So after 3 calls and 20 minutes later, Chase has rectified the situation. I've also learned something about their complex internet banking ui. They still need to hire IBM. I mean, look at Amex - they have a contract with us and their UI is awesome.

In china from 2/27 to 3/26. And also may have to go in June/July (altho I'd prefer not too). I here its very cold in China in Feb/Mar and very hot in China in June/July. I get to go Business class... thats probably not exciting for any of you, but I'm not sure if I have been on anything besides economy or whatever is cheapest. Today I ate with a girl from the China lab. She laughed at my mandarin... at least she could understand what I said...

are you in china now larry?
are you in taiwan now allen?

wow, i feel so unexotic in locale! although it was really really nice outside yesterday!! sunny and 60 degrees at one point! i called home to brag to my mom, and she shut me up real good by telling me it was a balmy 70 degrees down in san diego. haha.. seriously though, i appreciate it SOOooOOo much more now!

Hey guys, I'm really mad right now. Stupid Chase. I really think they need to hire IBM to fix there stupid IT system. They also need to sign up for an American Express card and have some GUI expert fix their annoying internet banking gui. Its not user friendly at all. Piece of s*$#. Today I got hit with a $29 finance charge and they say I owe them more than $800. This is kinda all new to me. I mean, I'm freakin livid at this point. Anyway, I call WAMU and their internet banking says I paid $262.08 on Jan 23. Now why is it with that dumb (_insert lots of swear words here_) Chase telling me this is my previous balance and they add it to my current balance. All right, I feel slightly better having called WAMU knowing that Chase TOOK my money. Them theifs. And now is asking me for more money for know good reason.

This all happenned when some punk in Iowa (ok, I forget what state it was in, but it was east of CA) somehow used my card # to buy some land's end apparel. I then have to call and get the charge removed. I then have to cancel the card and ask for a new one. That is when all the Chase problems begin. Their computer system is very crappy.

Ok. End of that rant. I hope everyone (well, I do) feels much better.
My boss wants me in China for more than a month... we will have to talk. I've been thinking about it and it looks like I will give in. If he *really* needs me there that long, I suppose I will stay. Thats better than going again in June when its really hot...

For all you ppl in the area on April 2 and 3, I'm inviting you to attend the BBC Christian Festival. I don't know the details and will be quite envious of anyone who can make it as I'll probably be in China. :(

Anyone have copies (HDTV burns) of the Apprentice? I have no cable... did you know that HDTV burns of alias are very good quality. I mean, it looks like its better than watching it on tv. (not that I would know how to do any of this mind u).
As Allen says, if you need anything in Taiwan, I mean, if you need anything from China, let me know :o). I'll try to do my best with my very bad mandarin. Its improving...

henrik wann jensen teaches at ucsd doesn't he? it was so impressive to me when i met him because he invented the photon effect, and i guess he was one of those names-i-heard-of-in-class and then, all of the sudden, i had to picture him as a real live person who lived in sd! :) haha although i suppose most cs famous names are not THAT far back in history but still!

and claud, why is it that being a fan of reality tv is so closetted these day? :) haha i just MENTIONED average joe the other day and suddenly i felt all this mockery for being a reality tv junkie! when you KNOW that many many people just HAVE to be watching for them to keep making new series eh? eh eh?? :)

the next movie is incredibles. you can find a teaser on the website. that's so cool that gina's moving down there! exciting!

i met a computer vision prof from ucsd over the weekend -- serge something. i was at a wedding and he was at our table. interesting guy. knew of alvin but that's it. didn't know anybody specific. but i guess that makes sense, computer vision isn' really close to what you all do, is it. =)

ooh, what's pixar up to for the next movie, claud? haven't seen the apprentice, but i did go to that william hung site. those dj's that did those mixes are super-good.

hm, a 3 bits of news on my end; gina's moving down to san diego! we're thinking of moving into a townhouse or something. hehe, we'll see, huh? also starting up qualcomm job next quarter as part time to my classes=no sleep again. alrighty!

-karl

i haven't watched the apprentice but i have seen my big fat obnoxious fiance and that show is quality reality tv. that's hard to say for me since i've tried to stay away but not anymore. i'll still pooh pooh reality tv in public though.

jenn -- disney who? haha... i kid, i kid. nah, nothing should change for me. in my ranks, it's all about making beautiful movies......i wonder if i've said too much. isi this website searchable and open to the public?

i'm still waiting for pixar to get big fish. i really want to see it.