Archive for April 22nd, 2008
So, I decided that I couldn’t wait for my May 1st DMV appointment and decided to brave the elements and visit DMV unannounced. Generally, that means that for the rest of the day you get to hear a woman, who sounds lie she is calling a bingo game, say “Now serving B130 at window number 21″. Of course the B130 changes each time… sometimes it is a G or a C. What is funny is that for some reason when they get to the number right before me, they always seem to switch to a different alpha. So today I was B193… and when they got to B192 I was all excited. I was prepped and ready to stand up and scream “BINGO!”, but the next number ? G205. Then G206… Then G207… Then C234. Then C235.. Then G208. Very frustrating…
Of course as soon as I stop paying rapt attention, they call me. WooT! I was fortunate. It was a VERY slow day at DMV and I was in and out in under 20 minutes. UNHEARD of. and no, I will not tell you which DMV office I go to, since I am not ruining it. The Bellflower DMV, even with an appointment, is a guaranteed 4 hour visits.
So Anyway… now for the unveiling. Here is the DMV lady happily showing the plates. : As soon as I snapped this photo with my iPhone she realized that I would likely stick it up online… I assured her that her face is barely visible.. 
Here is the beautiful plate on my car :
ROCK! So when you see me buzzing around the greater Los Angeles area, give me shout out with the horn…. 
I am not sure why. I think it is a cool concept, but the majority of my “friends” (i.e. the people that give a rat’s butt what I am doing) are not online, or communicate with me via other methods.
I want to try it out though, since most of the tech podcasts I listen too talk about it, and now I can follow John Dvorak… LOL
So, who knows how often I will text in various useless pieces of information about what I am doing, or whatever. If you want to follow, I added a “widget” for twitter here on the blog, or you can join and we can follow each other. It will be a bonding experience for both of us, I am sure…
My twitter page is [ here ].
I actually considered taking the bus to work today… of course, that didn’t happen. Around LA you have to really really really plan out a bus trip since the mass transit system here REALLY blows.
Of course, I did at least check out what would be involved with a commute on the bus. Turns out it wouldn’t be HORRIBLE… but it would be annoying… very very annoying. A one way trip is over an hour long, and I am only going about 11 miles. In order to get to work on time, I would have to leave my house at 6:45 AM.
If you live in the OC - check out their cool trip planner [ OCTA ]. I don’t think I would have a problem with the morning commute, since I am usually up that early anyway, and I could get some reading done on the way to work. The problem though is the ride home. When I decide that I am done with work, I want to be home… I don’t want to sit on a bus for an hour and fifteen minutes….
Of course, then you think about the cost savings… I drive a Hyundai Sante Fe. It is a V6 compact SUV. You would think it would get decent gas mileage, but no… it does not. At best I am getting 14 to 17 mpg. So basically it takes me two plus gallons of gas a day to get to and from work, and with current gas prices being 3.75 a gallon… well it cost me 8 bucks a day to get to work….
So, in the course of a month (20 - 24 work days ) I will spend 160.00 to 192.00 dollars traveling to and from work. Now, that seems like a lot, but a 30 day buss pass will cost me 128.00. So, I am only really saving 32.00 to 64.00 dollars. Is it worth it. No, not really. Given that it will add another 1 hour (round-trip) to my travel time each day for a loss of 24 hours a month. A WHOLE day, every month GONE… Pass.
BUT.. it is earth day. So, shouldn’t I be concerned about it. Shouldn’t I want to do my part in salvaging the earth. Sure, but ultimately it won’t matter. Nothing that I do on an individual level is going to make any difference compared to how big business is destroying the planet. Is that a defeatest attitude, yes, but c’mon, haven’t we been defeated. I am not saying that we should make things worse, but can we really make anything better. No. So, if taking the bus is more cost effective for you, then do it. If you use a lot of plastics, then you should definitely be recycling.
In the end though, something more major will have to happen to save this earth.