HighEndBuzz

Arrived in Newport

So we're here in Newport RI to bring the Kattack program to the Farr40, Melges 32 and Beneteau 36.7 fleets at the New York Yacht Club Regatta.  We got into town at 5pm and headed to Newport Boat Works where the majority of the Farr40 boats are sitting for the one-design regatta starting on Thursday.  Our next stop was the New York Yacht Club and then Fort Adams to take a count of the Melges 32 fleet and the Beneteaus.

After dinner at the Black Pearl we headed back to the hotel.  The highlight of the evening was when we opened the 150lb box with our video equipment.  The 6000 Lumen's projector we rented from a local company is the size of a small car.
WTF???

Well it should be a good show anyway.  We'll check in the boats tomorrow and may even get in a sail...

Regatta starts on Thursday.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to cancel an AOL account

Funny (or not), I had this exact same experience last year when I canceled (about 30 times) my AOL account.  Tragic thing is you can't hang up; if you do your account will still be active.

            Original article is at http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/167001.php

It is IMPOSSIBLE to cancel an AOL account
by Hal Mayforth Sunday, Jul. 02, 2006 at 4:50 PM
   

It is IMPOSSIBLE to cancel an AOL account! This is standard opperating procedure for AOL. They are crooks!!!! Almost 10 years ago I worked for American Express in Phoenix as a contract computer programmer writting software that allowed AOL subscribers to get information about their American Express Credit cards. As a part of my job I was required to get an AOL account which I billed AMEX every month, and which AMEX promptly paid for. I never used AOL in my private life. When I left American Express for another job it took at least 6 months of letter writting by me before I got AOL to cancel my account and stop billing me. I am sure it was a very intentional that AOL continued to bill me after I told them I did not want to use their services any more. Other people I have talked to have had the same experience when trying to cancel their AOL accounts - ie: AOL bills them for months after they want to cancel the account.

AOL Said, 'If You Leave Me I'll Do Something Crazy' 

Thoughts on Home

Growing up as an Air Force brat means that you don't really have a home.  I was born in Germany, but the home I most relate to is Del City, Oklahoma.  I lived there when I was 12 until I left college in 91'(I went to OU in Norman).  I was just there for a vacation (strong word for what it really was) and must say I now remember why I left that place in the rear-view mirror.

Oklahoma (although I do love growing up there) is a complete shit-hole these days.  I don't remember it being like that, but as a kid you just don't see it the way it really is.  Now there are parts of OK that are really nice, Norman is one of them.  But visiting Del City was unusually disturbing.  There is trash everywhere and almost every other business is a pawn shop, liquor store, gun shop or express check-cashing operation. 

My father lives in Seattle now, but still has a house in that area.  I didn't expect him to have wifi since the house is never occupied, but usually you'd expect someone in the neighborhood to have some type of high speed I could "hack" into.  Nope, we're talking 3rd world.  Additionally, the closest Starbucks was miles and miles away.

I know that living in Minnesota warps my perspective on most other places, with our clean streets, nice neighborhoods, low crime and moderate summer weather, but even my friends that still live there think it's a complete shit-hole these days.  What's happening to that part of the country?

Did I mention it was "hotter than hell"?