. That seemed a large inconvenience for a mistake not made by me. It was not until I went to the Fedex site that I saw that I could have it picked up at home instead.

Second, when I received the powerbook I ordered it was broken. I called technical to help and after waiting half an hour, the tech person said that since I had ordered the computer with an educational discount, I had to call a special number. Nowhere in the computer materials did it say this. Luckily I had only to wait 15 minutes to speak to someone in that department. This gentleman was very helpful but unfortunately we still could not get the computer working. He transferred me to returns where their wait was another half an hour. After 15 minutes of waiting the technician picked the line back up and said he would send returns an email so that I would not have to wait so long and that they would call me back Monday morning.

By noon Monday I still had not received a call back so I called in. By this time I had had enough. I am going very far to school soon and don’t have time to receive another computer in the mail and go through more hassle if that one is broken so I just wanted to cancel my order and also return the printer which I only bought because of the money back special with HP. The person who issued my return was unable to send me a Fedex label for my printer and said that I would have to send it back myself. When I asked if I could bring it back to the store, along with the USB cable I had to purchase for it, he said it would not be a problem. By this point I knew not to trust an answer from Apple so I called the store directly to ask if I could return it there. The person at the Huntington Station NY, Walt Whitman Mall store asked what the printer model was and also which USB cable I had for it then said it would not be a problem and to bring it in.

My last bit of aggravation came yesterday when I lugged this printer into the store after work, waited on line for 20 minutes, then was told that the store does not carry this model number and I could not return any of it there. Why I cannot return Apple products to an Apple store is beyond me. At this point the sales person could see the tears welling up in my eyes and graciously said that if I pulled my car around back he would put the printer in my car for me.

By this time I did not even want to look at any of this anymore and went to the post office to send it back where is cost me $25.48 to send the cheapest way. The reason I wanted to go to the store in the first place was so I would not have to pay to send it back. I am a soon to be graduate student, making an hourly wage trying to pay for school. I can’t afford to pay extra money for nothing like this. On top of the shipping fee I also wasted a quarter of a tank of gas driving around trying to make the return. I would also like to note that as of today, August 26th, all charges are still on my credit card, including the printer I sent back over a week ago.

I am usually I devoted Mac user. All through college I used an imac and barely complained when it completely broke after only 3 years. I currently even work for an Internet provider just for Macs. The level of grief, time and money this has cost me is inexcusable. I have lost all faith in this company and after a lifetime of devotion, that is saying a lot.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Kellas

Do You Like Apples?

Exert from Good Will Hunting, Will's interview with the NSA and why he shouldn't work for them:

"Why shouldn't I work for the NSA? That's a tough one. But I'll take a shot. Say I'm working at the NSA, and somebody puts a code on my desk, somethin' no one else can break. Maybe I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, cus' I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East and once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels are hiding. Fifteen hundred people that I never met, never had no problem with, get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Oh, Send in the marines to secure the area" cus' they don't give a shit. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number got called, cus' they were off pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some kid from Southie over there takin' shrapnel in the ass. He comes back to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, cus' he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile he realizes the only reason he was over there in the first place was so that we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And of course the oil companies used the little skirmish over there to scare up domestic oil prices. A cute little ancillary benefit for them but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. They're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, of course, maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and fuckin' play slalom with the icebergs, it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So now my buddy's out of work. He can't afford to drive, so he's walking to the fuckin' job interviews, which sucks because the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin' cus' every time he tries to get a bite to eat the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what did I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. I figure fuck it, while I'm at it why not just shoot my buddy, take his job, give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected President".

huh.

Why does that sound familiar?

"Oy, your Mother!" Sea, Drew and I sweating out the toxins and rocking it out at Curiosa.

Silvia in the most gorgeous wedding dress I have ever seen. I hope she's not upset when I totally steal the design for my own one day.

Me and the Girls at Silvia's Wedding

Thursday I Don't Care About You

Low and behold I was actually busy this past weekend...

Thursday my dear friend Silvia was married in high style at the Crest Hollow Country Club. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Like a princess. I had the most amazing time. Persian music is my new dance music of choice.

Friday Deb, Jason and I went to see a damn funny movie called Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Seriously fine flick. I highly recommend.

Saturday was the Cure Festival with Sea and Matt. Despite the sweltering heat I had a great time (thanks Sea). Auf Der Maur blew (damn Canadians) but everyone else was great and a lot of fun. Interpol reminded me why I like them so much, Muse made me want to break out those mp3's again and The Rapture made my heart thud. The Cure played an exceedingly long set, so long that Sea and I had to opt out at the end and go sit down. Robert Smith is amazing though and that hair man, fantastic.

Sunday Sea and I drove back to Brooklyn to pick up Matt for lunch at Junior's. Thought a piece of authentic Brooklyn would be fun for Sea, plus Tony Danza recommended the food and who's the boss?

Monday, Tuesday = NADA besides seeing Kumar from the above mentioned Harold and Kumar in the movie Malibu's Most Wanted playing an Arabic, man that guy is diversified yo!

But today until the end of the week I am working once again for Arrow Electronics, this time in the Treasury Dept in another building. Much much chiller over here and the person whose assistant I am filling in for has left for the day, so no calls at all!