Bit the dust, that poor old thing. It got new batteries and then died. Now in getting a replacement I also need to get an electrician out here to replace this historical/hysterical outlet it used with a modern 20A plug.

Luckily I didn't have anything too important on it.

Following up to my post in November about the Blackspot Sneakers I ordered, I find that my organic hemp, fair trade, unionized and somewhat expensive sneakers are quickly falling apart. They also were not that comfortable the first couple weeks or so.

Reminds me how dependent we are on unfair and cheap labor for "quality" footwear products. The Adbusters Media Foundation, which created the shoe, spent a very, very long time trying to find the resources to create a quality shoe with fair and more earth-friendly practices -- in my opinion they weren't able to get quality. The shoes are crap. Still fun to wear, though, and in the end, they work fine.

It's too bad, honestly. Maybe they'll figure it out in version 2, which is now on their website. I think its worth it to support a small organization (even if I don't always agree with that organization) fighting against a corporate conglomerate when that small organization has higher ethical standards. I additionally support having more diversity in the marketplace and I support companies that treat their employees more fairly than others... so I may end up getting their next line of shoes, despite my poor experience with the first round.

Concerning treating employees fairly: don't get me talking about the fucking hypocritical garbage those yellow bracelets are.

Last night I finally broke down and bought my first gaming console since my Atari 2600. I got the PS2 primarily due to thinking about Katamri Damacy all day for a couple weeks. So after I shell out for the game, the console, the memory card, I bring it home and I can't get it to work with my TV. I have an old beater TV around for emergencies being I don't watch television really. Anyway, my problems with getting everything to work made me run back to Target and buy a new TV as well. I am sick.

On the Minnesota Geocaching Association forums, we try to get together for some night caching once a week and go out for drinks after. Even if it's cold, dark and snowy. Luckily, it was warm and not much snow on the ground tonight. Dave from Mississippi, who comes up to Minnesota now and then for business, joined us as well. Here we are drinking at Majors Sports Cafe.

Out of all the places Nadia could nap while I am washing my bed sheets, she picked the small spot on the bed with a bit of sunlight, of course. She will move a bit again in an hour.

The mail for the Minnesota Geocaching Association comes in at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis where we have our mailbox. Amongst other exciting tasks, I am responsible for checking the mail. Looks like we haven't gotten anything. Ever.

Every holiday season, my company goes out for an afternoon and has our company meeting off-site at a bowling alley and then bowls.

Yeah. Weird. I can't complain though: I bowled poorly and still won $30 and a bowling towel.

Garrett is moving into his new place, and today the retarded Comcast guy came out to install the cable internet. That worked fine... But his speeds were slow with the old beater cable modem. We went out and bought a new cable modem and a PCI wireless card to use with his existing wireless router. The new cable modem more than doubled his speed. Brought it right up to almost exactly the bandwidth he is paying for.

The wireless card, on the other hand, was 3 hours of research, installing, uninstalling and other troubleshooting. Finally started digging through forums and I found that 7483921 other people were having the same problem I happened to get, and the solution for most of them was to get a different brand card. Ick. The card apparently works great for the rest of the world.

Also, bonus photos of my car turning 25000 miles today, Garrett's girlfriend looking bored and a mouse on Garrett's hiptop.

Lauren's moving to her home in Pittsburgh. Today I helped her move out of Saint Paul where she lived for about 6 months.