Question

Does anybody know how to get rid of banana plants? We have about 20 of them and we don't them anymore. Cutting them down doesn't do anything. I'm not sure if digging them up will accomplish anything.

Not the Target Audience

Yesterday when I was leaving work, I found a flyer on my car for a check cashing and payday loan service. Every car in the parking garage had one. This particular check cashing service is located at Parmer lane. I work in a complex that has mostly professionals who receive their compensation via direct deposit. My building is in central Austin, just north of Hyde Park. Parmer Lane is several miles north at the edge of town. There is a check cashing business less than a mile from my office. Not only do we have very few people who get paper paychecks, but we are close proximity to multiple check cashing/payday loan locations. There seem to be better uses of the advertising budget.

The Most Glorious Thing I've Ever Seen

Tonight at Central Market, I saw something unspeakably glorious. I saw strawberries hanging in the sky. For a mere $23 one can buy a strawberry plant hanging basket. I did not plop down the $23, but I was entranced nonetheless. I think it's possible that a hanging basket would thwart my resident possums in their attempts to steal my berries. The possums have been winning thus far.

That's Better

A 19 point Spurs win is better than a 22 point Spurs loss. I think everybody should agree about that.

John Edwards Endorses Barack Obama

APD Has Brilliant Enforcement Priorities

We got an agency wide email today warning that APD is now giving $500 jaywalking tickets in the area around our building. I work in the giant state government complex at 49th and Lamar. A relatively easy (jay)walk across Lamar leads to the multiple restaurants housed in the Triangle development. If I want to legally walk to the Triangle, I have to walk up Lamar to 51st and cross at that light. I then have to walk down Guadalupe to 45th and cross Guadalupe there and then walk back up Guadalupe towards the Triangle (it is possible that there is a crosswalk between 45th and 51st on Guadalupe). The other legal option is to walk down Lamar to 45th and then cross Lamar there and then walk back up Lamar towards my office, for just over a quarter of a mile until I get to the restaurant area. If I were driving I would simply turn right onto Lamar and then make a quick left into the Triangle. The City of Austin is far from believable when it says that it's goal is to make Austin a sustainable, walkable city when these are the practical policies that the City chooses to enact and enforce. give us a cross-walk or build a pedestrian bridge if the jaywalking scourge is that big an issue.

Big News

I hear that John Edwards has endorsed Barack Obama, apparently with his eye on the Attorney General position. I don't think it's any secret that I have a giant man-crush and the former Senator from North Carolina. I still think Edwards would have been the best President out of all of the once-declared and currently-declared candidates. That said, it's been clear for a while now that Obama is far and away the best remaining candidate in either party and it's nice that Edwards has officially come out in support of our presumptive nominee and likely the next President of the United States (God willing).

I just want to add one more thing, I don't think endorsements from former opponents are all that important generally, but for me the possibility of John Edwards in the next administration gives me enthusiasm for Obama's candidacy that might not have otherwise been there. Instead of wearing a button and making a donation, I'll likely make a larger donation and I'll consider spending more of my free time actively volunteering for the Obama campaign.

People That I Meet

I now own the newest Natural History album, People That I Meet. It's available in MP3 form from CD Baby for $10. It's worth it.

Don't You Evah

I've been hearing the new Spoon single every time I turn on the radio lately. I like it. Tonight I went to Waterloo and picked up a copy. There are eight songs on the disk, and five of them are remixes of Don't You Evah. The reason I made the purchase is that the eighth track is the original recording of the song by the original artists, The Natural History. The Natural History seem to be defunct despite the fact that they have a really good album that's been ready for release since the fall of '04. Here's where I beg. If anybody knows how I can get a copy of this album, let me know. Max and Julian Tepper wrote and played some great music together. It's a shame that their last album full of music is not available.

Minor Annoyance

I have somehow managed to hurt my knee for the second time in the past couple years. Last time, I was doing the physically vigorous act of putting itch stuff on some bug bites on my ankle. This time, I was swiveling in my chair at work when I heard a crunch. The last time this happened, I would have been okay if Mrs. LaBlog hadn't kicked it just so in her sleep. I think I'll be okay this time around.

How did the Spurs get outscored by 15 points in the third quarter? That's lame.

UPDATE: It may have just been the bad weather that had my knee hurting so much last night because I've made it through the day with very little discomfort thus far.

Cleavage and the Apocalypse

I went to a meeting today in which I learned two things. One, pandemic flu is coming and we're all going to die, or at least many of us will die. Two, in this post-apocalyptic world cleavage will not be permitted. I think this is what the point of the meeting was. We talked about pandemic flu preparedness for a while and then we shifted to discussing why cleavage is not acceptable in the office, particularly if your bosoms are tattooed.

Also today, my Ancora Coffee arrived. We got the Ancora d'Oro, Organic Celebes, and Ancora Black and Tan Blend. I am thrilled to have this. The box in which it arrived exclaimed, "Your Fresh Ancora Coffee Is Here!"