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When I finally made up my mind about what features I wanted on my new laptop, I realized that the only place where I could have it made to order -the HP store- charged tax. A number of other stores did not charge tax, but only had pre-built models. My stubborn self didn't want to accept either option. The solution: since the tax is calculated based on the shipping address, I had it sent to Maryland, where tax is a fraction that of Washington state. Since I was traveling there anyway, it worked out quite nicely. The morale of the story: computers are good, taxes are bad.

I have never been much of an artist. At least not in the traditional sense. Imagine my surprise then, when I found myself the author of the above piece, which in my mind qualifies as that of a promissing apprentice of Monet. It all started when I forgot my phone on a hike to Annette Lake, 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. The replacement I was sent came with a permanently out of focus camera. The result: push-button impressionism. Who would have thought I had it in me.

At the beginning, I didn't much welcome the prospects of a trip to the east coast -using up vacation time already allocated for another trip, being trapped in a tiny seat for hours, the memories of hot humid weather and the hostility of certain family members. I am glad to say that my fears were never realized. I had a very nice and restful vacation -I reconnected with my family, and even the weather was friendly. Except for the first leg of the trip, that is, which I spent in a dazed state half-way between sleep and vigil: the picture above reflects my lack of focus. Luckily the picture is much clearer now...

After a long hiatus, I went hiking again. The Mount Si trail was much less streneous than I expected, and quite fun. Along the four mile climb, there are a few places to stop and take in the views. Close to the trail head there is a stopping area with natural history signs describing the different species and ecosystem. At the end of the four mile hike, lays the rocky peak, called "the haystack". As rock-climbing goes it is pretty easy, but you still need hands and feet to climb it. At the top, you have a rewarding view. As usual, the way down had its own difficulty -applaying the brakes for 4 miles left my legs and feet a bit sore, but all in all a satisfying first hike of the season. There is something about hiking that is extremely rewarding -perhaps it is the sense of total immersion in nature, as you see trees, moss-covered rocks, streams, ferns -and when you reach a high viewpoint- the forest and mountains extending all around. Perhaps is the very tangible feeling of...

At first, I thought it'd be a simple task; after all, I am surely just one among hundreds of thousands of people -if not millions- who use their phones as digital music players. All I wanted was to find a headset which was: -Bluetooth (to avoid the messy tangle of cables and occasional snags) -Passive noise-blocking (for use at the gym or outdoors active systems aren't good enough) -In-ear (I don't want to walk around with two pounds of gear around my skull) -Dual Use -for phone calls and music (who wants to swap headsets every time you get a call?) -A2DP and AVRCP capable (for stereo sound and remote control functions) -Boom-mounted mike -ideally retractable- (so that callers can hear me better in noisy environments, such as outdoors, or on a bus) After hours spent researching this, it turned out there isn't a single product in the market that matches my wish list. I have to say I was a little disappointed -one would think the global electronics market big enough to su...

By Origa Ангелы и демоны кружили надо мной Рассекали тернии и млечные пути Не знает счастья только тот, Кто его зова понять не смог Налюбуйтесь, налюбуйтесь Aeria gloris, Aeria gloris Налюбуйтесь, налюбуйтесь Aeria gloris, aeria gloris I am calling, calling now Spirits rise and falling Собой остаться дольше Calling, calling, in the depth of longing Собой остаться дольше... Налюбуйтесь, налюбуйтесь Aeria gloris, aeria gloris Налюбуйтесь, налюбуйтесь Aeria gloris, aeria gloris Stand alone... Where was life when it had a meaning . . . Stand alone... Nothing's real anymore and . . . Бесконечный бег... Пока жива, я могу стараться на лету не упасть, Не разучиться мечтать...любить... Бесконечный бег... Calling, calling, for the place of knowing There's more than what can be linked Calling, calling now, never will I look away For what life has left for me Yearning, yearning, for what's left of loving Собой остаться дольше... Calling, calling now, spirits rise and falling Собой оста...

Saturday. Dinner, downtown movie, a last-minute invitation -to go or not to go. Queen Anne. Strangers. Surprisingly smooth m erlot . Lapses of boredom. Meaningless chat in the midst of pseudo bohemian decor -a red ribbon and holes in the walls. Rich, thick, porter. Signatures in a door-frame, #11, a humble servant. Exchanges about who knows whom from where.A friendly surfer-turned-bureaucrat. Outstanding jambalaya. City-planning, friendly people. A ridiculous lamp, the source of the red ribbon discovered. Serious doubts about wasted time in empty socializing for no reason whatsoever. Suddenly, Sunday. More conversation. Fashionable outfits blurring the lines of poor taste. A pretty but too skinny architect. Wigs laying around for no apparent reason. Silly camera phone photographs taken in the spur of the moment. An Ethiopian delicacy -a jar full of tasty seeds, and talk about relationships in an Ethiopian-Italian family with a Spanish last name. A too hard to uncork bottle of something...