It was the warmest of times, it was the coldest of times.

This is partially factually accurate. Namely, the warm part. Which makes the comparison awful.

But things are starting to look pretty green around here ...

Which is somewhat reassuring.

I'm still Bunny from the block.

Today, Jakana and I played a game I like to call "wander around a random store aimlessly." Today's episode took place in Walmart, because we had important things to buy after the graduate exhibition wore us out [needlessly].

Anyway, near the checkout lines, Jakana spotted the following Easter-themed chocolate bunny:

In case you are ... blind, that is a chocolate bunny, with a lascivious smirk and a freaking GOLD.BUNNY.MEDALLION.BLING.CHAIN.

Can't tell if his bunny pants are riding on his ankles, with bunny boxers hanging out.

ANYWAY, point being, why does this exist?

Influencing Voters: Disguising What I Actually Read

Today I *FINALLY* made a cover for my eReader ... Using a book harvested from the political science department reject box! (Too bad I didn't do it BEFORE the back got scratched up in my bag one day.)

I've been looking everywhere for a funny/appropriate/ironic book that it doesn't pain me to destroy. This one satisfied those requirements (although hurting books does kind of cause me anguish just the same).

It was actually quite straightforward, and used almost entirely recycled supplies. An old hardcover, a reusable shopping bag (thanks for all those spares, Urban Outfitters), a cereal box, elastic (1/8 inch) and glue! Oh, and a box cutter is useful.

I used the tutorial I found here (it's a video, but it's short). Here's inside, without the reader ...

Here's how it looks with the reader in place (I only had the energy to sew elastic in three corners, I really need to buy a thimble) ...

Annnnnnd here's the cover. Seems appropriate, for all those future political science conferences/talks/presentations/etc. where I need to feign intellectualism and scholarly interests.

Rome : Paris :: London : ?

This cracked me up. (Detroit Metro)

Addendum to eBay/PayPal post.

Who got a full refund? THIS GIRL GOT HER FULL REFUND.

In the words of my high school principal:

"If you mess with the truck, son, you're gonna get dumped."

Make a dentist cry.

Because last night I made these ...

(Clark family sticky bun recipe,YUM)

...Today breakfast is AWESOME.

(The carmelized pancake syrup on the bottom is enough to make any dentist weep, I can tell. But I'll eat another five to confirm this.)

Why eBay is terrible

So, a while back, I decided to play around on eBay. I bought two things, both of which were imitations from ... drumroll, please ...China.

I suppose that was predictable, but I read the item information very closely, and was convinced that if the items were fakes, I had grounds for reimbursement based on the eBay buyer protection information.

After several exchanges with one seller, and a claim filed with eBay, I got a full refund. "eBay has AWESOME customer service," I thought. "Maybe I'll buy stuff more often."

The second item was never marked as paid, so I had to go to PayPal, whose service is crap, as far as I can tell. In order to get a refund I have to have a retailer sign an affidavit which details how we know the item is an imitation. That seems like a long shot, but we shall see.

Anyway, back to eBay. Today I received an email telling warning me that my account is "close to exceeding the limits of one or more of our policies" and that "if a pattern continues, your purchases may no longer be eligible for eBay Buyer Protection, or we may limit or suspend your account."

EXCUSE ME? WHAT? I GET SENT FAKE ITEMS FROM SELLERS WHO PRESENTED THEM AS   LEGITIMATE ITEMS AND YOU'RE THREATENING ME?!

So, being me, I call eBay customer service to let them know just what I think of their threatening email. I am talking to someone who seems fairly nice, if very much dedicated to his script (which consists of countering my calm assessment of the inappropriateness of their email by repeating various portions of the email that has so enraged me) ... AND HE HANGS UP ON ME.

SO NOW I AM VERY ANGRY. I CALL BACK, AND ONCE MORE EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE FILED ONE, YES, ONE CLAIM, WHICH WAS SETTLED TO MY SATISFACTION (ME BEING THE INJURED PARTY IN ALL THIS BECAUSE THE CRAP WAS FAKE) WITH A FULL REFUND, SO WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS EMAIL?!

AND THEN AFTER 20 MINUTES I WAS TRANSFERRED AGAIN. AND WAS DISCONNECTED AGAIN. AND NOW WE COME TO THE MORAL OF THIS STORY, WHICH IS:

NEVER, EVER, USE EBAY.

I think I'll just keep calling them. At this point it's almost getting entertaining, and I've memorized all the menu shortcuts anyway.