Friday, November 16, 2012

I guess it's time

I need all the thinking heads I can get, all the help I can get - because I've decided I have to get out from under Mom's 1998 Kia Sephia. After the repeated failures earlier this year, and the recent shifting oddities I've been experiencing for the past few days (off and on), I want to be able to drive a car that won't cause me so much anxiety about it leaving me dead on the road away from home. I can't take that stress any more.

Now, I realize the trade in value for my car may barely be $1,100 on a good day. I'd like to consider a car that's $3K if I can get that much, otherwise $2K if not.

Or if anyone can help me negotiate a better price (like $2,500 for the $3K car) please speak up about being able and wanting to help me. I will finance this with a credit card. I could use a 0% interest credit card check, but I have one card that has a rate under 9%.

I really hate having to do this, but as my computer services business is still trying to get started, I need a newer car. I think at this point, Mom would agree. It's time.

Do not hesitate to get involved with this process. I'd love to have it done within the next week. Tomorrow if things go right. I'll be looking for my title to the car and we'll have to clean it out.

I'm sick and tired of the problems and would prefer not putting any more money in the Sephia.

And I just put $16.50 of gas in it today... DAMMIT.
  

Monday, November 05, 2012

Wow, what a complete lack of CLASS, Time Warner!!

So, today I get the latest Road Runner bill via Time Warner. Instead of the customary bump in rate, which hasn't happened for about a year (well, how about that??), I see a notification that Time Warner is now going to CHARGE USERS A "LEASE FEE" OF $3.95 for the cable modem that they provided for us to be able to use Road Runner.

WHAT THE FREAKING HELL, TIME WARNER?

CHARGING US TO USE YOUR EQUIPMENT ON TOP OF THE FEE FOR THE SERVICE? A FEE THAT YOU NEVER CHARGED BEFORE???

OK, so whatever anyway. They do provide a list of devices that I could buy and use without that fee, and in the long run sounds like a good idea. I'd rather tell Time Warner to fuck themselves, but the options for high speed internet are limited. Frontier's high speed service isn't an option because 1) It's not available, 2) it's unreliable, and 3) it has no data.

And by all rights, if this sort of arrangement isn't in the original agreement that was signed when the service began all the way back in 2007 (I think) when Road Runner light was only $14.95 a month, then they can't just change this arrangement, right?

I need to get the service in my name, then bitch them out over this.

TIME WARNER CABLE IS JUST A BUNCH OF FUCKING THIEVES.

 
 

Friday, November 02, 2012

One says there's a mistake, the other is doing what they are told

The fingers don't know what the toes are doing. It's a saying that I made up that attempts to explain the flaws in the system.

When things go wrong, they really go F_ing WRONG


So today I decided I would get an answer to what happened to my lost $80 USPS money order.

I found a toll free number and called that. That person got me the number for the USPS General Accounting office. And here's where that person got my answer.

I filed my missing money order claim August 24. The refund was issued August 29. HOWEVER, the address on the slip WAS THE WRONG ONE. It should have been MY ADDRESS, NOT THE PERSON I TRIED TO SEND IT TO. 

AND THEN !!!!!!! IT WAS CASHED BY THAT OTHER PERSON SEPTEMBER 12. Now I TOLD her originally if that first money order ever arrived, do not cash it. DON'T CASH IT. I looked up her phone number and called it. She didn't answer, but some other guy did. I left the young woman whom I transacted with back in June (and into July) emails on one board and on Yahoo. The guy I spoke to and left a message with even says she acknowledge she got this envelope but forgot what it was about and went right ahead and cashed it!

I FIND IT DISTRESSING AND ANNOYING SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE AMOUNT OF THE REFUNDED MONEY ORDER WAS THE SAME AS THE LOST ONE.

I've left her emails giving her a chance to make things right. Either we work out a deal, or you send me Cas$h via Certified Mail.

IF I HAVE TO TAKE HER TO COURT, WHERE WOULD I FILE THIS? IN OHIO OR WHERE THIS PERSON LIVES????

So now--- The USPS is off the hook for this. They messed up, they refunded. Now I want my goddamn $80 back in some form.

And then the refilled ink cartridges that I got this week - the color one works, the black one prints with streaks...

And then I have to re-do one DVD project as it came out all messed up and the wrong audio on stuff. GRRRRRRRRRR... I still haven't cashed that $3.93 Classmates lawsuit check. I wonder how to report that?

Saturday, October 27, 2012

How freaking long is it supposed to take???

This is going to be an insane rant posting.

BACK IN JUNE, I got into some online dealing with a girl in Rhode Island selling something. We came to an agreement on price. The first deal came to $80. What I was buying isn't important here. 

June 25, 2012 I bought a United States Postal Money Order for that amount and sent it off. In the envelope was a letter with details of what I was buying from her and as a bonus I included a sheet of laser etched stickers that I had no desire to keep anymore. I printed stuff on the envelope (mainly addresses) and a little square image of a character, somewhat in keeping with what I was buying from her.

2 weeks go by and she's not received the envelope. I mailed it directly from inside my local post office. It's really odd how the envelope managed to be lost by the postal people when it was mailed from inside their facilities. During that time, though, we came to an agreement on a 2nd purchase. Because of the 1st envelope's failure to arrive, I get irritated and buy a 2nd USPS money order and sent it Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. That arrived in 2 DAYS.

Now, let's fill in a few details. A USPS Money Order for Domestic Use is not refunded or reissused for a minimum of 60 days after purchase. I knew that and was willing to go along with that. Thank goodness I saved the purchaser's stub for this document, like I do for every money order. While I got that 2nd money order at a different post office, the clerk gave me a Money Order Trace form to help me in the process to get an idea where the 1st one is.

IN JULY, I go in to the local post office with my filled out form. Oddly, the clerk who looked at my form remarked they hadn't seen it before. I replied that I hadn't had a USPS Money Order lost before. (To the credit of the USPS, this was my 2nd ever lost envelope that I sent. I had a Free 12-pack Coke coupon not arrive for some reason a while back.) So she does a free status check by calling some phone number and entering the money order serial number. I get told there's no status on it which is good. It's not been cashed.

So I wait another month.

AUGUST 25, I go in to finally file the trace and pay the fee. I have no idea what's supposed to happen after this. 

SEPTEMBER, I finally get to thinking "Where the hell's my resolution letter or whatnot for that money order?" So I get on the USPS website, type in the money order serial number, and I get the message "Refunded." OH WELL THAT'S NICE. Thing is, I didn't have any idea this happened. I HAVE NO LETTER TELLING ME THIS. I HAVE NO REFUND. THE MONEY IS STILL NOT IN MY HANDS.

So earlier in OCTOBER, I go in to find out what's going to happen next. It must have been old info on a webpage, but I'm supposed to get some sort of Resolution Letter that tells me what happened to that lost money order. I don't even have that. So I go in to ask what's up. I want my re-issued money order. The info I found says if you don't have anything, go in to find out what's up. The website says it's been refunded, where's my refund?

I GET TOLD: They don't re-issue them at the post office. They assured me I would get something in the mail, likely a money order made out in my name.

IT'S BEEN 4 FUCKING MONTHS, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY $80 BACK.

HOW LONG IS THIS SUPPOSED TO TAKE? WHERE IS MY GODDAMNED MONEY, USPS? WHO DO I HAVE TO CONTACT?

I did find the address for the USPS Consumer Advocate, and I may send off a letter about this ridiculous crap and hope to get some resolution. I feel like Michael Banks from Mary Poppins in wanting his tuppence back.


Thursday, September 27, 2012

What a morning!

Woke up to 2 things I don't need. Constipated cat and the power out.

Friday, September 21, 2012

boku no ofuro

Dekimashita nyo!

aggravations

So this is the first post now that Google forced the new user interface design on everyone. I don't see the need to change anything because I could already get things done. I don't understand how this makes it better. It's much like a cat food product changing the design on the bag, which the cats eating the food won't give 2 shits about. It doesn't need to be changed.

ANYWAY...

While working on the Black Lady resin kit, she has these earrings pieces that were formed on a piece or square of resin. I do not have the skills to release parts like that off the resin as they were cast. I tried to slice one earring off only to have the blade slip and cut it into 2 pieces which were quickly lost. So with the other earring, I finally have a plan, once I found it again. I had been cleaning up trying to find it, and here it was safe all this time.

The plan of action - using sticky tape, I form walls around the edge of the resin piece the remaining earring is on. I light a candle and get some wax melted in liquid form, and once I get enough, fill up the form over the resin piece - thereby creating a wax mold!

Now, I've already tried using filler putty to fill in one mold (I can create as many as I have to), but it did the odd thing of not wanting to actually fill it in as I've already experienced. Apparently it's more for contours and not filling. So I tried some Elmer's glue and it almost worked. What I need is resin.

I'm not sure what supplies exist around here for making a resin casting such as the kind I'm trying, so I resorted to using the resin in Fix a Windshield. The only limitation is that it needs to cure in direct sunlight... But at least I'll have something!!

 ALSO: When I chose the printer and computer I wanted for my business, I forgot that I did not choose a monitor. I could use something that can do at least 1024x768, but if anyone has a spare 18.5" LCD monitor, let me know.

Friday, September 07, 2012

This might save me time

I ran into an AVI that didn't want to render as a DVD file right as it came out looking corrupted when it wasn't, so after reprocessing in VirtualDub, I have an optimized file. The thing I'm trying is if I can process it like the rest of the original DVD (same bit rate and all), and after it's set up with its set of DVD files (IFO, BUP, etc), can I just rename it, insert it over the bad files and have a new fixed DVD without having to re-generate the entire disk. If this works, it may save me a lot of time in the future, provided I haven't created another project before playing the one I need to fix.

Additional: I found out that I should not copy the IFO or BUP files, just the VOBs. At least that's what I'll try next time.
 

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Shock Me lyrics translation and explanation of bits

I'm putting this here due to drama going on elsewhere. This is practically my final say on this translation.

SHOCK ME!  

Translation and roumaji by Andrew Floyd

Shock me Shock me
Shock me Shock me

草木も 眠る 丑三つ に あいつが空を   飛んで来る
kusaki mo nemuru ushimitsu ni aitsu ga sora w(o) tonde kuru
Even as plants go to sleep at midnight, he comes flying in the sky

tonde kuru - present progressive form. the sky is the direct object. It would also be correct to say comes flying through the sky. The precise use of the sky for flying is not exact. We know things can both fly in and through the sky.
kusaki mo nemuru ushimitsu ni - mo is even, used for emphasis that even plants sleep at midnight. ushimitsu ni - at midnight, ni meaning to indicate a specific time the plants sleep. note that the verb nemuru comes before ushimitsu. It makes the first part a relative clause.


十字架なんか かまえる暇ない でしょう
juujika nanka kamaeru himanai deshou
I guess I have no time to set up any kind of cross

juujika - cross, nanka - something like (derogatory), kamaeru - to set up
hima - time, himanai - no time. deshou - I think, I guess, Probably


やさしい愛がすべてだと 誰かが言っていた けれど
yasashii ai ga subete da to dareka ga itte ita keredo
Though someone had said "a gentle love is everything,"

yasashii ai ga subete da to - this is a quote, set off by "to" and the use of the verb itte. it was said by dareka. itte ita - past tense. was said, had said. keredo - but, however, though, also indicates this line is a clause. 'to' in this context does not indicate condition.

このままいけば 純愛 なんか吹き飛ぶわ  
kono mama ikeba jun'ai nanka fukitobu wa
If things go on as they are now, something like pure love will be blown off.

kono mama - things remain as it is now, ikeba - the if or when form of iku - to go.
fukitobu - to be blown off, to blow off. wa - female sentence ending.
This sentence appears to use an adverb of time, so it's not much of stretch to give this a future tense in English.

まして相手はすご腕のドラキュラよ Tokyo だって壊すのよ
mashite aite wa sugo'ude no Dracula yo Tokyo datte kowasu no yo
Not to mention my companion is the almighty Dracula! He'll even break Tokyo!

mashite - not to mention, aite - companion, sugo'ude - almighty. kowasu - to break. datte - even, also, too.


炎 のように 燃えるまなざしで 私 を ああ 誘う
hono'o no you ni moeru manazashi de watashi w(o) aa sasou
With a look that burns like a flame, Aaah, he invites me

The present tense verb moeru before the noun manazashi makes that part the dependent clause.
hono'o - a flame or a blaze. Fire is a different kanji even if it also means a flame or a blaze.
no you ni - so as to be like, moeru - to burn. manazashi - a look. sasou - to invite, seduce, or tempt as suitable definitions. Depends on the mood you want the translation to have.

Shock me Shock me  

黒いマントに 秘められた その魔力 伊達じゃない
kuroi MANTO ni himerareta sono maryoku date ja nai
He was able to hide in a black cape so his magical charm isn't showy.

kuroi manto - a black cape, himerareta - past tense potential form of himeru - was able to hide - himerareru - can hide, date - showy or flaunted.

Shock me Shock me

できることなら これが夢だと 信じたい
dekiru koto nara kore ga yume da to shinjitai
If it's possible, I want to believe "This is a dream."

dekiru koko nara - if it can become possible. kore ga yume da to - this is a quote and a dependent clause, someone putting words to their feelings. shinjitai - I want to believe.

伝説の夜だから
densetsu no yoru dakara
Because it's a legendary night


見つめられると魔女になる あいつの罠が待っている
mitsumerareru to majo ni naru  aitsu no wana ga matte iru
He can gaze at me and turn me into a witch. His trap is waiting.

mitsumeru - to gaze at, the -rareru suffix makes it 'can gaze.' 'to' - and, linking the next thing in this part, majo ni naru. To become a witch. It's acceptable that the singer turns into a witch because Dracula is able to gaze at her and make it happen. matte iru - the present progressive of To wait, is waiting. This is also sometimes matteru. aitsu no wana - his trap.


冗談 じゃない 虜になんかならないわ
joudan ja nai  toriko ni nanka naranai wa
It's not a joke. I won't be something like a captive


だけど相手はミステリアスドラキュラよ マジックだって使うのよ
dakedo aite wa Mysterious Dracula yo Magic datte tsukau no yo
However, he is the Mysterious Dracula! He can even use magic!

妖しい ほど に なれた 手まねきで 私 を ああ 誘う
ayashii hodo ni nareta temaneki de watashi w(o) aa sasou
I became all the more suspicious as he beckons with his hand  Aaah... (and) invites me.

ayashii - suspicious, dubious. hodo ni - to be as _ as, all the more. nareta - became
This explains why the singer isn't a captive. The ever dashing Dracula is supposed to be a ladykiller (pun intended) and looks for women to be his guest for the evening. In the end, he zucks zere bluud.

Shock me Shock me

サイコロジック オールバックに まとめた 黒い髪                                                                                
psychologic All Back ni matometa kuroi kami
His black hair collected all together in the back makes me swoon.
His black hair collected in a 'psychologic' all-in-the-back style

"Psychologic" here is definitely a borrowed word from English, but it doesn't mean the same thing. It indicates that his hair style is intended to influence her emotionally. As we see by the next line, it definitely has an affect.

all back ni - this is used for a name of the "all back hair style." matometa - collected, gathered together, the paste tense of matomeru.


Shock me Shock me  

口づけたなら その腕の中 溶けてゆく
kuchizuketa nara  sono ude no naka tokete yuku
If he kissed me, I'd melt in his arms

満月の夜だから
mangetsu no yoru dakara
Because it's a full moon night

Shock me Shock me  
Shock me Shock me

Shock me Shock me
Shock me Shock me

世紀末だわ 引きさかれた バイブル 地に落ちて
seikimatsu da wa  hikisakareta Bible chi ni ochite
It's the end of the century.  A torn-apart Bible falls to the ground. 

Shock me Shock me  

もう戻れない これが運命と 感じてる
mou modorenai  kore ga sadame to kanjiteru
I can't go back again. I feel "This is fate."

伝説の夜だから
densetsu no yoru dakara
Because it's a legendary night
 

This is my work, and anyone saying otherwise is delusional and needs to get some psychologic help.