ick and sticker shock

[anotheranon]

After a couple of days of sinus pain that made my teeth want to fall out and other indicative yuck that I won't detail here, I figured I should probably see a professional :P Sure enough, I have a sinus infection. I've been given a course of anti-biotic horse pills to get rid of this thing! Apart from the pain and drain, I'm mostly recovered.

Also got confirmation that my registration for the relational database class went through (yay!) so I'm looking at getting the required reading ASAP so I can be prepared. Urgh, argh - I didn't expect the book to be quite that expensive ($115!), though considering that computer/technical books often come with CDROMs and other "add-ons" I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised. I am looking for it used, of course!

Miscellanea: the Serenity trailer is out. Again, I exhort you - if you missed Firefly, don't miss this. Much good storytelling and ripping one-liners!

While at the grocery to pick up my horse pills, I went through the candy section looking for the elusive dark chocolate M&Ms, to no avail. Here's hoping they're only temporarily sold out!

Discussion elsewhere reminded me of Slavercise. I got one of the exercise videos a couple of years ago as a gag gift (or, I think it was a joke ;) ) and decided to check it out again. Domina in leather puts men through their paces and in their places - I think it's intended for audiences into humiliation, but while it doesn't necessarily trip my trigger, the creators are in earnest! Salon review of one of the in-house training sessions (free pass and all that).

Wish I could make this a little more uplifting and exciting than it is, but it's hard to fake enthusiasm when your nose is leaking down your throat :/

Comments

[skill-grl.livejournal.com]

Textbooks are ridiculously priced. Try the used ones on bn.com or powells.com or any other online bookstore.

I just got a used stat book for $80 instead of $120.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Agree with the previous comment. Textbooks prices are exorbitant ... WAY beyond usual publisher markup. Reason: textbook publishers have a "captive buyer" group ... students aren't allowed to browse around and choose a textbook THEY like (don't believe anybody who tries to tell you that the high price is because of all the research involved ... textbooks are cribbed from other textbooks).

Good luck on finding what you need in the secondhand market ***crosses fingers and toes for a triumphant hunt result***

[kat1392.livejournal.com]

Textbook prices are awful!!!

[tommdroid.livejournal.com]

Oh ick! May them horse pills do their job!

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

Dark choccie M&M's can be found at Target in large bins. Yay Goth M&M's!!!!!! Better than Bertie Bott's All-Flavored Beans!

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I found it for about $91 thru bookfinder.com. It's a book/workbook + CDRom package, so I suppose that is (more) reasonable. Usually I don't spend $ like this on a book unless it has exceptionally large and full color costume photos :P

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Spoken like a true insider ;) Any other dastardly book markups I should know about? And how to avoid them?

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

All books have dastardly markups. At work I get 35-40% off most of my books (and 50% off anything published/distributed by Penguin!) and the company still makes a few pence off me (yesterday I paid $26.97+tax for a book that lists at $44.95). Most of our library clients get a discount from the list price as well (20% to 30%), because ULS is a wholesaler rather than a public book dealer. And ULS still makes a profit.

Best way to avoid dastardly markups, other than doing all your shopping at secondhand stores, real and online, is to get a job with a book wholesaler (not unrealistic ... WE employ a programmer/Web designer). Next best way is to work at a bookstore, but your staff discount won't be quite as nice, because they demand larger profit margins.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Hope Canada gets them too ***crosses fingers***

[shemhazai.livejournal.com]

Slavercize...yup. So, is it motivational, or do you get distracted and stop jogging to watch the action on screen? :)

That serenity preview looks great! I loved the first episode of Firefly. I'll have to sign up for Netflix and get more.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I think Slavercize would be more motivational in person, if you're into humiliation/being ordered around. I have to admit that it might be more inspiring to do situps ("kiss ups") if you end up kissing a cute domina's arse with each crunch ;)

Re: Serenity/Firefly - I really cannot recommend the show enough! If Netflix has it, definitely rent it - I think all the episodes are on 1 DVD.

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

You'll have to tell me if they do -- the dark chocolate was divine. :)