gas supply/National Guard/comment spam

This is a repost from earlier. I got comment spam, so comments now need to pass through word verification -- not that I'm getting much legit comments anyway... :)

According to my dad, who talked somebody who works at a gas station in town, when the station runs out of gas, there is no more gas. The same, the rumor is, for the state (4th graf). When the gasoline supply runs out, there won't be any more until Monday, at the earliest.

Gas prices in Florence are up to $2.79 as of this afternoon. I got mine for $2.72, which still sucks. Word is out around town that gas prices in Florence is going to hit $3 today, and gas stations and residents are responding likewise.

CNN reported that some gas stations in Chicago are charging $3.69 for a gallon, and other places around the country are listing more than $4 per gallon.

Some National Guard reservists at my dad's work was at work this morning, but received their summons to the Gulf coast and were gone by the afternoon.

uh oh

Late last night/early this morning I was looking up "crash" on Wikipedia, as in, computer crash. Well, guess what. I found out (hey, I'm no computer genius here. I just know enough to function) that the blue-and-white screen my computer keeps showing me is also known as the "blue screen of death." Well, this is obviously not good. The name portends some sort of quick end to my poor, limping laptop, and as much as I hate it, I need it to function for at least 7 more months. Or longer. But in case you're wondering, this is what is looks like. Scroll down to the first big image. Apparently, it's called a STOP error. Whatever. It's bad.

I read the medication instructions sheet that came with the cough syrup and it said something about being partly narcotics and partly codeine. I don't think giving me narcotics is a good thing. I'm already weird enough as it is.

more France

I came across this from a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution's The Vent column.

After the "Freedom Fries" thing I thought France might fire back with something like "New World Order Cheese," but nope, they immediately surrendered.

coughing

Wow. This cough suppressant is making me dizzy. Whoo. Feeling a little lightheaded, too. My skin's getting a little clammy as I'm typing this. The typing isn't going so well, either. Hmm... I think updating my resume is going to be fun tonight.

My computer decided to mini-stroke on me last night. It decided to go to a white-writing-on-blue-screen (very old-school computer-like) and restart itself. Then when it did restart, it refused to load internet. I restarted/shut down three times before it would work again.

Is it so hard to ask for a computer that will last through my entire college/grad school career? I mean, really. I'm pretty sure it's the heat sink thing again. The fan has been super loud recently (as if it usually isn't really loud), and I take that as an omen of bad things to come.

Don't ever buy Compaq/HP, guys. It might be tempting at times, but don't do it.

I think I'm going to fiddle with the resume before my brain shuts down. I'm supposed to take this thing every four hours! At least my body clock will join the rest of the alive world. Right now, I'm sleeping around 5:30 a.m. and waking up around 3 p.m. It's like I'm still working nights on the desk, but without the pay and brain stimulation.

By the way, my last paycheck from the Tribune came in last Friday. It was a sad/happy day. Sigh.

Katrina/France

Really hope Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are going to be OK. People are dead, no electricity, property destroyed and lord knows what else. It's just terrible. :(

There are two reporters with Gulfport/Biloxi Sun-Herald who've been blogging throughout this thing, and it looks like they've been the eyes for a lot of people looking for information. Three cheers for them!
http://dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com

Journalistically, I want to be there, but my heart goes out to people whose lives are affected by this. It royally sucks.

*

I've been promising the story about how I got stuck with overnight reservations in Paris, and my column for the Daily Trojan ran today, so here it is. It's a shortened, less angry version of what I really felt like writing, but it will do. Hope y'all get a laugh out of my misery.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is the answer to my boredom. I've looked up so many things and learned a lot of weird stuff. It's a little addictive.

I've got to start studying for the GREs again, soon, since I will be retaking it on Sept. 14, two days before I leave for London. The testing fun never ends.

But this is too cute. Animal Planet has set up a 24/7 pandacam! http://animal.discovery.com/cams/pandavidr.html

They're so cute together! :)

Greenville/Greer

I start my drive to Greer, SC (city-data tells me it's the only one in the country). Google maps tells me it's going to take 4 hours. Yahoo! maps tells me it's going to be 3.5 hours. Mapquest, however, must be a road madman, as it tells me I can be there in 3 hours. All with the same directions. It took me about 3.5 hours.




As you can see from this Mapquest image, I basically took the legs of a triangle, with Columbia forming the angle. There is no easy way to get there without passing through Columbia.

I get there, and Andre, his girlfriend and I hang out. His friend Joe from high school joined. I suck at putt-putt (this is not news to me) and also at go-karting (again, old news) and pool (slightly worse than putt-putting). However, I do OK in air hockey. So there. :)

The four of us head to Greenville, about 15 or so minutes from Greer, and had sushi at this new sushi place downtown.

So it was a pretty good day.

Today, I went to the doctor (for the third time) to see about my cough -- you know, the one I've had for 3 years? And the decision was made to see a pulmonologist because allergy meds aren't working. I also got a cough suppressant prescription. I have to fill it soon. But really, this thing has been going on for no particular reason for 3 years -- is one weekend really going to do more damage? Hmm.

Tomorrow, I will write my first column ever. It will be about my experience with the French consulate in Atlanta. I hope I'm funny/entertaining and not bore people. Stay tuned.

Greenville v0.5

Just got back from Greenville. More later. Too tired.

day 1

I have hit the 24-hour mark, but I will be going to sleep after dinner because I have to drive to Greenville -- actually, Greer -- in the morning, and I must be awake when driving.

Spent too much money today on Express jeans -- even though they were on sale -- 50% off!

Nothing really new to report. Just have to study for the GREs, again. The testing fun never ends.

for the journalism nerds ... but especially the copy-editing ones...

A Capital Idea -- http://nstockdale.blogspot.com/

It is 8:05 a.m., and I am still up. And not tired. But I have a feeling I will be soon. At the most inopportune time -- a time when regular people go about daily business. It is late (early?) to be up -- even for a copy editor/owl/weirdo (yes, James. I said it.).

I am also using an unusual amount of dashes. Hmm.

This is what has been occupying me for the past ... um ... 5 hours or so ... http://jobspage.typepad.com/jobspage.

My computer is having some serious overheating problems ... again. I'm going to have to buy warantee on it ... again ... in case it poops out on my in London.

Well, back to the Free Press job blog.

You know, it started around 1:30 a.m. while talking to James online, and I was searching for circulation figures instead of reading a creepy LAT story he sent me (and demands I read). I wrote down: freep top 100 circs.

And it led me to the Free Press job page. And it hasn't stopped.

This is bad. On many levels.

In other news, I might be going to Greenville some time this week and am definitely in Columbia on Sept. 7.

Call me if you're going to be in either town. You know who you are.

Back to the new obsession.

apples and pears

You know, I didn't quite believe James when he told me in May that in some parts of England, "apples and pears" means "stairs" and can sometimes be shortened to "apples," as in, "I'm going up the apples and pears."

Well, I got to researching what all there is to do in London, and I thought, hmm, I should look up a list of British slang. Alas, I stumble upon a list of Cockney slang -- another breed all its own -- and decided to check it out. And yes, there it is. Apples and pears. It means stairs. Don't believe me? See for yourself!

I know I promised a story about freedom fries, and yes, it is coming. But later. Not tonight. Tonight I am reading -- attempting to read? -- "Memoirs of a Geisha."

In a bit of shameless self-promotion, here is the second (and last) story I wrote for The Tampa Tribune. For you journalists out there, don't be too harsh. I'm a copy editor moonlighting as a writer. :)

last night in Tampa

No matter what I say about this city, it's been a great summer in Tampa. Here are the last of the pictures, in chronological order. *sniff*


** at Bar Louie, once again, for the last time. This is an appletini they call the Tease. It comes with an apple wheel floating in the glass. cute, huh? :)


** the roommie and me, with the rest of the Trib people at Beer Belly's Cafe for karaoke, one of the last things to do in Tampa before I leave. check.


** Julian and me. finally. :) At Beer Belly's.


** Julian, Andre and me, at Beer Belly's.


** Jenna and me, Beer Belly's.


** Julian and Eddie Mecina (sp?), Beer Belly's.


** Corrie and me, playing pool at Beer Belly's. She made like 5 in a row!


** and, finally, of course, the newsroom. :*(

CSET

Oh, the injustice of it all. I am still not over it. Damn you, California Subject Examinations for Teachers!

CSET subtest 1 -- pass
CSET subtest 3 -- pass
CSET subtest 2 -- did not pass

CSET subtest 2 your score -- 218
CSET subtest 2 passing score -- 220

2 points. un. deux. uno. dos. 1. 2. TWO! TWO POINTS!

CSET subtest 3 subject -- California history and .... ECONOMICS!

wtf.

I passed history of a state in which I lived for 3 years and never attended high school in. And I passed econ, a subject in which I barely comprehend the concept of supply and demand.

That is the current lament. Next up, my interesting (or anger-filled) adventure with the French consulate in Atlanta and why I will not be eating les freedom frites.

darts night!

Welcome to the copy desk dart night spectacular, where you witness the skills of members of the exclusive club of Trib copy editors! We gather at an Irish pub called the Irish Pub in Ybor City... read on....


** this is Patty, aka PK.


** behold PK's bullseye.


** and me. I am so good, I not only nailed a bullseye, I also drilled one into the brick, as you can see.


** meet Wes, sports copy editor, with this excellent set of darts, now available in 4 easy payments of $19.99 plus shipping and handling!


** and finally, one of Wes' two game-winning bullseyes.

In other news, I think I am going to visit this supposed great Italian family-owned market in the morning in Clearwater, which I have also never been in the 10 weeks I've been here.

beautiful/creepy Tampa photos

So these are photos of a beautiful sunset from the balconey of the Trib facing the Russian spires of the University of Tampa, but taken without flash, turns to a creepy what-might-be doomsday.


** This is the "beer can." I stand by my opinion that this is the only thing standing between an OK skyline and a completely generic one.


** beautiful sunset.


** beautiful sunset, with a weird glow about it.


** This is the doomsday photo. It looks like the world is on fire.


** dooomsday photo with the strange green sunset.

other intern photos

These are photos from the internship ... so far. Even though there is only 1 week left in the 10 weeks the Trib allotted us, it has been great. To think I almost chose Ann Arbor over this. Scandalous.

We cannot continue without introducing the masses to Helvetica, the copy desk mascot .... kinda.


** meet Helvetica.


** Andre, left, me and Allyson are all from South Carolina, but none of us are originally from South Carolina. We were at Bar Louie for dollar-burger Tuesdays.


** Andre, multimedia/marketing intern, Bar Louie. My apartmentmate, along with Julie B.


** Allyson, reporting intern, Bar Louie.

Julian, Allyson, Julie B. and I went to Channelside for July Fourth fireworks. It was worth the humidity and blazing heat and ridiculous parking charge.


** meet Julian, sports intern.


** Allyson and Julian before the amazing fireworks started.


** Julie, photo intern, in a self-shot portrait.

Patty from the copy desk and I got this brilliant idea to gather people from the Trib for a trip to Hard Rock Casino, about 15 minutes from work, on last Saturday night (yesterday!) after work.


** Allyson and me at the Hard Rock Casino, where the slot machine spit back 20 cents of my $1 investment.

Lindsay, my fellow copy desk intern, left a week before everyone else. For her last night, we ended her summer where it all started -- at The Rack, where people from the copy desk converged for her 22nd birthday and where most of the interns -- Allyson, Julian, Lindsay and me met each other for the first time. The interns got together for the first time all together at P.F. Changs. I don't have pictures of that night. :(


** Andre and Lindsay at The Rack.

Space Shuttle Discovery photos

So I went to the shuttle launch with fellow intern Lindsay Butler and her boyfriend Tony and her friend John, who was in Orlando. Here are selected shots of the takeoff. I know it's small; just follow the orange dot in the sky.