Hypercubed paid $239.40 in hosting fees to DreamHost, Inc.  These hosting fees were paid in 2007 for services to be rendered through 2009.  Hypercubed paid an additional $39.80 in domain name registration fees.  In total Hypercubed’s expenses in 2007 were $279.20.

So all told my little hobby here has cost me $11.35 in 2007.  Not bad considering how expensive alternative hobbies can be ($2500 for a camera, my god!).  I could probably squeeze a little more out of this by strategic placement of ads and posting more often but, like I’ve said before, this is a hobby not a living.

In case you can’t read the image:

THE NEW PRODUCT COME INTO THE MARKET

Environment-protective Torch for 21st century

Features:

1. Only shake it forward and backward while use. So as to make it generating to light up.

2. Its switch system is based on advanced magnetic induction technologies. So it’s long in service life and reliable in performance.

Advantages:

1. A torch is used for emergency lighting purpose. However, the traditional battery-supplied torch may cause you a big trouble because the batteries will become ineffective and produce pollution if the torch is left idle for a long time. The chargeable torch also has the problem of power leakage; or it will help you remember to charge only at the time you need. This innovative torch is the breakthrough in solution to waste and inconvenience.

2. Being self-supplying, it will serve you long and well.

Caution:

1. Never keep it close to household appliances or other articles which need to be shielded from magnetism.

2. We will not take the responsibility for any loss caused by improper use.

It all started when I saw the following video on Attack of the Show:

I can’t believable!  So awesome!  The video was supposedly created by kesblo from an actual dell sales call.  The original full length call is here.  I recommend you to listen to the whole thing, because the future is gonna to cost more money.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/audio/play/10314/

Now checkout Dan’s re-mix.  Go ahead, little girl, little baby girl, little hooker girl.

It is almost danceable.

Another place that I vehemently hate is my local Del Taco.  The Del Taco near my house has the worst customer service of any fast food establishment I’ve ever been to.   Not only is the place generally filthy, the customer service is worse than… I don’t know…. a vending machine.  I’d visit this Del Taco more often if the cashier was a vending machine.

Sometimes I go to this Del Taco, dispute my previous experiences, because of it’s location.  Sometimes it is just too damn convenient.  Usually the cashier is simply not interested in you, your order, or, it appears, even life itself.  The typical Del taco greeting here is a silent one.  It is that inverted nod that can mean either “What Up Hommie!” or “What you lookin’ at Güero” depending on the person delivering it and with the these cashiers it usually seams more like the later.

Anyway, this last weekend the experience was different, and not for the better.  I tried to make a quick stop at the Del Taco on my way taking my son to see Happy Feet at the cheap theater.  Before I could even order I had to wait for the cashier to finish counting the change in the register, yes, all… the… change… in… the.. register.  When that was done, she removed the register drawer and walked away.  I guess she was done with her shift, nice!  As I stood there for googly eyed wondering what I can do now, the manager instructed the floor sweeper to take my order.  The floor sweeper responded with “I’m sweepin’”.  After a short conversation the floor sweeper was somehow persuaded to take my order. 

I was considering getting a kids meal but I had no idea what were the contents of a Del Taco kids meal and I had plenty of time while the last cashier was counting change to realize that the Kids meal was, apparently, not on the menu behind the counter.  The conversation went like this (notice no greeting).

Me: Um, what is in a Kids meal?
Cashier: Which one?
Me: I don’t know, what type is there.
Cashier: Hamburger or Taco.

I found out later that they also have a quasadilla but she didn’t tell me that.  She also didn’t tell me the sides which is what I really wanted to know but I decided to move on.

Me: How much?
Cashier: Huh?
Me: I don’t see a Kids meal on the menu… how much is it?
Cashier: It’s on the menu.

She is not turning around or anything.

Me: I don’t see it.
Cashier: It’s there.

Still not turning around.

Me: Can you show me?

Instead of turning around and showing me she begins to call for the manager.  I don’t understand why she doesn’t just turn around and point it out to me if it is there.  At this point the person behind me in line interjected.

Person behind me in line: It’s under hamburgers.

Finally!  I then had to get the cashier to return her attention to me (she was still attempting to flag a manager) to place my order.  Seriously, what’s the deal?  Is it really that cumbersome to ask the price of something?   Shouldn’t she know where the Kids meal is located on the menu?

Anyway, I placed my order, got my food, ate, and left.  At this point I don’t think I will return to that Del Taco no matter what.  From now on I’ll drive the extra 2 miles for Taco Bell where the employees are pleastly brain dead but not rude.  Besides Taco Bell is cheaper and better no matter what Dan tells you… or used to tell you.

 Why on earth would I give my phone number for any freak and pervert to call me?  No, it is not that I like receiving calls from freaks and perverts… at least not all the the time.  It’s because that number is my GrandCentral number. 

In case you haven’t heard of GrandCentral let me explain.  GrandCentral is a web app that lets you consolidate all of your phone numbers into one number.  When someone calls your free GrandCentral number they hear a message indicating that your call is being connected.  At the same time all your associated numbers (home, cell, work, etc) ring.  You can pick up any of these phones to discover who is calling and decide to take the call, not take the call, or even screen the call.  What is even better is you can setup custom call filters.  You can have your wife’s cell number routed to your work number, your mistress’ home number can be routed to your cell, and telemarketers can be routed to hell (where they definitely belong).  And if you desire, as I do, all unknown calls can be routed to voice mail. 

That’s right.. if you call the above number and you are not on my contacts list you will be sent directly to voice mail. What’s more with AT&T Lab’s Text-to-Speech Demo you won’t even know the sound of my voice.  So go ahead… (310) 807-5778… I’d love to hear from you…. but please try to keep it clean.

Now I just wish my number spelt something cool.