Monday, January 26, 2004
Thursday, January 22, 2004
This just about sums up my feelings about the Bush fiscal policy. (Courtesy of Andrew Sullivan) Warning! Sound is involved!
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Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Let me tell you about the awful day I had yesterday.
My left headlight on my 2002 Hyundai burned out this morning. I wasn't terribly concerned, since I've changed many headlights in the past, on several different cars. So, when I got showered and dressed, I decided to head out to Wal-Mart and buy a new bulb before I went to work at noon. As I perused the auto parts section, which was filled with BILLIONS of different bulbs, I couldn't find the right one. I checked the computer and the book, and I just couldn't find it. I was a bit put out, since I had relatively limited time, but I left Wal-Mart to go find an auto parts store. The old guy at the door said there was one on the Coralville Strip. So, I drove up and down the Coralville strip looking for one, and couldn't find one anywhere.
Now, you must understand, the strip is the main business district in Coralville-- if it's not there, it's probably not anywhere. I headed back in the opposite direction, and decided to check on 1st Avenue just in case. No luck. By this time, I was getting a little steamed... it's only a light bulb, for Pete's sake! At any rate, I decided I would go back to Droy's place and look up the nearest auto parts store in the phone book. There was one listed on 2nd avenue, so I resolved to go and get the bulb, and try to install it before work. While I was at Droy's, though, I decided to make the bed and wash the dishes, leaving me no time to eat lunch. I grabbed a granola bar, and then I went in search of the store. Little did I know that 2nd avenue is divided into 3 pieces, none of which connect. I tried the first one--dead end. Same with the second. Finally, I managed to find the 3rd section of 2nd avenue. There, nestled between a huge Mexican restaurant and a smaller Chinese restaurant, was an absolutely tiny CarQuest. I parked and went inside, with only 20 minutes until I had to get to work. I had to wait a few minutes for the saleslady to wait on other customers, but she finally got to me. At first she couldn't find the right bulb in the computer, but she finally found it and got one for me. It was $17!!!! For only one bulb! I was shellshocked, but I didn't have much time left.
I go out to my car, and open the hood... and the battery is right in front of where I need to be. There was no way I was going to get the battery out and the bulb installed in time for me to get to work, so I had to forget about it for the time being. The only problem was, I wouldn't get off work until 7pm, at which point it would be too dark to replace the bulb. I just had to hope that I wouldn't get stopped by the police.
While I was at work, I had a sudden thought-- I could change the bulb on my break, while it was still light. So, when I got my first half-hour break, I sprinted out to the parking lot to change the bulb. When I opened the hood, I realized that I had to remove a huge plastic shield to get to the battery. It wasn't screwed on, it had these strange plastic rivets that held it on. When I finally got it off, I couldn't budge the battery. I looked, and it was bolted to the frame. Unfortunately, none of my wrenches or socket wrenches could reach the bolt!! I was stymied yet again! I needed a socket extension, and I had one at home, but that was an hour's drive away. I gave up and went back to work, frustrated that I had wasted my dinner break on nothing.
After work, I went back to Droy's place, and picked him up. We went to the other Wal-Mart to try to find the bulb... we found something close, but decided not to buy it. On our way back to his place, we did indeed get pulled over. Fortunately, he didn't give me a ticket, especially after I showed him the receipt for the bulb I had bought. But he did suggest I go to Auto Zone and borrow a socket extension to get the bolt out.
Well, that was my frustrating day yesterday. Today, I went to Autozone, bought some different bulbs, and set about changing the bulbs. I had to get four different tools at one point, because instead of just having a plug, there was a whole Byzantine system of disengaging the bulb and removing it. It took about half an hour to do it, but eventually it was done. WHEW!! I hope I don't have to do that again for a long time!
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My left headlight on my 2002 Hyundai burned out this morning. I wasn't terribly concerned, since I've changed many headlights in the past, on several different cars. So, when I got showered and dressed, I decided to head out to Wal-Mart and buy a new bulb before I went to work at noon. As I perused the auto parts section, which was filled with BILLIONS of different bulbs, I couldn't find the right one. I checked the computer and the book, and I just couldn't find it. I was a bit put out, since I had relatively limited time, but I left Wal-Mart to go find an auto parts store. The old guy at the door said there was one on the Coralville Strip. So, I drove up and down the Coralville strip looking for one, and couldn't find one anywhere.
Now, you must understand, the strip is the main business district in Coralville-- if it's not there, it's probably not anywhere. I headed back in the opposite direction, and decided to check on 1st Avenue just in case. No luck. By this time, I was getting a little steamed... it's only a light bulb, for Pete's sake! At any rate, I decided I would go back to Droy's place and look up the nearest auto parts store in the phone book. There was one listed on 2nd avenue, so I resolved to go and get the bulb, and try to install it before work. While I was at Droy's, though, I decided to make the bed and wash the dishes, leaving me no time to eat lunch. I grabbed a granola bar, and then I went in search of the store. Little did I know that 2nd avenue is divided into 3 pieces, none of which connect. I tried the first one--dead end. Same with the second. Finally, I managed to find the 3rd section of 2nd avenue. There, nestled between a huge Mexican restaurant and a smaller Chinese restaurant, was an absolutely tiny CarQuest. I parked and went inside, with only 20 minutes until I had to get to work. I had to wait a few minutes for the saleslady to wait on other customers, but she finally got to me. At first she couldn't find the right bulb in the computer, but she finally found it and got one for me. It was $17!!!! For only one bulb! I was shellshocked, but I didn't have much time left.
I go out to my car, and open the hood... and the battery is right in front of where I need to be. There was no way I was going to get the battery out and the bulb installed in time for me to get to work, so I had to forget about it for the time being. The only problem was, I wouldn't get off work until 7pm, at which point it would be too dark to replace the bulb. I just had to hope that I wouldn't get stopped by the police.
While I was at work, I had a sudden thought-- I could change the bulb on my break, while it was still light. So, when I got my first half-hour break, I sprinted out to the parking lot to change the bulb. When I opened the hood, I realized that I had to remove a huge plastic shield to get to the battery. It wasn't screwed on, it had these strange plastic rivets that held it on. When I finally got it off, I couldn't budge the battery. I looked, and it was bolted to the frame. Unfortunately, none of my wrenches or socket wrenches could reach the bolt!! I was stymied yet again! I needed a socket extension, and I had one at home, but that was an hour's drive away. I gave up and went back to work, frustrated that I had wasted my dinner break on nothing.
After work, I went back to Droy's place, and picked him up. We went to the other Wal-Mart to try to find the bulb... we found something close, but decided not to buy it. On our way back to his place, we did indeed get pulled over. Fortunately, he didn't give me a ticket, especially after I showed him the receipt for the bulb I had bought. But he did suggest I go to Auto Zone and borrow a socket extension to get the bolt out.
Well, that was my frustrating day yesterday. Today, I went to Autozone, bought some different bulbs, and set about changing the bulbs. I had to get four different tools at one point, because instead of just having a plug, there was a whole Byzantine system of disengaging the bulb and removing it. It took about half an hour to do it, but eventually it was done. WHEW!! I hope I don't have to do that again for a long time!
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I think Meryl Yourish has this about right. It can't be a "choice" to wear a headscarf if there is no other option.
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Monday, January 19, 2004
Wow... it's been ONE WHOLE MONTH since I last blogged. Glenn Reynolds I'm not. Oh, well... but at any rate, here is a good point by Tim Blair about all the naysayers who claim that "Western Style" democracy won't work in Iraq.
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