Getting my GEEK on!

Star Wars. In concert. Anthony Daniels and a full symphony orchestra, live, doing a 2-hour retelling of the Star Wars saga.

Costumers abound. Actual props from the movies were on display.

Wait...it gets better...

They NEVER MENTION Jar-Jar Binks.

Discuss This!

Why is it that the crappier the hotel, the more likely it is to offer free internet? When I went to Boston this month the hotel cost more per night than I paid in monthly rent for my first apartment, yet there was a surcharge for internet access. Every crappy motel I've stayed in this century had free ethernet, if not free wi-fi.

Work-Related Injury

I'm not a helicopter pilot, crab fisherman, truck driver, convenience store clerk, or construction worker. So getting hurt on the job is not a major risk for me. That said, it can happen. I'm unlikely to drown in icy seas, crash and be immolated by the resulting fireball, get shot by a meth-addled holdup artist, or cut off any bits.

But stick a sharp metal implement into my own thumb through a glove covered in someone else's blood? Yeah, that can happen.

My first thought was denial: nah, I didn't just cut myself. Then I looked at my broken glove, took it off and looked at my broken skin. I got a little angry at myself for making such a stupid mistake. Then I started bargaining: maybe if I wash it off real quick with soap and water it'll be OK. While I was washing my hands, I felt a little down...and then I got over it and went back to work.

After this classic Kubler-Ross progression I figured I could just jump back in and finish the shift, but my attention kept drifting back to the incident, how I could have prevented it, how much paperwork I'd have to deal with, what communicable diseases did the patient have, etc. By the time I got home I was so tired I just crawled into bed and passed out.

Today I went to the Employee Health center to get the source patient's test results. They weren't ready yet. Grr. I should get a phone call tomorrow to find out if I've been exposed to any major communicables.

UPDATE: it's only 5 days later, but I finally have my results: The source patient is NEGATIVE for all major communicable diseases. That means I couldn't catch any badness from him. I'm also negative, but we knew that.

The good news is that the exposure was pretty minimal. The implement was clean before it went through my glove, there was minimal skin breakage, I was able to wash the affected area immediately--all of which minimize the chance of infection. Still, I'm not expecting to sleep well tonight.

In Which I Grow Up (a little)

Back when I graduated college, I lacked both funds and furniture. Eventually I saved up and bought a crappy futon from Wal-mart. I think it cost me just over $100, and it lasted a good long time. In fact, it was about 10 years later when I finally gave in to pressure from The Wife to buy, as she put it, "a real bed".

Since I fly first class whenever possible, I went out and got a memory foam mattress (with free boxspring!) which, while pricey, is REALLY comfortable. In fact, I spent my first week with that bed wondering why my back felt funny before I realized...it didn't hurt. I'd gotten so used to back pain that living without it just felt...weird.

Good enough, right? Apparently not. The Wife informed me that a mattress on the floor is not acceptable. Even a mattress on a box spring on the floor is not good. So a few months ago we went to Expensive Furniture and bought a bunch of bookshelves that happen to have a matching bed. And dresser. And...you get the idea.

So my bed is finally off the floor. And I'm not even 40 yet!

Mojave Cross (no, not a new cocktail)

A bunch of years ago, some WWI vets--by way of their VFW post--set up a memorial to their fallen comrades-in-arms. The memorial is in the shape of a cross. It was originally erected on private land. So no problem, right?

Well, a few years later, the federal gov't acquired the land. Fast-forward a bunch of years, and a retired park ranger sues (successfully) to have the cross removed, as permission to build a Buddhist shrine near it was refused.

Well, the VFW is still around (even if those WWI vets aren't), and they like their memorial. Appeals were filed, Congresscritters were called, and the upshot is that Congress decided to swap the land containing the monument for a nearby parcel of privately-owned land.

The Judicial branch is now up in arms. Phrases like "legislative end-run" and "violation of the Constitution" are being thrown around. The case sits before the Supreme Court. Personally, I think the Congressional solution was pretty damned clever and what's going on now is more of a pissing match than anything else.

But that's just my opinion. My loyal readers (both of you) are likely to have your own. Let's hear 'em.

Bahston

I'm going to Beantown tomorrow for a conference. Four glorious days of lectures, meetings, and overpriced drinks in the hotel bar. So this week's Discussion Question comes a little early:

What US city would you most like to visit, and why?