Facebook Posts: Aug 2010

August 2010

AUGUST 29
Scott updated his status.
Just got layouts back of my next Vagant column, about Steve Tomasula’s TOC. They look great!
Scott updated his status.
This weekend’s project: filing complaints about Expedia with every consumer protection agency I can think of. So far I’ve hit the FTC, the DOT office of Aviation Consumer Protection, and the Better Business Bureau. I don’t like getting screwed. Probably won’t help in the end, but maybe they’ll rethink their policy of not informing consumers of the rules and restrictions on the flights they sell.
AUGUST 27
Scott updated his status.
I just watched Glenn Beck fair and a little um balanced. Turns out he’s not so bad. He’s giving out merit badges at the upcoming million moron march. It’s going have an “Officer and a Gentleman” theme. It turns Beck is some kind of profit, er, prophet. He feels closer to MLK than he does to Lincoln, Beck does, because MLK isn’t carved in stone. And he’s giving out merit badges. Something to do with Jesus and war.
Scott updated his status.
The new ELO site has been translated into several languages: unfortunately all the translations mean “under construction” — a placeholder after yet another malicious spam hacking.
Scott updated his status.
The most satisfactory thing I did today was file a complaint with the FTC. Tomorrow, the State of Washington attorney general. Eat me, Expedia.
Scott updated his status.
getting completely screwed over by Expedia.
AUGUST 26
Scott shared a link.

Building a Nation of Know-Nothings – NYTimes.com
opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com
46% of Republicans believe that Obama is a Muslim. This says nothing negative about Muslim Americans, and a great deal about the ignorance of a good portion of Republican Americans.
AUGUST 25
Scott shared a link.

This Modern World: A mosque near ground zero?
www.salon.com
When rightwingnuts get their way with Manhattan . . .
AUGUST 24
Scott updated his status.
First day of classes, and about 10 students managed to sign up once the wrench had been kicked out of the registration system, so the room won’t be entirely empty after all.
AUGUST 23
Scott updated his status.
finally got my third Vagant column finished, thanks to Benjamin taking a long nap.
AUGUST 20
Scott wrote on Bob Geise’s timeline.
Hey Bob, I really like the project. Checked it out on your website today. Good work.
Scott updated his status.
really enjoying family card games. Glad to see Aurora taking an interest in the boring old people around here, if only for the opportunity to defeat us in Queen of Spades.
Scott updated his status.
The house is filling with the smell of BBQ ribs slowly basting in beer. Looking forward to dinner tonight.
Scott updated his status.
just paid $8 for two cans of Dr. Pepper — in the grocery store. Every once in a while, prices in Norway still have the power to shock me. The checker ran one through, and I said “that’s for a six pack, right?” Nope. $4 per 12 ounce can.
AUGUST 19
Scott updated his status.
I’ll just come out and admit it — I want Blago to get off of all charges and star in some sort of reality cooking show where people show up at his house and get cursed at while served overly ambitious nouveau cuisine by a former governor in an expensive suit. “Adams, try these f***ing roast beets in the cabernet cilantro reduction. They are f***ing golden. Eat them, you f***ing moron.”
Scott shared a link.

What Is It About 20-Somethings? – NYTimes.com
www.nytimes.com
Good reading about the kids. Of course, I recognize myself in it. My favorite thing so far is the identification of “early adulthood” as a period ending when you are 45.
Scott wrote on Clark Nelson’s timeline.
Oh wait for a minute I thought you just gave birth. Congratulations anyway.
Scott updated his status.
not happy with UiB. Someone in the administration apparently forgot to add my course to the student registration system until today, less than a week before classes start. Less work for me, I guess. But I’m not thrilled at the idea of lecturing to an empty room.
AUGUST 17
Scott updated his status.
MP
(most problems) are easy to verify once they are S (solved) but that
does not equal Z (level of anxiety preceding the solution) and is
complicated by D factor (the impulse to minimize the idea the the
problem was a problem before it was solved) and conversely by I factor
(the impulse to enhance the degree to which the problem was a problem whether or not it was a problem, in order to aggrandize the solver).
Scott wrote on Kevin Nylen’s timeline.
Happy B-Day! In French, that would be Happy Bidet! but it would mean something different.
Scott updated his status.
Autumn starts early in Bergen. UiB begins with its usual routine of failing technological systems at crucial moments. Students purchase mass quantities of beer. The city cancels bus routes and packs the train cattle-car like with masses of hot sweaty bodies struggling to breath with little ventilation. Orientations begin tomorrow. First class in a week.
Scott shared a link.

Debate Over P vs. NP Proof Highlights Web Collaboration – NYTimes.com
www.nytimes.com
P (the set of problems that can be easily solved) does not equal NP (those problems that are difficult to solve, but easy to verify once a solution is found). Unless it does.
AUGUST 14
Scott updated his status.
Found a patch of the last blueberries of the season during an evening berry hunt with Jessica Ann — all in all a great daddy/daughter day. If only my iPhone hadn’t suddenly and mysteriously completely crapped out.
AUGUST 13
Scott updated his status.
Jessie and I will be alone this weekend minding the store, while Jill and Benjamin are off meeting cousin Lizzie. Thinking about special outings . . . maybe we’ll go to the movies. Or Paris.
AUGUST 12
Scott updated his status.
Never thought I’d say this, but my workweek isn’t long enough. 2.5 days a week means I’ll be getting nothing but the basics done. On the other hand, Benjamin and I will do some major bonding.
Scott shared a link.

Radiolab and NPR Present Words
gdata.youtube.com
Lovely associative linking video.
AUGUST 11
Scott updated his status.
I wasn’t going to post about this but I will anyway. My daughter has gone two whole days straight without any accidents on the floor, and I can already appreciate the lifestyle improvement for the whole family. She’s a rock star, in my book.
Scott wrote on Kendra Shedenhelm’s timeline.
Happy Birthday, Archer!
Scott updated his status.
Naptime.
AUGUST 9
Scott updated his status.
Tired but accomplished, parentally speaking. Grocery shopping expedition, laundry, potty training, vacuuming, raspberry muffins, bottle feeding, diapers, accident clean up, naps, laundry, books, floor mopping, german potato salad, corn on the cob, sausages.
Scott shared a link.

Sugar-Crusted Raspberry Muffins | Real Simple Recipes
www.realsimple.com
Made raspberry muffins with Jessica Ann this afternoon with the raspberries we picked last night. Tasty.
AUGUST 8
Scott updated his status.
had fun picking raspberries with my daughter. There all over the place in Norway this time of year. Jessica ate about 40 of them on our walk home.
AUGUST 7
Scott updated his status.
Accomplishment of the night: figuring out that a) there was a child lock on the washer and b) how to release said chlld lock.
Scott updated his status.
Alone at home with the sleeping kids and a Portuguese red while Jill is out with old school friends of unknown character. Will clean the house to sanity for entertainment.
Scott updated his status.
If I were a contemporary rocker living in the coastal region of the American south I would name my band Sea Turtle Body Count or The Dead Pelicans.
AUGUST 6
Scott updated his status.
There’s something particularly frustrating about the stage of potty training in which the child decides she no longer wants to go to the potty, but is happy to piss on your leg instead.
AUGUST 5
Scott updated his status.
Breaking news: Wave plans to drop Google and move back to stadiums where it claims it “was always more appreciated by users.”
AUGUST 5
Scott updated his status.
“It has now been contained, it’s been skimmed, Mother Nature has done its part, it’s evaporated.” –Scott Rettberg describing clean-up operations after a series of potty training mishaps involving his two and a half year old daughter, floors, and furniture.
Scott wrote on Marjorie Luesebrink’s timeline.
Gratulerer med dagen : ) !!
Scott updated his status.
I was just thinking how lucky we are in our program — though we have a somewhat traditional/theoretical focus in line with the Norwegian university model, we keep getting these amazing students who are artists (on the side). I hope it’s a trend, or at least that we’re doing something right. Provided, of course, that they also write their theses.
AUGUST 2
Scott updated his status.
taking care of my kids while Jill returns to the office — we’ll be splitting parental leave 50/50 for the next six months. Just managed a trip to the grocery store with the double stroller and both kids.
AUGUST 1
Scott shared a link.

Must-try dishes at Chicago restaurants – chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com
Deep-fried bacon.
Scott updated his status.
Big day for Jessica — four gold stars. Maybe potty training won’t be such a big ordeal. She’s very proud her accomplishments in this area.