Productive evening!

Paid off the remaining balance on my MBNA card--the one that wanted to screw over all of its customers by jacking up interest rates.

Paid county personal property taxes for both of my vehicles.

Renewed my ASME membership.

Mailed VA Employment Commission about my new-found job.

Mailed a check to my fraternity for my attendance at Cornell's homecoming, Oct15-16.

Updated my address with Key--though why they didn't have my current address, I don't know--and one of my AT&T Universal cards, but not the other (identical save for account #, and my login only works for one.)

Created a whole list of work-related ToDo items--CD- and web-based training classes I have to complete, paperwork (security, expense, other) I have to fill out, items I have to make sure I get, trips to plan for*..

Renewed my CSE membership.

Yeah, I think that's it. While watching Everwood, 7th Heaven, Futurama, Family Guy, and SeaLab 2021. :)


* Denver for training! Next week (9/19-25), and 10/31-11/13, give or take a day each. (The former was going to be mid-October or late November/early December, but a) I have CU's homecoming mid-Oct, and b) a spot opened in the upcoming class, so I'll be a last-minute fill-in--and have to complete the pre-req computer-based courses this week!)

Work and training, show tonight, and a few links

Met Leo (the other FNG) in Springfield, whence he drove his big gold Expedition to the ONI in Suitland, MD this morning, to deal with a flaky drive. Man, what a run-down, '70s-throwback part of town.

Afterward, we headed back to Springfield, and had lunch (and some billiards) at Bungalow Billiard & Brew Co., then back to the office in separate vehicles, where I did paperwork for the rest of the afternoon. (New-hire HR stuff, mostly, but also some training prep.) Also noticed that the regular "FastTrak" training progression for the i2K robot is normally "storage-attached networks, web-based class, by August 31" and "CD-ROM-based i2K training, Sept 7-14." Guess what I get to do both of before Monday?

And then traffic sucked, but not too bad--and at least I got to go home, unlike Leo, who's on call this week and had to head down to Dahlgren, an hour and a half from the office in good traffic, to deal with a flaky 10K system.

Meanwhile, I'll be going to Jammin' Java to see the Violet Burning, the audience of which which may include Matt, but sadly, not the very busy Shauna.

---

Via blistex: Good article on the current US political climate.

visgoth: Kerry lies about the Assault Weapons Ban.

Via liandriel: Take the AWB survey!

Via partywhipple: China executes bank employees in fraud crackdown. China also executes folks for corruption, and for bottom-pinching. (Discussion here

Via djkangal: Goth is officially mainstream.

Ha! Via xiaoshira: Bumper Sticker Insubordination - A Kerry fan gets fired, and then hired, for her politics.


Incidentally, the current music (cover) has awesome orchestral backing.