Jack’s Old & Busted Blog

Colli found out she won her GREAT BIG 8TH CIRCUIT CASE today!

(18k pdf): We recognize that four of our sister circuits have reached a contrary result that may be more consistent with the purposes of § 522 and with their resolution of the “similar plan or contract” issue. We are constrained, however, by our precedent, and by our conclusion that these accounts are readily accessible savings accounts of which the debtors may easily avail themselves (albeit with some discouraging tax consequences) at any time for any purpose.
III.
Faithful application of our circuit’s binding precedent requires us to hold that the debtors’ IRAs do not qualify for exemption under § 522(d)(10)(E). Accordingly, the judgment of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel is affirmed.

Next stop, Ninth Circuit (or something).

If you’re Jewish and you celebrate the Festival of Sukkot (Judaism 101), you may need a PopUp Sukkah (PopUpSukkah.com). This is one of those customs that seems to originate in an alternate universe. Excuse me while I drag my plastic spruce tree inside.

I took apart my iMac last night trying to determine if the monitor problems I was having might be a bad ground or cable connection. Apple no longer has tech manuals available via FTP, but this site (voelker.com) has tons of them in PDF format. Very useful.

It may be that Generation X will go down in history as the worst dancers ever. The ’70s had disco, which, while distateful in music, at least had flashy moves and attention to detail. GenX’rs either slam-danced, or did not dance at all. This is the reason why GenY/Z is totally unable to get its freak-on without powerful mind-bending designer drugs in a warehouse with jackhammer electronic beats. If our parents had not been doing the Tango Hustle (choreography), there would be no raves today.

It’s about time someone did an analysis of the status of Generation X. The problem is the best person to do this is a member of said generation, and so is too ambivolent to commit to the research. We early Gen-X’rs are approaching that time in life where careers undergo scrutiny. Being children of the ’70s, our moral gyros are tumbled and our biggest consideration is our own well-being (that’s one thing that’s left out of GenX discussions — the fact that we are the most selfish, arrogant, and bitter generation ever. You’ve got Hendrix, Morrison, and Janis; our dead rock stars suicied on the cusp of mediocrity). Gen-X’rs don’t admire success; they don’t envy it, either. The most successful Gen-X’rs are slick and manic, avoided by all except their own slimy guild of Amway pariahs. The happiest Gen-X’rs are unemployed, “looking for work.” That’s why the collapse of the Internet economy was the perfect disaster for Gen-X’rs. What better symbol for us than the extinction of nebulous, undefinable careers centered around video games and lecherous excess?

I’m thinking of writing this book. Nah.

(slackersguild.com): “Slackers Guild is an online community made up of people who generally dislike work. Because of our rather broad demographic, we’re able to touch on a myriad of subjects, including films, music, random internet links, editorials, contests, and interviews.”

Through a quirky twist of fate, I was able to aquire a mint condition Fuji S1 Pro digital SLR camera (Steve’s Digicams review). A couple of years ago, these were selling new for $3,000. You can still get a new one for $1,500-$1,900, although it’s been succeeded by the S2 Pro. Savvy photo buyer that I am, I paid quite a bit less for mine. A lot less. Like, “is it stolen?” less (it’s not).

Ironically, it’s identical to the rig I use in my day job as a corporate photog, so I knew ahead of time all its bells and whistles. It’s technically a 3.54 megapixel camera, but through the voodoo of Fuji’s proprietary “SuperCCD” (dpreview.com), it spits out a usable 6.1 megapixel image, which is big enough to do a decent poster (which I’ve done before with good results).

I’ve often lamented that I would shoot more for myself if film wasn’t so expensive. Now I have a chance to prove that theory.

I’m growing my Van Dyke back, and I’m trying to find out why. I know in that one Star Trek episode where the characters meet their evil opposites from the anti-universe, “anti-Spock” has a Van Dyke. I don’t think it’s symbolic of anyting, but it does keep my chin warm in the winter. Note that it is a Van Dyke and not a goatee. (Ravenwood’s Universe) : “I’m a bit sick and tired of people not knowing the difference between a ‘goatee’ and a ‘Van Dyke’, so I’ll illustrate.”