Previously Unpublished

Alright, I just wanted to use that title. Since it is finals and all.

However, for the real reasons behind the naming of the day, I didn’t realize today is really supposed to be about labor concerns. So all the immigration stuff had some planning behind it and wasn’t just super spontaneous or anything.

I didn’t need to go watch Gattaca. It is a very good movie, but half the class wasn’t there. I had some small panic attacks over the paper that was still half baked and thought they were heart attacks during the treadmill sequences. I used to do that a lot, though I’ve learned to control my hypercondriac nature.

Okay, I will finish this thing (I think) before I go to bed.

-jd

I have an interesting way of thinking about budgeting. Well, maybe interesting is not the right word. Just a quick example while I’m thinking about it since it pertains to both of the previous posts. Here’s the logic:

1. I just saved $80 plus on what would have been a certain expenditure. I would have bought a new power cord no matter what. Thus $80 was gone.

2. A beer belly seems really cool. I’d like to have one, but I’m not sure how high it really ranks on my consumables ladder, if you will (where everyone just acts sort of like women purportedly act and there are lots of ladders such as the necessity ladder where you need them, or could do without, etc.) Still on board?

3. Well, based on my often twisted logic, the $80 is now transfered to a free-for-all category because it was gone no matter what. Now, items on other ladders can jump to the necessity ladder because there are openings. Obviously the flaw is that there are other necessities on the necessity ladder that will need to be taken care of eventually. To realize the logic of this, you need look no further than the real ladder theory and how girls view friends.

4. A friend will never be able to make the jump to the must have ladder. A luxury item of comfort should not be able to make the jump to the necessity ladder. If it doesn’t work with biologically pre-determined attraction patterns, then it should certainly not work with artificially developed economies. Unless they are one in the same and the consumable ladders are meant to offset those spurned by the attraction ladders. Alright, that was out there, but hopefully connects together a little bit.

There are always, always exceptions but just as I have been wrong about this in the relationship context, I think I am also wrong in the budget context. I make too many exceptions. Also, this is basically how I am going to use John Rawls’ original position to justify requiring advanced medical directives in the military. Fill a void with a theory completely removed from the subject at hand.

-jd

So of course, right in the middle of finals season, my ac adaptor starts to go on the blink. It still works, but not in a way that would give me confidence going into an exam. For example, the wiring between the cord to my computer and the power brick, is exposed. Also, it takes some wiggling to get the battery indicator to go away on my task bar.

Well, after the hard drive fiasco last summer during finals, I paid an extra $200 to extend my warranty which coincidentally was expiring around the same time. I did that for exactly this predicament. I expected something to go wrong at the worse time and for Dell to fix it by shipping me the part I need the next day. When they agree to do something, they are wonderful about it and everything happens very quickly. I had a new hard drive the very next day. This is what convinced me to re-subscribe.

Today I called Dell and there is a problem. Somehow the warranty I subscribed to for another two year (through the end of law school) which was for hardware components that needed to be replaced, does not automatically cover the ac adaptor. I went through some basic logic with the customer service lady where I asked her if an ac adaptor was considered hardware. It was. Mine needs to be replaced due to normal wear and tear (i.e. I didn’t severe it with scissors or in a door.)

However, somehow she distinguished my case by saying the ac adaptor wasn’t an internal component and it was replaceable by me through other means (Well yes, all the parts are replaceable by me through other means. Dell will sell me another adaptor on their site for $63 plus $26 for overnight shipping.) If I had the “complete” customer care warranty, it would be no problem. On the other hand, my case is a borderline one and so she is supposed to consult with someone and call me back (I’m not supposed to call her back.) I feel as if I just had to do a case analysis on a final exam and simultaneously got blown off by some girl all at the same time.

I’m going to work on my paper while my computer still functions. As I was driving to the post office earlier today, I saw a nursery. It was full of lush vegetation swaying in the breeze and had statues and was so nice. I think someday near my home on Santorini or on the roof of my winter place in Rio, I will have a small nursery.

EDIT: Oh oh oh…jusy called back and at first I was just going to give up…I’m too tired to fight. Plus it is not in my nature. Then I remembered my training from the bank (no, not that the customer service rep. is just the middle man)…rather, the customer who complains loudest gets what he wants. I’m not sure I’m getting what Iwant, but the manager is reconsidering. I’m going to be an advocate goddamnit. Give me a new power cord, your logic is faulty.

Wow, success…I got it! Being an asshole for five minutes saved me over $80. I was apologetic and cited finals as the reason afterwards. The guy seemed pissed. Maybe I can give them a positive email survey later? What a screwed up world…this is what allows lawyers to get paid big bucks to be the voice of clients. On the other hand, I needed a voice, the damn power cord shouldn’t have broken.

I want to take care of plants.

-jd