All Women Hate Their Breasts (and their hair)
5 years ago
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Chevy Camaro
I really kind of wanted to like the 2010 Chevy Camaro...but I can't. There's something about muscle cars, even the reimagined ones, that screams acid wash, Billy Squire, and dumb as rocks metal chicks....and I just can't abide by that. Your thoughts?
Audi Reclamation Project
Back in my mid-20's I dumped a very cute, stable girl for an extremely hot, mentally and emotionally unstable girl. The cute girl was dependable, never did anything to annoy me, was trustworthy, and I never had to worry about her cheating on me on nights she hung out with friends. The hot gal, well, where to begin? She was a lousy drunk, went out of her way to draw attention to herself in all social situations, had horrific self-esteem that led to an eating disorder, aspired to be a stripper, and could not be trusted under any circumstance (we got together when she was seeing someone else while going through a divorce, that should tell you everything about her loyalty issues). Still, she looked great (until the eating disorder and alcohol got their claws into her) and when things were good, they were really good...and since I'm a gentleman that is all I'm going to say about that.
ANYWAY, there's a point to all of this cute/reliable vs hot/crazy chat. The 'coolest' car I ever owned was a Audi A4. I loved that car, it looked great, performed great....it was literally my dream car. Then bad things started to happen. The front and rear windscreens weren't sealed correctly and rattled at freeway speeds...the cruise control stopped working....the electrical system fried the rear defrost and then the AC console. By the time the turbo crapped out, I was done with that car. As much as I adored it, I had to let it go...it was unreliable and spent more time in the shop thnn on the road. I traded it in for a 'cute' Honda Accord.
My point? The hot crazy chic was great when she wasn't absolutely batsh*t mental, but after a while all her nonsense took a toll. Her attractiveness could not trump the gargantuan pain in the arse she was to deal with day in and day out. My Audi was the same way. I never knew what to expect when I started that car up. Somedays I wondered if it would start at all, but for a while I ignored the warning signs that I had a lemon on my hands and fought the good fight...kind of like with the insane hot gal...she was a walking red flag of dysfunction, but I ignored it because she was good looking.
Walking away from the Audi was easy when the time came. I took it to the local Audi dealer and traded it in for that Accord. Stepping away from crazy gal wasn't so easy as she liked to scream and yell and throw things. Either way, we all need to know when to cut our losses and move on. Which is what I did.
So, here I am, moved on and such...and then I run across this write up for the 2009 Audi A4...and I gotta tell you, I'm wanting an Audi back in my life. Sadly, I don't have the income to support such a purchase, and with 3 kids an A4 is hardly practical...but my goodness, that is a fine looking car! I figure if I can save up some decent scratch I can probably get a 2009 or so in 3-4 years for what, 1/2 price of what they are today?
Crazy hot girls will always be crazy. There is no Quality Control or R&D division that exists on this planet to work out their kinks. Audi, on the other hand, has improved their reliability rating over the last 8 years...whatever issues they had nearly a decade ago have surely been resolved. Therfore, I am officially launchnig my Audi Reclamation Project. By 2012, just in time for the world to end, I'll be tooling around in a finely tuned German engineered car. The Taurus SHO looks to be a fine car, but it's merely cute when compared to the Audi.
Oh, so what happened to the cute girl I dumped? She hired a personal trainer, lost 10 pounds and then compeletely remade her image and made the leap from cute to hot, but without the crazy. The crazy gal wrecked a couple of marriages, possibly more, and may still be nutso to this day for all I know. The Better Half totaled the Honda Accord I traded the Audi in for, so I had to get another Honda...which was totaled by a third Honda driven by uninsured teens. That's when I got the Fusion...my taste for Honda's tainted by one too many car wrecks.
ANYWAY, there's a point to all of this cute/reliable vs hot/crazy chat. The 'coolest' car I ever owned was a Audi A4. I loved that car, it looked great, performed great....it was literally my dream car. Then bad things started to happen. The front and rear windscreens weren't sealed correctly and rattled at freeway speeds...the cruise control stopped working....the electrical system fried the rear defrost and then the AC console. By the time the turbo crapped out, I was done with that car. As much as I adored it, I had to let it go...it was unreliable and spent more time in the shop thnn on the road. I traded it in for a 'cute' Honda Accord.
My point? The hot crazy chic was great when she wasn't absolutely batsh*t mental, but after a while all her nonsense took a toll. Her attractiveness could not trump the gargantuan pain in the arse she was to deal with day in and day out. My Audi was the same way. I never knew what to expect when I started that car up. Somedays I wondered if it would start at all, but for a while I ignored the warning signs that I had a lemon on my hands and fought the good fight...kind of like with the insane hot gal...she was a walking red flag of dysfunction, but I ignored it because she was good looking.
Walking away from the Audi was easy when the time came. I took it to the local Audi dealer and traded it in for that Accord. Stepping away from crazy gal wasn't so easy as she liked to scream and yell and throw things. Either way, we all need to know when to cut our losses and move on. Which is what I did.
So, here I am, moved on and such...and then I run across this write up for the 2009 Audi A4...and I gotta tell you, I'm wanting an Audi back in my life. Sadly, I don't have the income to support such a purchase, and with 3 kids an A4 is hardly practical...but my goodness, that is a fine looking car! I figure if I can save up some decent scratch I can probably get a 2009 or so in 3-4 years for what, 1/2 price of what they are today?
Crazy hot girls will always be crazy. There is no Quality Control or R&D division that exists on this planet to work out their kinks. Audi, on the other hand, has improved their reliability rating over the last 8 years...whatever issues they had nearly a decade ago have surely been resolved. Therfore, I am officially launchnig my Audi Reclamation Project. By 2012, just in time for the world to end, I'll be tooling around in a finely tuned German engineered car. The Taurus SHO looks to be a fine car, but it's merely cute when compared to the Audi.
Oh, so what happened to the cute girl I dumped? She hired a personal trainer, lost 10 pounds and then compeletely remade her image and made the leap from cute to hot, but without the crazy. The crazy gal wrecked a couple of marriages, possibly more, and may still be nutso to this day for all I know. The Better Half totaled the Honda Accord I traded the Audi in for, so I had to get another Honda...which was totaled by a third Honda driven by uninsured teens. That's when I got the Fusion...my taste for Honda's tainted by one too many car wrecks.
Rough Week For Seattle
Wednesday was particularly harsh for the Seattle area. First came news that Boeing selected Charleston, SC as the site for the second 787 Dreamliner assembly line. This move will cost the state of Washington thousands of jobs, but to this blogger also sends a clear signal that Boeing is more than willing to pull up stakes for greener business pastures. To that I have to say, nice work IAW! You union hacks gambled with jobs and lost in a big way...but you'll still collect your dues, won't you?
Then came news that Walter Jones was placed on IR and is officially done for the year. Walter Jones will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, so it is sad to see his career wind down this way. While Jones stated during his press conference that he wants to play next year, I don't see that happening. Walter's game was leverage, foot work, balance, and strength - he combined all of those skills to become the best left tackle since Anthony Munoz (Jonathon Ogden was fantastic as well, but I give the nod to Jones for his superior footwork and speed). Chances are if Jones does somehow manage to play somewhere, it won't be for the Seahawks. He signed a 7 year contract 5 years ago, and most NFL contracts are backend heavy, so he'll be expensive. The 'Hawks will either have to cut him (which would be a rough PR move) or trade him (not much better PR wise), or hope that he would be willing to take a big pay cut. We'll see what happens.
Then came news that Walter Jones was placed on IR and is officially done for the year. Walter Jones will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, so it is sad to see his career wind down this way. While Jones stated during his press conference that he wants to play next year, I don't see that happening. Walter's game was leverage, foot work, balance, and strength - he combined all of those skills to become the best left tackle since Anthony Munoz (Jonathon Ogden was fantastic as well, but I give the nod to Jones for his superior footwork and speed). Chances are if Jones does somehow manage to play somewhere, it won't be for the Seahawks. He signed a 7 year contract 5 years ago, and most NFL contracts are backend heavy, so he'll be expensive. The 'Hawks will either have to cut him (which would be a rough PR move) or trade him (not much better PR wise), or hope that he would be willing to take a big pay cut. We'll see what happens.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Downfall of WAMU
Excellent article on the last days of WAMU, including confirmation of the bank runs that had been discounted as rumors last year...
I'll be honest, this article won't be easy to read for those that had a vested interest in WAMU. My first 'grown up' job outside the service was with WAMU, and I gave them almost 8 years of my life. Reading about the bank's sad collapse was depressing...
I'll be honest, this article won't be easy to read for those that had a vested interest in WAMU. My first 'grown up' job outside the service was with WAMU, and I gave them almost 8 years of my life. Reading about the bank's sad collapse was depressing...
Yep...
...I've got nuthin' right now....except a pile of fun sized Butterfinger candy bars that have just about sent me spiraling into sugar shock....
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
You Make Me Feel Like A Whore
The level of hate I have for my current job is beginning to take on inhuman proportions. In fact, I think it has gotten so out of hand that I could use that hatred as justification to drive in the HOV lanes, my displeasure riding shotgun with the seat leaned back and playing lazy. Yet, no matter how unchallenging and frustrating I find my current situation, I can't just quit...and the job market is more sparse than the shelves of a pre-Glasnost Soviet grocery store. So, I'm kind of stuck for now...
Anyhoo, I got to thinking what would make me like this job any less, and it took me a while since I though every shred of hatred I could muster was already in use...then I discovered that I could indeed despise this job more, and like Nigel Tufnel's customized Marshall amp, my hate goes to 11! Sweet!
So, what was the one thing that would make me unhappier than an Emo kid at Disneyland? An dramatic increase in pay. That's right, more money would not cure my plight and would only make it more difficult for me to quit because the company would then literally own me.
It has taken me a good long while and many, many painful lessons to learn that money and/or possessions do not equal happiness. The industry I support is in shambles, propped up by taxpayer funds. Our customers are shady, crooked, and some are nothing more than thieves. It makes for a tough day at the office.
To make things better, I am looking to cut my expenses, deleverage at all costs and have begun to save as much money as possible...all in an attempt to be able to one day not be an indentured servant at a job that, for all intents and purposes, is making me miserable day in and day out....
I saw this posted at another blog, I'd link to it if I could remember which one it was, but it makes perfect sense. It was a profound yet simple statement:
I hate work.
The more stupid stuff you buy, the more you have to work.
I hate stupid stuff.
Yes, indeed......
Anyhoo, I got to thinking what would make me like this job any less, and it took me a while since I though every shred of hatred I could muster was already in use...then I discovered that I could indeed despise this job more, and like Nigel Tufnel's customized Marshall amp, my hate goes to 11! Sweet!
So, what was the one thing that would make me unhappier than an Emo kid at Disneyland? An dramatic increase in pay. That's right, more money would not cure my plight and would only make it more difficult for me to quit because the company would then literally own me.
It has taken me a good long while and many, many painful lessons to learn that money and/or possessions do not equal happiness. The industry I support is in shambles, propped up by taxpayer funds. Our customers are shady, crooked, and some are nothing more than thieves. It makes for a tough day at the office.
To make things better, I am looking to cut my expenses, deleverage at all costs and have begun to save as much money as possible...all in an attempt to be able to one day not be an indentured servant at a job that, for all intents and purposes, is making me miserable day in and day out....
I saw this posted at another blog, I'd link to it if I could remember which one it was, but it makes perfect sense. It was a profound yet simple statement:
I hate work.
The more stupid stuff you buy, the more you have to work.
I hate stupid stuff.
Yes, indeed......
Monday, October 26, 2009
Pssst, You Wanna Buy A Toyota FJ?
As all four of my faithful readers know, The Better Half's father has taken ill. Seriously ill. We may need to liquidate some of his very many and cluttered belongings soon.
On of the more interesting items we may need to sell will be a vintage Toyota FJ Cruiser. I think it is a 1973, but getting info on it has been tough. The engine will turn over, but needs work, and the interior is shredded from hauling a moose carcass in it. Rust is setting in, and the hood is missing and all four tires are flat....
This vehicle will make a great restoration project for any single 4x4 enthusiast with time and resources to get the FJ back in shape. It will also make a great restoration project for any married 4x4 enthusiast that would like to be single...'cause some serious hours will need to go into this bad boy.
Here's a photo of the vehicle:
On of the more interesting items we may need to sell will be a vintage Toyota FJ Cruiser. I think it is a 1973, but getting info on it has been tough. The engine will turn over, but needs work, and the interior is shredded from hauling a moose carcass in it. Rust is setting in, and the hood is missing and all four tires are flat....
This vehicle will make a great restoration project for any single 4x4 enthusiast with time and resources to get the FJ back in shape. It will also make a great restoration project for any married 4x4 enthusiast that would like to be single...'cause some serious hours will need to go into this bad boy.
Here's a photo of the vehicle:
SHO 'Nuff?
If I had the money and hadn't just terminated the lease on my Fusion early, I would most definitely find myself interested in the Ford Taurus SHO. This isn't your daddy's relegated to the rental fleet Taurus...
Boasting a 365 HP V-6 EcoBoost engine, all-wheel drive, and an aggressive exterior and interior redesign, I'm thinking Ford has something to compete with the Germans and most definitely the Japanese. Toyota may have the lion's share of the sensible sedan market covered with the Camry, but the Camry is dull to drive and the Cylon inspired sheet metal leaves much to be desired. I'm thinking the Taurus SHO (Super High Output)can peel away some Toyota and even Honda advocates...while the SHO is no A-4 or 3-Series, it is in the same class as the VW line and for the price, I'd say VW should be worried (Subaru lost the plot a few years ago, went boy-racer demographic, and has yet to regain my goodwill after a horrific dealer experience).
The only negatives I can see will require some work from Ford, mainly in dispelling the perception that Ford vehicles are crap. I loved my Fusion, it was fun to drive, had a great interior, and I never had trouble with it. Most Fusion owners feel the same way, so I'm thinking the bias against the Blue Oval is melting away. Hopefully, the Taurus SHO is just as reliable. Price could be another concern. Introducing a car with a sticker price pushing up hard on 38k may be folly at this particular point in the recession. With the job market showing no signs of recovering Ford may be hard-pressed to find buyers. The Better Half and I may be in the market for a car in the next 12 to 18 months, but 38k is not what we'd be willing to spend....criminey, 8k is probably too much after the prolonged joblessness we endured last year.
Anway, I think the Taurus SHO is a sharp car and a solid effort from Ford. Maybe if they had concentrated on a Taurus redesign 8 years ago and laid off the SUVs, they would be in better shape?
Boasting a 365 HP V-6 EcoBoost engine, all-wheel drive, and an aggressive exterior and interior redesign, I'm thinking Ford has something to compete with the Germans and most definitely the Japanese. Toyota may have the lion's share of the sensible sedan market covered with the Camry, but the Camry is dull to drive and the Cylon inspired sheet metal leaves much to be desired. I'm thinking the Taurus SHO (Super High Output)can peel away some Toyota and even Honda advocates...while the SHO is no A-4 or 3-Series, it is in the same class as the VW line and for the price, I'd say VW should be worried (Subaru lost the plot a few years ago, went boy-racer demographic, and has yet to regain my goodwill after a horrific dealer experience).
The only negatives I can see will require some work from Ford, mainly in dispelling the perception that Ford vehicles are crap. I loved my Fusion, it was fun to drive, had a great interior, and I never had trouble with it. Most Fusion owners feel the same way, so I'm thinking the bias against the Blue Oval is melting away. Hopefully, the Taurus SHO is just as reliable. Price could be another concern. Introducing a car with a sticker price pushing up hard on 38k may be folly at this particular point in the recession. With the job market showing no signs of recovering Ford may be hard-pressed to find buyers. The Better Half and I may be in the market for a car in the next 12 to 18 months, but 38k is not what we'd be willing to spend....criminey, 8k is probably too much after the prolonged joblessness we endured last year.
Anway, I think the Taurus SHO is a sharp car and a solid effort from Ford. Maybe if they had concentrated on a Taurus redesign 8 years ago and laid off the SUVs, they would be in better shape?
WAMU's Strategy Doomed The Bank
A must read for all ex-WAMU employees and anyone else interested in what really lead to Washington Mutual's demise. It is a lengthy two-part article, but well worth it as it clearly illustrates that WAMU's leadership led it to slaughter by demanding growth and profit over quality...and I would say the hiring of Craig Davis from American Savings was one of the dumbest moves of Kerry Killinger's career. Criminey, O.J. Simpson even makes a cameo...the article is here.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
No Fear Of The Underdog
My fantasy football team is a 39 point underdog today...and that's with all my 'studs' in the lineup, so that should tell you something about the sad state of affairs my team is in. I've never been a 30 point dog before and I gotta say, I don't like it...but there is absolutely nothing I can do about it at this point.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Links!
Fellas, having a tough time dressing yourself in the morning...or running into difficulties maintaining a professional wardrobe? Well then, let me suggest Wardrobe Oxygen's list of essential items every male should have at their disposal! I actually kind of dig the Wardrobe Oxygen site, I stumbled across it while researching gifts for The Better Half's b-day. The list I linked to is from 2006, but I feel it is still relevant three years on....anyhoo, the site is mainly geared towards the ladies, and there is an update essentials list on the home page of Wardrobe Oxygen (fashion is much more fluid on the womens side of the house).
You'll have to get past the lunkheaded graphics that populate the page header, but once you do it will be well worth it. Yesterday I wrote about saving as much money as possible, what I left out is being prepared for the worst...because we are so far from being out of the woods financially that a systemic crash is still a real possibility. Greg Simmons has an excellent post and writes with a clarity this is criminally lacking from the so-called financial genius talking heads on MSNBC and CNN.
And always remember to pay yourself first!!!
You'll have to get past the lunkheaded graphics that populate the page header, but once you do it will be well worth it. Yesterday I wrote about saving as much money as possible, what I left out is being prepared for the worst...because we are so far from being out of the woods financially that a systemic crash is still a real possibility. Greg Simmons has an excellent post and writes with a clarity this is criminally lacking from the so-called financial genius talking heads on MSNBC and CNN.
And always remember to pay yourself first!!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Vanishing Seattle
Oh, a trip down memory lane....I know most of the buildings/stores on this site from the 1980's on...Squire Shop, we hardly knew ya....
2012
I have absolutely no interest in seeing '2012'...it looks stupid and brainless and nothing is more annoying than watching actors 'react' to imagined action on a green screen. Just thought I'd share.
I am, however, still trying to figure out a way to go see 'Paranormal Activity' - it is showing down the road from me and I am working feverishly to set up a viewing for this Saturday, like a matinee...if The Better Half and I can work out a sitter for the girls, would anyone be interested in joining us?
I am, however, still trying to figure out a way to go see 'Paranormal Activity' - it is showing down the road from me and I am working feverishly to set up a viewing for this Saturday, like a matinee...if The Better Half and I can work out a sitter for the girls, would anyone be interested in joining us?
Save A Little Bit
Given the current state of the economy, the unemployment picture, and consumer deleveraging, I have become a fanatical saver. One of the tools I have been using to save up an emergency fund and for a family trip to Disneyland is an ING Savings account. I have a set amount taken out of my checking account with the increasingly annoying and aggresively incompetent Chase and have it deposited into ING Savings accounts. It's quick, painless, and easy to set up...and since my company no longer does 401k matching I've upped the amount sent to ING every pay period (I'm still contributing to my 401k, but lowered the amount of the deduction from my pre-tax paychecks).
I've also got the girls in on saving as well on a small scale - they get all the nickels and pennies from any change I acquire during the day to put into their piggy banks (I save the dimes and quarters - the dimes I've amassed over the last year will pay for Christmas presents and the quarters eventually go to my savings account...). The loose change concept is a popular one, but I've actually taken it a step further by refusing to spend $1 bills I receive in change. This, in essence, makes everything I purchase with cash cost at least $5.00 because the change has to be saved, not spent. While this makes for some interesting times in checkout lines as I fish for a $5.00 bill to pay for a $1.99 gallon of milk when I have a wad of $1 bills in my pocket, it is effective. Last month I deposited $250 into savings in the form of $1 bills, much to the chagrin of the teller processing my transaction (the auto-bill counter was offline).
These are interesting times we are living in, and I honestly believe things are going to get worse before they come close to getting better....so prepare yourself for the mother of all economic double-dips down next year and save a few bucks here and there....
I've also got the girls in on saving as well on a small scale - they get all the nickels and pennies from any change I acquire during the day to put into their piggy banks (I save the dimes and quarters - the dimes I've amassed over the last year will pay for Christmas presents and the quarters eventually go to my savings account...). The loose change concept is a popular one, but I've actually taken it a step further by refusing to spend $1 bills I receive in change. This, in essence, makes everything I purchase with cash cost at least $5.00 because the change has to be saved, not spent. While this makes for some interesting times in checkout lines as I fish for a $5.00 bill to pay for a $1.99 gallon of milk when I have a wad of $1 bills in my pocket, it is effective. Last month I deposited $250 into savings in the form of $1 bills, much to the chagrin of the teller processing my transaction (the auto-bill counter was offline).
These are interesting times we are living in, and I honestly believe things are going to get worse before they come close to getting better....so prepare yourself for the mother of all economic double-dips down next year and save a few bucks here and there....
Monday, October 19, 2009
Apple Of My Eye
When, and not if, my latest PC dies I am converting and stepping over to the Mac side. I've had it with Windows and all the compatiblilty issues and security failures that don't exactly inspire confidence.
The problem, besides price, is I don't know thing one about Macs...wouldn't know where to start, really. All I would need is a stable notebook to edit photos, video, store music and update this tatty ol' blog....but I don't want to underbuy and get stuck with something that won't suit my needs...nor do I want to overbuy...so, any suggestions would be much appreciated...
Now, I'm not looking to make this purchase until sometime next year...unless the PC dies before that...but even then I would have to wait as I am very, very credit adverse these days....meaning I'd have to save the cash and not dip into savings to replace the PC....but I do like to research and hear both sides of the story....
The problem, besides price, is I don't know thing one about Macs...wouldn't know where to start, really. All I would need is a stable notebook to edit photos, video, store music and update this tatty ol' blog....but I don't want to underbuy and get stuck with something that won't suit my needs...nor do I want to overbuy...so, any suggestions would be much appreciated...
Now, I'm not looking to make this purchase until sometime next year...unless the PC dies before that...but even then I would have to wait as I am very, very credit adverse these days....meaning I'd have to save the cash and not dip into savings to replace the PC....but I do like to research and hear both sides of the story....
A Zippy Caffeine Free Life!
Quitting caffeine was tougher than I first imagined. A few factors worked against me:
1. The social aspect of buying coffee seemed to be as big a driver, if not the biggest, of my coffee consumption. I'll admit that I liked the banter with some of the baristas, especially the cute ones. Why? Because I'm a guy and just about every guy I know enjoys being spoken to by attractive women. This became glaringly obvious when I was the 7th car in a long line at the local drive-thru coffee stand and I noticed every car had males in them. I honestly couldn't remember the last time I witnessed a female patron at my fave coffee stand...and no, it's not one of those naughty latte stands where the baristas dress like hookers. I have standards! Anyhoo, starting my day off with a quick conversation with a 20 something year old barista has it's appeal...until you realize you are a brainless pig spending money on a product that leaves you feeling queasy.
2. After a couple of days of blinding headaches, I finally broke through my need for caffeine. Breaking free of caffeine's demon talons was difficult enough when it becomes a social habit, but combining that with the physical symptoms of kicking it cold turkey had my sympathizing with smokers that can't get off the nicotine. Smokers almost always seem to be smoking in packs on their breaks, so the social aspect is there as well as the physical need to nic out. Same went for me with coffee...I had a physical desire for the caffeine, but also a social habit to break. Not good times.
3. Peer pressure was tough to work around as well, especially when you are the one that used to rally the troops for a Starbucks run. Your peers have a tough time adjusting to your change in lifestyle (and again, my sympathy to smokers that are trying to quit) and will continue to ask you to join them. I had to be honest and tell my coffee group that I was 'off the coffee'. Everyone is fine with it now, and I'll sometimes join them for the walk across the street to Starbucks, but I don't buy anything anymore.
4. Having 3 kids equates to never getting more than 6 hours of sleep in one stretch, so there are days that I am dragging. Avoiding coffee on those days has been tough....
So, what have I done when tired and needing something to kick start the day or afternoon? I've switched over to Zipfizz. I don't get the jitters or dehydration I did with coffee and it doesn't interfere with my running because I'm not cramping up...plus, it is a much more sustained boost and doesn't make my heart race or skip beats the way caffeine used to impact me. I'm not a big fan of the grape flavored Zipfizz, but I do like the orange soda stuff.
While I will always love the process of buying coffee, and do miss the taste of a well made americano, I just can't deal with the downside anymore...
1. The social aspect of buying coffee seemed to be as big a driver, if not the biggest, of my coffee consumption. I'll admit that I liked the banter with some of the baristas, especially the cute ones. Why? Because I'm a guy and just about every guy I know enjoys being spoken to by attractive women. This became glaringly obvious when I was the 7th car in a long line at the local drive-thru coffee stand and I noticed every car had males in them. I honestly couldn't remember the last time I witnessed a female patron at my fave coffee stand...and no, it's not one of those naughty latte stands where the baristas dress like hookers. I have standards! Anyhoo, starting my day off with a quick conversation with a 20 something year old barista has it's appeal...until you realize you are a brainless pig spending money on a product that leaves you feeling queasy.
2. After a couple of days of blinding headaches, I finally broke through my need for caffeine. Breaking free of caffeine's demon talons was difficult enough when it becomes a social habit, but combining that with the physical symptoms of kicking it cold turkey had my sympathizing with smokers that can't get off the nicotine. Smokers almost always seem to be smoking in packs on their breaks, so the social aspect is there as well as the physical need to nic out. Same went for me with coffee...I had a physical desire for the caffeine, but also a social habit to break. Not good times.
3. Peer pressure was tough to work around as well, especially when you are the one that used to rally the troops for a Starbucks run. Your peers have a tough time adjusting to your change in lifestyle (and again, my sympathy to smokers that are trying to quit) and will continue to ask you to join them. I had to be honest and tell my coffee group that I was 'off the coffee'. Everyone is fine with it now, and I'll sometimes join them for the walk across the street to Starbucks, but I don't buy anything anymore.
4. Having 3 kids equates to never getting more than 6 hours of sleep in one stretch, so there are days that I am dragging. Avoiding coffee on those days has been tough....
So, what have I done when tired and needing something to kick start the day or afternoon? I've switched over to Zipfizz. I don't get the jitters or dehydration I did with coffee and it doesn't interfere with my running because I'm not cramping up...plus, it is a much more sustained boost and doesn't make my heart race or skip beats the way caffeine used to impact me. I'm not a big fan of the grape flavored Zipfizz, but I do like the orange soda stuff.
While I will always love the process of buying coffee, and do miss the taste of a well made americano, I just can't deal with the downside anymore...
Seahawks...Where's The Heart
Every NFL team experiences injuries to key starters during the season. What separates the good teams from the bad teams is how they respond to the injuries. I think yesterday's game against the Cardinals made it clear to all what kind of team the Seahawks are.
I don't think anyone on the Seahawks staff anticipated having to start a make-shift offensive line as shifty as the one Seattle started yesterday. However, at this point in Walter Jones' Hall of Fame career - a point where just putting on his socks should be considered career threatening - it is a bit disconcerting that Seattle has no real contingency plan to deal with Jones missing games. Equally exacerbating is that the Seattle coaching staff has not adjusted to the injuries on the O-line...but just as troubling, if not more so, is that the players filling in for their injured teammates are playing with no sense of urgency or enthusiasm.
Ask any coach at any level of football, and I guarantee that all of them will tell you that a less talented team can come close to leveling the playing field against a more talented team with two things: hitting and aggressiveness. The Denver Broncos were supposed to struggle this year, but they are undefeated due to scrappy play on offense and a hard-hitting relentless defense. The Broncos make things happen for them during the game while the Seahawks, at least yesterday, let Arizona dictate the game.
Nothing frustrates me more as a footbal fan than watching a team that has just given up, and the Hawks gave up yesterday. There was no fight or passion on either side of the ball.
Now, no team in the NFL can survive long term when their offensive line has been gutted by injuries...but that is no excuse for not competing or making adjustments to augment strengths and mitigate weaknesses. The Seattle coaching staff and players need to come to terms with the loss of Tatupu, but also the loss of Walter Jones because it just doesn't sound like his knees will allow him to play anymore...and should he suit up, I doubt he'll be able to play anywhere near the level he did 4 years ago.
One last thing...am I the only person sick and tired of watching Matt Hasselbeck scream and yell at everyone after sending a pass into the turf or 10 yards over a receiver's head? It's as if he never makes mistakes. Granted, he was getting hammered in the pocket, but show some professionalism out there! Hasselbeck is supposed to be the team leader, but how can he lead a team when he's running around and shrieking like a little girl with a spider in her hair after an incompletion?
Right now I'm saying the Hawks finish the year out at 6-10, but wouldn't be surprised if they go 5-11 after that putrid display yesterday. I've seen some bad Seahawks teams before, but yesterday was one of the rare times I have watched a Seahawks team give up. It's not something I want to get used to.
I don't think anyone on the Seahawks staff anticipated having to start a make-shift offensive line as shifty as the one Seattle started yesterday. However, at this point in Walter Jones' Hall of Fame career - a point where just putting on his socks should be considered career threatening - it is a bit disconcerting that Seattle has no real contingency plan to deal with Jones missing games. Equally exacerbating is that the Seattle coaching staff has not adjusted to the injuries on the O-line...but just as troubling, if not more so, is that the players filling in for their injured teammates are playing with no sense of urgency or enthusiasm.
Ask any coach at any level of football, and I guarantee that all of them will tell you that a less talented team can come close to leveling the playing field against a more talented team with two things: hitting and aggressiveness. The Denver Broncos were supposed to struggle this year, but they are undefeated due to scrappy play on offense and a hard-hitting relentless defense. The Broncos make things happen for them during the game while the Seahawks, at least yesterday, let Arizona dictate the game.
Nothing frustrates me more as a footbal fan than watching a team that has just given up, and the Hawks gave up yesterday. There was no fight or passion on either side of the ball.
Now, no team in the NFL can survive long term when their offensive line has been gutted by injuries...but that is no excuse for not competing or making adjustments to augment strengths and mitigate weaknesses. The Seattle coaching staff and players need to come to terms with the loss of Tatupu, but also the loss of Walter Jones because it just doesn't sound like his knees will allow him to play anymore...and should he suit up, I doubt he'll be able to play anywhere near the level he did 4 years ago.
One last thing...am I the only person sick and tired of watching Matt Hasselbeck scream and yell at everyone after sending a pass into the turf or 10 yards over a receiver's head? It's as if he never makes mistakes. Granted, he was getting hammered in the pocket, but show some professionalism out there! Hasselbeck is supposed to be the team leader, but how can he lead a team when he's running around and shrieking like a little girl with a spider in her hair after an incompletion?
Right now I'm saying the Hawks finish the year out at 6-10, but wouldn't be surprised if they go 5-11 after that putrid display yesterday. I've seen some bad Seahawks teams before, but yesterday was one of the rare times I have watched a Seahawks team give up. It's not something I want to get used to.
Nike Pegasus '83
The conversion to barefoot running has been interesting. While my knees, shins, and back all feel much better than they did when I ran with a heel strike, the same can't be said for the bottom of my feet. The blisters have just been unrelenting.
So, I'm back to wearing shoes, but not modern running shoes with mass amounts of padding in the heels and motion control. Nope, I'm going with some old school Nike Pegasus with the waffle sole and low-profile heel. This should help keep some semblance of the barefoot running style that I am now using.
I looked into POSE running as well, but good criminey, it sounds like a tough, tough transition...and with all the hamstring issues I've had I am not sure if POSE would work for me....
So, I'm back to wearing shoes, but not modern running shoes with mass amounts of padding in the heels and motion control. Nope, I'm going with some old school Nike Pegasus with the waffle sole and low-profile heel. This should help keep some semblance of the barefoot running style that I am now using.
I looked into POSE running as well, but good criminey, it sounds like a tough, tough transition...and with all the hamstring issues I've had I am not sure if POSE would work for me....
Friday, October 16, 2009
Calling Shelvis
Can anything remotely related to the Buffalo Bills come close to even going right? Open this link and take a look-see at the photo of the wood carved statue near the upper righthand corner....that's supposed to be Thurman Thomas.
Anyhoo, somebody rightfully thought that the statue was so ridiculously crappy looking that he took it from the parking lot. He assumed it was left behind because 'no one cared about it' and that it was part of a radio station promotion that had ended hours earlier. In fact, other tailgaters were dumping hot coals from their grills at the statue base, perhaps wanting to burn Thomas in effigy for losing his helmet right before kickoff to one of the four Super Bowls the Bills lost.
Read the whole story here...and Shelvis, you may need to find a new team...the Bills may be lost in the wilderness for a long, long time.
Anyhoo, somebody rightfully thought that the statue was so ridiculously crappy looking that he took it from the parking lot. He assumed it was left behind because 'no one cared about it' and that it was part of a radio station promotion that had ended hours earlier. In fact, other tailgaters were dumping hot coals from their grills at the statue base, perhaps wanting to burn Thomas in effigy for losing his helmet right before kickoff to one of the four Super Bowls the Bills lost.
Read the whole story here...and Shelvis, you may need to find a new team...the Bills may be lost in the wilderness for a long, long time.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Keeping The Hounds Of Illness At Bay
I've been fighting a cold/flu/ebola sickness off for about a week now. I'll do fine for a day or so, and then I'll be hit with a fever and chills + sore throat...which is where I am right now....makes the afternoons that much more unbearable here at work....
Sherwin Williams
Every now and again I'll run across some website that demonizes the Sherwin Williams logo. For those of you unfamiliar with said logo it is really quite simple and brilliant: A can of paint being poured over our fair blue planet with the words 'Cover The Earth' inscribed inside the globe.
Lots of hypersensitive eco-loons become all bent out of shape when discussing this logo because they are idiots and take the image and words literally...that Sherwin Williams wants to dump paint all over the planet.
A quick Google search turns up quite a different meaning. From the Sherwin Williams website - Our historical logo is one of the most recognized company logos in existence. Created in the late 1800s, the logo’s purpose was to represent the company’s desire to help beautify and protect the buildings of the world. It was a symbol of a young company’s enthusiasm, idealism and hope regarding its future and the possibility for achievement that hovered on the nation’s horizon.
The painters we hired to add some color and dynamics to our house used Sherwin Williams products, and we've been very pleased with the results. Having three kids will put paint through the ringer...sharpie scrawls, crayon drawings, Play-Doh, and various drinkable liquids have found their way onto our walls and the paint has held up remarkably well. Sherwin Williams paint has indeed succeeded to 'help beautify and protect' our walls.
So, the Sherwin Williams logo, when taken in the context of the original intent behind the inspriation for the design, makes perfect sense...the company doesn't want to dump paint into rivers, streams, lakes, and all over playgrounds...get over it enviro-goons.
Lots of hypersensitive eco-loons become all bent out of shape when discussing this logo because they are idiots and take the image and words literally...that Sherwin Williams wants to dump paint all over the planet.
A quick Google search turns up quite a different meaning. From the Sherwin Williams website - Our historical logo is one of the most recognized company logos in existence. Created in the late 1800s, the logo’s purpose was to represent the company’s desire to help beautify and protect the buildings of the world. It was a symbol of a young company’s enthusiasm, idealism and hope regarding its future and the possibility for achievement that hovered on the nation’s horizon.
The painters we hired to add some color and dynamics to our house used Sherwin Williams products, and we've been very pleased with the results. Having three kids will put paint through the ringer...sharpie scrawls, crayon drawings, Play-Doh, and various drinkable liquids have found their way onto our walls and the paint has held up remarkably well. Sherwin Williams paint has indeed succeeded to 'help beautify and protect' our walls.
So, the Sherwin Williams logo, when taken in the context of the original intent behind the inspriation for the design, makes perfect sense...the company doesn't want to dump paint into rivers, streams, lakes, and all over playgrounds...get over it enviro-goons.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Star Wars In Concert - A Mini Review
Maddy and I went and experienced Star Wars In Concert last night at Key Arena, and it was very, very good...not exception or fantastic.
What was good, you ask?
John Williams' score is amazing, especially the music for the Original Trilogy. Lucas made a wise choice in Williams and opting for a classical score. The music from the OT is as iconic as the films themselves.
The entire spectacle was hosted by Anthony Daniels, the actor that portrayed C-3PO in all 6 movies, and he was outstanding. Daniels is there as a fan and his enthusiasm and love of the Star Wars movies is evident in his excellent narration.
SWIC is indeed a spectacle, a full-blown orchestra, choir, and three story HD LCD screen displaying action from all 6 movies...and fire effects! Maddy was enthralled with the setup, the size of Key Arena (bigger than a movie theater!), and the giant LCD screen.
I couldn't help getting swept up in all the pomp and circumstance when Key Arena went dark and the words, 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...' appeared on the big screen...followed by the timeless Star Wars logo and the symphony breaking into the Star Wars theme. I was seven years old again and mesmerized by the screen...and to experience that with my six year old daughter is something I'll always treasure.
The cantina scene music was just friggin' awesome. That tune, when listened to as a piece of music, just swings. The Star Wars orchestra brass section really tore into that one and played with some gusto. The percussion section, especially the hep cat on drums, popped as well...and the song has been stuck in my head ever since.
Best piece of the night? The Imperial March. If I ever become an MMA fighter, that's the music I enter the octagon to...while dressed in my Darth Vader underoos.
Best video of the night? The fall of Anakin Skywalker, which almost made up for George Lucas's ineptitude and incompetence as writer and director of the Prequel Trilogy. Lucas is an idea man, and his ideas for Vader were solid...it was the execution of his idea that was horrific. The clips and editing used last night almost erase Lucas's failures in handling the story of pre-Vader Anakin.
Lots and lots of kids dressed in Leia, Boba Fett, Jedi, and Clone Trooper costumes...that was great.
So, what didn't work?
The props and costumes on display were nothing really that special...I really could not care less about the costumes of C-List Jedi's and background characters. Plus, the setup was less than ideal. Each costume was encased in glass with a spotlight shining on it, so any photos you took got double glare...it's like someone attached a glaucoma lens to my camera...and that's if you got close enough to get a picture.
After a while, Maddy and I got tired of wading through a sea of pear shaped geeks, goofy gals in Leia outfits, and hipster doofus types. Little kids in Star Wars costumes are great...grown men wearing shirts made of their Star Wars sheets is just stupid.
The entire display area was a clusterfarg and disorderly...and it was the kids that suffered for it...seriously, kids were at a disadvantage due to their height so Maddy and countless others didn't get to see a lot of the displays...and it was the kids that really wanted to get in close to see Chewbacca, Ewoks, Padme's gowns, and what have you...
Some of the musical passages were low energy and sucked some of the air out of the flow...
The 20 minute intermission was kind of a kneecap job as well...
And my biggest bone to pick - interlacing Prequel footage into Original Trilogy music and sequences. I'm thinking this was LucasFilm meddling and another attempt to tie the middling Prequels into the far superior Original Trilogy.
Oh, and price...every bit of merchandise was overpriced by about 200%...programs were 30 bucks and the t-shirt I was going to buy Maddy was $45...luckily, she agreed that $45 dollars was too much for a t-shirt and told me she was just happy to be there.
I have the greatest 6 year old daughter in the world, and I'm glad we shared the experience together, flaws and all...and I'd still recommend Star Wars In Concert because everyone will take something different away from it and, at least for this reviewer, a new found appreciation for something familiar.
3 1/2 out of 5 Wookies awarded!
What was good, you ask?
John Williams' score is amazing, especially the music for the Original Trilogy. Lucas made a wise choice in Williams and opting for a classical score. The music from the OT is as iconic as the films themselves.
The entire spectacle was hosted by Anthony Daniels, the actor that portrayed C-3PO in all 6 movies, and he was outstanding. Daniels is there as a fan and his enthusiasm and love of the Star Wars movies is evident in his excellent narration.
SWIC is indeed a spectacle, a full-blown orchestra, choir, and three story HD LCD screen displaying action from all 6 movies...and fire effects! Maddy was enthralled with the setup, the size of Key Arena (bigger than a movie theater!), and the giant LCD screen.
I couldn't help getting swept up in all the pomp and circumstance when Key Arena went dark and the words, 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...' appeared on the big screen...followed by the timeless Star Wars logo and the symphony breaking into the Star Wars theme. I was seven years old again and mesmerized by the screen...and to experience that with my six year old daughter is something I'll always treasure.
The cantina scene music was just friggin' awesome. That tune, when listened to as a piece of music, just swings. The Star Wars orchestra brass section really tore into that one and played with some gusto. The percussion section, especially the hep cat on drums, popped as well...and the song has been stuck in my head ever since.
Best piece of the night? The Imperial March. If I ever become an MMA fighter, that's the music I enter the octagon to...while dressed in my Darth Vader underoos.
Best video of the night? The fall of Anakin Skywalker, which almost made up for George Lucas's ineptitude and incompetence as writer and director of the Prequel Trilogy. Lucas is an idea man, and his ideas for Vader were solid...it was the execution of his idea that was horrific. The clips and editing used last night almost erase Lucas's failures in handling the story of pre-Vader Anakin.
Lots and lots of kids dressed in Leia, Boba Fett, Jedi, and Clone Trooper costumes...that was great.
So, what didn't work?
The props and costumes on display were nothing really that special...I really could not care less about the costumes of C-List Jedi's and background characters. Plus, the setup was less than ideal. Each costume was encased in glass with a spotlight shining on it, so any photos you took got double glare...it's like someone attached a glaucoma lens to my camera...and that's if you got close enough to get a picture.
After a while, Maddy and I got tired of wading through a sea of pear shaped geeks, goofy gals in Leia outfits, and hipster doofus types. Little kids in Star Wars costumes are great...grown men wearing shirts made of their Star Wars sheets is just stupid.
The entire display area was a clusterfarg and disorderly...and it was the kids that suffered for it...seriously, kids were at a disadvantage due to their height so Maddy and countless others didn't get to see a lot of the displays...and it was the kids that really wanted to get in close to see Chewbacca, Ewoks, Padme's gowns, and what have you...
Some of the musical passages were low energy and sucked some of the air out of the flow...
The 20 minute intermission was kind of a kneecap job as well...
And my biggest bone to pick - interlacing Prequel footage into Original Trilogy music and sequences. I'm thinking this was LucasFilm meddling and another attempt to tie the middling Prequels into the far superior Original Trilogy.
Oh, and price...every bit of merchandise was overpriced by about 200%...programs were 30 bucks and the t-shirt I was going to buy Maddy was $45...luckily, she agreed that $45 dollars was too much for a t-shirt and told me she was just happy to be there.
I have the greatest 6 year old daughter in the world, and I'm glad we shared the experience together, flaws and all...and I'd still recommend Star Wars In Concert because everyone will take something different away from it and, at least for this reviewer, a new found appreciation for something familiar.
3 1/2 out of 5 Wookies awarded!
Dow 10,000
The Dow crossed the 10,000 mark earlier today and Wall Street partied like it was 1999 all over again. While I will agree that Dow 10,000 is an important psychological barrier to break, it doesn't mean we have come close to solving any issues...like unemployment, a decaying dollar, foreclosures, ....
Now we'll see if the bulls can hold of the laying in wait bears. Me? Let's just say I think 10,000 is a nice number, one we hit a decade ago...but an economic recovery still isn't in the cards...
Now we'll see if the bulls can hold of the laying in wait bears. Me? Let's just say I think 10,000 is a nice number, one we hit a decade ago...but an economic recovery still isn't in the cards...
Just Say No To TO, Chicago!!!
The rumor mill is churning overtime today about Terrell Owens and a possible trade from the Bills to the Chicago Bears. While the trade makes sense if you are the Buffalo Bills since that is a team going nowhere and defining new ways of getting there in a hurry, I don't see what the Bears would gain.
Jay Cutler has a good thing going with the young WR corps on the current Bears roster. Making a trade for the petulant Terrell Owens would not only overturn that applecart, it would strip it clean for parts and leave it in flames. Cutler has enough pressure on him as it is due to his childish behavior on his way out of Denver, he has a lot to prove...and he doesn't need a selfish d-bag like Terrell Owens adding to that burden.
Listen up, Bears - don't make this trade, work with the young talent you have and let Cutler continue to develop rapport with his teammates...TO will only set your franchise back and for what, an extra win or two? He's not worth it...let him languish and rot in Buffalo.......
Jay Cutler has a good thing going with the young WR corps on the current Bears roster. Making a trade for the petulant Terrell Owens would not only overturn that applecart, it would strip it clean for parts and leave it in flames. Cutler has enough pressure on him as it is due to his childish behavior on his way out of Denver, he has a lot to prove...and he doesn't need a selfish d-bag like Terrell Owens adding to that burden.
Listen up, Bears - don't make this trade, work with the young talent you have and let Cutler continue to develop rapport with his teammates...TO will only set your franchise back and for what, an extra win or two? He's not worth it...let him languish and rot in Buffalo.......
Captain Lou
Captain Lou Albano has passed away...and the only thing shocking about this news is that I was rather certain he died a few years back.
RIP, Captain!
RIP, Captain!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Here Comes The Fall
Summer was over entirely too soon. As much as I love Christmas and the occassional snow storm, summer is still my favorite season. There is just more to do and see in the summer - the girls can play outside, ride their bikes, etc. Me? I enjoy sitting on the back porch with a cold drink, especially as the sun sets and a soft breeze blows in....if I'm lucky, I'll have at least 30 more summers to enjoy...
Planted about 60 tulip bulbs yesterday and have about 75 more to go. This is in addition to the tulips that are already in the ground, hibernating like the War Of The Worlds killbots, waiting for the perfect time to unleash their fury. Well, no...but you get the idea.
The tulips are more for the benefit of the girls than my own, they get a kick out of monitoring the tulips progess from bulb to sprout to bloom to sad droopy dead thing that has to be cut back. However, what they enjoy most is cutting the flowers to give to The Better Half and the grandmas....
Had to mow the lawn again, which was a bit of a surprise as I thought last weekend would be the last mow of the season. I'm not willing to call this mow the last of the year since all the fertilzers, performance enhancers for the grass, still seem to be working. With a long spell of rain in the forecast I am hoping that the mower is done for the year as mowing a wet overgrown lawn is about as much fun as planting tulip bulbs.
Upon release, The Blair Witch Project was probably my favorite 'scary' movie. I enjoyed the films premise and the way that we never really saw the antagonist on screen...the fear was generated in the viewers head. While the TBWP didn't hold up under the pressure of repeated viewings (which may explain why it didn't really enter into heavy rotation on cable) doesn't diminish the impact the 1st viewing had on many movie goers. Now we have 'Paranormal Activity' in select theaters, and reviews have been glowing by critics and viewers alike..and again, this is a 'found footage' horror movie in the Blair Witch style...and I really, really want to go see it.
Paramount Pictures has done a remarkable job creating buzz for 'Paranormal Activity', a movie that came close to being relegated to the direct-to-DVD dustbin. Instead, Paramount has trickled the film out to select markets and has allowed word of mouth to build the current buzz the movie enjoys for them. As more and more theaters get added the closer we get to Halloween, I expect 'PA' to climb up the box office receipt charts. It's feels odd to heap praise upon a movie studio for doing something right, but Paramount has handled this film perfectly.
I'll report back with a review should I get around to seeing it sometime soon...it started playing down the street from my office last week....
Planted about 60 tulip bulbs yesterday and have about 75 more to go. This is in addition to the tulips that are already in the ground, hibernating like the War Of The Worlds killbots, waiting for the perfect time to unleash their fury. Well, no...but you get the idea.
The tulips are more for the benefit of the girls than my own, they get a kick out of monitoring the tulips progess from bulb to sprout to bloom to sad droopy dead thing that has to be cut back. However, what they enjoy most is cutting the flowers to give to The Better Half and the grandmas....
Had to mow the lawn again, which was a bit of a surprise as I thought last weekend would be the last mow of the season. I'm not willing to call this mow the last of the year since all the fertilzers, performance enhancers for the grass, still seem to be working. With a long spell of rain in the forecast I am hoping that the mower is done for the year as mowing a wet overgrown lawn is about as much fun as planting tulip bulbs.
Upon release, The Blair Witch Project was probably my favorite 'scary' movie. I enjoyed the films premise and the way that we never really saw the antagonist on screen...the fear was generated in the viewers head. While the TBWP didn't hold up under the pressure of repeated viewings (which may explain why it didn't really enter into heavy rotation on cable) doesn't diminish the impact the 1st viewing had on many movie goers. Now we have 'Paranormal Activity' in select theaters, and reviews have been glowing by critics and viewers alike..and again, this is a 'found footage' horror movie in the Blair Witch style...and I really, really want to go see it.
Paramount Pictures has done a remarkable job creating buzz for 'Paranormal Activity', a movie that came close to being relegated to the direct-to-DVD dustbin. Instead, Paramount has trickled the film out to select markets and has allowed word of mouth to build the current buzz the movie enjoys for them. As more and more theaters get added the closer we get to Halloween, I expect 'PA' to climb up the box office receipt charts. It's feels odd to heap praise upon a movie studio for doing something right, but Paramount has handled this film perfectly.
I'll report back with a review should I get around to seeing it sometime soon...it started playing down the street from my office last week....
Friday, October 9, 2009
California Dreaming
The only green shoots in the California economy are of the medicinal kind...'cause things still aren't going well down south:
State Controller John Chiang today released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in September. For the first three months of the fiscal year, total General Fund revenue was nearly $1.1 billion below the recently amended 2009-10 Budget Act estimates.
“Revenues more than $1 billion under estimates and recent adverse court rulings are dealing a major blow to a budget that is barely 10-weeks old,” said Controller Chiang. While there are encouraging signs that California’s economy is preparing for a comeback, the recession continues to drag State revenues down. I urge lawmakers and the Governor to prepare for more difficult decisions ahead.”
Look, the only reason California even twitched while on life support was due to government intervention in the housing market and the Governator slashing billions from so-called safety net programs. California is going to have to hire some very, very creative accountants and in a hurry.
State Controller John Chiang today released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in September. For the first three months of the fiscal year, total General Fund revenue was nearly $1.1 billion below the recently amended 2009-10 Budget Act estimates.
“Revenues more than $1 billion under estimates and recent adverse court rulings are dealing a major blow to a budget that is barely 10-weeks old,” said Controller Chiang. While there are encouraging signs that California’s economy is preparing for a comeback, the recession continues to drag State revenues down. I urge lawmakers and the Governor to prepare for more difficult decisions ahead.”
Look, the only reason California even twitched while on life support was due to government intervention in the housing market and the Governator slashing billions from so-called safety net programs. California is going to have to hire some very, very creative accountants and in a hurry.
Thanks, Comcast!
Comcast made my cable/Internet decision rather easy as they stepped up to the plate and worked with us. Now, I know a lot of folks give Comcast grief, but big companies wear big targets on their back (so Target, based on their name alone, is wearing one of the bigger 'kick me' signs out there) that seem to beg for abuse...but as I posted earlier, Comcast has been nothing but easy to work with the past 12 months and their outage time has been next to nil in our neck of the woods. That, I think, says a lot about their commitment to changing the perception of their company. Add in their willingness to work with customers during some interesting economic times and I'd say they have more than earned my business...and this is coming from someone that had to be dragged kicking and screaming from DirecTV over to Comcast.
Now, if only other large companies would follow Comcast's lead the entire consumer experience would improve.
Now, if only other large companies would follow Comcast's lead the entire consumer experience would improve.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Fred Taylor
ESPN is reporting that Fred Taylor, my favorite football player this side of Walter Payton, is undergoing ankle surgery. Doesn't sound like he will miss the rest of the season, but I was kind of digging his stint with the Pats...he has been running hard and even managed to move past John Riggins on the All-Time rushing leaders board...
Get better soon, Fred!
Get better soon, Fred!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Comcast or DirecTV
I've been dreading the following decision: Since my promotional rate with Comcast has ended, and we really can't be paying $180 a month for cable and internet, I have to choose between ditching Comcast or scaling back our cable package.
DirecTV is currently offering an excellent deal: Five months of their premium package for 60 bucks a month...including NFL Sunday Ticket (so I can finally watch those totally sweet Tampa Bay and Oakland games...ugh). Of course, at the end of 5 months the rate skyrockets so I'd be back at square one.
Now, I love DirecTV, they have the best sports packages around, but there aren't enough 'drops' at my house for DirecTV and Comcast Hi-Speed internet to coexist. We are talking cats/dogs, Israel/Arab World, Beta/VHS levels of contentiousness. That means I'd either have to switch back to DSL with the increasingly facist Qwest or try Clearwire...but Clearwire reps have not been too hip on providing details on the level of service I'd receive at my address. A stable internet connection is sorely needed at my house, and Comcast has been rock steady over the last 12 months.
Outside some initial setup issues, Comcast has been nothing but stellar. I think we've had one or two outages...if that....in the last year. I know a cable/internet provider is doing their job when I don't even think twice about connectivity or service. Qwest was not even in the parking lot of the ball park when it came to connectivity issues, and again, they were horrific to work with on everything from billing to getting the right equipment out to us.
We have also grown quite fond of OnDemand and their HD programming, which is always expanding...but again, I can't justify close to 200 bones for cable/internet...I have kids that need stuff like clothes and food, and $200 is just too much to pay.
So, I am asking all four of my readers, 'What would you do?'...scale back on the service you have been happy with for a year, or switch providers to take advantage of a 5 month special offer that includes the ability to watch every Clevland Browns game when I really could not care less about the Browns...especially after they traded their best player, Braylon Edwards, to the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets!!!
DirecTV is currently offering an excellent deal: Five months of their premium package for 60 bucks a month...including NFL Sunday Ticket (so I can finally watch those totally sweet Tampa Bay and Oakland games...ugh). Of course, at the end of 5 months the rate skyrockets so I'd be back at square one.
Now, I love DirecTV, they have the best sports packages around, but there aren't enough 'drops' at my house for DirecTV and Comcast Hi-Speed internet to coexist. We are talking cats/dogs, Israel/Arab World, Beta/VHS levels of contentiousness. That means I'd either have to switch back to DSL with the increasingly facist Qwest or try Clearwire...but Clearwire reps have not been too hip on providing details on the level of service I'd receive at my address. A stable internet connection is sorely needed at my house, and Comcast has been rock steady over the last 12 months.
Outside some initial setup issues, Comcast has been nothing but stellar. I think we've had one or two outages...if that....in the last year. I know a cable/internet provider is doing their job when I don't even think twice about connectivity or service. Qwest was not even in the parking lot of the ball park when it came to connectivity issues, and again, they were horrific to work with on everything from billing to getting the right equipment out to us.
We have also grown quite fond of OnDemand and their HD programming, which is always expanding...but again, I can't justify close to 200 bones for cable/internet...I have kids that need stuff like clothes and food, and $200 is just too much to pay.
So, I am asking all four of my readers, 'What would you do?'...scale back on the service you have been happy with for a year, or switch providers to take advantage of a 5 month special offer that includes the ability to watch every Clevland Browns game when I really could not care less about the Browns...especially after they traded their best player, Braylon Edwards, to the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets!!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Oh, When The Saints Go Over There...Oh, Over There!
I would like to extend a heart felt 'Thank You' to the New Orleans Saints defense for salvaging my fantasy football season. While week 4 is kind of early to throw in the towel, I still dreaded going 1-3 to start the year...that's a big hole to dig out of.
Anyhoo, thank you Darren Sharper, your two pick sixes were just what I needed to save the day...and thanks to the rest of the Saints defense for their multiple sacks and a forced fumble. The Saints monster day helped offset putrid performances from just about everyone else on my squad...the exception being Jay Cutler...he played well....
Anyhoo, thank you Darren Sharper, your two pick sixes were just what I needed to save the day...and thanks to the rest of the Saints defense for their multiple sacks and a forced fumble. The Saints monster day helped offset putrid performances from just about everyone else on my squad...the exception being Jay Cutler...he played well....
Friday, October 2, 2009
Taking The Points...
Seneca Wallace is NOT a starting NFL QB. He's too short and inaccurate and still makes 3-4 boneheaded throws a game. I watched Seneca Wallace after catching Mark Sanchez and if I didn't know any better I would have thought Wallace was the rookie QB. All the Seneca fanboys need to let the dream die that he can be a viable starter and win consistently in the NFL.
I'm down on Housh - going into the season I had high hopes that he would be a bigger, faster version of Bobby Engram. He has underwhelmed so far, to the point that I dropped him from my FF roster. T.J. might play better when Hasselbeck returns, but what I saw from him before Matt's rib injury didn't really scream out that he would have a career season.
Julius Jones is running with conviction, but he isn't getting enough touches...and although Dwight Freeney may be out of Sunday's game, I don't see Jones getting a chance to tote the ball all that often as Seattle will be playing catch up. Indy proved against Miami that they can beat you with limited opportunities, the offense and Manning are that good. Seattle should try and hammer the ball with Julius Jones to keep Indy's offense off the field...but they have to score TDs or Manning is going to make them pay with a quick strike downfield. Seattle will abandon the run early, giving Indy too much time to score often on offense.
There is no way Seattle's defense can keep Indy out of the end zone, even with Tatupu back (which might not be the case). The Hawks just don't have the playmakers to stop the Colts.
Final Score: Colts 37, Seattle 13
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