My Blog

Can I live with a cat?

Anju78 — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:13:05 GMT

I have an opportunity to move into an old country house on a beauuuuutiful piece of land, for very low rent. The problem is, the girl I'd be sharing it with has a cat....and I am highly allergic. I'm not thrilled about the prospect of taking allergy medicine everyday, though I'm not totally opposed to it yet. Have any of you dealt with this situation? Were there various things you did to make it work? I've heard the suggestion, "Just keep it out of your room", but of course I need to live in the rest of the house too. Plus my dog, who is hypoallergenic, will probably get cat dander on her and bring it into my bed at night, right? What do the cat people say? (And don't say get rid of the dog!)

Songs that need to be retired from radio

Anju78 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:57:10 GMT

When I flip through radio stations in my car, I can't believe they are still playing some of the most incredibly annoying songs ever made. Well, they are annoying to me now, in any case. For example: Unbelievable - EMF Two Princes (and anything else by the Spin Doctors) I only want to be with you (and anything else by Hootie and the Blowfish) Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams Right here, Right now - Jesus Jones Anything by Nirvana or Pearl Jam (yes, I'm being a traitor to my own generation here) Tubthumping - Chumbawamba I'm gonna be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers ...I know there are many others, I just can't think of them right now, so please feel free to add to this list!

Most Beautiful Goat Competition

Anju78 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:57:57 GMT

http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/most-beautiful-goats-competition/offbeat-news

What's not to love?

Anju78 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:06:44 GMT

Meet Sophie, my new ferret. She's just a little sweetheart! Can you believe someone put her in a kill-shelter?

Shiri Negari's Memorial Site,,,

Anju78 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:58:12 GMT

I came across this site by chance a few years ago, and then lost track of it as I confused her name. Recently I watched a documentary called "The Diameter of the Bomb", in it a doctor said her name, and I remembered all over again... http://www.shiri.us/eng-main.html

So who else has seen the SATC movie?

Anju78 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:47:46 GMT

Just saw it - it was cute:-) In the beginning there was too much sappiness, but then the jokes started coming in, so it was fun:-) My question though - what ever happened to Stanford's cute boyfriend? How/when did he end up with the wedding planner? I thought they still hated each other by the end of season six. I must have missed something.

cute dance bracelet:-)

Anju78 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:39:32 GMT

http://shop.thehungersite.com/store/site.do?siteId=220 I got one of these cuz it's cute and for a good cause! Thought I would share because it would make a great gift for a bellydancer. I also bought a hamsa silver and pearl bracelet - all of their jewelry is beautiful, handcrafted, unique, and will benefit others through food donations. Actually, you can choose the cause of your choice using the tabs at the top of the webpage, to select which organization you want to support.

Go to Baskin Robbins!

Anju78 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:54:31 GMT

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/promotion/31cent.aspx Join us for 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins® and help us honor America’s firefighters. Participating stores will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents.* At some locations, you may also have an opportunity to make a donation to your local fire charities. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation remembers America’s fallen heroes and assists their families. The organization provides firefighters with training to prevent deaths in the line of duty and offers the public information to prevent fires in our communities. A donation of $100,000 will be made by Baskin-Robbins® to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. At select local stores throughout the country, you may also have a chance to donate to your local fire station. Baskin-Robbins is proud to support this worthy cause. We encourage you to learn more about the foundation by visiting www.firehero.org.

Is this starving dog art? Guillermo Habacuc Vargas

Anju78 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:40:17 GMT

I recently received a petition against an artist who displays a dog starving until it dies. He has done it once, and I believe he has been invited to do it again, the petition can be found here: http://www.petitiononline.com/ea6gk/petition.html I believe the artist says it is supposed to protest the condition of starving dogs all over, and the dog would probably have starved to death even if he hadn't tied it up. I don't know, he probably would have scrounged around for enough food to live? But then I guess it becomes a quality of life issue? I don't know. Just thought this was thought provoking and disgusting at the same time.

Teen Repellant! :-D

Anju78 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:54:15 GMT

I thought this was great:-) I must be getting old and crabby. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24280571/wid/11915829?GT1=40006 MSN Tracking Image MSNBC.com High-pitched device serves as teen repellent But the gadget has some civil liberties groups making noise By Erin Conroy The Associated Press updated 6:27 p.m. ET, Wed., April. 23, 2008 NEW YORK - A wall-mounted gadget designed to drive away loiterers with a shrill, piercing noise audible only to teens and young adults is infuriating civil liberties groups and tormenting young people after being introduced into the United States. Almost 1,000 units of the device, called the Mosquito, have been sold in the United States and Canada after the product debuted last year, according to Daniel Santell, the North America importer of the device sold under the company name Kids Be Gone. The high-frequency sound has been likened to fingernails dragged across a chalkboard or a pesky mosquito buzzing in your ear. It can be heard by most people in their teens and early 20s who still have sensitive hair cells in their inner ears. Whether you can hear the noise depends on how much your hearing has deteriorated — how loud you blast your iPod, for example, could potentially affect your ability to detect it. "It's horrible, loud and irritating," said, Eddie Holder, 15, who sprinted from his apartment for school one morning covering one ear with his hand to block out the noise. The device was installed outside the building to drive away loiterers. "I have to hurry out of the building because it's so annoying. It's this screeching sound that you have to get away from, or it will drive you crazy." Cruel or effective? The device has already roiled civil liberties groups in countries where it's already in use, including England, Australia and Scotland. England's government-appointed Children's Commission proposed a ban. They describe it as a weapon that infringes on the basic rights of young people, and claim it could even have unknown long-term health effects. The $1,500 device has also been challenged in some American cities and towns that have proposed installing it, with some criticizing the tactic as needlessly cruel. Santell said the noise can be heard by animals and babies, but is bothersome only to children older than 12 and becomes unbearable after several minutes, making it a perfect teen-repellent. The same sound is also used as a cell phone ring tone by deaf adults, and is a popular download on the Internet. The town of Great Barrington, Mass., banned the device last year after a movie theater owner installed one. "There was an outcry, and people didn't like the idea of torturing kids' ears like that," said Ronald Dlugosz, a town official. "People here don't tolerate that kind of stuff." Milford, Conn., faced similar resistance when the city announced plans to install the Mosquito in a park. They increased police patrols instead. Elsewhere, there have been few or no complaints. A mall in Maryland announced plans to introduce the buzz to disperse skateboarders, and officials and police said they haven't had any outcry. A school district in Columbia, S.C., recently installed one on the front grill of a school vehicle and another in a parking lot where students gather after high school games, with no complaints. "We'd have crowds gather in parking lots, and there'd be the usual trash talk, then you'd have fights," said Rick McGee, the school district's emergency services manager. "Now there's no confrontation at all, they just get aggravated and leave within a few minutes." Santell, the device's marketer, said most of the company's inquiries are from major corporations and government agencies looking for a way to protect private property. Overseas, complaints arose when the device was projected into public spaces, like sidewalks. Santell said it does not violate any noise ordinances, but added that the company will soon be selling the same product with a higher "power," or decibel output, that will only be sold to government agencies. An end to loitering Carmen Ramirez, superintendent of the New York apartment building where Eddie Holder lives that recently installed the Mosquito, described it as "a miracle." "We used to have young men here all of the time, bothering people in the building and doing illegal things," said Ramirez, 50. "As soon as we put it up, they were gone, and they haven't been back. If they return, we'll just put up more." A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union said the organization does not yet have a position on the issue. But James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Boston's Northeastern University, said crowd-monitoring devices in the hands of private businesses and citizens is "dangerous." "There is a significant problem with giving people a tool like this and empowering the public to take over the tasks of law enforcement," Fox said. "It can certainly be used in a way that's inappropriate, and without a doubt it will be." Nobody at Holder's apartment building could say where the loitering kids had gone after the Mosquito was installed. "I just deal with it, but I can't be around here for too long," Eddie Holder said. "If I am going to stand around somewhere, it won't be here." © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24280571/wid/11915829?GT1=40006

What on earth would possess you....?

Anju78 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:00:28 GMT

I was going to go to the local tattoo parlor until I saw this in their gallery. I've decided to stay away....lol......

Yes, Fuck Yoga

Anju78 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:59:05 GMT

So I'm doing the P90X workout from home, and by far the hardest workout so far is the yoga one. This may be because I've always hated yoga. I get bored and antsy and hate the weird poses. Others find it relaxing or rejuvenating, whereas I despise it. The only way I can stand this DVD is that FINALLY it's a yoga workout that doesn't involve cheesy New Age music and someone half whispering the transitions and I'm not forced into a 10 minute meditation/relaxation session at the end where I'm asked to visualize things floating around my spine. That said, as a workout it is burning! I've had to push pause twice. Okay, better get back to it!

Does everyone's desk look like this?

Anju78 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:22:01 GMT

Is this a fire hazard?

LOL....Korean Police Symbol!

Anju78 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:32:59 GMT

My roommate was stationed in Korea as an Army MP, and he brought back a giant sticker of Poduri. I couldn't believe this, but this is the Korean police symbol. Apparently you see it everywhere. They have it up in the stations. It's so cute! http://www.police.go.kr/KNPA/about/ab_symbol_character.jsp Origin of the name, Podori "Po" is the first two letters of "Police," making it a symbol of the police, and it also signifies the "Po" of the Chosun Dynasty police bureau and policemen, making it a symbol of tradition, too. ▶ "Po" signifies "integrity" that will embrace and protect the people and "love." ▶ "-dori“ and "-suni" are traditional Korean letters for names, and are easily pronounced and comfortable to listen to. 6 meanings of Podori - His big eyes mean he will patrol all corners of the nation and prevent crimes before they occur. - His big head means he will use his brain to become a leading police of the 21st century. - His bright smile means he resolves to always be polite as a volunteer for the people, with the people, and to provide a public peace service to satisfy the people. - His big ears mean he will listen to all the voices of the public and quickly and precisely collect public peace information to prevent various crimes. - The scales on his chest mean his promises with people to exercise fair law that does not lean to any one side. - His open arms mean he will not run away but always stand up to whatever injustice or crime, and his open thumb means he resolves to become the best police in the world.

Something is Missing

Anju78 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:03:45 GMT

Yup:-)

Discover Card SUCKS

Anju78 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:55:03 GMT

Sigh. So after years of faithfully paying all my bills in full, on-time, Discover card is rearing it's ugly head with me. To make a long story short, Discover card could not withdraw money for a payment that i tried to make 3 times. They blame the bank. The blank blames Discover. Both bank and Discover agree that it's not my fault. But since neither will own up, I'm the one getting screwed. The bank charged me 3 overdraft fees, Discover charged me 3 late fees and reported me to the Credit Bureau 3 times - all of this coming at a time when I'm at my financial lowest and need to apply for loans that of course, will be determined by my credit score - which was excellent due to my being all responsible and whatnot all these years, and now gets messed up due to the idiots at Discover. I talked to 2 people at Discover who were SO rude it made steam come out of my ears. They even tried to insist they would do nothing to clear up the credit bureau mess - something 2 other reps had told me they could do, but these too jerks were just pretending that was impossible just to be plain MEAN. What's scary is that the two who were being so rude are higher up on the pecking order than the nice customer service people you usually get. One even hung up one me. So I called back and got a nice regular customer service girl, explained the situation, explained that i realized I wasn't going to get any of the money back that I was owed, but couldn't she please clear up the business with the credit bureau. She said there were already 2 notes in my file about doing so, and she said not only can they do that once they recieve payment, they will also even send me a letter of confirmation of having done so. It made me glad I called back, but SO annoyed with the higher up people who were trying to deny me that. As soon as my balance is payed in full, I'm canceling and shredding that stupid credit card and closing that bank account and moving into a hut in the woods and growing my own food and making my own clothes.

My new doggie

Anju78 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:26:21 GMT

Ain't she a cutie:-)

Ladies and gentlemen....

Anju78 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:51:14 GMT

My first published article! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=18062397&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

My fuzzbutts

Anju78 — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:20:14 GMT

Pete and Jack, aka Itchy and Scratchy. They are 14 weeks old:-)

Meet Pete

Anju78 — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:15:37 GMT

At first, I was the more timid one, which tricked Anjali into thinking I was well-behaved.

Meet Jack

Anju78 — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:15:04 GMT

I'm Pete's brother. At first all i would do was nip and scratch, I was like a wild-banshee. But now I am often the mellower one, if you can even call it that. I am still crazy.

Why can't I post photos on my blog?

Anju78 — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:50:12 GMT

Is anyone else having problems posting photos? I'm doing everything as before, but I get a message that says to upload a valid image file. But I have a regular pic as usual, with the .jpg extension....

I'm Dalit, how are you?

Anju78 — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:49:16 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxy1R0jitM My parents began taking me to India since I was an infant, and some of the memories that never left me were of the desperately poor, especially the children. The way people would kick them out of the way, their hair orange from malnourishment, the children who work as mechanics - the way they would swarm from out of nowhere when you stopped the car, begging for change. I noticed the adults reactions - they felt sorry for them, but didn't give money because they said if you gave to one, dozens more would come, and it was a daily occurence. Instead, my family would give money to orphanages - but there's so much more that needs to be done for Dalit human rights. Right now I am looking into several organizations that seek to empower Dalits and improve their conditions. One of them is the Dalit Freedom Network, which is where I got the pic for the hoodie. You can find their website here: www.dalitnetwork.org/ There may be other organizations as well, I think a some URLs are listed at the end of the video. About the ritual impurity - people truly do believe if they are around Dalits, they will be contaminated. In my own family, when my mom was very young, they felt this way about Dalit servants - they were not allowed into the house or to do any kitchen work. It's not like that anymore, but it just goes to show how deep the belief is. And it's not that my family wouldn't sympathize - my own family is from a low caste and had it's own share of troubles based on higher castes trying not to be contaminated by us as well! So people really believed this stuff.

How to get rid of mice?

Anju78 — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:32:19 GMT

I have a mouse or mice that keep coming back to my apartment. I keep the kitchen clean, but it still comes out snooping and pooping. I saw it coming up from under the stove burners, so I bought heavy covers and that stopped it for a while. But today I noticed more poop. the traps don't work - it takes the food right out. Didn't even step on one when we placed a "field" of them. And now I saw that it actually pooped on one, right where the trigger for setting it off was. Anyone have any better ideas? I'm allergic to cats. The apartment apparently has exterminators come, but the mice are still here. Maybe I need to get one of those live mouse ones. I am cool with just keeping it at bay rather than getting rid of it forever, I just don't want poop in my kitchen.

I miss the good old days:-(

Anju78 — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:55:46 GMT

So I've started grad school and am having to cope with blackboard for the first time. It sucks! a) I don't have internet access at home right now, and I think it's kind of presumptuous of them to think we all do. The computer lab at school is only open for 3 hour sessions on 2 specified days of the week. We don't even have enough time between classes to find a meal, let alone walk 15 minutes to the library computer lab across campus. When outside of class, I am working on my research assistantship stuff. Luckily we have wireless access in the building so I take my laptop - but still don't have time to keep up with friggin' blackoard. Here's why I think the profs are abusing blackboard to cover for their own disorganization. a) they post announcements the night before lecture and get annoyed that you haven't brought such and such to class b) they have gazillions of documents and bring NOTHING to class. Instead they say they will post it on blackboard (don't say wehn, but even if they did, we've got 7 different teachers we are dealling with this semester so it's hard to keep track), and of course then you have to search through all the folders to see which document. Since nothing is dated, you need to know the exact name - but oh, be sure it's for THIS semester, cuz some of the materials are for other semesters. So finding and keeping track of this stuff sucks. The least they could do is have it organized beforehand and on the syllabus - but only some assignents and quizes are on the syllabus. I gues others they forget about and just randomly post on blackboard. So every day you need to go through every folder of every course looking for new additions - again, not organized by date, so you just have to remember by title everything that is old and what is new. My ink cartridge ran out the first week of class when trying to print everything (haven't these people heard of the good old course packet that you could buy at a bookstore? Or just bringing lectures printed out to class?) The lab, in addition to never being open, only allows you to print 20 sheets per day, which is nowhere near enough to keep with all of the materials they keep posting on blackboard. If you go beyond 20 sheets, it costs you 10 cents per sheet. ARGH. So gradschool's work isn't that difficult. But keepig track of everything is very hard, as it isn't all in one place - instead it's a combo of the syllabus, random mentioning in class (with no details or deadline given unless prompted, and sometimes the deadline isn't even on blackboard), and checking blackboard every day - and night if you want to catch those last minute posts. What is happening - are profs just getting more disorganized? I really think it was much easier when I was in school before when all the info you need to know about assignments was either in the syllabus or outlined in lecture. I'm not even asking for a handout - just at least go over it in lecture. Right now, between classes and my RA, I am at school from 8am to 8pm, Monday through Thursday. But if I try to keep up with blackboard - it's just more time being spent - like, I'm wasting non-class time on things that really should have been covered in class. OH. And what gets me is that the profs seem to waste so much time in lecture - one is particularly bad - half the class is just conversational and about personal experiences about her children. So it just seems.....it just seems that the profs are just disorganized and not trying hard enough to keep up their end of the deal. I love what my kinesiology lab instructor does - she just doesn't teach us stuff. ACtually, this goes for some other profs too - usually you need to understand certain elements of things to get an understanding of the topic - but we students have to keep prompting them and asking random questions to uncover what it is that we are supposed to know. It's really unbelievable. And then, the lab prof will say - oh yeah, that's in the book. Period. Doesn't teach it to us. Or I loved how she said the book didn't have good examples of such and such - and she says we really ought to google search to see if we can come up with anything. hello? isn't that her job as an instructor to bring in supplementary materials rather than us googling stuff and not knowing if they are "good" or "bad" examples? GRRR. Sigh. Just neeed to let off steam!