J-town, or taking a walk on the urban side

So, I'm living in Jackson presently and posting via "borrowed" internet. My apartment is here;


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The neighborhood's pretty cool. Our local grocery store customers say a lot, yuppies, aging hipsters, and the original locals. Unfortunately, the cashiers are slower than Christmas, and I always seem to pick the slowest line. But that's life.

Which is quite convenient, since I work here (approximately 15 minutes door to office door);


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Work's fun, we're doing interesting things for interesting people. I'm never quite sure what's going to land on my desk, but so far I've written quite a few memos, one answer to a complaint, and I'm working on a complaint.

I've run across some funny cases in the course of my research. My favorite has to be a corporate opportunity usurpation case involving a business to make flameproof carpet pads. The name of the business; Fyr Pruf. Just say it allowed, it was the 70s, it worked for them. Or rather, it didn't, but that was because the corporate officers stripped the assets and started a competitor.

Going running in Jackson is nice, better than Oxford even. Not better for me, but I like it more. I really started running outside when I lived in Petersburg, so I have a special place in my heart for a face full of diesel smoke while out for a run. Oxford's too treefilled and prone to ruralness. Plus, it's hilly.

Which leads me to Farrish Street. It's about 3 blocks from our building, and it looks like a war was fought there. Which, I suppose, one was. If you think about it. But it's been cleaned up, mostly, and a few buildings have been torn down. Check out Peaches if you're ever in Jackson. When you roll into a soul food joint, and there's a woman at the counter with a Foxxie Brown afro, you're in the right place. But I'm getting away from my point. I went running down that direction one day last week, early, around 6:15. There was a group of Jacksonians out playing dice. On the sidewalk, sun barely up. That's dedication.

Anyway, I'll bring this general life ramble to a close. Job I enjoy, housing that's convenient to work, picked up a new suit this evening, and I just found what I assume will be a cheap driving range about 10 minutes away. Other than the power company being of the mistaken impression I'm going to pay them a $200 deposit, things are going quite well.

Which is more than I can say for Russia or France in our Diplomacy game.

Need internet at the house

I really don't, actually. It's fun, in a weird sort of way to live in an apartment with no internet or tv. Not so much fun to live in an apartment without much furniture, but it'll work for the time.

I'd blog more, I'm trying to like Jackson, honest, although it's not making it easy. But Emily's toy laptop has too small a screen for her to use it for much, and she's ready to go, even if she won't admit it.

Must get internet at house

Planned on spending my 30 minutes before work (while on internet at office) blogging. Instead spent it reading blogs.

Now, must work.

Call Emily tonight, she's defending.

If this law thing doesn't work out♦

I can always join the Ukrainian Army. Or get a job as a Ukrainian adman, which, frankly, would seem to go more to my talents, and be more lucrative. Although perhaps not lead to as many babes. Hat tip to Zack Dagneau.

For those who might recognize the tune, you are correct. It's chorni boomer.



I have a dog named, in a sense (he's black, it's catchy, it happened) after this song. The singer was once described to me as the "second most powerful man in Russia, after Putin."

And as a final bit Russian class, Putin's goodbye present to the west.



Some people have proper respect for history.



Now, I'm off to watch Battlestar.

Google, now with more awesome, less filling

So, it turns out Google has developed the capability to read minds, and the wherewithal to develop features based on them.

Or at least my mind.

I LOVE sharing blog posts, as the people who I've shared them with know. It can sometimes be a bit much, but it's a great way to create a small universe social news site, Digg.com w/o the fucktards.

But there's been ONE single feature it was lacking, the ability to annotate the posts. So I might find a hilarious post, but you had to scroll a bit. No way to say to friends just scroll down, it's great. Well, now their is. Share with a Note

Instead of buying NOT buying ridiculously behind the times and generally pathetic competitors they actually innovate. Also today, the ability to embed YouTube clips inside Google Doc Presentations. These kids are going to mess around and prove Scott McNealy right.



Now, if they'll only get busy on this;



Or a flying car. That would be cool to. Actually, I think I'd rather having the flying car. Unless, that is, it was an Orgasmatron flying car. Now that's worth concentrating over.

Happy to be back on the internet

No, we haven't been suffering a Metrocast induced outage, I've been incredibly busy for the last 36 hours getting ready for my labor law final. Things went well, at least I felt good leaving the test, so I guess it was worth it.

I have much to post over the next few days; derby thoughts, an idea for a new restaurant that would be great in Oxford, last desperate pleas for a place to live in Jackson next week.

But for now I'll leave with one small bit of wisdom. Don't EVER order the stuffed Pablono peppers at "Tequila's" here in Oxford. Cause the description sounds like a spicier version of stuffed bell peppers, which was what I wanted. What I got were disgustingly awful little fried things which were filled with the fakest cheese I've ever seen. They were more akin to a Sonic "Jalapeno Popper" than anything else I can think of. It was NOT what I wanted last night. But oh well, Emily gave me a bit of her meal, which was quite good. The mexican place just isn't the same without a pitcher of Dous Eques.

Anyway, watch this space, final test Wednesday (Secured Transactions) at 9:00 AM. I'm getting very very ready to do something else for a while.

Eight Belles

She was a hell of a horse. I'm well into the juleps. so if my typing shows some damage, that's the reason. I had her for $10 to win, by far my biggest bet (I only also had Gayego at $2).

Damn. She placed. And deserved better than the nearly triumphal and she earned it. From now on, I haven't been a horseplayer for long, I'll have a line to automatically support. Damn she was a hell of a horse, gave everything, and just came up short. It's easy to blame the jockey, but here, the race was over, could a more experienced hand have saved her? I don't know, but I'll keep asking, because she was the lady to beat.

One of the people at our party cashed a ticket on Big Brown to win. I don't care. I lost my bets. But the horses I had (and the Evin Willians Green Bourbon I've had) say I made the right decisions. Gayego was my horse before the post draw, earning at least a $2 bet. And Eight Belles should have won, could have won, and was a hell of a horse. Am I being sentimental, yes, am I intoxicated, yes. But any employer who would hold the support of a fine horse against me, doesn't deserve my services. Matt is hosting a Preakness party, and I'm not sure I'll be there. Jackson employment calls and gas is pricey. But we shall see.

Damn. I don't know what to say. I lost, but being drunk, and having bet on horses I really believed in, I'm happy with my choices. I had Circular Que last year. Win or lose now, I made good decisions.