Requenes.com

For All Intensive Purposes

Two days ago, someone at work sent out a near-company-wide e-mail describing Clinton-Obama nomination scenarios. It was addressed to all analysts and portfolio managers, with instructions to NOT FORWARD OUTSIDE THE COMPANY! I'm not an analyst or a P.M., so I don't know why I got it. I'm glad I did, though, because of one particular phrase it held.

"If Obama wins there [in Pennsylvania] - it is probably over for all intensive purposes"

Oops! "For all intensive purposes." I love that, and feel so superior (I'm embarrassed to say).

Avis: We Try Harder (to Screw You)

I'll make this short. A recent car rental from Avis, Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Cost of three days' rental: $66. Added fees and taxes: $38 -- an additional 57 percent! Including $10.50 because I didn't have a receipt to prove I had filled up the tank. Apparently, the gas gauge pointing well above 'F' doesn't count.

Max's Day in Court

None of the other defendants in Room 4 of the Traffic Violations Bureau, Manhattan North, Judge Schiavo presiding, had asked to cross examine the police officer who had given us all tickets, but I did.

I (Too) Feel Bad About My Neck

"Has anyone ever told you you have a beautiful neck?", the somewhat cute upperclass-chic asked me as I waited to be fitted for a marching band uniform. Uh, no. "I wonder why," she answered sarcastically. Thanks. And ouch. How do you come back from that?

Great Movies Since Pulp Fiction?

Last night, as Courtney was cooking chicken parm with asparagus and I was shaking my ass to "Jungle Boogie" from the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack, I got to thinking: has there been a great movie since "Pulp Fiction"?

Ducati People

I was done in by my undying adherence to the "slower traffic keep right" principal. That, or my general incompetence at driving large trucks. No sooner had I eased the 14 foot U-Haul over to the right lane, than it was jolted by the impact of its (really quite sturdy) right outside mirror smashing against a tree leaning a little too far over the road. So long, mirror. Then the steering got squirrelly and I ran over a curb, lurching me to the left. My first thought was of rolling the truck over. When that didn't happen, my second thought was of the state of the shiny, almost-new, not-even-broken-in, 2006 Ducati Monster S2R 800 I just bought, which was strapped down in back.