Run Girlie Run

Seattle isn't weird...you're the one who's weird

2010-06-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

Let me relate the narrative I've gotten from Seattle since I've lived here:

Our cops are busy punching people for jaywalking, when they're not being gunned down for no known reason.
There's a 6'5" 19 year old going around living in peoples' homes, stealing their boats, and learning to fly their planes off of the internet (and then stealing and crashing the planes). He has a fan club.
People have started raising chickens. For eggs. On their apartment balconies. Better yet, there are companies that are now prepared to design you a fabulous custom chicken coop or take you on a tour to see those owned by your neighbors.
The locavore movement has gone completely off its rocker and it's now unacceptable to serve food that wasn't raised/grown in your restaurant.
There is a Saw-like slaughterhouse-on-wheels roaming the streets.

Obviously, lack of sunlight and nightlife options has driven the people of the Pacific Northwest insane. You would never see this kind of weirdness in New York because people there have better things to do than make their own sauerkraut.

I'm going to start throwing parties. We'll call it a social service. Ooh, maybe I can even get a grant for it for the city for propping up the local moonshine industry.

Detroit: my next vacation spot

2009-10-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Italy is lovely, but I've become entranced lately with the possibilities latent in Detroit.

On the one hand, there's the social crisis that needs to be solved, the post-apocalyptic landscape, the crumbling infrastructure and obsolete industry. On the other, there's a burgeoning community of innovators and activists. And again, that social problem that still needs to be solved. Just check out Time magazines's Assignment Detroit. It's incredible.

I'm currently looking for volunteer projects in the Detroit area for a 2-3 week stint. I can assemble at least 1 team of 4 MBA grads, and possibly some engineers. If you know of any opportunities, please let me know!

This is so Washington

2009-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

NYT article on the newest trend in laundry: hang-drying your clothes! How chic.

Of course, the trend's #1 photo op (besides an archive pic of an NYC tenement) is a Washington resident hanging up clothes in their yard. It's actually pretty cool. Check it out.

It's about time I headed back to Italy, no?

2009-09-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in over 2 years and I have NEVER been to Sardinia. Italia, mi manchi!!

Plus, believe it or not...even though I just started work...I wouldn't mind a vacation somewhere with a well-respected culinary tradition. The food in Italy is really like nowhere else. It's the kind of food that builds you up and gets you ready for winter. I always put on a few pounds while there, and right now, I wouldn't mind it. A little macaroni con sarde? Some orecchiette fra diavolo...good southern food.

Sigh...maybe in the early summer next year.

Why I'm Investing in Banking

2009-09-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

I've always followed financial news avidly. For one thing, finance is the only area of news in which exciting things happen every minute, every second, every day: fortunes won and lost! Scandal! Intrigue! Private jets!

Anyway, since now is the first time in my life that I'm not miserably poor, I've been playing the stock market. My first purchase: banking stocks. In case you've been living in a cave: Bankers are eating it right now. They didn't get paid last year. Everyone hates them--even their girlfriends--and the share-frat in the Hamptons was out of reach this year, so they had to stay in rainy Manhattan with Les Miserables.

Which is why now is the time to buy buy buy their stocks. Look at Citigroup right now. I mean...just look at it:

Wow, that's ugly. Citi has lost NINETY PERCENT of its value this year!

Why? Yeah, its fundamentals suck, and there's a flight to quality in stock buyers, bla bla bla, but what people don't seem realize is that Citi and its ilk ARE now high-quality. After Lehman's fall nearly brought on a financial apocalypse, do you think that the US government is going to allow another bank to fail? HECK no.

And that means that banks are now implicitly backed by the full faith and credit of the US government.

With this logic, a little while ago, I kicked some cash into C and some others, and in a very (very) short time frame, I've made almost 4%. Not an incredible gain, but kicking the crap out of my 401(k) at this point. A friend of mine invested earlier and got a 3X return!

So go ahead, throw your money in with ours...and drive up the stock price a little more.

Curioser and curioser

2009-06-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a friend last night about the ups and downs of getting an MBA. It's pushing the reset button on your career, which can be refreshing, but you're also pushing the reset button on your life.

Without going through too much detail, all of our lives have changed pretty drastically in the past two years. We had plenty of marriages in my class. Plenty of babies, too, and some divorces, unfortunately. We moved to Boston from all over the world, travelled together in little packs, and now are redistributing ourselves again.

But I wonder: for people like we are, people who love to travel, love to learn, who are, refined to our quintessence, curious...is there really rest for us?

Leaving school feels like a change from the temporary to the permanent, but I have the feeling there will be a few more pushes of that reset button in one way or another before we finally all shake out. Until then, let's coat the globe, a spice ground fine, an exotic species even in our homes, and enjoy that life for what it is.

See you at next year's reunion, Sloanies.

Making food from the backyard

2009-05-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Since it's spring and my roommate and I have lapsed into a Depression-era poverty level (I am a grad student and she is a social worker and we are both up to our eyeballs in student loans), I decided to try cooking with ingredients from the immense, lush garden we have in our backyard.

Now, okay, up until recently, I forgot that this place HAD a backyard, and I think my neighbors did too, but now that everything's coming up roses (literally), we happen to have realized.

We have rhubarb, which I picked for a pie this weekend (pictured above), and carrots, tomatoes, raspberries, the aforementioned roses, a peach tree, a grape arbor(!), a blueberry bush, and a variety of flowers growing. We also have weeds. LOTS of weeds!!

Luckily, these are dandelions, which are edible. And because our garden is urban, I don't have to fight with the rabbits and deer that would normally claim my dinner. So it's polenta with tofu, dandelion greens, and morel mushrooms tonight! MMMMM yum

Today's frighteningly accurate Facebook Quiz result

2009-05-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

Since I have totally run out of even moderately-interesting things to say, and because I love taking those dumb FB quizzes, I've decided to start a regular feature where I get a quiz result and comment on it.

Today's edition: "What Classic Disney Movie Best Describes Your Life?"

Because why shouldn't my life be completely circumscribed by populist children's movies?

Your life is best described by the movie Dumbo. Many people try to bring you down by making fun of things that are unique about you. You don't let them get you down though. You use your unique qualities to soar high above them and to make a difference in the world.

Sure, that seems accurate in the way that tarot card readings are accurate. It's vague enough, and has a positive-in-the-end message. And because Dumbo the elephant made such a difference in his movie world! Curing sick children, dissolving the then-significant circus caste system in which faceless roustabouts labored in the rain for pay they made to throw away, and proving to the world that big ears don't make you a loser if you can use them to fly and rain a storm of peanut bullets on your mother's tormentors.

Eat it, witches!!

I don't think any further comment is necessary.

...And Another Thing!

2009-04-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

I will never understand: What is the point of a "loft" if it is in suburbia? Lofts are urban and industrial. That's why they're chic.

If it has berber carpeting: not a loft.
If it has walls: not a loft.
If it is surrounded by trees: NOT A LOFT...just a regular apartment in a bedroom community.

Evil real estate brokers. Will they stop at nothing to offload crap apartments? (no)

Seattle Housing Prices Continue to Drop

2009-04-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a building I noticed a few months ago and decided to look into further. Initial prices for a 1-bdrm, according to the website: $1,450 to $1,725.

And now? A quick search on Craigslist, and 1-bdrms are going for $1,325-$1,525, with free parking, and a security deposit of only $99 (I'm thinking they'll waive even that). Some places are giving away 2 months free rent! Ridic.

I Technically Qualify as an Empty Nester

2009-04-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

IDEO designed a car for Toyota for "Empty Nesters."

Hey, I'm not a kid any more, and I have no kids...and I would love a car that my dog can chill out in, especially the cupholder/water bowl. So is this me, then?

Holy EFF, I Am Moving to the Coolest Place Ever

2009-04-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Not just Laser Floyd, but Laser Sublime, Laser Beatles, and Laser Daft Punk. Laser Daft Punk!!! I am too overwhelmed to comment.

"Wait, so you can make money from hit shows?"

2009-04-13T07:13:00.001-07:00

Defamer has a little post on the state of NBC's financials: USA network is its most valuable property.

Defamer also complains about USA being relegated to "the nerd table," implying that NBC flagship folks look down on their stepbrother network. But this bahavior is somewhat justified.

Follow my logic: NBC's "flagship" station is basically a very expensive show testbed in which hit shows are identified and some of their value captured. Then, only the successful shows are programmed on USA, which then serves as the cash cow that's milked for the remainder (probably 95%) of each show's value.

What impact does this have on employee pay/status for both networks? Well, the NBC flagship folks are the main innovators, who take all the risks and hunt down the winners. Their costs are huge, their profits probably small, but they represent talent that's probably hard to find and they provide the only basis for growth within the company. So they are probably very well-rewarded.

The USA people? Even though they're bringing in the cash, how much skill do you think it takes to maximize value on a roster of hit shows? That's right: next to none. I could probably run that network (Law & Order: SVU marathons all month! Set your Tivos).

So USA set historic ratings records? Of course it did. It's like the 1997 Marlins. Someone's bought it a can't-lose roster. And they should keep it up. Unlike the 1997 Marlins, this is a very sustainable business model.

How DO Those DVDs Get Here?

2009-04-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

Boston.com has a really neat behind-the-scenes look at a Netflix shipping facility (via Consumerist). It almost makes me sad that everyone I know is dropping Netflix to watch movies streaming online.

Print Is Dead...In Boston, at Least

2009-04-04T07:24:00.001-07:00

The Boston Globe can't stop losing money. Ugh.

At least I don't feel so bad about not realizing those childhood dreams of being a foreign correspondent.

Today in Goats

2009-04-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone who knows me knows I love goats.

They are cute, happy and mischievous -- much as I aspire to be
They are soft
They taste like heaven

Now, even the NYT has learned to love goat meat!

Inaki (the boyfriend) never believes that I am not following the trends, but I swear, I was TOTALLY on this one first. FU, NYT!!!

And oh, also, I just discovered the band Mountain Goats. sample lyric: "Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania." Inaki, let's just sit and count the time until the NYT reviews them, shall we?

Why I Dread April Fool's Day

2009-04-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

It's not just because I am hugely gullible and fall for a new media hoax every year (except for this one...see NPR post below). It's because, as a child, it's the day when I would go hungry.

First, a little background on my mother. She's the greatest Mom in the world. She made my lunches every day, from when I was 3, to when I was 17. My friends used to make fun of me in high school for bringing a "mommy lunch" to school every day, but I didn't care, because while they were eating disgusting tacos with stale shells and greasy, goopy beef spread, I was snacking on a PB&J with Cheetos. Is there a better food to find in your lunchbag than Cheetos when you're a kid? I defy you to think of one.

Anyway...she was my mother. I loved her. I trusted her. Which was why, every April Fool's, I'd forget what happened the year before, and open my lunchbag to find 2 slices of bread with a note between: April Fool's!

I guess it's a lot of pressure to be perfect, and everyone needs a release once in a while. Which is why I'm not bringing up the time that my Mom abandoned me at a public park and my grandfather found me crying under the tree I had decided would be my new home, or the time when she chased me and my siblings around the house with vampire fangs on, or when she and my father used to lock me outside the house at night and hide somewhere in the dark between the garage and my room so that she could scare me when I finally did manage to break-in. Nope, that would be petty.

Moreover, the fact is, I'm sure I deserved every single one of these things at least 30 times over. I was an evil goblin of a child. Bored, unstoppably disobedient, as convinced of my own opinions as any right-wing demagogue, and possessed of an adult's vocabulary without an adult's restraint or good manners. Literally, a child only a mother could love. That I grew up normalish (or really, at all, judging from all of the people I managed to piss off) is a testament to her incredible parental abilities.

So, since April Fool's day is supposed to be a time to do something unexpected, I'm thanking my mom for being so cool. No joke.

Hooray for April Fool's!

2009-04-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

It's April 1st, my favorite NPR holiday of the year. This is when NPR trots out one of its incredible hoaxes, the best example of which can be heard here. Seriously, it's amazing.

Oh, bah, I just found this year's hoax. Not as good, but maybe that's because it has to do with sports, a news subject that I could not care less about (unless I have money on it).

To make your day more entertaining, here's a Slate article referencing the greatest media hoaxes of modern times. Enjoy!

Why does Google understand AJAX when it comes to everything EXCEPT logging into iGoogle?

2009-03-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

Seriously, Google, how many tabs do you expect me to keep open at once just to browse around? Stop hijacking my screen and put in some unobtrusive login tech, kthxbai.

Pork Neck Bones for The Dog

2009-03-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

I picked up cooking for my dog from The Man Who Ate Everything author, Jeffrey Steingarten, while prepping for an interview to be his assistant.

The interview never happened (probably a good thing, judging from the typical career track for a journalist these days), but the behavior remained. The dog was diagnosed with high cholesterol last year, so I cracked down on his diet. Recently, though, he had been given a thumbs-up by the doctor, so I decided to cook him up 3 small pork neck bones.

The initial run did not go very well. I nuked the bones for 5 minutes to kill off any weird bugs, then put them in the oven at 425 for about a half-hour. They came out crispy and smelling like heaven, even to me, a longtime mostly-vegetarian.

Which is why I was very surprised that the dog snubbed them. He had been hanging around the kitchen in the hopes of picking up a dropped morsel, so he was delighted when I called him over to me with what, I'm sure, to him looked edible.

I made him do a few tricks, then I dropped a cooled neck bone on the ground. He ran to it, picked it up...and then spat it out and gave me a look that clearly said: "This is no treat."

Keep in mind that this is an animal who will happily munch on clothing, cardboard, and my mink earmuffs if not carefully watched.

I tried again, cutting up the bone, thinking that maybe the pieces were too big. But he was not interested in the slightest. I threw half of the bone out.

Cut to today, when the bones have been sitting in the fridge, growing dried out and fridge-smelling over the course of several days. I was about to condemn them to the trash heap, but then thought: eh, why not, I'll give it a try.

I threw one to the dog and he gobbled the stinky thing up. It was kind of sad. I thought, by his earlier picky eating habits, that he had absorbed some of my personality: become, as my mother says "truly my dog."

On the other hand, I found out this weekend that two of my cousins had to put their dogs to sleep. These were great dogs, who had been with my cousins all of their lives, and been devoted companions on runs, bike-rides, and, of course, at the dinner table.

There are worse things in life than your dog having no taste. And, that said, I think this has been Mookie's last pork neck bone. I want him to live a good long while yet.

"Life happens"

2009-03-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Team Delta was a little shocked to come in 4th at this year's Ericsson case competition. After 24 hours of honing our story, churning out slides and valuations and presenting it to 6 judges, we were told by many people--some of them judges!--that we were among 2 teams in the running for the top spot.

Some people associated with the competition seemed embarrassed about the outcome. When we were called up for 4th prize, someone in the crowd loudly said: "What??" The case author came over to us and told us: "This is not how I expected it to go, but life happens." An Ericsson exec told us: "Your presentation was too perfect. Ericsson doesn't like that." Well, I guess, what are people going to say?

As disappointed as we are, we're happy for the winning team. We're tough competition and they obviously rocked it out. Congrats to everyone that participated, especially my Microsoft peeps!! It was great seeing everyone.

Deltas out...

24-hour case competition enters its 15th hour

2009-03-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

...and my team is still awake.

Not only awake, but working.

Aicha/Aisha/Ieeeeshaaaa

2009-03-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

I semi-hung out with my roommate and her family this weekend. It was mostly them enjoying family time and vino while I hung out on the outskirts, playing Xbox (because I am cool). But we also had a little salsa time, and my roomie played this salsa version of Aicha.

Me: "I've never heard this song as a salsa!"
My roommate: "There's another version?"

Okay, Aicha is a beautiful song and there are like 8,000 versions. But for those of you who have been missing out, here's a moderate retrospective:

The original and, in my opinion, still best:

The fascinating Aisha, a salsa version from Senegal:

But if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you probably thought I meant the song below. Which, in retrospect, is pretty weird. Why did we think this stuff was cool?:

There's also a version by the Copenhagen band, Outlandish, but it's really too horrible to contemplate. Note that I posted a video from Another Bad Creation and I'm saying that.

I applied for a community garden

2009-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

MMM soon, I will have fresh veggies and fruits! YAYYYYY

My Entrepreneurial Finance Prof Has a Great Sense of Humor

2009-03-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Antoinette Schoar. She's brilliant, she teaches my eFinance class, and she's German. I know a lot of Germans from my days at Bertelsmann, and very few have the stereotypical German accent. Antoinette is definitely the exception, but she owns it. Check out this clip she showed us in class:

Some fun links for today...

2009-03-20T10:30:00.001-07:00

It was all a dream...

2009-03-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

...I used to read Word Up magazine...

Just came back from Spain and I can't believe that I was even there. It was such a bright flare of light and excitement. I understand now why all of my Spainish friends are dying to move back and why Inaki loves it so much. It's too incredible for words, so I've added a photo album on the blog's sidebar with a few snapshots.

Enjoy!

What Would YOU Do with a Week of Free Time?

2009-03-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

I am going to cook, make pickles and preserves, and possibly get an entertaining little side-gig at the local awesome-food-purveyory, The Wine and Cheese Cask. This last bit might also help get me through the semester with some extra dough. Cross your fingers for me!

Best airport experience ever

2009-03-12T13:53:00.001-07:00

Continental Airlines, this is a love letter to you.

Because I am my mother's daughter, I got to the airport very early. Because I am my sister's sister, I was munching on a lobster roll when my flight was announced to have been delayed so long that I was sure to miss my connection.

And because I am me, I came up to the counter burning with the fires of an unholy vengeance, to be released upon the first person that told me, firmly, that I was not going to go to Spain tonight. Do not mess with me at the airport. I am like the Fury Alecto, only worse.

I'm gonna jump on your airline like a spider monkey!

Anywho, unlike Alecto, I am placable, and while I was preparing to open up a can on everyone in the organization which had unreasonably stranded me in the US, the woman at the ticket counter discovered that someone, proactively, had put me on a different, better flight, which got into Valencia earlier.

Read that again. I had to do exactly nothing but give the woman who helped me a verbal hug and finish my lobster roll (now supplemented by a nice glass of a minerally Oregon white). And I got a better flight out of it and free internet from the President's Club.

Read it and weep, people: Continental Airlines is the one airline without its head up its *ss. Fly preferetially from now on.

Spain: The final frontier

2009-03-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! I go to Spain today!! I've gone before, but I've been hearing about it so much from Inaki that it feels like I earned something. I'm so excited to meet his family and lifelong friends, to see the town where he grew up, and to check out Valencia's annual celebration, Las Fallas.

It's kind of like the Burning Man of Spain, but minus hippies and drugs, and plus traditional Spanish garb, food, and firecrackers! YEAHHHHH my kind of party.

Tomorrow, we're going to Las Mascletas with the local government. We're going to set off firecrackers and schmooze: both things I like!

After that, we're going to an event I'm calling The SuperBull...a bullfighting festival featuring the "best bullfighter of 30, 40 years in Spain," according to the Yak. It has a Spanish name, but I just get a kick out of calling it my own.

I've been to Spain before, but not like this. It should be amazing. Check for updates soon!!

Simon Johnson on the Colbert Report tonight!

2009-03-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite professors, previously mentioned on the blog, will be on the Colbert Report! Two mints in one. Catch what I'm sure will be a weird and pretty great episode tonight.

I'm sure it will be almost as good as Even Steph(v)en used to be.

Actually, we prefer to be called "Cougars"

2009-03-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

I was walking outside the public library today when a man stopped and told me: "You have the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

I turned to say thank you, and he asked me: "Are you a wolf?"

Um...no.

This guy lives my dream

2009-03-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted a meteorite!!

This story begins not in a galaxy far away, but at a Milwaukee rummage sale a few years ago. Tom Lynch paid $10 for an odd hunk of metal he figured might be copper or bronze with potential salvage value.

He had no idea it had dropped from space into the Arizona desert some 50,000 years ago.

"For the last two years, it kept my grandson's basketball hoop from blowing over in the yard. It weighs 50 pounds," said Lynch, a retired foundry and General Motors worker who lives in South Milwaukee.

Recently, he saw a show about meteorites on the Travel Channel and realized that's probably what he had. It was curious, he thought, that the thing never oxidized in the weather. Following advice from the TV show, he held a magnet up to the object and it stuck.

He took his 4.6 billion-year-old find to the Milwaukee Public Museum and then to Chicago's Field Museum last month. The scientists got excited. Yes, they said, it's a meteorite.

Unfortunately, the meteorite turned out to be stolen! Read more here. http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/41069052.html

Where to spend your stimulus check

2009-03-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

Blow it all on headbands!! Just kidding...

I came to shopping late in life. Before the age of 29, I preferred to spend my hard-earned cash on things like...oh...rent and food. Granted, I lived in Manhattan and ate only processed foods of Italian provenance, fresh seafood and exotic fruit, but I was basically playing the ant.

Well, now that the survival of our economy depends upon a positive outlook and a spending spree, I am here to serve my country. All my money this year is going to student debt repayment, but here's where I'd spend your cash in Boston.

Furniture

koo de kir. Ignore the beyond-awful website. Just go to the store at 65 Chestnut Street in Beacon Hill and try to decide between the gorgeous chairs, pillows, and everything else that this smart little store has on offer

Clothing

crush. Following in the becrapulous footsteps of kdk, crush's website is down. SIGH. You're just going to have to trust me on this one. This store has the most adorable dresses, and the costume jewelry to go along with them. Highly recommended by every chic girl I know.
holiday. KMS -- another site that doesn't work. Most of holiday's stuff is overpriced, but they do have their own shop line of custom-made dresses that are, unbelievably, cheaper than their ready-to-wear goods. Go, have yourself a raw silk dress made just for you, and feel like a haute couture lady.

Gifts and Accessories

boutique fabulous. I can't believe that I have a store this great in my neighborhood, but here it is, just a few blocks from me. Showcasing local designers at relatively inexpensive prices, boutique fabulous is, according to the Yelp reviews: "Where Audrey Hepburn would shop." Need I say more?
moxie. A huge (and slightly overpriced) shoe selection swarms the front of this boutique. But the real gem in the accessories and jewelry they keep in the somewhat cluttered back. The headbands above are from moxie, as well as a ton of sweet small-brand designer sunglasses.

O Fortuna

2009-03-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Condos may not be great to own, but they sure are wonderful to rent.

As a renter for more than a decade, I've always been completely bummed out by the lack of interesting details and, frankly, attention to quality that you get in an apartment that's been built to rent.

Well, after my years of jealously eyeing my friends' condos, it seems that fate, like an overzealous Labrador, has laid a dead squirrel at my feet in the form of the housing bust.

Condo owners, beset by burgeoning maintenance fees that only grow larger as banks foreclose on their neighbors, are renting out their hardwood-floored, granite-countertopped, cathedral-ceilinged aeries.

The prices are not out of line with those of the built-to-rent market. Are condo owners, who might care only to cover their nut and are not looking to operate a rental business, comfortable with lower profits than rental-builders?

There's a corporate finance case to be written on this, and I would do it, were it not for the fact that I already spent 3 frustrating hours on an M&A case because I couldn't get my cell references to copy and paste.

Anyway, here's a few pics of my new current fave: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/apa/1064605381.html

Sigh...if only I could move to Seattle in April. But I guess everyone takes their turn on the wheel.

Depressing, but useful

2009-03-05T05:57:00.000-08:00

Wondering how to make sense of the stimulus package? How 'bout the whole financial crisis in general? One of my favorite professors, Simon Johnson, is running a blog, The Baseline Scenario, which explains the complex economic scenarios that led to and are perpetuating this worldwide eff-up, in real-people English.

It's an intelligent and realistic walk-through for today's economic times. Which also means that it's a huge bummer. Take with a bucket of Prozac.

Hidden talents

2009-03-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

It turns out that I do a mean impression of Morla, the Ancient One.

New drug makes you tan, relaxed, and...ummm...other interesting side effects.

2009-03-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

A new drug currently undergoing testing right now will give you a nice base tan, chill you out, and...er...help you rock some chub. We live in the future, people.

These feet were made for climbing

2009-02-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

It is an unfortunate consequence of my genetic make-up that I have monkey toes, but it's true.

Me, action star!

If I can be totally honest, I actually think my foot-fingers are totally badass. I can pick stuff up, I'm great at climbing things, you know, it makes me feel like a cool primate.

Well, now Wired had to come along with some bad news that I may be less-evolved than the rest of you.

When [scientists] analyzed force exerted by fifteen test subjects running and walking on a pressure-sensitive surface, they found that increasing toe length by just 20 percent produced a doubling of motor force...

Rolian also observed that longer toes require an additional energy investment when "braking," or using them to guide the forward-falling motion that underlies both running and walking.
The additional work required by long toes, and a resulting increase in muscle stress and damage, likely made them a victim of natural selection.

And yet, me and my monkey toes are still around, climbing stuff and getting into trouble. Where will it all end?? I have a suggestion:

Quote of the day

2009-02-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

Regarding a proposed beauty contest for Italian (of course) nuns:

Father Rungi, a moral theologian with his own blog, said that the nuns would not wear swimsuits or revealing outfits. What he valued most in a woman was “inner beauty”. Asked for his feminine ideal, he replied: “Well, I would say Sophia Loren.”

Similarly, this is why my masculine ideal is Brad Pitt. He is so hot...from a spiritual perspective, of course.

Selling books on Amazon no longer worth the effort

2009-02-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

Before I came to b-school, I made a couple hundred bucks liquidating my personal library. It wasn't very many books, but it made moving easier--and easier to finance.

Recently, I've been buying books again, much to the detriment of my bank account, and thought to sell some online once I was through.

Well, guess what? Amazon now takes a 33% commission on any books you sell through them. I actually lost money on the last 2 books I sold, but one went to a marine, so I felt sort of obligated.

I will never understand why new books are so expensive and used books so freaking cheap (or free, if you use the library). Let's examine the drivers of a high willingness to pay for new books:

convenience: For many people, Amazon is definitely the most convenient way to buy books. It offers a wide selection; plus, due to Amazon's aggressive marketing tactics, most people have trained themselves to type "amazon.com" into their browsers when shopping for ANYTHING. So, this reduces the search cost (currently unquantified in this argument) for the buyer.
status: I just threw this in here because I couldn't figure out anything besides convenience. Maybe some people feel more dignified with a new book or one that isn't wrapped in plastic? I don't, but it takes all kinds.
utility: A small, but important point: you can't read a book if it's just a few battered scraps held together by twine. But most readers can use a book for years without bringing it to this state.

Which brings me to an interesting point: Can books be considered a durable good? That might justify their initial high prices. You're buying something that you'll have for years...maybe for the rest of your life! Think of all the value there!

I think this is the most likely explanation, and unfortunately, it means that the business model for book sales is out of sync with the way most people use books: as temporary and disposable diversions. The way booksellers price books now is akin to Charmin making teflon TP and pricing it at $1,000/roll. Sure, you may have one square for the rest of your life, but who would need or want to?

This discrepancy is, to me, what makes the Kindle such a compelling value proposition to consumers: Buy basically one durable "book" at a high price, and then a low price for new content over the life of the "book."

This business model makes a lot more sense to consumers from a utility perspective. Does it mean that the Kindle's victory over print is inevitable? Hardly. Substitutes, including ultra-portable computers, NetBooks, and the various iPhone/Pods/whatevers, abound. The winning device will be the one that carves out a niches in your purse, or, in this case, bookshelf.

Designer computers

2009-02-21T11:59:00.001-08:00

Okay, I love my new laptop, but I hate hate hate how it looks. Black boxes are UGLY (hello, I'm talking to YOU, television designers)!!

Enter Gelaskins...mmmm now my computer is a work of art, and actually matches my bedroom. Viva la difference!

(FYI, if anyone cares, Yuuta is totes my favorite!)

Unkowing questions from readers

2009-02-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

I've decided to borrow a segment from my former coworker (and amazing all-around person) Dori Manela. Dori's "Unknowing Questions from Readers" feature allows her to give a shout-out to people who end up on her blog through semi-bizarre keywords, such as "how to make shiny french toast," a question I'm sure each one of us must ponder throughout our lifetimes.

Anywho, my questions seem to center around "Inaki Berenguer," which I'm not going to get into, and "Run Girlie Run," which I'll interpret as "Why did you give your blog this illustrious name, Andrea?"

Those of you who have been around for a while know that I gave it this name because I started this blog to help me raise money while I was running a marathon. I raised I think a total of zero dollars through the blog (a trend which continues through my adWords account), but I liked the format, so I stuck with it anyway.

Plus, it ended up to be a great way to update family, friends, and stalkers while I was on one of my many little globetrots.

I'm thinking of changing the name now. I might make that next week's poll. Keep reading (and please vote on this week's poll) for more info!

Oh, ha ha, it is to laugh

2009-02-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

While looking for a cheap, but exotic vacation destination (recommendations, anyone?), I happened upon this Google search:

"Little Corn Island Hotels"

AH HA HA HA HA. Estupidos gringos! There is 1 building that could possibly be classified as a "hotel" on Little Corn Island, and I think it's actually the only building on Little Corn Island with anything but a dirt floor.

It's the Hotel Delfines:

It costs $40/night, but only stupid stupid gringos stay there. Everyone else stays in one of the collection of Bungalows that dot the beaches, such as the gorgeous Casa Iguana, which costs $35/night, including cocktail hour, or any of the little palm shacks on the beach, which will run you a whopping $5/night, including all the coconuts you can drink and the occasional lobster dinner.

OMG, I have to go back to Little Corn Island!

I Got in Trouble at School

2009-02-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

...Trying to go over my class credit limit. I'm sorry, but 60 credits is totally doable. MIT undergrad would have let me take my entire graduation requirement in the same semester! B.S.

Advice to anyone at an MBA program: go for a school without credit limits.

Muak!

2009-02-17T14:17:00.001-08:00

A public service announcement

2009-02-16T06:58:00.001-08:00

I have to watch a movie for Spanish class: Todo Sobre Mi Madre. Of course, the Spanish department did nothing to help me obtain this movie, so I thought I was going to either have to spend the weekend in various video stores or fighting other people in my class for the movie on Netflix.

Not so! It, like many movies, is available, streaming, for free online. YAY! Click on the link above, it will take you to Vodpod, where you can watch it and a whole bunch of other movies for free, too.

Free streaming movies on-demand? Netflix, prepare to meet your maker.

Argh Devito's Argh

2009-02-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

I checked, and I can get 6 stone crab claws overnighted to me in Boston for $20. I wasn't even shopping around -- this is the first place I clicked.

Devito's tried to charge me $35 for one claw.

City guide: Miami

2009-02-15T19:10:00.000-08:00

For V-day, me and Inaki went down to South Beach to live a little.

It was pretty awesome -- gorgeous weather, great food, kickin' drinks, and so in honor of the fact that this blog has basically become a travel log, here's a mini-guidebook to MIA:

Where to stay on a human budget:

Obviously, if money is no option, you should stay at the Delano. If beds and a bar on the beach and a pool that this picture truly cannot do justice are not enough for you, then go for the beautiful people: it's a favorite hidey-hole of movie stars and fashion designers.

Since money IS an object for most of us, the South Beach Marriott is reliable, and conveniently located next to Nikki Beach
The South Beach Group owns 8 hotels, all of which are insane party magnets (don't stay at any if you like sleep)
The W is opening a new branch (happy day!!) in May, supposedly. Get your Starwood points ready.
Hotel Nash. Water babies, rejoice! This boutique hotel/spa has 3 little pools: a freshwater one, a saltwater one, and a mineral water one. And Nash guests get swimming privileges at the nearby Carlton hotel.

Going Out: A way of life in Miami. Note that, unless it's a music-convention weekend, the city doesn't have a critical mass of revelers, so every "hot" club is only hot 1 night/week:

The Delano pool and orchard. Can't afford to stay? The Delano's bar is open to all. Drink a few of the world's best mojitos, lie on one of the beach beds and watch the stars...or the tourists taking pictures hugging their besties in the pool's shallow end, conveniently located near the bar.
Mynt Lounge. I don't think it's that well-designed or interesting a space, but apparently, this is where the real clubheads go out. Last time I was there, I would have seen a girl dancing on a table with a vodka bottle balanced on her foot and a couple having sex right in the entrance if I hadn't been passing out in a booth. I think this was on a Thursday. Judging from this last trip, Mynt's big night is Saturday. Take from that what you will.
Skybar. Laid-back and fabulous. The perfect place to go and enjoy a mojito if you've sunburned yourself that day.
Pearl. A chic, sexy space. Good place to kick off an evening.

Food and Drink:

The News Cafe. Versace used to go here for coffee and the paper in the mornings. Open 24 hours, with amazing coffee, great caipirinhas, and serviceable food.
Big Pink. Ignore the somewhat-suggestive name. I have to physically restrain myself from going here every time I'm in Miami. Open almost all the time (I think...at least, I've never seen it closed, but I've heard rumors), Big Pink describes itself as serving "American comfort food with a gourmet twist." It's the grub you've seen at a thousand Starlights and Moonbeam Diners, as if it were cooked by a cordon bleu. Oh, and the portions? Massive. The perfect brunch, late night snack, lunch, dinner...hell, just go here.
Devito's. This restaurant, on Ocean Drive, has a large, breezy outdoor space with comfy armchairs. Italian waiters bring you huge portions of delicious food at reasonable prices, but, whatever you do, DO NOT ORDER THE SPECIALS WITHOUT ASKING THE PRICE. They will cheat you here ($35 for one stone crab claw? Nice try). Go, enjoy, but realize that you have been warned. Off-menu detours will present themselves at every turn in your meal here. Save your wallet and avoid them.

Apropos of nothing

2009-02-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Except a huge, nearly-dawn-scraping Valentine's night in Miami, I can't get this song out of my head!

Heart of the sunrise

2009-02-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

One reason I love Africa: picture listening to this while summitting Kilimanjaro, just before the sun comes up. Once-in-a-lifetime dope.

Back to the important stuff: Health delivery in Haiti

2009-02-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

So, those of you who know me (or at least read this blog regularly) know that I spent January in Nairobi, working on a global health delivery project.

Today, we had a speaker in class: Dr. Louise Ivers from Partners in Health. This woman is absolutely incredible. Her energy, brains and dedication to her cause are an inspiration. Also, she is a vegetarian who, out of politeness, ate a super-goat in Haiti. At that point, I felt like Max Fischer when he first meets Herman Blume. Some choice tidbits from the talk:

"What we're really looking to do is to get the ultra-poor [ed.: <$1/day] to the 'just poor' level."
On finding partnerships versus building out capabilities to care for the underserved yourself:
"We try to find partners that share our philosophy, but have capabilities we don't...it's a political process in which you often end up using the goodwill that you're building in this partnership to force changes."
On working with local governments in the developing world: "it's worth it to challenge local government workers by leading by example...show them what's possible." She noted that dedication is contagious, particularly the obvious dedication of foreigners to a local cause.
Great results can empower local officials further, serving as a source of pride and a springboard for future partnership

And the money quote:

"We need more income-generation: a stimulus package for the central plateau of Haiti."

Brilliant!

PS -- buy a goat for Haiti!

Women: Less likely to cuckold you thank previously thought

2009-02-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'm putting this one up here for Inaki, who is CONSTANTLY citing the "1 in 10" statistic as proof that secretly, all women want to cheat.

Now, science has proved we don't, especially when you marry us.

So NYEH.

Two fun links today

2009-02-09T02:20:00.000-08:00

The financial crisis: explained very simply, but accurately!
What things cost in Ancient Rome: 1/3 of the population couldn't afford food -- sounds like New York! 3/4s of a pound of silk cost more than 10 people. People were considered a valid unit of measure! Ugh. Rome.

Enjoy! Or be horrified. Whatever.

Use your iPhone AND keep your hands

2009-02-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Most of my friends have iPhones.

I am mystified as to why anyone would spend that much on a phone, let alone one that will surely be obsolete by Christmas as Apple needs to make its numbers.

However, I am most sympathetic when my friends need to whip off their gloves in the freezing Boston February weather just to answer a call.

Well, now I can stop crying for them. Someone has invented gloves you can use an iPhone through. Best. iAccesory. Ever!

You Can Call Me ALS

2009-02-01T15:49:00.000-08:00

When Ethiopian Airlines lost my reservation and stranded me in the Addis Abbaba airport today, I had nothing to do but shop.

The problem? Like the song says, I didn't speak the language, I held no currency. I was a foreign lady. How foreign? I couldn't even pronounce the name of the currency -- that's how bad it was.

Luckily, everyone spoke either English or French, so, armed with my trusty (and highly-overused) credit card, I was soon involved in a two-store negotiation over some goatskin rugs.

Ethiopian goats are a tough, but tiny breed, so I feel a sort of kinship with them. Here's a picture of one chowing down on a thorn bush:

They're also spunky, tasty, and wonderfully soft, which makes them naturals for pets, food, and home furnishings. Now, if you've been reading the blog, you know I loves me some mbuzi choma (BBQ'ed goat). Turns out that I ALSO love to keep my feet warm and comfortable, PLUS I needed a gift for my sister's boyfriend. A goatskin rug, in my mind, is the perfect considerate gift from a potential future in-law. This may explain why I have so few in-laws, but that's besides the point.

The rugs were each around $100, negotiated down to $85. I tried to pay by credit card, and was asked for cash. Cash?! Who carries around USD100 in cash in Ethiopia? I thought. There's not even an ATM in the Addis airport, and carrying around any significant amount of money is an invitation to be mugged.

Turns out, I was totally wrong. Not about the mugging, but about the cash. While sharing a cab home with my amazingly nice Ghanan friend Kwasi, he let slip that people even buy cars with cash because of the unstable banking ecosystem in Africa. He used to work at a bank, and said that people used to walk away -- daily -- with huge bags of cash, just to go shopping. In part, this is because African currencies normally suffer from poor exchange rates, which means that if you're walking around with even $100, your bankroll is an enormous wad.

Which is one of the reasons that MPESA, Safaricom's m-wallet system, is so rad. Carry your money around in the cloud! Yeah! But umm, anyway, back to the point of this story (I swear that there is one).

Just to recap: economic pressure, lack of stable governance and banking infrastructure, and poor exchange rates due to a variety of socioeconomic and governmental factors. Jackie, THAT is why I don't have a present for Nick. I love you guys!!

Mountain Biking at the Gate of Hell

2009-01-19T01:09:00.000-08:00

While the Latin portion (+Kelly) of the Sloanies in Nairobi went on Safari by balloon and car this weekend, the Ugly Americans terrorized a National Park.

Tamara, Susan, Shrinu, Keith, "Marathon" Rob Ware, Parag and I went out to Hell's Gate for some mountain biking and a hike. The mountain biking was pretty low-key -- all on a road. The only significant obstacles were the occaisional sand pit, zebra, baboon, and the rear hub on Parag's crappy rented bike. It died on the trip home, which wasn't so much of a hassle as it was an excuse for Marathon Rob to take his shirt off.

The hike was super-fun. We walked through a dried-up stream-bed, jumped off rocks, showered in a hot spring (my first stand-up shower since getting to Nairobi, thanks to British plumbing and a lack of a shower curtain), picked up a chameleon and one of us had her face painted like a Masai warrior. All-in-all: a perfect afternoon!

Here's a pic of the park for you.

A Funny Story from a Real Ex-pat

2009-01-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

We were lucky enough in our travels to meet up with Megan, who writes a great blog about her stay in Kenya.

I'd like to point you to a particular "only in Kenya" story she posted. People are so nice here...even when they're robbing you blind.

Nairobi Rain

2009-01-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

We were happy to walk to work in the rain this morning. In case you're not watching the news, there's a drought in Kenya and the food crisis is forcing many families to subsist on nothing but unripe, uncooked (because there's no $ for cooking fuel) mangoes, and not very many of them.

With starvation looming, particularly in Kenya's maize-producing eastern provinces, a scandal of course popped up. We couldn't figure out what happened from the local news reports, which showed, without background or commentary, denials from top officials and quotes in Swahili from local farmers, but I looked it up and you can find details here: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/513142/-/u18wmp/-/index.html.

Basically, the maize distribution controls in Kenya have forced prices up 40% higher than open market rates (according to Transparency International), and are funnelling maize needed right here, right now, to the Sudan.

As if that's not enough, there's also an oil scam on -- apparently, just the latest in a series, but one that involves the Kenyan government's graft committee, which was supposedly appointed to prevent instances like this.

Amid the famine and the corruption and the disappointment, we are happy to work amidst the downpour, in the hope that the rain will wash all the dirt away.

Lunch in Nairobi

2009-01-15T04:53:00.000-08:00

We went downtown in a futile attempt to exchange some travellers checks and enrich ourselves, culturally. Then we had lunch.

I promised the girls that I wouldn't post these pictures on Facebook (killjoys), so I'm posting them on my blog. YAYYYYYY

<***UPDATE: Internet is running slowly, so pix are TK***>

Nairobi is...

2009-01-15T04:23:00.000-08:00

For the last few days, our team has had our heads down, working hard on getting the data we need to make a good recommendation to our clients. G-lab has been an amazing opportunity so far; both to experience a new culture and place, and to try to help those making an impact on African poverty and healthcare.

Nairobi itself is fantastic. The weather is amazing. It never rains. It's neither too hot, or too cold. You would think this city would lead a charmed life...and yet...

The slums are incredible. They butt right up against of the homes of the wealthy (Githagoro, where a Gertrude's Garden outreach clinic is located, has a guard gate to prevent its denizens from escaping onto the lawns of nearby estates).

Crime -- although we have experienced none of it--is reportedly rampant. People from Dar es Salaam told us that we could expect to have cellphones snatched from our hands if we had a conversation in the street. And if people from Dar say it's dangerous...

Look, much brighter and better-educated people than I have written at length about Africa's problems, and I'm not going to be able to add anything new or better to their arguments. All I can say is, if you're coming to Africa, on safari or for a vacation, I can't see why you would not choose to give your time as well to one of the many NGOs in the area. I am glad that I have the chance to at least feel like I am contributing to making life here better. And I would encourage anyone interested in an African trip to take the opportunity as well.

The following organizations can hook you up with a volunteer job:

Volunteer Africa
National Consortium for Study in Africa (this has a long list of resources)
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (be a foster parent to an orphaned elephant, which you can then visit in the evenings if/when you are in Nairobi)

Maybe It Was The Tea Sandwiches?

2009-01-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

7-hour midnight assault-on-the-summit climb in 40-mph winds? Survived it.
Cow face soup? Ate it.
9-hour bus ride to Dar es Salaam in the world's smallest, stinkiest bus? No sweat.
Traditional goat bar-b-q after 15 years of vegetarianism? Easy peasy.
Octopus-on-a-stick, bought from a street vendor in a dark alley in the middle of the night and supplemented with a hot drink of unknown origins? Done and done.

But sometime during the week, when I have been eating daily at country clubs, hospital cafeterias, and the best restaurants in Nairobi, I managed to eat something that didn't agree with me. Or, as the doctor I saw today said: "Something my body didn't recognize as food and therefore rejected."

After 48 hours of some of the worst illness I have ever experienced (all I can say is that my poor roommates deserve some kind of survival badge), I'm okay. And, since I have no idea what it was that laid me low, I am happy to say that I can keep going in my usual manner of trying to turn my stomach inside-out. Hooray for Ciprofloxin!

Hell Is Other People (If Those People Are in Dar es Salaam)

2009-01-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

I've been to some shitty places, it's true. Naples wasn't very nice. I've spent an inordinate amount of time in Trenton, New Jersey. And there were moments in Managua where I was told that, if I had walked an extra block, I would have probably been robbed at knifepoint.

All of these pale in comparison to Dar es Salaam, which I think could be accurately described as the armpit of Africa.

After a 9-hour bus ride from Moshi (a slummy little smear on the face of Africa which will be addressed, in detail, later), Kelly and I got off in the Dar bus station. It's an asphalt flat filled with swirling dust and 110-degree heat, and after our crazy bus ride (also to be covered later), we were pretty weak.

Well, Dar was ready to take advantage of that. We were subjected to a classic hustle that would leave us about $100 poorer. Porters immediately grabbed our bags and we were forcibly led to a waiting cab. Each of the porters demanded TSH$1k for their services, and then the cab driver tried to charge us 250% of the going rate (TSH$10,000) for a taxi just to take us to the port. We ended up negotiating down to TSH$20k, but he was not happy, and neither were we.

After paying his tax to leave the Dar bus station, the hustling really kicked in. He told us the area by the port was really dangerous, and before the car even stopped, some random guys had grabbed our bags. "We're your porters," they shouted, donning orange vests.

Kelly and I didn't even have time to think before we were pushed into a random travel agency, and overcharged $40 for ferry tickets. Once we were on the ferry, the porters made a huge scene, demanding $20 each for the service of carrying our bags for 2 minutes. We got them down to 10 and then watched our bags in a panic for the next hour, thinking seriously that they might return to chuck our luggage into the sea.

The 1.5 hour ferry ride was so rocky that the crew passed out airsick bags.

Thankfully, we landed in Zanzibar, which was Tanzania's saving grace. Wait for future posts for a much-more positive experience on a beautiful African island that everyone should visit.

Ally Keys Runs This Town

2009-01-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

I'll post later about Kelly and my arrival in Zanzibar and its attendant weirdnesses, but we eventually settled into a nice, safe hotel in Stone Town.

Stone Town is located on the western, port side of Zanzibar. There are plenty of amazing beaches to the north and east side of the island. So, one morning, Kelly and I decided to rent scooters and zip out to one or two sandy paradises.

We let our hotel know and headed up to the rooftop bar for breakfast. After about 15 minutes, a shady-looking character sidled up to our table.

"I heard you are looking to rent a scooter," he said. We looked at each other...how did he know? And should we trust him?

He sat down with us and negotiated modestly, showing us a cell phone video of some British tourists ineffectively driving around on scooters and urging us to rent a car to avoid making fools of ourselves.

We rented the car, he wrote us out a Zanzibar driver's permit and gave us his business card: "Ally Keys...a colourful character."

In 30 minutes, one of Ally's many minions showed up at our hotel with the car, and drove us most of the way out of town. He took the time to educate us in Zanzibar's driving laws, which rival talmudic arguments in their complexity. Then, he turned us loose, saying: "There will be police stops on the way. If too much bla bla bla from cop, just say 'Ally Keys.'"

We both thought "Yeah, right." But we were stopped 3 times. Each time, we expected to have to pay some sort of bribe, but no. We just said Ally Keys, and the police gates swung open.

When we got to the beach (1 hour away from Stone Town), a random gentleman on a bicycle saw us driving around and directed us to a parking spot. "You rent car from Ally Keys?" he said.

"Um yeah," we said. He smiled, waved and biked off.

On the way back, we couldn't figure out how to get the car to Ally Key's office, so we tried to temporarily park in a "no parking" spot at a hotel. We were immediately surrounded by guards. Kelly an I started babbling to them out of either side of the car, telling them we were lost, tourists, etc. But they were implacable, until we said: "WE RENTED THIS CAR FROM ALLY KEYS."

Then they smiled, showed us to a parking spot, and called Ally Keys (apparently, everyone on Zanzibar has this guy's number). A minion appeared in 10 minutes, took the car away, and that was that.

Anyway, check it out: Ally Keys. If it needs keys, and is located on Zanzibar: scooters, cars, houses, WHATEVER...Ally Keys is the man to call.

Breaking the Silence

2009-01-08T05:19:00.000-08:00

So, I didn't post for a while, although enough certainly happened.

I climbed Kilimanjaro, skipped over to Zanzibar, got ripped off 3 times within 40 minutes in Dar es Salaam, and spent a TON of awesome quality time with my friend Kelly...but for some reason, I didn't really register any of these things as notable enough to share, until monkeys stole some bananas.

But now, I think I'm done processing. Get ready for some crazy posts.

Monkeys stole my snacks

2009-01-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

One thing about living in Nairobi that I didn't expect: pests include random feral cats and...MONKEYS.

My team came home yesterday to find that someone (we assumed the staff) had eaten all of our bananas and even cheekily left a peel on the counter. We were a little offended and considered mentioning it to the administration.

When later, we came home to find a feral cat streaking through our house, we began to consider other alternatives. Could a cat have hauled away a pound of bananas? They were small. But peeling one? It doesn't even have opposate thumbs, Greg (Meet the Parents, anyone?).

It all became clear in the morning when Susan discovered a GIANT MONKEY crouched on the windowsill of our kitchen, just waiting for us to leave.

We reported the incident to the front desk, who tried (ineffectively) to conceal its obvious belief that we were HUGE IDIOTS. Trying to explain that monkeys were not an expected pest didn't exactly win us any perceived IQ points, so we scooted off to work and vowed to lock the windows.

For Inaki

2008-12-20T10:27:00.001-08:00

As a boyfriend, you're pretty boss.

Meet the Ginger

2008-12-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

My roommate brought a new pet home last night: an overweight orange tom with the gender-inappropriate name of Ginger. She is babysitting him for a friend. Here is a misleadingly-cute picture:

Adorably plotting your downfall.

Note how he blends into the floorboards? That's called camouflage. People wear it when they're thinking about killing things. Apropos of nothing...Our other cat shot atop the refrigerator when Ginger arrived and hasn't come down since. Wonder why?

Anyway. Ginger makes 2 noises: an evil-sounding hiss/meow and something that approaches the scream of a human babe. My roommate slept with him in her room last night and never did fall asleep. I had to turn on a fan (in the dead of winter) to drown out the ruckus.

Needless to say, I love him and will be sad when he goes.

Argh argh weather

2008-12-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

So, if you haven't heard, the entire Northeast is about to be attacked by a Godzilla-snow-storm. Normally, I would be super-excited by this because it means that my front lawn could potentially be turned into a vodka slide/snowboard jump.

HOWEVER, I'm not supposed to BE in Boston this weekend! One of my best friends will be in NYC from London this weekend and I have a ticket for the Bolt all lined-up and ready 2 rock.

To add to the crappiness, I'm supposed to be hiking Kilimanjaro on Wednesday and this means my Monday flight might get canceled. GRUMBLE GRUMBLE GRUMBLE!!

Oh well, at least the weather in Boston is nice today :). And I have a Boston Kreme donut right here next to me, so things could be worse.

Strida knock-offs: Hooray!!!

2008-12-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

I'm still in mourning over the loss of my Strida, but low-and-behold...here is a cheaper alternative!!

I'm not sure how much ground shipping rates from Korea are, but I'm guessing they're <$821, which is the price differential between this and a new Strida...

What's wrong with this picture?

2008-12-03T16:07:00.001-08:00

My little sister sent me a great pic yesterday of a "steal" of an apartment.

At first blush, it seems amazing. A 1-bdrm on the UWS (75th street), townhouse duplex with spiral staircase, its own entrance, all-new hardwood floors and kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and it's HUGE.

Best part: It's only $515,000!!!

How is this possible, you ask? Well well well. Click the link and look closely. You will notice...

that...

it has...

NO WINDOWS!!!

My work here is done, people.

Roller-skating music

2008-11-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

I didn't know it then, but the DJ at the roller rink in the dinky little town where I grew up had some really dope taste in music.

Apparently, they were a HUGE Africa Bambataa fan, because this was the soundtrack of my 4th grade year:

Hey...it turns out that other people remember the roller rinks too. Awwww, South Florida! it's really too bad there are no jobs there, or I'd move back.

Maybe.

In honor of someone being back to rock the show

2008-11-23T20:21:00.000-08:00

I'm stupid old school, what can I say? Sometimes, Joel, you gotta just say "What the f*ck?" WTF will set you free.

Y Y Y Y Y

2008-11-18T10:41:00.001-08:00

As a consequence of having my hair in braids: I now have dreads, but only at the bottom 1/2 of my hair.

Not

A

Good

Look.

This guy becomes my personal hero

2008-11-16T08:31:00.001-08:00

There's been a lot of crime in my neighborhoody area of Cambridge, lately, and it's got me really upset. I understand that the economy is in the crapper people, but we're all students here -- no one has any money, why spread the misery around?

Anyway, here's a story about a guy who did to his iPhone thief what I'd like to do to my ladro di bicicletta:

http://cs.cementhorizon.com/archives/2008_11_14_that_should_be_an_apple_ad.php

New Bike

2008-11-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

Not like I have any money, but I bought a used bike (with lock) on the cheap today. I hope that it manages to survive the fall and that the evilbasturd neighborhood bike thief keeps his distance.

Also awesome

2008-11-14T15:32:00.001-08:00

This video has several things I like: cowboy hats, handlebar mustaches, David Elsewhere, interstellar battles, the accordion, and the color pink. Enjoy the freakness!

One of my favorite commercials ever

2008-11-14T15:25:00.000-08:00

An oldie but a goodie. This is basically my dream of how a night out should be, plus, I love the details: the abuelitas outside the club, the shwarma guy... Heh.

Back from the DR and chillin'

2008-11-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

I can't explain why I need a vacation after my vacation, but that's what happened.

My incredible friends Susan and Tamara threw me a bday party in the Dominican Republic over the long weekend. It was amazing. Beach, sun, sand, a pool with a swim-up bar and 23 of my closest bschool friends. It was beyond relaxing.

Now, back in Boston, I just kind of feel like I need to chill and plug back into the city and school at my own pace. So, instead of attending the Latin party (Fiesta Caliente) tonight, as I probably should, I am kickin' it with my dog, my Xbox and some sweet Netflix movies.

Pictures of the cornrows I got in DR are coming soon!

Halloween continues

2008-11-04T09:43:00.001-08:00

It's funny because it's true...

I meet the one famous person I actually recognized

2008-11-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

I was getting out of a cab, and this guy was getting in. I normally don't recognize famous people...but not because I'm too cool. In fact, quite the opposite. I'll know that the person is familiar to me, but I don't know why, and I'll usually end up asking them if they went to high school with me (d'oh!).

Anyway, I LOVE Law & Order SVU. Getting to tell Elliot Stabler that he is awesome made my week.

Halloween Ween

2008-11-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

I spent Halloween in NYC with my parents in preparation for a wedding. They had never seen the Halloween parade, so they were amazed by the all-out spectacle, and, I have to admit, their enthusiasm was catching.

I gawked along with them at the temporary freaks populating the street, until unfortunately, we ran into a man dressed as "Handcock, your new superhero."

And thus it was that Mom Sharfin saw her 3 ween ever. Hats off to you, Mom. Hats off.

My li'l sis won the NYC marathon!!*

2008-11-03T18:10:00.001-08:00

There she is with her medal! Yayyy Jaxx!

*actually, she may have missed winning by ~8,000 places. But she finished! That's what's important...

My bike was stolen last night

2008-10-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

Ugh, this sucks. I LOVED that bike.

I filed a police report and called a couple of the local bike shops. :( People stink.

This explains a lot

2008-10-24T11:33:00.001-07:00

There is finally a Broward Country constitutional amendment on the table to require county commissioners with a financial interest in the outcome of a vote to recuse themselves and be permitted from entering chambers and entering into discussion on those topics.

I can't believe that used to be allowed, but it explains a lot about Broward County's record of piss-poor public contracting.

Hell freezes over

2008-10-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

For the first time in ELEVEN YEARS, I have received my absentee ballot from the state of Florida.

I practically threw a party, after which I basically pulled the lever for the Democrats, with the exception of Brenda Snipes, the Supervisor of Elections. She has bungled a job which is little more than mail delivery so badly that FL can't seem to stay out of the press.

Of course, since I voted against her, I can guarantee that they'll toss my ballot.

Piego and Hat Matt, this one's for you

2008-10-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

Who you want to work for this year

2008-10-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

Valleywag has a great list of the top cash-rich companies in tech. Chekkit.

I'm a busy Lizzy

2008-10-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

Well, this week started with a bang. Specifically, I blew out my neck dancing Bhangra (it's very athletic, okay?), and was laid-up for most of the weekend, downing painkillers and trying not to move too much.

In the midst of this, I was doing case interview prep, and tackling my first homework assignments of the entire semester. When picking classes last year, I structured my fall semester around recruiting, since I didn't know how time-consuming it would be because I didn't know whether or not I could count on having an offer from the little giant.

At the same time, offers for interviews have been coming in, and those need to be scheduled and managed, my SIP schedule needs to be rearranged around the interviews, the Ops Lab I'm a part of needs attention, I need to start prioritizing research on the trip I'm taking to Kilimanjaro in December, the twenty things I'm volunteering for need to be on the calendar, the parents are visiting, the dog needs to be walked, and I need to keep my sanity while sending out a hundred fiddly little emails and meeting reminders. And don't even get me started on dating.

The important thing is to remain focused: the entire point of an MBA is to land a job...one of the most important ones of your career. And in this economy, you can't work too hard at it.

The State of the Economy v. MBA Recruiting (parte the seconde)

2008-10-12T13:52:00.001-07:00

So, here's what's going on:

last week, I get a recruiting email from Citi. Over the course of the next few days, they withdraw ALL future funding for MIT students past 2009. This had two immediate effects:

I deleted that email.
The ability of future non-US MIT applicants to finance their higher education fell into jeopardy.

As a rule, these students are dependent on sources of private funding because of their lack of access to federal loans and grants. If foreign students are unable to secure financing, they are less likely to attend American business schools, which currently attract some of the most brilliant future business minds (not an oxymoron, thank you) in the world.

These students usually attempt to stay and work within the United States after graduation, to our benefit. A financial crisis that affects foreign students has a direct affect on the ability of this country's economy to function. And I think that we're in enough trouble already.

Watch this space to see if I am able to get any more information on how MIT can help foreign students.

Everyone is taking a VERY close look at those offers. Banking, which used to be a direct and stable path to wealth, is being given special scrutiny. Why work your butt off and make your life a living h8ll if it means you'll be out of a job in a year, and unemployed for god-knows-how-long?

Rumors are flying about the consulting firms as well. In particular, one very prominent firm has reportedly told its NYC consultants to either leave or move to Dubai. I'd be happy to move to Dubai, but I know a lot of MBAs with marriages and children, and it would be tough for them to relocate, even to a place as happening as the Dubs. This may or may not be true, but when people are frightened, perception can be more important than reality.

Many students are angling for positions in Europe because of the perceived strength of the currency. Personally, I think this is a sound strategy (and I love Europe). I also like the American south. As the state with the most Fortune 500 companies in the nation and a healthy energy sector, Texas seems like a big winner, and a lot of people are aiming for Dallas or Altanta offices.

My take:
Places like Microsoft and Apple and a few CPG or food firms which are cash-rich should come out the big talent winners for at least the next 2 years, as we start to see the job equivalent of a "flight to quality."

Ultimately, it means that these companies are most likely to ensure continued success in the long-term because their management pipeline will be filled with the best and brightest. Banking is probably screwed for the next decade or so.

The State of the Economy v. MBA Recruiting (parte the firste)

2008-10-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

So, it's recruitment time and I'm trying to hammer out the details of my offer from that small software start-up I worked for this summer, while simultaneously exploring working outside of the United States.

When I was a young lass in Florida, I used to read about offshore banking in the Cayman Islands (I was a weird kid, okay?) and I used to think that it would be fun to bank there and flippantly tell people that I was "going to visit my money" when on vacay/portfolio rebal meetings.

Well, because my 401(k) is (thankfully) largely invested in Europe and fixed income, my childhood dream may come true. Hooray for low expectations!

Me and my new baby

2008-10-09T16:23:00.001-07:00

It's an Elite :)

Victory is mine! (well, ours)

2008-10-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

MIT's Team Delta won the Dell/Microsoft NSHMBA case competition in Atlanta yesterday. The case was to determine an entry strategy for Dell and Microsoft into China.

It was an awesome time: 6 hours of burn-it-out work, a sweet preso and then, we all took home Xboxes and Inspiron laptops for our troubles. It doesn't get better than that.

On the flip side of the coin, I would have loved to have had more time to explore Georgia. It's beautiful country down there and I haven't been since I was young. Maybe on my post-graduation valedictory tour...

So, this is what I do in my spare time

2008-08-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Obama v. McCain Wii video got some interesting traffic, so I decided to look into making it into a franchise.

Behold: www.wiiwarz.com, which I will update on a dailyish basis with videos of celebrity miis duking it out in a jaded attempt to sell wii stuff for affiliate dollars while amusing myself and others.

Click on it, watch the videos, and buy a wii for yourself!

McCain v. Obama Boxing Match

2008-08-22T05:13:00.001-07:00

Finally, some original content for you...made last night with the help of my cousin Darren.

Posted the RFP for my FB app on rentacoder.com

2008-08-21T13:11:00.001-07:00

Soon it will be mine...

Play Super Mario Brothers in Flash!

2008-08-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

I totally found this sweet widget. Now it is yours to enjoy!

Sorry about the ad links, but that's the high price of free...

Remove DRM from songs and audiobooks, legally

2008-08-20T10:01:00.001-07:00

NoteCable will virtually re-record any songs or audiobooks you desire, leaving you with awesome, DRM-free MP3s or WAVs (your choice).

The trial version is FREE and will de-DRM anything 3 minutes or shorter. For anything longer than that, you'll spend $34.95 on the registered version. (via NoteCable)

Bicycle, BICYCLE!

2008-08-20T09:55:00.001-07:00

I recently got one of these off of eBay, and it's the bomb. Rides very nicely, and everywhere I got, people ask me where they can get one.

Designed for the multi-modal commuter (i.e., train->bus, bus->subway, etc.), the Strida weighs in at only about 22 lbs., it's easy to tote everywhere. I LOVE my Strida!

Ombre Snake N/S Tote

2008-08-20T09:10:00.001-07:00

Recently, I converted from being the kind of girl who carries her computer in a backpack to being the kind of girl that carries her computer in a tote.

And WHAT a tote this is. This is the kind of tote that holds everything and has everyone in your office thinking: how is it that she is so chic?

Trust me: buy this, and you will get constant compliments, to which you can demurely (and truthfully) reply: "Oh this old thing? Gosh, it didn't cost more than $90."

In fact, I'm going to buy it myself RIGHT NOW.