What's messing with your Groove?

[oldmunchkin]

I have an apartment inspection at noon today! Unfortunately, I still have the bathroom to clean. I don't think this should be legal. I should be able to choose who comes into my apartment, not the government! Yes, it is the government! Since I live in a building with section 8 housing, the manager is required to inspect all the apartments twice a year! What a bunch of shit! I suppose it makes sure everyone cleans their apartment twice a year, but that's all it accomplishes, IMO! I just finished the kitchen, but didn't get the oven cleaned. It looks just like it did when I moved in, so fuck them if they don't like it!

They say it's to check to see if all the appliances are working and the fixtures are being taken care of. Well fuck that! I told Jen a month after I moved in that the fridge was fucked up...no replacement until it completely quits working. I am gonna be a pissed off Munchkin if I lose a whole freezer full of meat at some point in time. I also told her the drip pans on the stove weren't the right ones. They are too big, I think. Whatever they are, they make the burner sit at a fucking angle! Still, no replacements. She said the hardware store doesn't carry the right size...that's a lame excuse to be sure. Terry will order anything you ask him to, at no extra cost. It's just that the maintenance "man"...a 17 year old high-school drop-out...is not smart enough to measure the burners and order the right size!

Yes, I'm just bitching! Sorry! I do feel better now that I've whined a bit! And now...back to the bathroom!

[Flixy]

I don't bother cleaning for our yearly inspection ours is only for fire safety, they test the smoke alarms, the condition of the extinguishers, and if fire exits are not obstructed.

[GGT]

Figures no one's around when I have insomnia.

[oldmunchkin]

I don't bother cleaning for our yearly inspection ours is only for fire safety, they test the smoke alarms, the condition of the extinguishers, and if fire exits are not obstructed.

We are "graded" on General Apartment Care and Condition, Apartment Cleanliness, Appliance Care and Condition, Entryway and Porch Area, and Rent Payment Record. They also check the smoke detectors, but that's not listed on the Apartment Inspection Report! Frankly, as long as I am not scratching the walls or painting them black, they shouldn't have any say in my housekeeping abilities! Remember tho, this is just the management company's inspection report. We are going to have a State inspection this summer sometime. Supposedly, those are much more thorough, almost "white glove" inspections! Yes, it has me really rather pissed off!

Figures no one's around when I have insomnia.

I was still up! Sorry I wasn't in the forum or no MSN tho! Next time, send me an e-mail and I'll get my act together so we can stay awake together!

[Veldan Rath]

It's also to protect the landlords. Section 8 housing has the rep (true or false) of destroying the property.

[GGT]

We are "graded" on General Apartment Care and Condition, Apartment Cleanliness, Appliance Care and Condition, Entryway and Porch Area, and Rent Payment Record. They also check the smoke detectors, but that's not listed on the Apartment Inspection Report! Frankly, as long as I am not scratching the walls or painting them black, they shouldn't have any say in my housekeeping abilities! Remember tho, this is just the management company's inspection report. We are going to have a State inspection this summer sometime. Supposedly, those are much more thorough, almost "white glove" inspections! Yes, it has me really rather pissed off!

Maybe, just maybe you shouldn't be so pissed off, seeing as your rent is only $25/month. Thanks to teh evil government and section 8 housing, with their inspections to make sure you're not living in a fire trap or rat infested hell hole.

[Hazir]

As of today we separate our trash at the office. Now, I can understand why they would want to do that for things like cups and other random stuff. I can even understand why they put central collection points for those rather than continue with individual bins. HOWEVER, I wonder which office-nazi decided to also take away our bins for paper. Under the old system that was already collected separately because the paperwork we throw out has to be shredded before we can trash it. Now, rather than select which papers are relevant to a case and which not and throw the latter in a special paper bin, now I have to walk 150 m for every scrap of paper that I want to throw out. Or collect it on my desk and make a daily paper run.

[GGT]

I'm trying to absorb and understand a shocker---news that my favorite forum member won't be posting any longer. I'm hoping that translates to a long hiatus, and an eventual return.

If it turns out otherwise, this place won't be the same. It'll just be a handful of white western men talking about their money (they'll call it Economics), their power (they'll call it Politics), their superiority (they'll call it Academia)....an echo chamber that might eventually drive away other smart voices and challenging opinions.

[BalticSailor]

I have to do a certain reaction (dehydrogenation/aromatization) at work, and for the sort of compounds I'm working with, there are only two ways to do this.

The first one is the "old-school" method, where the starting material is mixed with elemental sulfur and heated for several hours at ~250°C - that's quite a high temperature for us organics guys. While technically there's nothing technically difficult about the process, it 1) produces hydrogen sulfide, which reeks of rotten eggs, 2) also emits sulfur fumes, which on contact with a relatively cool surface will deposit a layer of sulfur on it, and 3) when done, the reaction mixture on cooling turns into a solid brick consisting of product, unreacted starting material and excess sulfur. Getting the product out of this is a major pain in ass. I have tried this reaction, absolutely hated every minute I spent working on this, and decided never to do this again

Method No.2 involves using a specific reagent. In theory, one should dissolve the starting material and the reagent in a suitable solvent, heat the solution for a couple of hours, during which the used-up reagent turns into another compound that can be easily removed by filtration, and the relatively clean product is easily recovered by evaporating the remaining solution. Of course, I chose this synthesis pathway. What could go wrong?
Apparently, everything that could go wrong, did. The used-up reagent failed to precipitate out of the solution completely, quite a lot remained there. The starting material remained there, too, since the reaction didn't proceed to end for some reason. Attempts to purify the product by column chromatography failed, in a way I couldn't describe properly to anyone who isn't already familiar with column chromatography. I did manage to obtain my "product", in 5% yield (that's considered terribly, terribly low), and it was not anywhere close to being pure.

So... I've left with no choice but to run the reaction No.1 again. Arrrrrgh... Sadly, there really is no third way (apart from version of reaction No.1 with elemental selenium instead of sulfur. This has no advantages, and has two drawbacks: it requires even higher temperatures, and instead of smelly hydrogen sulfide (probably) at least equally smelly and, to add to that, extremely toxic hydrogen selenide is produced)
My nearest future stinks, quite literally.

[oldmunchkin]

It's also to protect the landlords. Section 8 housing has the rep (true or false) of destroying the property.

Yes, I realize that to some extent. But, twice a year every year and three times a year every four or five years seems way excessive to me.

Maybe, just maybe you shouldn't be so pissed off, seeing as your rent is only $25/month. Thanks to teh evil government and section 8 housing, with their inspections to make sure you're not living in a fire trap or rat infested hell hole.

Maybe, since I do pay my rent on time every month, I should be allowed to live in my apartment peacefully! Without interruptions that come at the worst times for me. It seems to me to be more of a snooping session than anything else. They get to come in and see what I own and where it is. They can even come in and inspect, even if I'm not here! If I am ever robbed, I am going to immediately think of management! Simply because I don't like having people I don't know well in my apartment, casing the joint for future reference!

Since they are done with the inspections, I should have seen the hoarders on the 3rd and 4th floors either hauling out buckets and bags of trash, or moving out entirely. Well, that isn't happening! I guess they are allowed to be slobs or live in their filth in peace, whereas I get told to get my oven cleaned out! It's just exactly as clean as it was when I moved in, so why am I supposed to make it better? (Yes, it's been on my to-to list for a while, because I can't stand a filthy oven.) It just seems to negate the entire rental process. You know, you rent the house, pay the rent on time, and are left alone to live as you please. Whether you are a serial hoarder or a hermit or the life of the party, as long as it's not disturbing the neighbors, it should be fine!

Speaking of disturbing the neighbors...I got told I can't run my vacuum after 7PM, because it's too loud, but it's ok for the chick around the corner to come stumbling in drunk, at 2AM, with her buddies, laughing and yelling and whatnot in the shared hallway! Something is wrong here!!

[Ominous Gamer]

It's also to protect the landlords. Section 8 housing has the rep (true or false) of destroying the property.

From my experiences, its generally true. But these homes were never run by the best landlords to begin with. A vast majority of code enforcement complaints I take in are against section 8 landlords. One of those, "if they don't care, I don't care" type of deals that goes both ways.

[Hazir]

The surgeon who's responsable for the death of my sister is on TV right now, talking about the procedure. Basically advertising it and the bloody hosts don't bother to ask real questions about the risks.

[Timbuk2]

Must be distressing to see that Hazir.

[GGT]

JULY already?! Where did June go? poof, gone! I know time seems to fly faster as we get older, but this is ridiculous. I've sort of made it a point of idle conversation with strangers lately and everyone says the same thing, no matter their age. Where has the time gone?

[BalticSailor]

Work + weather...
It was really hot outside today. Indoors, it wasn't much better. And in lab, this sucks. Anything usually considered volatile is much more volatile when it's hot. Anything that stinks gets really unbearable in days like this. And anything that's reasonably cold is quickly covered with drops of water condensate from air moisture - including stuff that's supposed to be dry, such as the inner wall of reflux condensers.

[GGT]

That makes me wanna sneeze and cough, just thinking about it, Sailorboy. *shudder*

[Flixy]

Work + weather...
It was really hot outside today. Indoors, it wasn't much better. And in lab, this sucks. Anything usually considered volatile is much more volatile when it's hot. Anything that stinks gets really unbearable in days like this. And anything that's reasonably cold is quickly covered with drops of water condensate from air moisture - including stuff that's supposed to be dry, such as the inner wall of reflux condensers.

Are yoru labs not air conditioned? Damn Sounds like hell.

[oldmunchkin]

The jack-booted thugs of BFE are alive and well! It seems that ambushing drunks isn't lucrative enough, now they are stopping people walking after 9PM, asking what they are doing and where they are going. The Kid and I got stopped tonight, for taking an evening walk! Cop (new, gung-ho puppy prick) pulls up, lights flashing, and asks for DRIVER'S LICENSES! When I told him I had no ID on me at all, he got all ouchie and acted like he was going to hand-cuff me! The Kid asked him why either of us needed a DL to walk along a public sidewalk. Cop got all huffy with him. Finally, I called dispatch, yes this pissed him off bad, and asked them to send the other asshole cop we have to the scene. By the time he arrived, all the people in the neighborhood were outside mingling around! SuperCop tried to make them go back into their homes, and they all refused! (This was funny because here are all these little old ladies defying this young puppy! ) The cop I had called for is the acting chief right now since the chief got fired for diddling his girlfriend on duty and in the cop car! So, the "chief" asks the officer what the problem is, the puppy responds that we refused to produce DL's when asked. Chief asks why a DL is needed to take a walk...puppy responds that he is ticketing walkers who don't have a destination.

All of this has taken about 15 minutes, minutes in which my son is getting angrier and angrier! Finally, my ex-in-laws came over and asked what the problem was. PuppyCop replies he is giving us a ticket for walking after dark. Chief tells him that is not illegal. PC replies it should be, because we might have been drinking before walking and we might be considering robbing someone! By now, even the calmest of the old ladies was getting pissed off!

End of story is, we didn't get a ticket for walking without a DL, we didn't get a ticket for suspicious behavior, and we didn't get a ticket for some imaginary crime! I am thinking the next city council meeting might be interesting to attend!

[GGT]

You're weird about police. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Are these the same cops you expect to respond when your neighbors are running their ATVs on their own property and making too much noise?

[oldmunchkin]

You're weird about police. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Are these the same cops you expect to respond when your neighbors are running their ATVs on their own property and making too much noise?

No, the one hassling everyone right now is new to the job. I hope, after tonight, he realizes people do walk just to walk. I don't know where he grew up, but it stinks of big city to me. You know, someplace you walk if you are trouble, not for enjoyment of the evening or exercise.

Your 4-wheeler analogy won't work here. We were NOT disturbing anyone in any of the neighborhoods we walked in. We were not yelling, singing, or otherwise making loud noises. We were not kicking up enough dust that the neighbors couldn't even sit in their own yard without getting a face full. We were walking along, quietly pointing out the constellations and stars and such, because the sky was so clear the stars looked like they were "right there" and you could reach out and pick them from the sky! Completely different thing from riding an unmufflered machine at top speed, kicking up enough dust that people 3 blocks over were complaining about it!

[GGT]

That big sky star stuff sounds lovely. Not sure why you couldn't just be nice to the new guy on the job, introduce yourselves and be welcoming....seeing as you weren't doing anything illegal. What good does all the hostility do?


I burned my thumb this morning on a cast iron skillet. Found the thumb in my mouth trying to make it feel better. Funny how sucking my thumb as a kid used to feel so comforting, when now it feels so strange and awkward.

[Timbuk2]

Rachel Weisz is getting married!

WTF has bloody Daniel Craig got that I haven't!? Hm?

The love of my life.

Spurned. Woe is me.

[Catgrrl]

I dropped a dresser drawer on my big toe yesterday. It is completely blue behind the nail and it still hurts today. This sucks; I wanted to enjoy the holiday weekend. Why is chaos constantly picking on me!?!

[BalticSailor]

Liquid chromatography. It is...
Meh, they say a picture is worth a thousand words... This one, despite the poor phone camera quality, sums it up quite well.

[oldmunchkin]

That big sky star stuff sounds lovely. Not sure why you couldn't just be nice to the new guy on the job, introduce yourselves and be welcoming....seeing as you weren't doing anything illegal. What good does all the hostility do?

The sky was awesome. I love Wyoming partly for that reason...very little light pollution!
Uhm, what part of walking is legal and doesn't require a cop's opinion, got missed? He wasn't being "friendly", he was being over-zealous and officious! It's not just me (or us) that is having problems with this stuff. We have decided to have a designated decoy program. lol Someone sober will leave the bar, after letting the drunks know, so he hassles the sober one! Hell, he pulled over his own boss, the acting chief, on his motorcycle! He sits and watches 18 wheelers run thru town at about 50 MPH, but pulls locals over for 1 MPH over speed limit. He has even gone so far as to harass the mayor when she parked, legally, in the handicapped space at the post office. She was still in her car, and hadn't gotten her placard put up on the mirror yet! His major problem is he is a gung-ho kid who is way over zealous and wants to make a name for himself. Mom just called and said someone was at her door with a petition to have him removed from the force. Hoping the petition works. It should tho, since it's being circulated by a city council member. (Something about needing signatures to be able to fire him due to his being hired by some stupid state plan.) Just trust me when I say he is NOT what we need in BFE, as a cop or a citizen! He is dangerous to himself and to the general public!

I burned my thumb this morning on a cast iron skillet. Found the thumb in my mouth trying to make it feel better. Funny how sucking my thumb as a kid used to feel so comforting, when now it feels so strange and awkward.

Yeah, it just isn't the same when you are an adult!

And so it continues! Every damned nice day we get is followed by 4 or 5 that suck! All it wants to do is fucking rain! I need sunshine, badly. We have had enough rain (something like 3/4 of the yearly average) already this year. May felt like March, and June was a wonderful early Spring month! July, so far, has been cold and rainy again! Global warming my ass!

[Catgrrl]

My toe still fucking hurts. Even with the meds. At least it gets me out of cleaning the house.....

[GGT]

Don't be surprised if you lose your toenail, Cat. That could get you out of all sorts of mundane chores!

[oldmunchkin]

WHEATLAND, Wyo. - Police say that four people killed in a shooting in southeast Wyoming were the suspect's sons and his adult brother, and the woman who was wounded was his wife.
Police Chief Randy Chesser says officers arrested the suspect after shots were fired Thursday evening at a home about 70 miles (112 kilometres) north of Cheyenne.
Chesser identified the suspect Friday as Everett Conant, in his mid-30s. Chesser says Conant surrendered after a short standoff.
He says Conant's wife was shot in the ankle and shoulder but survived.
Chesser didn't identify her, but a hospital spokesman says a woman named Suzette Conant was hospitalized and was listed in good condition Friday.
Chesser says he doesn't know if the three boys were Everett Conant's biological children.
Sheriffs say Everett Conant is in jail, but it has no record of whether he has an attorney.

Contrary to GGT's thinking that I live in the "wild, wild west", shootings like this are very rare in Wyoming!

[GGT]

But you do live in the wild, wild west munchie! Doesn't Wyoming have more guns than people?


Well, my son wrecked the car. It was our second-hand "beater", but still Thankfully he's okay and no one else was injured!

He did some damage to a couple of parked vehicles, mostly paint scrapes and dents....but his car was 'totaled'. The airbags inflated and broke the windshield, the bumper/side panel crumpled as designed, head light cracked, side mirror fell off, tire deflated, hub cap was in pieces, and the wheel rim was bent and twisted.

Would have cost more to fix everything than the car is worth, so we ended up having it salvaged at the junk yard (which, "conveniently", was called to tow the vehicle.)

Fascinating places, junk yards, salvage yards. Really nice people with a good sense of humor, and very helpful. I wouldn't have thought to remove the license plate or the nearly new RainX windshield wipers since I'd never junked an automobile before. They helped us take anything of value out of the car and box it up. Then they weighed it and gave us a "discount" for daily storage, because their tow fee was $165!

Going rate for scrap cars is $18 per 100 pounds. They said that's higher than it used to be just a few years ago. So we got just under $400 for the whole 2,000+ pound car. They don't even bother to take off the tires for separate shredding or recycling, too much of a hassle for the cost, they said.

*Sigh*

[oldmunchkin]

Well GGT, it's entirely possible we have more guns than people! I don't get why people from the city think guns are all bad! Oh well. I have to research this some more, but I was told today that, as of the first of July, Wyomingites no longer need to have a CCP. It will be perfectly legal to carry a concealed gun without the permit. Of course there are restrictions such as you can't be a felon and you can't carry one in a bar or courthouse. I assume there are other restrictions, but don't know yet. If I find time to look it up, I'll come back and post a link somewhere!