This is a question for the men:

Do you look at a woman's fingernails? If so, then what impresses you? Is it:

A) Length, shape, recency of polish job?
B) Whether or not nails are polished?
C) Decorations on fingernails?
D) Cleanliness of nails, polished or unpolished - doesn't matter?
E) You don't look at fingernails.

Now I have a question about lipstick. Do you:
A) Like lipstick and think it enhances a woman's sensuality/sexuality?
B) Like lipstick, but it depends on the color on the woman?
C) Like lipstick, but wish it stayed on the woman?
D) Dislike lipstick because it's fake and messy?

I have sneaking suspicions I know the answer to these. But I need a sampling. Tell your friends to comment, gentlemen. I'll follow this post up in a couple of days with my "sneaking suspicions." And how/why this topic came about.

hln

Posted by: hln at 08:28 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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The category of recipes might be stretching it a bit, but if you haven't visited Cooking for Engineers, you're missing out.

Check out his recipe methodology - here's an example. I'm absolutely enthralled. I think when I leave instructions for Brian to begin dinner that I'll do so in this manner.

hln

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Business 2.0 has an article called "Why Some Brands Can Stand Alone" about retailers and specialty stores, citing Lego and its large play area as a giant success.

Shunned by kids for digital play alternatives and challenged by an onslaught of rivals, Lego has been under attack in recent years. Yet things may be turning around for the 73-year-old Danish toymaker. A Star Wars licensing deal has propelled sales of Lego sets based on the movies, and the construction-toy category has been hot. Another part of its business also offers hope: It's called the Lego Store, and it's boosting sales and luring customers in malls and well-to-do suburbs across the United States.

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If you have bumps on your thyroid gland (many do - I have 11 or so of them), they're called thyroid NODULES, not thyroid NOGGLES. Yes, I know what I'm talking about. Go look that up on WebMD or something.

hln

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Ok, cyclists. Another ride.

The Judy Ride Foundation's Tour de Judy gives people of all ages an opportunity to join the ride to save lives. The festivities begin at 8:00am and will include a 30-mile ride (7:30am registration, 8am and a 10-mile ride (8:30am registration, 9am start), and a 100-yard kids Tour de Judy jr. street sprint (10:30am registration, 11:00am start No Entry Fee Required!). So bring your bicycles, tricycles... basically anything with wheels! And bring your family and friends, too.

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Love Sentenced to 180 Days at Drug Center

Yes, we all know it's about Courtney, but I think it's funnier if just read literally.

Stunning paragon of motherhood, isn't she?

hln

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It was Germany's federal post office. But now it's so much more.

I follow this with more interest than most because I've done some work for DHL over the last 5 years, and DHL was loosely affiliated with Deutsche Post until 2 years ago when it became the yellow and red UPS and FedEx competitor whose trucks you now regularly see. (and fully owned by Deutsche Post)

Deutsche Post seeks to purchase Exel, a UK-based company that would (according to the Thursday September 15 print edition of the Wall Street Journal) "double the size of Deutsche Post's logistics operation." Whoa.

Even more interesting, the purchase is rumored to be largely completed in cash. "Deutsche Post, in which the German government still owns 45%, would likely finance the purchase with a combination of cash and stock. The company has no debt, and has liquid assets of more than [pound symbol I'm too lazy took look up the ASCII for]4 billion." Evidently the boys in brown are also at least interested in the bidding, as UPS is, according to this same article, "eager to beef up its international presence."

Whoa. Just whoa. Consider the huge losses DHL has incurred in branding itself - 1.2 billion - and the linked article's out of date. And then figure that its parent company has no debt. Yeah, I'll bet brown has paled to tan, if not publicly. This company's serious.

hln

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I like food cooked fairly plainly but with spice. The Foreman grill is great for this, and I've found some really good prepackaged spices that I thought I'd share. Website: Colorado Spice.

I've linked into the sampler pack you can buy online. No MSG - nothing artificial. These are a bit pricy, but you can find them locally by the fish counter at Schnuck's. Well worth it.

hln

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My coworker Steve pointed out this article for its amusement factor.

Westlake Village (CA) - California lawmakers approved Assembly Bill 1179, which prohibits 'extremely violent' video games from being sold to minors and requires large labels to be affixed to retail boxes. Violators can be hit with up to $1000 in fines, per infraction. The bill now heads to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk and he has 30 days to either sign or veto the bill.

AB1179, formerly known as AB450, was sponsored by Speaker pro Tem Dr. Leland Yee (Democrat -San Francisco/Daly City) and passed by a 65 to 7 vote. The bill will hit retailers with up to a $1000 fine if they willingly sell violent games to minors. In addition, AB1179 requires a two inch by two inch label with a white 18 (outlined in black) to be affixed to the retail boxes of those games. Interestingly, only the retailer will be fined, and not the sales clerk. Also, if the manufacturer forgets to label the box, the store will not be fined.

In AB1179, violent games are games where the player has an option of killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being in a 'shockingly atrocious manner', but it is unclear who will determine what content will fit that definition. Yee, who is also a Child Psychologist, believes that violent games can have a dramatic and detrimental effect on children and his bill has the backing of child advocacy groups, like Common Sense Media.

While there have been studies showing a link between violence and video games, there are just as many studies showing no such link exists. In fact, in the American Psychological Association's monthly magazine, one month you will see an article with a psychologist saying that violent video games increase aggression, while the next month another psychologist will say exactly the opposite. Recently the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found the behavior of players subjected to 56 hours of Asheron's Call 'were not statistically different from the non-playing control group.'

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This post is under "housekeeping" because it pertains to the area in which I work.

The article is on stltoday.com, the online version of the Post-Dispatch. A woman in my community choir and I were chatting about this because she knows I work on the street. Said article articulates (maybe) the plans of Creve Coeur, MO to make Studt Avenue (I still don't know how to pronounce that after 5 years of working in a building that resides on that street) the "main east-west street through the downtown." WHY? It's this tiny road. Hear the toll of the eminent domain bell, citizen.

I'm truly boggled. Pertinent info:

Matthew Brandmeyer, Creve Coeur's planning director, said the downtown plan "provides the framework for how this part of the city will be redeveloped in the future, if and when the property owners choose to rebuild."

Note the phrase "when the property owners choose." It reflects early opposition from some residents and business owners who feared the use of eminent domain. The final plan discourages that approach.

For example, the Plaza Shoppes at Olive and New Ballas will remain. As for the people of Old Ballas Village, a condominium development, "Their future will be in their hands," Brandmeyer said.

The plan has residents and civic leaders pondering how it will change the character of their community.

Mayor Harold Dielmann has lived for 75 years on the same piece of ground his grandfather and father farmed. "Now we're getting a downtown," he chuckled. "We didn't move downtown, so we're building one."

"I think we've got a great community, but we think it will get even better with a new downtown," he said. Diane Deutch has lived with her husband in Creve Coeur for 30 years. "When I first read about it, I thought - a downtown Creve Coeur?" she said

" I guess it could be very pretty and fine," she said. "There's a need for apartments and condos in Creve Coeur, loft living would be good, and I'm all for having more eating options. I just don't want to add traffic to my quiet neighborhood."

Deutch said she liked the idea of making an area more pedestrian-friendly.

Other people have expressed a dislike for buildings being built right up to the sidewalk. Streets would be in a grid pattern and as narrow as possible to handle traffic at a slow pace.

The plan envisions Studt Avenue as the main east-west street through the downtown and Ham Avenue as the main north-south street. Some buildings could be several stories tall, but skyscrapers are out, Brandmeyer said. The downtown could contain about 400,000 square feet of commercial space, 400,000 of office space and 500,000 square feet of condominiums.

Posted by: hln at 09:20 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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This year's MS 150 was a surprise. I was ready! I can certifiably say that although I finished last year's, I wasn't really ready.

Saturday's forecast was for a high of 93, I believe, with winds up to 18 mph. Ewww. Thankfully, I don't believe it was either that hot or that windy. It was moderately hilly and essentially the same 75 mile course as last year. I should probably have done the century, but I usually err on the side of caution. So I did (most of the smiling people in the extended entry did do the 100).

Burned about 3500 calories during ride time (I turn off the heart rate monitor every time I stop). I inhaled 3/5 of a medium pizza for dinner, and I was in bed by 9. At 2:30 I woke up starving and ate two bowls of Raisin Bran. Back to bed. Started out Sunday with a mess of hills and no warm-up. Ouch. The first 35 miles or so were brutal in that fashion. For about an hour's worth of ride time I questioned my sanity (after knowing basically what to expect from last year). Then it was lunch time, and I ate some pickles. And then I ate more pickles - must've really been craving salt. Had a sandwich, too. Starting out from lunch, it was a dream come true. Tailwind. Flats to rolling. Flying, baby.

My average speed on both days was just shy of 14 mph. Not going to win any races, but considering my conservative approach, not too bad. I can (and will) push a bit harder in the future. Just didn't want to bonk.

So I was home by 6 last night, which was very nice.

Pic in extended entry. I'm the pale one.

hln

more...

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Well, it's that time of year again. And I think I'm ready.

Year One: Ride lost to woman moping at home about her swollen foot.
Year Two: Hills! Tired Heather.
Year Three: ?

I leave tomorrow morning after loading up the car with everything I need to take to Columbia, MO (don't forget the bike). Columbia's about 120 miles away, and it's where I lived before meeting Brian. So in a sense I'm kinda going home. One of many homes.

I'm ready, if Monday's 65 miles is any indication. Sunday's the wild card. I haven't done all that many back-to-back rides this year, but I've done a whole lot more weekday riding. My cardio conditioning is pretty strong. My legs are probably weaker than they've ever been since I've been riding.

The cause of the long, long bike ride is Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease with varying symptoms depending on severity. At the most positive, it's an expensive disease. If it's caught early, it can be treated with a lifelong drug regimen.

So, if posting's light for the next few days, it's because I'm collapsing after the ride. Wish me luck.

hln

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I can't remember where I saw this, but it's just the bomb. Jewelry for geeks!

Unfortunately, the one I like the best is $250.00 (the diode choker). The dual processor necklace is too obnoxious (besides, we could easily make those here).

hln

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Yes, really.

General Motors is expected to announce a new laptop next week that's styled after its popular Hummer multi-terrain vehicles.

The carmaker has signed an exclusive three-year licensing agreement with Spokane, Wash.-based Itronix to make a portable computer designed for people who work outdoors: police officers, firefighters, claims adjusters and construction workers, for example, as well as people who own a Hummer and are fascinated by anything related to the oversize vehicles.

Posted by: hln at 09:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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What to think. What to think...

I'm not sure, really. I like my iPod Shuffle and think it was worth the $149 I paid for it. I use it primarily for exercise, and exercise means sweat. But something in me can't pay more than that for a music storage device, even if it does hold 1/20 or 1/10 of my library. What would I use it for that I can't use the Shuffle, which loads pretty quickly.

This is probably why I wasn't an early adopter in iPod culture. I think the one bonus would be the visual cue of what song's playing. Sometimes you want to load lesser knowns in to give them a whirl. Being able to rate on the iPod - that'd be an attracting feature to me.

Info on the Nano (in case you're like "what's is she talking about.") And the iPhone doesn't strike me - cost again. Maybe in a year.

Speaking of all things Apple, iTunes 5.0 is now available.

hln

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If you're a solitaire fiend (especially computer solitaire - not having to deal cards is fantastic), you really ought to check out Pretty Good Solitaire. There's a 30-day demo (and that's 30 tries, not 30 days that start ticking the first time you use it).

I'm a big fan. Great way to waste time/defer blogging when one has nothing to say. Game of Batsford, anyone?

hln

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Hey, all you blamers out there who think you know what really happened...

Why don't you just blame me? I'll be the goat, and we can all get back to what really needs to be done: helping people.

(No lawsuits, please. I'm not really to blame, as you might have suspected. Carry on.)

I might be to blame for the hole in Sean Penn's boat, though.

hln

Posted by: hln at 09:28 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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1 The "no time for the blame game" mantra is not helping anyone, and is, in fact, part of the game. Particularly when chanted in the same breath as buck-passing to local authorities. Step one is to help people. This is finally happening, as more survivors make it into Red Cross jurisdiction and the smaller charities get operations established. Step two is to find out what lessons can be learned from the entire ordeal. The current mantra does nothing to support either step. At least, no one has explained to me why that second step has to wait for step one to be finished, nor convinced me that step one will ever be complete. Or is all this "blame" talk just a public warning to Pat Robertson to keep quiet?

Posted by: hans at September 09, 2005 10:33 AM (SSLGd)

2 Yes, step two is to find out what we can learn. But except for logistics problems caused by the the conditions currently making issue, we're not ready for step 2. It's MONTHS away. For the poke at Sean Penn, at least I can say he was trying to do something, regardless of the motivation. It's more than what I've done - send money and stress. hln

Posted by: hln at September 09, 2005 12:08 PM (V04ml)

3 What are the prerequisites for step 2? How do we know it's time to start discussing preparations for the next emergency?

Posted by: hans at September 09, 2005 01:28 PM (SSLGd)

4 When people are safe. When the waters subside. When the bodies are counted, and when people know the state of their relatives. Then we take stock. I'm not knocking constructive criticism. I'm just thinking the politics of this - both sides - are absurd (and upsetting). hln

Posted by: hln at September 09, 2005 05:09 PM (ZFerI)

5 Fair enough, I think public officials would be right to put "lessons learned" discussions off until they are done with their jobs. (Waving fingers at each other about the blame game is hardly the moral high ground, a simple "I don't have time to talk about that right now, I'm trying to save lives" would suffice.) The rest of us, including the media, not busily employed with the relief effort have no cause to wait. The apologists for those presently in power seem to want to just put it off until we've all forgotten (and can go back to focusing on 9/11) and the far left seems to want everyone to stop what they're doing and talk about what went wrong immediately, while it's still fresh in our memory. The reasonable path lies somewhere between; I believe it sensible for those in public service to simply ignore the politics until at least relief efforts are in cruise, and the rest of us should already be doing our duty as citizens in a democracy and evaluating their performance.

Posted by: hans at September 12, 2005 09:47 AM (MNL0s)

6 But what's to be gained? Even if you point a finger at a single person/institution, what's to be gained? I've seen the following blamed: 1) President Bush 2) The federal government 3) FEMA specifically 4) Mayor Nagin 5) Governor I forget her name 6) The Sierra Club 7) People who live in New Orleans Global warming I could add chinchillas, but then it gets even more absurd. Brian put it well. If you blame the federal goverment/Bush administration, then it has an excuse to get more and more authoritian in control (a big ewwww at that, no). And what are we blaming - the response? What specifically about the response? The hurricane? There's just this big general assignation of "blame." (See the 7 silly things above) It's obnoxious. Not so much that the blame's being assigned, but the media humping the leg of reporting blame. I stand by the original - no matter what was done, it would never be good enough. Nothing short of holding up a hand and saying "stop" to the hurricane (and achieving the desired result). Even then you'd have pundits who'd state that wasn't done quickly or decisively enough. But it's so convenient to blame the Bush administration. Perhaps that should be put in with "the dog ate my homework." hln

Posted by: hln at September 12, 2005 02:12 PM (MNL0s)

7 Let me pose a question. Is there a middle ground to who/what is to blame for the current situation? If so, does that middle ground extend to when the "blame game" can begin? Personally, I don't believe in assessing/assigning blame right now, not enough relief has been given to the victims. However, it's impossible to expect the court of public opinion to remain silent (I mean come on people were blaming things before the hurricane even hit). I think people need to remember (or learn from this) that nature is a pretty friggin powerful thing and for all of man's "vaunted" accomplishments, mother earth can wipe us out pretty easily. For reference, review late 90's movies when natural disaster movies were all the rage.

Posted by: scott at September 12, 2005 02:40 PM (MNL0s)

8 "What could have been done better in responding to ensure citizen safety?" is a question that should be thoroughly and publicly answered after every crisis, regardless of public perception about whether the response was "good" or "bad." Of course the media is going to react to a public perception of "bad" with a lot of "who's fault?" hand waving, but this absurdity does not diminish our responsibility to study and critique our government's performance.

Posted by: hans at September 13, 2005 10:34 AM (MNL0s)

9 An aside: how did we come to this? You "conservatives" are supposed to be on my side on this as advocates of smaller government. When our huge, politically-motivated bureaucracy appears to fall short on one of the few things we're happy to pay taxes for, it should be seen as an opportunity to engage in public discussion about reducing its scope. Perhaps large-scale emergency management should be wholly federalized or wholly localized? Why was Mike Brown given that job? Sure, it's egg on the face of a Republican administration, but does anyone whose name doesn't end in (D) believe Democrats would have been any more selective in appointing to an ancillary post? Maybe, as the WSJ has claimed, we should just privatize FEMA? Or should emergency management be made a bullet point in the list of DoD responsibilities? What good is the FCC if all their red tape and regulations didn't provide us a communication infrastructure able to support relief work (a former chairman has been crying for this for years)? Bush apologists have just gotten defensive on behalf of the system [it's not time to blame yet, there's too many moving parts to assign blame, it's just an act of God, what could we mere humans have possibly done]. This is why I stopped voting Republican; unwavering faith in leadership from the very party that I grew up expecting to defend me from authoritarian rule. Bush is a lame duck anyway, stop running his campaign and start questioning why so much of our economy is drained into a fat, bloated government that trips over itself responding to predictable crisis! Don't any of you share my indignation that so much of my work goes to pay government salaries, and now I question whether they'll even help keep me alive when the New Madrid quake hits?

Posted by: hans at September 13, 2005 11:00 AM (MNL0s)

10 Privitize. I'm ok with that. I wouldn't blame Clinton or Reagan or Carter or Nixon in the same situation - so I won't blame Bush. "Risky" states should plan for these things, no? That includes coastal states planning for hurricanes, California also planning for earthquakes, Missouri planning for earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes (lots of midwestern states planning for tornadoes, no). This isn't about defending President Bush. It's about why are people blaming him anyway? I don't see that he is the answer to the problem or ever was really involved other than as a figurehead. If you could give a specific course of how he's to blame (other than he sits at the top of the governmental heap), please, expound. My whole argument is predicated on the fact that it makes no sense to blame the guy at the top on this one (unless you mean God, and if that's so, sure, go ahead). If we sink into "where Heather thinks the blame lies" - I'd say it's lack of foresight - basic human error. After that, it's political pressure - from both parties and local concerns - and subsequent decisions made from that. In most circumstances, these are harmless decisions (in terms of human life). What if the emergency management section of the federal government ran itself like I approach everything - trying to cover every possible scenario? Can you imagine the cost? Can you imagine how absurd the general populace would find this approach? Somehow, the practice in place in mid August when Katrina was a gnat, represents a compromise. If we knew when each policy/decision/game plan/law was put into place, then we could decide exactly who was at blame (whether you place blame at local, state, or federal level). But, yikes, what an undertaking. And to what gain? Whose responsibility is it to keep you alive when New Madrid makes its name again? Answer that question and then maybe that's where the blame is. Is it President x? I doubt that's your answer. As you and I have discussed before, maybe it's the Red Cross. Or, if you're all that concerned, perhaps we should all move to Kansas. I also don't understand how I'm running Bush's campaign (Scott, too, for that matter). It was never my aim to state anything other than that the blame game doesn't accomplish squat and our focus now should be elsewhere. Regarding "how the government will keep you alive" - I stand by my "it'll never be good enough" assertion from my original post. Regardless of who is in charge/to blame. If all of the people who were supposed to handle these issues truly did play 6 rounds of canasta instead of dealing with the crisis - if anyone was nonconcerned/nonstressed - then I'm concerned. But if a crisis happens, then a crisis wasn't averted. So it's not good enough. Privatize. Praxair St. Louis should definitely be considered in the bid. (Wow, there went a large portion of my lunch hour. hln

Posted by: hln at September 13, 2005 12:02 PM (MNL0s)

11 "This isn't about defending President Bush. It's about why are people blaming him anyway?" I'm in the wrong discussion, then. I haven't blamed Bush and I really don't care whether other people are or not. "it'll never be good enough" It will never be perfect, but as a taxpaying citizen, I expect a hell of a lot better than we've just witnessed.

Posted by: hans at September 13, 2005 02:41 PM (MNL0s)

12 Fair enough on both accounts. Can you objectify what you expect? (I'm asking myself the same question and haven't come up with an answer yet). It'll make for interesting discussion. hln

Posted by: hln at September 13, 2005 02:43 PM (MNL0s)

13 What I expect and am still waiting for: frank, public discussion on: - How various agencies collaborated (or failed to) in Katrina response - How the segmentation necessitated by our federal system might be mitigated in emergency cases without risking the federal martial law our founding fathers so rightly feared More specifically, I'd like to see: - A public-facing office, akin to the LLIS, that e.g. publishes UASI ratings, holding all public agencies accountable. Perhaps this should be under the GAO (Congressional) rather than DHS (Administrative). - Less "terrorism" politics and a more general "disaster prevention and response" orientation for DHS. (I believe that FEMA should be a member agency of DHS, just that DHS's goals need to be better aligned with FEMA's.)

Posted by: hans at September 27, 2005 10:48 AM (MNL0s)

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Something about this just warms my heart. Thank you, Mexico.

Carrying water treatment plants and mobile kitchens that can feed 7,000 people daily, the convoy bound for San Antonio is the first Mexican military unit to operate on U.S. soil since 1846.

The first green tractor-trailers, with Mexican flags attached to the tops of their cabs, crossed the international bridge at Laredo at about 8:15 a.m.

The rest of the 45-vehicle convoy was in a staging area on the U.S. side in about 15 minutes.

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Well, as I mentioned about a week ago, I had my first flat, and being that my bike tires had about 2500 miles on them, decided to replace them. Took bike to bike shop. And that's where the fun started.

I got the bike back on Tuesday. Wednesday a.m., I was up at normal time (around 5:00 a.m.) and noticed the tires were a bit low on air. Checked the sidewall to make sure these tires were rated for the amount of pressue I like to put in them (102 psi, baby), and pumped both to that.

I was wandering around when I heard these squeaking uneasy noises from my office. Entered office and set bike to have better posture, and, yes, you who ride know what those noises were a precursor to. POP! Very loud. Woke Brian up, who probably dreamed of a gunshot. So, no ride for me.

Took the bike into work so the guys could take a look at it and tell me what I did wrong/assist me in learning how to change a tube and replace a tire properly.

Ryan set the bike upside down balancing on the seat (why didn't I think of that), and we took out one of my spare tubes. He released the wheel and explained the what/how/why of what he was doing. Tube was pissy and obstinate, but he got it in there, and we put some air in. Nearing full air, the bad dog popped. Yeah. POP! In the office, no less. And EVERYONE and his dust mites heard it.

So, if you're counting, that's two tubes and zero miles. At that point, we noticed that the tube (which the guy at the bike shop had just handed me, and I didn't check) wasn't the proper size for the tire. Well, at least that blown tube made sense.

Took the bike in at about 3:40 on Wednesday - took off early to do that. Needed to ride. The guys at the bike shop are really laid back - both a detriment and a calming effect. One takes the bike and hangs it on a stand, reviews the blown tubes and my previous tires. Which are a different size (yes, the tires) than the new tires, though Ryan had said the new tires SHOULD fit my wheel rims. The bike mechanic tries to put a new tube (of the proper size this time - they exchanged them for me) in the back tire, but really has no luck and goes to find new new tires from the warehouse.

There's an additional bike mechanic in the workroom. I chat with him a bit, and then I start wandering the store while awaiting the new new tire. Spontaneously, as in a "poetic justice," "icing on the cake" moment, the front tire, which has been silent and feeling neglected, blows its tube. POP! It was all I could do not to crack up.

An hour later, I left the bike store with new new tires (yes, two) of the previous size. And all is well with the bike.

3 blown tubes. Zero miles ridden. That's just obnoxious.

hln

Posted by: hln at 08:47 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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In the interest of time and general summary, here's what's on my mind right now:

1. The politicization of Hurricane Katrina sickens me.
2. ~65 miles (bike) today and 30+ on Saturday do make me ready to return to nice, quiet, sedentary work tomorrow a.m.
3. I need to tell you guys the story of 3 flats and zero miles (next)
4. The book I'm reading - Freddy and Fredericka - is worth sending to every bibiophile you know. (And darned cheap on Amazon, as you can see).
5. My mother, who is retired, is too busy to read my blog. Isn't that obnoxious! Social butterfly.
6. Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 comes out September 27th!
7. And Civilization IV releases on November 14, 2005 (expect Brian's blogging to be light to nonexistent that week)

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