I'm tryin' to tell you somethin' 'bout my life

[RGMike]

Well, no posting (and no 10@10s) until tomorrow night.  Kaiser stuff in the morning; I'll probably (finally) see Grindhouse in the afternoon.

[princessofcairo]

in case you're interested, here's the sort of emails i receive from the embassy:

Embassy of the United States of America
Madrid, Spain


U.S. CITIZEN WARDEN MESSAGE
April 18, 2007

The following message is for maximum dissemination to U.S. Citizens

SUBJECT: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT – WORLDWIDE CAUTION


1.  This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas.  This supersedes
the Worldwide Caution dated October 11, 2006 and expires on October 9, 2007.

2.  The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests
overseas.  Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.

3.  Ongoing events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East have resulted in demonstrations and associated violence in several countries.  Americans are reminded
that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.

4.  In August 2006, British authorities arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.  The September 2006 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Syria and the March 2006 bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan illustrate the continuing desire of extremists to strike American targets.

5.  Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests.  The bomb attacks targeting buses carrying
foreign workers in March 2007 and December 2006 in Algeria, a series of bombings in Thailand in May and September 2006 that targeted commercial and tourist destinations in the far south, and the bombings in the the Egyptian resort town of Dahab in April 2006 all illustrate how terrorists exploit vulnerabilities associated with soft targets.  Additional examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business
offices, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays.  Financial or economic
targets of value may also be considered as possible venues; the vehicle-based suicide attack on an oil facility near Mukalla and Marib in Yemen in September 2006 and the failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 are such examples.

6.  In the wake of the August 2006 plot against aircraft in London, numerous terrorist attacks on trains in India in 2006, the July 2005 London Underground bombings, and
the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems.  In addition, extremists may also
select aviation and maritime services as possible targets.

7.  U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.  For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov.

8.  U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert.  These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture.  In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.  Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

9.  As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular
Information Program documents, available on the Internet at  HYPERLINK "http://travel.state.gov" http://travel.state.gov.
In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

April 2007


Following are the contact numbers of our Embassy in Spain, as well as the Consulate General in Barcelona and the different consular agencies. All these contact numbers and their addresses are available on the Internet at  HYPERLINK "http://madrid.usembassy.gov" http://madrid.usembassy.gov.

Consular Section Madrid. American Citizen Services: 91-587-2240 ?
Embassy and emergencies after hours: 91-587-2200

American Consulate General Barcelona: 93-280-2227.

Consular Agency La Coruña: 981-213-233
Consular Agency Las Palmas: 928-271-259
Consular Agency Málaga: 952-474-891
Consular Agency  Palma de Mallorca: 971-403-707
Consular Agency Seville: 954-218-751
Consular Agency Valencia: 963-516-973

[Gazoo]

I for one am glad they've got your back.

[Gazoo]

There's no thread for "random music overheard," so I'll put this here: While having lunch at Chipotle (a burrito chain; do you have them in SF?), I heard the drastically unexpected back-to-back of Bootsy Collins's rendition of "Do You Love Me?" from Standing in the Shadows of Motown followed by JL's "Oh Yoko."

[RGMike]

There's no thread for "random music overheard," so I'll put this here: While having lunch at Chipotle (a burrito chain; do you have them in SF?), I heard the drastically unexpected back-to-back of Bootsy Collins's rendition of "Do You Love Me?" from Standing in the Shadows of Motown followed by JL's "Oh Yoko."

Yes, we have a Chipotle or 2 in the area -- they're owned by McDonald's, BTW.  

Muzak has gotten pretty hip lately. What Starbucks's Hath Wrought.

[mshray]

There's no thread for "random music overheard," so I'll put this here: While having lunch at Chipotle (a burrito chain; do you have them in SF?), I heard the drastically unexpected back-to-back of Bootsy Collins's rendition of "Do You Love Me?" from Standing in the Shadows of Motown followed by JL's "Oh Yoko."

Yes, we have a Chipotle or 2 in the area -- they're owned by McDonald's, BTW.  

Muzak has gotten pretty hip lately. What Starbucks's Hath Wrought.

Even downtown Castro Valley has one, though I can't imagine why.  Not bad stuff as I recall.

[Alicat]

There's no thread for "random music overheard," so I'll put this here: While having lunch at Chipotle (a burrito chain; do you have them in SF?), I heard the drastically unexpected back-to-back of Bootsy Collins's rendition of "Do You Love Me?" from Standing in the Shadows of Motown followed by JL's "Oh Yoko."

Yes, we have a Chipotle or 2 in the area -- they're owned by McDonald's, BTW.  

Muzak has gotten pretty hip lately. What Starbucks's Hath Wrought.

Even downtown Castro Valley has one, though I can't imagine why.  Not bad stuff as I recall.

First I've heard of Chipotle.
I guess it's like Wendy's and Baja Fresh & Carl's Jr. and the Green Burrito.

[RGMike]

So I've been at Kaiser for less than 2 weeks, and already some exec or other complained to my supervisor that he/she walked past my cube and saw me -- gasp! -- using the internet.

But here's the thing: he/she tells my supe that I was looking at "some tattoo site". WTF???  I can say unequivocally that I was nowhere near anything remotely like that in the past 2 weeks. (Yes, I use the 'net at work but I'm not stupid.) I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out WTF this person saw.  It's ridiculous.  My supe had to tell me as a CYA kinda thing, but she (and her supe) thinks I'm doing a wonderful job. Still, it's pissing me off.

I mean, 3 or 4 months from now, if my work is sloppy and I'm not meeting my quotas, by all means poke your head into my cube to see what's going on. But they haven't even finished training me yet. Sheesh.

[Gazoo]

So I've been at Kaiser for less than 2 weeks, and already some exec or other complained to my supervisor that he/she walked past my cube and saw me -- gasp! -- using the internet.

But here's the thing: he/she tells my supe that I was looking at "some tattoo site". WTF???  I can say unequivocally that I was nowhere near anything remotely like that in the past 2 weeks. (Yes, I use the 'net at work but I'm not stupid.) I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out WTF this person saw.  It's ridiculous.  My supe had to tell me as a CYA kinda thing, but she (and her supe) thinks I'm doing a wonderful job. Still, it's pissing me off.

I mean, 3 or 4 months from now, if my work is sloppy and I'm not meeting my quotas, by all means poke your head into my cube to see what's going on. But they haven't even finished training me yet. Sheesh.

Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick, that is stupid.  Ask Executive Analwart to pull the logs of the sites you've visited -- I highly doubt that data isn't being tracked.

In the meantime, I'll be careful to not post any NSFW images here.

[urth]

So I've been at Kaiser for less than 2 weeks, and already some exec or other complained to my supervisor that he/she walked past my cube and saw me -- gasp! -- using the internet.

Sounds like my boss when I worked for the law firm a couple years back (nearly three, actually). I learned to be careful really fast, but it ground my gears too. Some of the people there were nice, and it was an OK place to weather the downturn, but I don't miss that job much at all.

Just keep kickin' ass as far as your work duties are concerned and they won't be able to say much about your extracurricular activities.

[RGMike]

So I've been at Kaiser for less than 2 weeks, and already some exec or other complained to my supervisor that he/she walked past my cube and saw me -- gasp! -- using the internet.

Sounds like my boss when I worked for the law firm a couple years back (nearly three, actually). I learned to be careful really fast, but it ground my gears too. Some of the people there were nice, and it was an OK place to weather the downturn, but I don't miss that job much at all.

Just keep kickin' ass as far as your work duties are concerned and they won't be able to say much about your extracurricular activities.

Thanks, Gaz & Urth. My supe actually gave me one of those privacy/security screens. Now you can't see anything from outside my cube.

[mshray]

Thanks, Gaz & Urth. My supe actually gave me one of those privacy/security screens. Now you can't see anything from outside my cube.

Good on your supe!

I'm lucky that my job is directly related to internet content now.  I'm supposed to watch TV on line!  In fact I was even delegated the responsibility of getting a Penthouse online membership!

[Alicat]

Thanks, Gaz & Urth. My supe actually gave me one of those privacy/security screens. Now you can't see anything from outside my cube.

Good on your supe!

I'm lucky that my job is directly related to internet content now.  I'm supposed to watch TV on line!  In fact I was even delegated the responsibility if getting a Penthouse online membership!

Lucky man!! Those porn affiliates can be a great revenue source.

[Gazoo]

Thanks, Gaz & Urth. My supe actually gave me one of those privacy/security screens. Now you can't see anything from outside my cube.

Good on your supe!

I'm lucky that my job is directly related to internet content now.  I'm supposed to watch TV on line!  In fact I was even delegated the responsibility of getting a Penthouse online membership!

Clearly this is why you wanted to chat with me a few weeks ago about the new gig.    

[princessofcairo]

I was sitting at a cafe a couple of weeks ago when I spotted a familiar-looking woman sitting at the table next to me. I thought we might have worked on some board together, or something, so I went over to her table. My friends warned me not to do it. One of them, The Bear, leaned over to me, and said, "You're gonna get your ass kicked." I should have listened to him...

"Perdon?"

SHE turns HER head away from me, apparently checking out the Bulgarian accordion player approaching the cafe with the sweet sounds of "La Vie en Rose." Her male companion is also avoiding looking directly at me.

"Perdon?"

SHE finally turns around and looks up at me.

"Do you speak English?"
"Yes."
"Well, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering...what's your name?"

SHE laughs here. A slight, barely audible half-hearted golf clap guffaw of a laugh, as if someone has just suggested offer one of HER spare rooms to a band of Andalusian gypsies for the night.

"Why should I tell you?

I'm baffled. SHE has a good point. But why should SHE be so rude? Is SHE someone famous? Is SHE in the Witness Protection Program? Or is SHE just some bitch from the Hamptons?

"Uh...I don't know...I thought...maybe I knew you."

SHE rolls HER eyes in a huge circle to let me know that people like HER and people like me don't know each other.

"I don't think so, but thanks."

That's what SHE said. I walked back to my table in disgust. The Bear leaned over to me, and said, "I told you you were gonna get your ass kicked."

I decided to call her Jane. I spent the next few days cursing her whenever something bad happened. I stubbed my toe on the kitchen door. "Fuck you, Jane!" I belted. I dropped a euro in the gutter. "Go to hell, Jane!" I cried. And so on.

I call her Jane. Do any of you know who this woman is?