e-client status

"We started processing your application on July 17, 2003."

No crap! You don't say! Seeing as that was only the date of the stamp on the Acknowledgement of Receipt, and everything...

But really, I wasn't expecting to see anything else. The 52 weeks haven't passed, for one thing. But to gauge from misc.immigration.canada, not everyone even ever shows up in e-Client, so it's good that it recognizes my file number.

Also: the current issue of TV Guide says "ER'S Extreme Makeover!" on the cover. I keep reading ERIS' Extreme Makeover!, which is absolutely frightening.

e-client status

"We started processing your application on July 17, 2003."

No crap! You don't say! Seeing as that was only the date of the stamp on the Acknowledgement of Receipt, and everything...

But really, I wasn't expecting to see anything else. The 52 weeks haven't passed, for one thing. But to gauge from misc.immigration.canada, not everyone even ever shows up in e-Client, so it's good that it recognizes my file number.

Also: the current issue of TV Guide says "ER'S Extreme Makeover!" on the cover. I keep reading ERIS' Extreme Makeover!, which is absolutely frightening.

rings

I now know the reason I do not like to wear large rings: hard to put hands in pockets. This is important because I need to put my hand in my pocket something like eighty times a day while I'm working, to take out my keys (usually opening the cash drawer). But I can't switch the rings right to left, so I guess I'll have to start putting my keys in my left pocket. That's going to be awkward.

rings

I now know the reason I do not like to wear large rings: hard to put hands in pockets. This is important because I need to put my hand in my pocket something like eighty times a day while I'm working, to take out my keys (usually opening the cash drawer). But I can't switch the rings right to left, so I guess I'll have to start putting my keys in my left pocket. That's going to be awkward.

(no subject)

COFFEE NOW DAMNIT

(no subject)

COFFEE NOW DAMNIT

money morals

There was a post in childfree recently where someone linked to a news article about someone who was undergoing a treatment to have their leg bones stretched because they had been born with a certain form of dwarfism, and was complaining that insurance was covering that "frivolous" procedure, whereas they generally would not cover sterilization surgery. Everyone who replied seemed to think that surgery needed to correct a birth defect was certianly not frivolous (I agree). One person contrasted it to cosmetic surgeries like liposuction and breast augmentation, saying that those were "the really frivolous ones" (to paraphrase).

I responded to that person disagreeing that such were necessarily frivolous, and saying that I thought that a carefully considered surgery to correct a flaw (even if only self-perceived) that has given a person self-esteem problems could be quite beneficial. (I do shake my head, though, at people who repeatedly get "facelifts" so that they get a tautness of skin unnatural for their age, whatever that happens to be.) In any case, I think the implication was that having cosmetic surgery was selfish and perhaps irresponsible, and that someone who has enough money to be able to afford such expensive surgery ought to be using it for better purposes. Is it really morally deficient to want cosmetic surgery rather than donating that money to charity?

The general question, I think, is what percent of one's discretionary income (the amount above what is needed to pay for your basic needs, obligations, etc) is it acceptable to spend on oneself before it becomes wrong to do so? How is this "bracketed" - i.e., how does that percentage decrease proportional to how much more you have left, like income taxes? Once the acceptable sum has been determined, does its absolute size affect what it's acceptable to spend it on? Does it also make a difference whether you had to specially save to afford a given self-spending item, versus it being cheap relative to your income or suddenly coming into enough money (lottery, inheritance...)?

money morals

There was a post in childfree recently where someone linked to a news article about someone who was undergoing a treatment to have their leg bones stretched because they had been born with a certain form of dwarfism, and was complaining that insurance was covering that "frivolous" procedure, whereas they generally would not cover sterilization surgery. Everyone who replied seemed to think that surgery needed to correct a birth defect was certianly not frivolous (I agree). One person contrasted it to cosmetic surgeries like liposuction and breast augmentation, saying that those were "the really frivolous ones" (to paraphrase).

I responded to that person disagreeing that such were necessarily frivolous, and saying that I thought that a carefully considered surgery to correct a flaw (even if only self-perceived) that has given a person self-esteem problems could be quite beneficial. (I do shake my head, though, at people who repeatedly get "facelifts" so that they get a tautness of skin unnatural for their age, whatever that happens to be.) In any case, I think the implication was that having cosmetic surgery was selfish and perhaps irresponsible, and that someone who has enough money to be able to afford such expensive surgery ought to be using it for better purposes. Is it really morally deficient to want cosmetic surgery rather than donating that money to charity?

The general question, I think, is what percent of one's discretionary income (the amount above what is needed to pay for your basic needs, obligations, etc) is it acceptable to spend on oneself before it becomes wrong to do so? How is this "bracketed" - i.e., how does that percentage decrease proportional to how much more you have left, like income taxes? Once the acceptable sum has been determined, does its absolute size affect what it's acceptable to spend it on? Does it also make a difference whether you had to specially save to afford a given self-spending item, versus it being cheap relative to your income or suddenly coming into enough money (lottery, inheritance...)?

"eight thousand five hundred?! that's a lot of tax, isn't it, lister! how on titan are you going to

tass: what's the canadian federal tax agency called?
tass: you know, the "Internal Revenue Service"?
tass: is it just something silly like "Revenue Canada'?
enotsola: exactly
tass: whoa!
tass: i'm a natural
enotsola: indeed!
tass: hmm
tass: *wonders briefly what the US's "external revenue service" would be, then realizes it's a combination of "peacefully" exploiting poor countries, plus war*
tass: wow, what a depressing thought
enotsola: *clings*
tass: well, i suppose there's plenty of legitimate trade, too
tass: but still

"eight thousand five hundred?! that's a lot of tax, isn't it, lister! how on titan are you going to

tass: what's the canadian federal tax agency called?
tass: you know, the "Internal Revenue Service"?
tass: is it just something silly like "Revenue Canada'?
enotsola: exactly
tass: whoa!
tass: i'm a natural
enotsola: indeed!
tass: hmm
tass: *wonders briefly what the US's "external revenue service" would be, then realizes it's a combination of "peacefully" exploiting poor countries, plus war*
tass: wow, what a depressing thought
enotsola: *clings*
tass: well, i suppose there's plenty of legitimate trade, too
tass: but still

(no subject)

It has been established that I like sloe gin, especially when made with <3 wuv! <3.

It has been established that smelling kind of spicy after a shower is nice.

But it has also now been established that I do not enjoy brandied kumquats. Pungent + squishy is pretty much not for me. (I wonder how just the kumquat-flavoured brandy would be... ^_^)

(no subject)

It has been established that I like sloe gin, especially when made with <3 wuv! <3.

It has been established that smelling kind of spicy after a shower is nice.

But it has also now been established that I do not enjoy brandied kumquats. Pungent + squishy is pretty much not for me. (I wonder how just the kumquat-flavoured brandy would be... ^_^)