Vic's been in the market for a new car and this past Saturday, we went to the Honda in Hillside to check out the CostCo discount pricing. On a new 2008 CRV EX-L, it came out to $250 over invoice. Not too shabby!
Part of the process was a trade-in of Vic's current car. They wanted to drive the car to make sure it ran OK. After taking the keys and heading out for a while, the sales rep came back with a quote that we were happy with. So we got on with the paperwork, sitting through the attempts at selling us stuff we didn't need and making sure the right options and math were being included. During this time, Vic asked for the keys to his car at least twice. As we're wrapping up and the deposit is paid, the rep finally confesses: they've lost the keys.
You would think a dealership has a method for tracking this stuff. But the rep couldn't find any sign of them, even after we sent him looking another time.
Luckily, Vic already separated the house keys and we had a spare at home. The rep gave us a brand new Civic to go pick up the spare, so after a bit more driving around than bargained for, we finally got everything squared away.
Some guy from the dealership is going to empty out his pockets and scratch his head at the extra set of keys he finds.
January 28, 2008
January 25, 2008
Just Give Up Already
Today, the New York Times endorsed Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
You know what this means? Giuliani, it's time to stop. You're slipping in Florida and one of the biggest publications in your home state hates you. Bow out gracefully, while you can.
You know what this means? Giuliani, it's time to stop. You're slipping in Florida and one of the biggest publications in your home state hates you. Bow out gracefully, while you can.
January 18, 2008
Book Review - Fast Food Nation
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
By Eric Schlosser
Published January 2001
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Investigative journalism has never been my thing. When Fast Food Nation was published, I heard snippets of controversy and outrage, but wasn't particularly interested. Books attacking specific industries are often sensationalist, one-sided exaggerations that select only facts that support their arguments. Kind of like Michael Moore in print form.
I decided to give Fast Food Nation a try, after discovering that Schlosser has written for various publications, such as The Nation and Rolling Stone. It made me think the guy might actually be a decent read.
The book does have some informative, objective observations on the influence of fast food companies on culture, business, and society. Though short, the section on globalization is nicely done, using the history of Plauen, Germany, to illustrate the rise of fast food overseas. I found his depiction of the internal workings of a slaughterhouse absolutely fascinating, in that morbid, Sinclair's The Jungle sort of way. I also enjoyed his insights into the lives of fast food chain founders and his explanation of the cycle from supplier to franchise to consumer. The prose moves at a good clip, mingling facts and anecdotes in an engaging manner. He even manages to make subjects like flavor chemistry and potato processing interesting.
There's definitely an overarching "corporations bad!" vibe. Linking fast food companies to shady lobbying practices, the plight of poor immigrant workers, the death of individualism, and rising American obesity is such cliche liberal soap boxing, that frankly, my eyes were rolling. Some of it is blatantly alarmist, such as a section warning of pathogens in beef and another devoted to the death of the great American icon, the traditional western rancher.
The writing is great and there is much I learned about the fast food industry's operations and history. But the call to arms against "Big Business" got on my nerves. I would have enjoyed this book much more if Schlosser had left out his political views. Let the content speak for itself - the data alone should be enough for people to form a similar opinion and change their consumer habits.
By Eric Schlosser
Published January 2001
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Investigative journalism has never been my thing. When Fast Food Nation was published, I heard snippets of controversy and outrage, but wasn't particularly interested. Books attacking specific industries are often sensationalist, one-sided exaggerations that select only facts that support their arguments. Kind of like Michael Moore in print form.
I decided to give Fast Food Nation a try, after discovering that Schlosser has written for various publications, such as The Nation and Rolling Stone. It made me think the guy might actually be a decent read.
The book does have some informative, objective observations on the influence of fast food companies on culture, business, and society. Though short, the section on globalization is nicely done, using the history of Plauen, Germany, to illustrate the rise of fast food overseas. I found his depiction of the internal workings of a slaughterhouse absolutely fascinating, in that morbid, Sinclair's The Jungle sort of way. I also enjoyed his insights into the lives of fast food chain founders and his explanation of the cycle from supplier to franchise to consumer. The prose moves at a good clip, mingling facts and anecdotes in an engaging manner. He even manages to make subjects like flavor chemistry and potato processing interesting.
There's definitely an overarching "corporations bad!" vibe. Linking fast food companies to shady lobbying practices, the plight of poor immigrant workers, the death of individualism, and rising American obesity is such cliche liberal soap boxing, that frankly, my eyes were rolling. Some of it is blatantly alarmist, such as a section warning of pathogens in beef and another devoted to the death of the great American icon, the traditional western rancher.
The writing is great and there is much I learned about the fast food industry's operations and history. But the call to arms against "Big Business" got on my nerves. I would have enjoyed this book much more if Schlosser had left out his political views. Let the content speak for itself - the data alone should be enough for people to form a similar opinion and change their consumer habits.
January 16, 2008
the cake is a lie
In terms of gaming concepts, Portal is one of the most innovative implementations I've ever seen. It's relatively short, but beautifully executed. Everything you want in a game is here: interesting puzzles, well developed physics, world immersion, and memorable characterization. Gameplay revolves around a gun that lets you create two portals, orange and blue. Entering any of the portals allows you to emerge outside the other. Simple concept...but here is where the game kicks your ass: the momentum and angle at which you enter a portal carries through to the other side.
In other words, depending on where you shoot these things and how you run/jump into them, your brain explodes.
Like this.
Insane physics aside, the world of Aperture Science Laboratories, where you are a test subject using the gun to solve navigation and escape puzzles, is lovingly rendered in stark white (for rooms where you're supposed to be) and industrial blight (for rooms where you clearly were not meant to go). Foreboding scribbles from past test subjects litter the environment and the graphics are nice but nothing spectacular. The world really comes alive due to a single factor: the calm, unnerving voiceover of GLaDOS, the AI guiding you through the testing facility.
I can't do GLaDOS justice. I can only give you quotes that provide insight into the character. Just imagine these lines delivered by a soft, computerized female voice, similar to an elevator recording or teleprompter:
"If at first you don't succeed, you fail. And the test will be terminated."
"Please note, we have added a consequence for failure. Any contact with the chamber floor will result in an unsatisfactory mark on your official testing record, followed by death. Good luck."
"Please be advised that a noticeable taste of blood is not part of any test protocol, but is an unintended side effect of the Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grid, which may, in semi-rare cases, emancipate dental fillings, crowns, tooth enamel, and teeth."
"You should have turned left before. It's funny, actually, when you think about it."
And finally:
"I'm going to kill you, and all the cake is gone, you don't even care, do you?"
Not only does GLaDOS make this game incredibly entertaining (and a bit terrifying at times), she is the reason why the ending to Portal goes down as one of the best in gaming history.
In other words, depending on where you shoot these things and how you run/jump into them, your brain explodes.
Like this.
Insane physics aside, the world of Aperture Science Laboratories, where you are a test subject using the gun to solve navigation and escape puzzles, is lovingly rendered in stark white (for rooms where you're supposed to be) and industrial blight (for rooms where you clearly were not meant to go). Foreboding scribbles from past test subjects litter the environment and the graphics are nice but nothing spectacular. The world really comes alive due to a single factor: the calm, unnerving voiceover of GLaDOS, the AI guiding you through the testing facility.
I can't do GLaDOS justice. I can only give you quotes that provide insight into the character. Just imagine these lines delivered by a soft, computerized female voice, similar to an elevator recording or teleprompter:
"If at first you don't succeed, you fail. And the test will be terminated."
"Please note, we have added a consequence for failure. Any contact with the chamber floor will result in an unsatisfactory mark on your official testing record, followed by death. Good luck."
"Please be advised that a noticeable taste of blood is not part of any test protocol, but is an unintended side effect of the Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grid, which may, in semi-rare cases, emancipate dental fillings, crowns, tooth enamel, and teeth."
"You should have turned left before. It's funny, actually, when you think about it."
And finally:
"I'm going to kill you, and all the cake is gone, you don't even care, do you?"
Not only does GLaDOS make this game incredibly entertaining (and a bit terrifying at times), she is the reason why the ending to Portal goes down as one of the best in gaming history.
January 14, 2008
Book Review - The Name of the Wind
The Name of the Wind
By Patrick Rothfuss
Published March 2007
This was a recommendation on Nancy Pearl's NPR list of great sci-fi and fantasy.
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I was worried when this book started with travelers entering an inn. Luckily, the generic beginning did not lead to generic storytelling. From the inn, the plot progressed to a thoroughly engaging, inventive tale of adventure and personal growth, told in the first person by Kvothe, the innkeeper who, like most interesting characters, is more than what he seems.
The world is pretty typical, with villages of superstitious peasantry who whisper of dark times, a hierarchy of Lords and Noblemen, wise academics, wandering performers, and city slums rampant with thieves and bullies. But this is all balanced by the author taking some conventional fantasy elements, like alchemy, the orphaned boy, the wizard school, the talented musician, the dragon slayer, and adding his own unique spin, showcasing these classic concepts in a new light. The environments and personalities are rendered in prose that is clear and without flourish, yet still heartfelt. The pacing was slow at some points, but despite that and its many pages, I flew through this book. The main character hovers at just the right point on the moral grayscale and presents such a mystery that the moment I finished, I was itching for the sequel, to find out more about his past life.
It's nice to read fantasy written in recent times and find imaginative twists and characters that aren't Tolkien or D&D carbon copies. Kudos to Patrick for an immensely enjoyable debut!
By Patrick Rothfuss
Published March 2007
This was a recommendation on Nancy Pearl's NPR list of great sci-fi and fantasy.
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I was worried when this book started with travelers entering an inn. Luckily, the generic beginning did not lead to generic storytelling. From the inn, the plot progressed to a thoroughly engaging, inventive tale of adventure and personal growth, told in the first person by Kvothe, the innkeeper who, like most interesting characters, is more than what he seems.
The world is pretty typical, with villages of superstitious peasantry who whisper of dark times, a hierarchy of Lords and Noblemen, wise academics, wandering performers, and city slums rampant with thieves and bullies. But this is all balanced by the author taking some conventional fantasy elements, like alchemy, the orphaned boy, the wizard school, the talented musician, the dragon slayer, and adding his own unique spin, showcasing these classic concepts in a new light. The environments and personalities are rendered in prose that is clear and without flourish, yet still heartfelt. The pacing was slow at some points, but despite that and its many pages, I flew through this book. The main character hovers at just the right point on the moral grayscale and presents such a mystery that the moment I finished, I was itching for the sequel, to find out more about his past life.
It's nice to read fantasy written in recent times and find imaginative twists and characters that aren't Tolkien or D&D carbon copies. Kudos to Patrick for an immensely enjoyable debut!
January 10, 2008
It's the Economy, Stupid!
The pundits keep trying to figure out the "key" issue for this election. Most seem to have accepted the economy is what concerns most Americans as they head to the voting booth.
When has it not been the economy? Everything stable and secure in this county starts with economics. Health care, the Iraq war, global warming - all these issues are dependant on jobs and access to capital. Even social battlegrounds are tied to the flow of money.
While people may not be directly thinking "economy" when they choose a candidate, I think subconsciously, that's really what drives us to vote. We are putting people into positions where they spend our money, and we want a say in that spending. If you're supporting a politican because of their stance on gay marriage, you're doing it because you want financial resources devoted to that cause. If you're concerned about environmental issues, you vote for the person who's going to most intelligently allocate funds towards that. All public policies, from banning abortion to interest rates to social security, rely on your tax dollars being shoved around. Deep down, we in the U.S. know that money talks and walks and gets legislation passed.
So yes. It's the Economy, Stupid.
When has it not been the economy? Everything stable and secure in this county starts with economics. Health care, the Iraq war, global warming - all these issues are dependant on jobs and access to capital. Even social battlegrounds are tied to the flow of money.
While people may not be directly thinking "economy" when they choose a candidate, I think subconsciously, that's really what drives us to vote. We are putting people into positions where they spend our money, and we want a say in that spending. If you're supporting a politican because of their stance on gay marriage, you're doing it because you want financial resources devoted to that cause. If you're concerned about environmental issues, you vote for the person who's going to most intelligently allocate funds towards that. All public policies, from banning abortion to interest rates to social security, rely on your tax dollars being shoved around. Deep down, we in the U.S. know that money talks and walks and gets legislation passed.
So yes. It's the Economy, Stupid.
January 5, 2008
Crazy Caucus
Why does the Democratic party have more complicated state primary/caucus rules than the Republican party? It seems backwards: choosing representatives that then channel their support to a candidate is far more along the lines of a Republic (like our national electoral system). But the Republican party is the one using populate vote. Bizarre.
Since this is the first primary I care to participate in, I've tried to familiarize myself with the process. In Iowa, the Democrats definitely go down a more complicated, statistically manipulative path. MyDD has some interesting insights on the subject:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/12/14/13159/459
In New Jersey, the difference between the two party primaries is pretty obvious.
The Republicans have it fairly simple:
Then you look at the Democrats:
What the fuck? Is it so hard to just say "Hey, Person X, you got the most votes, so the state's delegates will support you." What's with the "Unpledged" and "At-Large" and "Add Ons" and dicking around with districts? What are they trying to hide?
Ah, politics. It's going to be an interesting year.
Sources:
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/NJ-D.phtml
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/NJ-R.phtml
http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2008results/08primary-election/2008-Delegate-Slection-Plan.pdf
http://www.njgop.org/images/nj/Rules_for_Selection_of_Delegates_v1.pdf
Since this is the first primary I care to participate in, I've tried to familiarize myself with the process. In Iowa, the Democrats definitely go down a more complicated, statistically manipulative path. MyDD has some interesting insights on the subject:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/12/14/13159/459
In New Jersey, the difference between the two party primaries is pretty obvious.
The Republicans have it fairly simple:
Tuesday, February 5 2008: All of New Jersey's 52 delegates to the Republican National Convention are allocated to the presidential contender receiving the greatest number of votes in the primary statewide.
Party leaders (the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, and the chairman of New Jersey's Republican Party) will attend the convention pledged to the winner of the primary.
Then you look at the Democrats:
Tuesday, February 5 2008: 107 of 127 delegates to the Democratic National Convention are allocated to presidential contenders based on the results of voting in New Jersey's Presidential Primary. A mandatory 15 percent threshold is required for a presidential contender to be allocated delegates at either the congressional district or statewide level.
70 district delegates are allocated proportionally to presidential contenders based on the primary results in each of 20 special "delegate districts" that are not the same as congressional voting districts. Each of these "delegate districts" will consist of two Legislative Districts paired together.
In addition, 37 delegates are allocated to presidential contenders based on the primary vote statewide:
* 23 At-Large National Convention delegates
* 14 Pledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials delegates
Thursday, April 17 2008: The NJ Democratic State Committee chooses 20 delegates that will go to the Democratic National Convention officially "Unpledged." These delegates consist of:
* 8 Democratic National Committee members
* 9 Members of Congress (2 Senators and 7 Representatives)
* 1 Governor
* 2 "add-ons" (elected by a vote, consisting of a quorum of 40% of the Members of the NJ Democratic State Committee)
What the fuck? Is it so hard to just say "Hey, Person X, you got the most votes, so the state's delegates will support you." What's with the "Unpledged" and "At-Large" and "Add Ons" and dicking around with districts? What are they trying to hide?
Ah, politics. It's going to be an interesting year.
Sources:
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/NJ-D.phtml
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/NJ-R.phtml
http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2008results/08primary-election/2008-Delegate-Slection-Plan.pdf
http://www.njgop.org/images/nj/Rules_for_Selection_of_Delegates_v1.pdf
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