Suburban Superman

Life

It’s a pretty good feeling when you do something that saves you money and do it right. Yesterday I was the model of a resourceful suburbanite. I changed the oil and filter in my truck, then I moved the yard, then I changed the brake pads on my car, then I had a beer.

Merchants Tire thought they had a sucker when I came in and wanted my alignment done and oil changed. Probably because I used a coupon and was still dressed from work. When I came back to pick up the car they told me that my brake pads were down to 1mm and I needed to get them changed. I thought, well maybe, because I do have almost 30000 miles on the car. But then the guy looked me right in the face and said that it would be $295.00. That included $135 for the pads, $90 for labor, $35 for rotor resurfacing, and some extra because I was a “city folk”. Well how much did it end up costing me? Well the rotors were fine and the brake pads were $20 , I bought a set of C-clamps for $5…. for a savings of…. $260.00.

Man I hate mechanics… except for that guy Alex… i’m cool with him.

Later!

Illusion of Security

Life, Rants

I really shouldn’t argue with people, especially people who are just doing their jobs. But it’s just so hard when I think their jobs are pointless. At my office in DC they recently beefed up the security to get into the building. Before all you had to do was beep your little security pass at the counter and then get on the elevator. But then I guess some important people moved into the building because they installed a metal detector and an x-ray machine. So now “All electronics and bags must be scanned” in the x-ray, you have to walk through the metal detector, and show photo id. Seems legitimate right?

No in fact it’s bullshit, let me explain.

1. They don’t care what kind of photo id, I could make my own and show it to them and they would just smile and wave me by. They only care that you have a picture of yourself.

2. The metal detector doesn’t care if I walk through with the following in my pocket. Set of car keys, large cellphone, Ipod shuffle and headphones, and $1.50 in quarters. Pretty safe.

3. They don’t make you scan coffee cups or lunch bags. I’m not just talking about the tiny brown bag with a scone that I just walked through with. I’m talking about a 2 foot sheet cake or a stack of newspapers a foot high. They barely even checked those.

Why do I care? Well I really shouldn’t, but I just hate it when I get called out for not scanning my 1 inch mp3 player and have to go back through the process and some lady carrying a 10lb cake just walks right through. And she actually passed the cake AROUND the metal detector. Plus these inept gaurds wouldn’t know a bomb if I walked in wearing it as a hat. This level of security wouldn’t stop even the stupidest criminal.

Later!

ps. don’t arrest me for pointing out the inadequacy of the system.

Cheers Mate

Art, Projects

Artomatic is up! finally. I needed a break. I just finally finished some of the things on Friday and literally carried them into the place at 9pm on Friday, talk about last minute. Wade took some fish eye pictures that are really cool.

Later!
Mark

Artomatic update

Art, Projects

So I sort of got my stuff installed at Artomatic last night. We were to have installed everything by 10pm and be out of the building, I got there at 930. I tried to get to Kinkos before 9pm to pick up the two digital prints, but I got there at 9:05… damn so close. So I put up what I could on the wall and left space for the others. I hope they won’t mind me walking in with a painting and just putting it up on the wall. I’m pretty sure I can sneak the digital prints in, but a 16×20 painting might be harder… I’ll just carry a really big bag.

I also need to figure out how to put a guest book and some business cards in there quickly.

Later!

Art-ooOH MY GOD ITS THIS WEEK.

Art, Projects

So I need to get this shiznit done. I did go to IKEA this weekend and pick up some frames and lights. Hopefully I will get up there tonight and get something done on my space. I need to go by home depot and get some paint and supplies for preparing the space. I checked online and I only have 3 days left to install work. I’m assuming that It’s going to be a madhouse with everyone else doing it last minute too.

Guess I’m going to skip Cinco De Mayo this year.

Later!