Long time no post (SSN revisited)

Related post

It's been a while since I posted in here. I haven't forgotten about this blog, I just haven't thought of anything interesting to write or post about!

I had a bit of a setback a few weeks ago when I turned up to the US consulate in Sydney and was told I couldn't go in without an appointment. It used to be that citizens didn't need one but now they do (since September 2007 apparently). So I had to be turned away. They gave me a little business card and told me to call this number to schedule an appointment.

I had to listen to 10 minutes of recordings only to be told to go to their website, or I could leave a message. Once I got to the part about leaving the message, I still had to listen to another 5 minutes of recorded messages. I was frustrated but persisted, but in the end noone called me back! Btw, the only time you can speak to a human operator is between 2-4pm Sydney time.

Anyway, I went to one of my favourite stores and a place where I knew had free internet, the Apple Store, on George St. I made an appointment for the soonest available date (20 August). However, then I later this was a bad move and it would not be wise to miss out my class that day, so I had to reschedule for another date, and now that date is in October. I looked and looked online and couldn't actually find out how to cancel my appointment(!!) so I just sent them an email and amazingly got a reply within a few minutes saying it had been cancelled for me. Since, there were obviously humans on the other side (LOL) I decided to shoot them another email asking them the correct procedure for doing all of this (just to double check) and this is what they had to say:

If you have neither applied for a Social Security Number (SSN) nor has anybody applied on your behalf in the past, you may submit your application in person at the Consulate. If you believe you may have been issued a number in the past, you may contact the Social Security Administration Regional Office (SSA) at the U.S. Embassy, Manila, Philippines (0011 632 525 6481, Manila Time is approx. two to three hours behind Sydney Time) and confirm your identity with them. If you are able to satisfactorily establish your identity, SSA will forward your SSN to the Consulate and you must then schedule an appointment and appear with current photo identification to receive your number. We will also assist you with applying for a replacement card.

If you are certain that you have never received an SSN, you may schedule your appointment as a Notary Service and appear at the Consulate to submit your application. You must present the following original documentation at the appointment:

· Birth certificate

· Current photo identification

· Evidence to support all name changes, such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, certificates/court orders of name change (if applicable)

· Progressive evidence of physical presence outside the United States from the earliest date of departure to present. This evidence must be submitted by U.S.-born applicants who resided outside the U.S. for an extended period. Evidence may include but is not limited to school records/transcripts and dated school photographs, real estate lease agreements, vehicle registrations, utility bill/statements, etc.

Please also provide one clear photocopy of each original document. We will review the originals, retain the photocopies and return the originals to you. We will forward the application and your supporting documents to SSA, Manila for processing which can take three to six months. SSA will respond to the address you indicate on your application.

Regards,

American Citizen Services

U.S. Consulate General, Sydney

Since I already have all those documents and photocopies ready now all I have to do is wait for my date and turn up! Fingers crossed it's a speedy process towards the 3 month end and not 6 months!

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Healthy eating, healthy living

I've heard from various people and sources that most people in San Diego are into fitness and health, actually most of Southern California is. My guess is because the weather is so great and comfortable all year round (enabling you to do lots of outdoor activities) and Hollywood is nearby, everyone is quite image conscious and wants to look good! Actually I don't know what the reasons are but I like it.

I don't think I'm as fit as I could be but I think I'm pretty healthy. I don't smoke or drink alcohol, coffee or soda. I've never had a weight problem. I don't eat greasy food and haven't eaten McDonalds or fries in over a year. I rarely eat sweets or have dessert (but love chocolate!) I don't go to the gym (but I used to) and I currently live in a walkable neighborhood so try to walk wherever and whenever I can. I'm totally not obsessive about it though. I think a healthy body and healthy mind is very important though. I can't wait to go snorkeling in La Jolla!

Well anyway, in LA they have decided to ban all new fast food restaurants and give calorie listings for menu items.

Interesting...!

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Big Mac index

From The Economist:

THE Big Mac Index is The Economist's light-hearted guide to exchange rates. The index is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity, which says that exchange rates should move to make the price of a basket of goods the same in each country. Our basket contains just one item, a Big Mac hamburger. The exchange rate that leaves a Big Mac costing the same everywhere is our fair-value yardstick. Many of the currencies in the Fed's major-currency index, including the euro, the British pound, Swiss franc and Canadian dollar, are overvalued and trading higher than last year's burger benchmark. Only the Japanese yen could be considered a snip. The dollar still buys a lot of burger in the rest of Asia too. China's currency is among the most undervalued, but a little bit less so than a year ago. The full index is available on our website by 7pm London time on Thursday July 24th.

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Walkable neighborhoods revisited

(green = walkable, red = car dependent)


I decided to revisit the Walkable neighborhoods website again.

Walk score San Diego rankings

It's such a cool site!

I figure there's plenty of time to have the 4 bedroom house with white picket fence and large yards but right now I'd be happy living in a convenient, walkable neighborhood in preferably a high-rise building.

Neighborhood Score

1 Core 96
2 Cortez Hill 95
3 Gaslamp Quarter 94
4 Marina 90
5 Little Italy 89
6 Park West 88
7 East Village 83
8 Kensington 82
9 Mission Valley 81
10 Midtown 81
11 Normal Heights 81
12 Rolando 78
13 Ocean Beach 75
14 North Hills 75
15 Pacific Beach 74
16 West University Heights 73
17 La Jolla Village 71
18 Kearny Mesa 71
19 Balboa Park 70
20 Carmel Mountain 69
21 Loma Portal 69
22 Old Town 69
23 College Area 68
24 City Heights West 68
25 Egger Highlands 67
26 Southcrest 66
27 City Heights East 66
28 Palm City 66
29 Clairemont Mesa 65
30 Roseville 65
31 Memorial 65
32 Talmadge 64
33 Grant Hill 64
34 North Clairemont 64
35 El Cerritos 63
36 Midtown District 63
37 Mountain View 63
38 Darnall 62
39 Lincoln Park 62
40 Bird Land 62
41 Moreno Mission 61
42 Chollas View 61
43 Bay Park 60
44 University City 60
45 Grantville 60
46 Oak Park 59
47 Linda Vista 58
48 Mount Hope 57
49 Bay Ho 56
50 Mira Mesa 56
51 Torrey Pines 55
52 La Jolla 55
53 Webster 54
54 Mission Bay 53
55 Del Cerro 53
56 South Park 53
57 Carmel Valley 52
58 Serra Mesa 51
59 Nestor 50
60 North City 50
61 Lake Murray 48
62 San Ysidro 48
63 Bario Logan 47
64 Valencia Park 47
65 Allied Gardens 44
66 Emerald Hills 44
67 Del Mar Heights 44
68 San Carlos 42
69 Paradise Hills 42
70 Jomacha-Lomita 42
71 Sorrento Valley 42
72 Tierrasanta 40
73 Rancho Penasquitos 38
74 Rancho Bernadino 37
75 Sky Line 36
76 Sabre Springs 36
77 Wooded Area 34
78 Encanto 33
79 Gateway 33
80 Alta Vista 31
81 Scripps Ranch 31
82 Bay Terrace 29
83 Miramar 10

Is it a coincidence that the most walkable areas are also some of the most expensive? ;)

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Earthquake should be San Diego wake-up call

Signs on San Diego news link

...Over the past few years, small earthquakes have hit near Borrego Springs, Julian, Coronado, off La Jolla and near Mexicali in northern Baja. Yesterday's quake was larger, but still fairly routine, experts said.

“This will happen anywhere in Southern California every so often,” said Jean-Bernard Minster, a geophysics professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Though the area isn't as seismically active as Los Angeles and San Francisco, fault lines run throughout the county. One, the Rose Canyon fault, goes through the city of San Diego. Not only that, but other fault lines near the region – especially the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults to the east – could cause considerable damage here if they unleash quakes.

Minster said geologists are especially concerned about the southern portion of the San Andreas fault, which extends roughly from the Salton Sea to Wrightwood. That portion usually breaks every 220 years or so but hasn't done so since 1680, he said...

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