Memphis (2) - 19.9
Missouri (3) - 17.5
Connecticut (1) - 17.3
BYU (8) - 14.2
Purdue (5) - 13.1
Washington (4) - 13.0
Marquette (6) - 11.7
Utah State (11) - 11.1
California (7) - 9.6
Texas A&M (9) - 8.3
Mississippi State (13) - 7.8
Maryland (10) - 7.5
Cornell (14) - 6.9
Northern Iowa (12) - 5.6
Cal St. Northridge (15) - 3.8
Chattanooga - DO NOT PICK
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
ASM - South Region
North Carolina (1) - 21.8
Gonzaga (4) - 18.1
Oklahoma (2) - 14.8
Clemson (7) - 13.4
Syracuse (3) - 12.5
Arizona State (6) - 12.1
Illinois (5) - 11.2
LSU (8) - 10.9
Butler (9) - 10.2
Temple (11) - 8.1
Michigan (10) 7.7
Stephen F. Austin (14) - 7.2
Akron (13) - 6.0
Western Kentucky (12) - 5.5
Morgan State (15) - 2.4
Radford - DO NOT PICK
Gonzaga (4) - 18.1
Oklahoma (2) - 14.8
Clemson (7) - 13.4
Syracuse (3) - 12.5
Arizona State (6) - 12.1
Illinois (5) - 11.2
LSU (8) - 10.9
Butler (9) - 10.2
Temple (11) - 8.1
Michigan (10) 7.7
Stephen F. Austin (14) - 7.2
Akron (13) - 6.0
Western Kentucky (12) - 5.5
Morgan State (15) - 2.4
Radford - DO NOT PICK
ASM - Midwest Region
Louisville (1) - 16.6
Kansas (3) - 15.1
West Virginia (6) - 14.8
Wake Forest (4) - 13.3
Michigan State (2) - 12.3
Utah (5) - 10.7
North Dakota State (14) - 9.3
USC (10) - 9.2
Siena (9) - 8.9
Ohio State (8) - 8.8
Arizona (12) - 7.5
Dayton (11) - 7.4
Cleveland State (13) - 6.6
Boston College (7) - 6.4
Robert Morris (15) - 4.2
Morehead State - DO NOT PICK
Kansas (3) - 15.1
West Virginia (6) - 14.8
Wake Forest (4) - 13.3
Michigan State (2) - 12.3
Utah (5) - 10.7
North Dakota State (14) - 9.3
USC (10) - 9.2
Siena (9) - 8.9
Ohio State (8) - 8.8
Arizona (12) - 7.5
Dayton (11) - 7.4
Cleveland State (13) - 6.6
Boston College (7) - 6.4
Robert Morris (15) - 4.2
Morehead State - DO NOT PICK
ASM - East Region
Pittsburgh(1) - 17.7
Duke (2) - 16.5
UCLA (6) - 14.6
Villanova (3) - 12.3
Xavier (4) - 12.3
Tennessee (9) - 12.1
Oklahoma State (8) - 11.7
Texas (7) - 10.5
VCU (11) - 9.5
Wisconsin (12) - 8.4
Florida State (5) - 8.3
Minnesota (10) - 8.1
American (14) - 4.7
Portland State (13) - 4.6
Binghamton (15) - 1.9
East Tennessee State (16) - DO NOT PICK
Duke (2) - 16.5
UCLA (6) - 14.6
Villanova (3) - 12.3
Xavier (4) - 12.3
Tennessee (9) - 12.1
Oklahoma State (8) - 11.7
Texas (7) - 10.5
VCU (11) - 9.5
Wisconsin (12) - 8.4
Florida State (5) - 8.3
Minnesota (10) - 8.1
American (14) - 4.7
Portland State (13) - 4.6
Binghamton (15) - 1.9
East Tennessee State (16) - DO NOT PICK
Thursday, March 12, 2009
While we await the ASM, a question for Mr. Close...
...did you (or anyone you know in Illinois or who follows Illini basketball) foresee that Deron Williams would become a bona fide NBA star?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Mackerel Economics
Apparently, mackerel have replaced smokes as the currency of choice in prisons around the country.
When Larry Levine helped prepare divorce papers for a client a few years ago, he got paid in mackerel. Once the case ended, he says, "I had a stack of macks."
Mr. Levine and his client were prisoners in California's Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex. Like other federal inmates around the country, they found a can of mackerel -- the "mack" in prison lingo -- was the standard currency.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
The Beard Prevails...
AU wins in dramatic fashion over Army, 61-60. My recap may be found here. Many thanks to Yellow Fever for accompanying Cherie, the kids, and me to the game. Although, he's a bad influence -- I got way more worked up with him sitting next to me -- I didn't yell at all during the Lafayette game! Audrey picked up on Renkey's propensity for loud, forceful booing at the (many) bad calls inflicted by the referees during the game. After we got home, I said something she didn't like -- she got a stormy look on her face, and said, "Boo, papa."
Friday, March 06, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Mr. Charles E. Cheese Must Be Stopped
Chapter two in the case against popular kids' birthday location: Chuck E. Cheese sued over child's injury.
Shockingly, it doesn't involve skeeball.
Shockingly, it doesn't involve skeeball.
Monday, February 23, 2009
It was all fun and games until the tuberculosis...
Apparently, an AU student tested positive for pulmonary tuberculosis on Thursday afternoon. Boy, am I glad I took my whole family to campus on Saturday and sat in an arena with 3,000 other people for several hours. Thanks, John Doe TB!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Donkeypunch, The Movie...
...yes, there really is a movie named Donkey Punch. And yes, it really revolves around an actual killer donkeypunch. See the trailer here. Really. I'm not kidding.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Taking the cake...
I recently found out that effective next month, I will be promoted for the 4th time in 7 years and will receive a substantial raise. I enjoyed that news briefly -- and then today happened.
I've written recently of my colleague and his obsession with his fugitive cat. Over on Nomadic Scribblings, I've written of other antics -- like disappearing mid-day in the middle of the week for an unannounced sojourn to the beach, showing up to work whenever he feels like it (or not), scheduling and not showing for meetings, actively thwarting progress on critical issues, etc. etc.
But today takes the cake.
As might be predicted by his demonstrated poor judgment, laziness, bizarro behavior, and incompetence, my colleague received a poor annual performance review from his superiors this morning.
Afterward, he called me into his office and bade me close the door.
He proceeded to tell me that his review had been "unfair". Then, he blamed his review's outcome explicitly on me and one other colleague. For me, he said, it boiled down to a) duties he had delegated to me (and that I'd ostensibly performed poorly, though he neither said that nor raised any examples); and b) back-channel conversations I'd obviously been having with my boss.
He then said that I am to stay out of his sphere of work and that he will no longer rely on me as much as he has over the past few months. I restrained myself from laughing. I am his deputy, so it's not really possible to disentangle myself from his work. And, it's not really his decision to make. My role is defined by the man managing the account this project services. And seeing as that man just promoted me, is giving me a fat raise, and has known and trusted me for nearly a decade professionally -- I don't see myself losing this battle.
Still, it was disconcerting. I've had my own performance criticized. I've even been canned. But I've never before been blamed for someone else's bad review. And, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to survive this guy for another 7 months, as my boss doesn't want to can him until there's a natural break in the project in September. Ugh.
I've written recently of my colleague and his obsession with his fugitive cat. Over on Nomadic Scribblings, I've written of other antics -- like disappearing mid-day in the middle of the week for an unannounced sojourn to the beach, showing up to work whenever he feels like it (or not), scheduling and not showing for meetings, actively thwarting progress on critical issues, etc. etc.
But today takes the cake.
As might be predicted by his demonstrated poor judgment, laziness, bizarro behavior, and incompetence, my colleague received a poor annual performance review from his superiors this morning.
Afterward, he called me into his office and bade me close the door.
He proceeded to tell me that his review had been "unfair". Then, he blamed his review's outcome explicitly on me and one other colleague. For me, he said, it boiled down to a) duties he had delegated to me (and that I'd ostensibly performed poorly, though he neither said that nor raised any examples); and b) back-channel conversations I'd obviously been having with my boss.
He then said that I am to stay out of his sphere of work and that he will no longer rely on me as much as he has over the past few months. I restrained myself from laughing. I am his deputy, so it's not really possible to disentangle myself from his work. And, it's not really his decision to make. My role is defined by the man managing the account this project services. And seeing as that man just promoted me, is giving me a fat raise, and has known and trusted me for nearly a decade professionally -- I don't see myself losing this battle.
Still, it was disconcerting. I've had my own performance criticized. I've even been canned. But I've never before been blamed for someone else's bad review. And, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to survive this guy for another 7 months, as my boss doesn't want to can him until there's a natural break in the project in September. Ugh.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Moral of the Story: Don't Live in PG County
Follow-up story on the SWAT raid on our former classmate.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
You know you're getting old when...
...your colleague and friend swivels on his barstool and instead of saying, "Check out the ass on that girl!", instead says to you...
"If I stay another 20 minutes, I don't have to do bath time."
"If I stay another 20 minutes, I don't have to do bath time."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Beware the Win32/Zafi.B virus...
All,
In 7 years at my employer, I've never contracted a computer virus. Yesterday morning, a variant on the "Win32/Zafi.B" virus hit my laptop. It's supposed to be passed through e-mail, but I didn't open any suspicious e-mail, so I don't know how I got it. But, it managed to wipe every trace of every last file off my computer.
Part of the virus' nastiness is that it tricks users into thinking they're getting a message from Windows Firewall that the firewall has detected and blocked the virus. In fact, that IS the virus. So beware that pop-up, too.
In any case, it passes itself on in part by hijacking a user's e-mail address book. So, if you have any strange-looking e-mail from me, delete it immediately. And if your computer randomly receives a pop-up from "Windows Firewall" stating that you have the virus, shut it down, do NOT reboot, then go look up steps for removing the virus on another computer connected to the internet.
Fucking hackers. Damn you all.
In 7 years at my employer, I've never contracted a computer virus. Yesterday morning, a variant on the "Win32/Zafi.B" virus hit my laptop. It's supposed to be passed through e-mail, but I didn't open any suspicious e-mail, so I don't know how I got it. But, it managed to wipe every trace of every last file off my computer.
Part of the virus' nastiness is that it tricks users into thinking they're getting a message from Windows Firewall that the firewall has detected and blocked the virus. In fact, that IS the virus. So beware that pop-up, too.
In any case, it passes itself on in part by hijacking a user's e-mail address book. So, if you have any strange-looking e-mail from me, delete it immediately. And if your computer randomly receives a pop-up from "Windows Firewall" stating that you have the virus, shut it down, do NOT reboot, then go look up steps for removing the virus on another computer connected to the internet.
Fucking hackers. Damn you all.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Incongruity, brought to you by satellite radio
This morning on the way to work... at a lovely -3 F... what to my wondering ear should appear but Ma$e's "Feels So Good."
Damn.
Damn.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Curious Chronicles of the Fugitive Kitty...
Day 1: Hunt for cat and skip work for all but 1 hour of the day;
Day 2: Hunt for cat and skip entire morning.
Also Day 2: Write a ten paragraph letter about the details of the cat hunt to our entire team, trying to justify being out of work.
Day 3: Leave work at 1:30 to resume cat hunt.
Excerpts from the 10-paragraph message:
"One of my son's girl friend's Sorority sisters visited for pizza on Monday night, and left the door open when she departed. That's how this all started. Needless to say, she probably won't find us so welcoming the next time she decides to stop by. She is living down to the stereotype, unfortunately."
"Taking the cat's point of view, I found myself crawling / walking through large concrete drain pipes under the roads around here - it is amazing how connected everything is via these drain pipes."
"I just hope she didn't use the under the road drains to move south into the Fair Oaks commercial space and Hyatt hotel across the road - too many people and cars, and the chances of survival there are not good."
"According to our research, this is an extremely rare intelligence. She uses many voices to express herself, and there is almost a language in use as we understand what she wants by the way she speaks. This is the smartest cat I've ever known."
"My wife is driving in from Chicago today, and will keep up the search tomorrow while both (name removed) and I get back to work."
"This is considerably more than I suspect you want to know, but I felt that I needed to explain why I'm spending this time, in this way, instead of being at the office. I'll mark the time as vacation days. It is just something I have to do."
And no, I didn't make any of this up.
Day 2: Hunt for cat and skip entire morning.
Also Day 2: Write a ten paragraph letter about the details of the cat hunt to our entire team, trying to justify being out of work.
Day 3: Leave work at 1:30 to resume cat hunt.
Excerpts from the 10-paragraph message:
"One of my son's girl friend's Sorority sisters visited for pizza on Monday night, and left the door open when she departed. That's how this all started. Needless to say, she probably won't find us so welcoming the next time she decides to stop by. She is living down to the stereotype, unfortunately."
"Taking the cat's point of view, I found myself crawling / walking through large concrete drain pipes under the roads around here - it is amazing how connected everything is via these drain pipes."
"I just hope she didn't use the under the road drains to move south into the Fair Oaks commercial space and Hyatt hotel across the road - too many people and cars, and the chances of survival there are not good."
"According to our research, this is an extremely rare intelligence. She uses many voices to express herself, and there is almost a language in use as we understand what she wants by the way she speaks. This is the smartest cat I've ever known."
"My wife is driving in from Chicago today, and will keep up the search tomorrow while both (name removed) and I get back to work."
"This is considerably more than I suspect you want to know, but I felt that I needed to explain why I'm spending this time, in this way, instead of being at the office. I'll mark the time as vacation days. It is just something I have to do."
And no, I didn't make any of this up.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Meow, meow, meow, meow...
I am currently the Deputy Project Manager on a project for my employer. This morning, I received an e-mail from the Project Manager, titled, "I'll call in, but please start without me". He was supposed to be attending a meeting with me and several other colleagues.
In the body, it continued, "All, my son's cats got out last night, and we've spent the night looking for them. We did find one, but the other is still on the loose. We saw her several times around midnight, but have not seen her since. We've been out looking this morning since first light."
Later, when my PM had not shown up at noon (and we were supposed to be prepping for a 1330 meeting), I called him, expecting to hear that he was either walking in the building or would be there shortly.
Instead, when he answered, he told me that he was in the middle of climbing a tree because "we've looked everywhere else."
He eventually made the meeting, then left as soon as it was over to go back to "cat-hunting."
When my boss asked where the PM was, I tried to tell him, but I couldn't stop laughing. It was so absurd, it I hadn't laughed, I would have cried.
In the body, it continued, "All, my son's cats got out last night, and we've spent the night looking for them. We did find one, but the other is still on the loose. We saw her several times around midnight, but have not seen her since. We've been out looking this morning since first light."
Later, when my PM had not shown up at noon (and we were supposed to be prepping for a 1330 meeting), I called him, expecting to hear that he was either walking in the building or would be there shortly.
Instead, when he answered, he told me that he was in the middle of climbing a tree because "we've looked everywhere else."
He eventually made the meeting, then left as soon as it was over to go back to "cat-hunting."
When my boss asked where the PM was, I tried to tell him, but I couldn't stop laughing. It was so absurd, it I hadn't laughed, I would have cried.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Sh*ts McGee...
I think Snyder referred to my brother as "Shits McGee" or something similar years ago when my brother came to Tenleytown after suffering from giardiasis in the wake of a trip to Iceland.
Well, my brother's quest to get some sort of exotic intestinal disease/parasite in a 3rd world country at least once a year continues. 2008 was Guatemala. 2009 opens with a 3-month stint designing a low-cost toilet for poor people in Cambodia. Follow his sure-to-be-sh*tty adventures here.
Well, my brother's quest to get some sort of exotic intestinal disease/parasite in a 3rd world country at least once a year continues. 2008 was Guatemala. 2009 opens with a 3-month stint designing a low-cost toilet for poor people in Cambodia. Follow his sure-to-be-sh*tty adventures here.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Bud Diesel to the Rescue
Sitting in the business class lounge in Tokyo's Narita Airport makes me appreciate what America can offer. Sake's fun, but nothing beats the Diesel after five days of weak drinkers and raw fish.
I admit to particularly enjoying the envious looks I get from other Americans in the lounge. Cowards.
I admit to particularly enjoying the envious looks I get from other Americans in the lounge. Cowards.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Chuck E Cheese, Den of Iniquity...
Lewis, apparently, you shouldn't have any more birthday parties at Chuck E Cheese!
Friday, December 05, 2008
Santa Exposed
Now we know how Santa gets all the toys delivered. Now, I don't expect for you SPA types (not to mention SOC, or, god forbid, SIS) to understand the math behind Santa, but I think we can all appreciate the truth from someone on the inside.
Monday, December 01, 2008
A World Without...
Several years ago, while working at a certain firm, I walked into the office on December 1 -- my birthday. I was feeling good. It was a Friday, and I was looking forward to getting through the workday and commencing long-planned birthday celebrations.
This firm had been founded by a man from Manhattan who liked for his firm to reflect his "Manhattan sensibility" -- including the furnishing of the office with art from a local gallery, and hosting gallery shows one Friday a month.
Not long after I arrived at work, I noticed a strange woman placing black, cloth shrouds over every picture and sculpture in the office.
I was immediately angered -- this was my place of employment, where I frequently spent long stretches -- often 12 hour days or longer -- and not only were the artworks I enjoyed looking at (they took some of the sting off of staring at computer monitors all day, and some of them were quite beautiful) being covered over, but there were so many works of art, and therefore so many shrouds, that the office was beginning to look like a funeral parlor.
On my birthday.
Eventually, I tracked down our VP for HR, who told me that the unknown woman was a gallery rep. She was covering the artworks "in honor of" World AIDS Day, and its corollary, "A Day Without Art". It turned out that A Day Without Art is an initiative associated with World AIDS Day in which "...the creative community observes A Day With(out) Art, in memory of all those the AIDS pandemic has taken from us, and in recognition of the many artists, actors, writers, dancers and others who continue to create and live with HIV and AIDS."
She saw nothing wrong with our office being converted into a virtual funeral parlor, used to make politically infused statements about the state of the anti-AIDS movement. I did, as did several of my colleagues, and we let her and other firm leadership know about it.
Ever since then, I have hated World AIDS Day. I hate that my birthday has been converted from a happy day, just after Thanksgiving, and looking forward to Christmas, to a sad day. It now obsesses with a fatal, incurable disease. I hate that A Day Without Art essentially assumes that all artists are gay, and that a world with AIDS means a world depopulated of gay men, and therefore a world depopulated of artists, and therefore we should cover all art because if we don't cure AIDS, we'll never have art. Bullshit.
I hate that you can't turn on the news on my birthday without seeing coverage of World AIDS Day.
I also hate the proliferation of "awareness" days/weeks. There are so many now, for so many random and insignificant purposes, as to render them all pointless -- we have Salt Awareness Week, Food Allergy and Intolerance Week, National Potato Day, National Impotence Day, International Noise Awareness Day, National Stop Snoring Week, National Eczema Week, and on and on and on. They don't raise awareness except for those members of CNN and MSNBC who have to write and read copy covering the latest "Some Cause Awareness Day/Week".
If I were a freshman member of the incoming Congress, my first act would be to introduce a bill cancelling all previously established Awareness Days/Weeks and placing a 10-year moratorium on the creation of any new ones.
Except for Brian Chapin's Birthday Awareness Day.
This firm had been founded by a man from Manhattan who liked for his firm to reflect his "Manhattan sensibility" -- including the furnishing of the office with art from a local gallery, and hosting gallery shows one Friday a month.
Not long after I arrived at work, I noticed a strange woman placing black, cloth shrouds over every picture and sculpture in the office.
I was immediately angered -- this was my place of employment, where I frequently spent long stretches -- often 12 hour days or longer -- and not only were the artworks I enjoyed looking at (they took some of the sting off of staring at computer monitors all day, and some of them were quite beautiful) being covered over, but there were so many works of art, and therefore so many shrouds, that the office was beginning to look like a funeral parlor.
On my birthday.
Eventually, I tracked down our VP for HR, who told me that the unknown woman was a gallery rep. She was covering the artworks "in honor of" World AIDS Day, and its corollary, "A Day Without Art". It turned out that A Day Without Art is an initiative associated with World AIDS Day in which "...the creative community observes A Day With(out) Art, in memory of all those the AIDS pandemic has taken from us, and in recognition of the many artists, actors, writers, dancers and others who continue to create and live with HIV and AIDS."
She saw nothing wrong with our office being converted into a virtual funeral parlor, used to make politically infused statements about the state of the anti-AIDS movement. I did, as did several of my colleagues, and we let her and other firm leadership know about it.
Ever since then, I have hated World AIDS Day. I hate that my birthday has been converted from a happy day, just after Thanksgiving, and looking forward to Christmas, to a sad day. It now obsesses with a fatal, incurable disease. I hate that A Day Without Art essentially assumes that all artists are gay, and that a world with AIDS means a world depopulated of gay men, and therefore a world depopulated of artists, and therefore we should cover all art because if we don't cure AIDS, we'll never have art. Bullshit.
I hate that you can't turn on the news on my birthday without seeing coverage of World AIDS Day.
I also hate the proliferation of "awareness" days/weeks. There are so many now, for so many random and insignificant purposes, as to render them all pointless -- we have Salt Awareness Week, Food Allergy and Intolerance Week, National Potato Day, National Impotence Day, International Noise Awareness Day, National Stop Snoring Week, National Eczema Week, and on and on and on. They don't raise awareness except for those members of CNN and MSNBC who have to write and read copy covering the latest "Some Cause Awareness Day/Week".
If I were a freshman member of the incoming Congress, my first act would be to introduce a bill cancelling all previously established Awareness Days/Weeks and placing a 10-year moratorium on the creation of any new ones.
Except for Brian Chapin's Birthday Awareness Day.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
What's Going On Here?
What, I drop off the 'Net for a little while, and this place goes dark? What is it, all of you McCainiacs and Palinites too depressed to post on ye olde Malt Shop Logic?
Anybody check out a certain company's stock price lately? How about it was $0.04per share earlier today, and now NYSE has initiated delisting processes and will suspend trading of its shares prior to the opening bell on Monday. Maybe it can get a piece of that $700B bailout....I'll be calling in my $75 marker with the Obama campaign.
Yeah, baby!
Anybody check out a certain company's stock price lately? How about it was $0.04per share earlier today, and now NYSE has initiated delisting processes and will suspend trading of its shares prior to the opening bell on Monday. Maybe it can get a piece of that $700B bailout....I'll be calling in my $75 marker with the Obama campaign.
Yeah, baby!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Move On already
As anyone who's seen the boxes I use for my Magic cards knows, I like to collect stickers. And whenever I see Moveon.org adds online, I figure it's the least I can do to have them pay a nickel or whatever for my click. So a month or so ago, I signed up for them to send me an Obama sticker (which I still haven't received, BTW). I also get silly emails from them, hyperventilating that racism will defeat The One, and so forth.
Today's was like a dream come true. If only my vote could really do this:
Today's was like a dream come true. If only my vote could really do this:
Monday, October 20, 2008
Maggie's
I mentioned this in my facebook status, but if you didn't know what I was talking about there's a group on facebook called Maggie's New York Style Pizerria Tenley Circle. It appears to have been founded by people who used to work there.
My favorite part is their discussion topics, the best of which, by far, is called "youngest child I ever served alcohol". Here is the only post so far:
Topic: Youngest child I ever served alcohol.
Displaying the only post.
Post #1
B. Wade Coleman (Washington, DC) wroteon October 17, 2008 at 8:29pm
I once served a couple of kids that had skipped out on there 2nd day of kindergarten. At first I said "not a chance," but it was a Monday day shift in August. I hooked them up and the slid me a 20 spot on there way out to catch their bus.
That's hilarious. But what's really hilarious is how rooted in truth it is. Though I don't recall ever having to overtip to get served. I guess that's just reserved for kindergartners.
My favorite part is their discussion topics, the best of which, by far, is called "youngest child I ever served alcohol". Here is the only post so far:
Topic: Youngest child I ever served alcohol.
Displaying the only post.
Post #1
B. Wade Coleman (Washington, DC) wroteon October 17, 2008 at 8:29pm
I once served a couple of kids that had skipped out on there 2nd day of kindergarten. At first I said "not a chance," but it was a Monday day shift in August. I hooked them up and the slid me a 20 spot on there way out to catch their bus.
That's hilarious. But what's really hilarious is how rooted in truth it is. Though I don't recall ever having to overtip to get served. I guess that's just reserved for kindergartners.
Can't win if you don't hit...
Damn.
We Red Sox fans got so used to watching the Sox win in dramatic fashion, you figured it would happen again. Down 3-1 in the ALCS, the Sox came back to tie it 3-3. Then, tonight, Jon Lester held the Tampa Bay Rays to 3 runs, no mean feat considering that coming into Game 7, the Tampa Bay Rays had scored 40 runs in 6 games, an average of nearly 7 runs per game. You had to think that if Lester and the bullpen held the Rays to as little as 3 runs tonight, the Red Sox were nearly guaranteed a victory and berth in the 2008 World Series.
The game started promisingly enough, as Dustin Pedroia hit a pitch into the left field bleachers in the first inning to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. As a fan, I thought, "Here we go, this is it!" Instead, the Red Sox bats fell silent after Pedroia's home run. The Red Sox didn't score another run. Jon Lester pitched an outstanding ballgame, but it wasn't enough.
Still, I can't complain. The Red Sox have now been to the ALCS 4 times in 6 years, and have won 2 World Series titles. It's a good time to be a Red Sox fan.
We Red Sox fans got so used to watching the Sox win in dramatic fashion, you figured it would happen again. Down 3-1 in the ALCS, the Sox came back to tie it 3-3. Then, tonight, Jon Lester held the Tampa Bay Rays to 3 runs, no mean feat considering that coming into Game 7, the Tampa Bay Rays had scored 40 runs in 6 games, an average of nearly 7 runs per game. You had to think that if Lester and the bullpen held the Rays to as little as 3 runs tonight, the Red Sox were nearly guaranteed a victory and berth in the 2008 World Series.
The game started promisingly enough, as Dustin Pedroia hit a pitch into the left field bleachers in the first inning to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. As a fan, I thought, "Here we go, this is it!" Instead, the Red Sox bats fell silent after Pedroia's home run. The Red Sox didn't score another run. Jon Lester pitched an outstanding ballgame, but it wasn't enough.
Still, I can't complain. The Red Sox have now been to the ALCS 4 times in 6 years, and have won 2 World Series titles. It's a good time to be a Red Sox fan.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
One game for all the marbles...
The Red Sox have come back from the dead. After being down 3-1, the Red Sox have now tied the ALCS, 3-3. More importantly, they've stolen momentum. Now, the AL pennant and a trip to the World Series for the third time in five years rest in the hands of Jon Lester, who gave up 0 earned runs on 10 hits in 14 innings in his first two postseason starts during the ALDS against the Angels, but then got blown up for 5 runs on 8 hits in only 5 and 2/3 innings against the Rays earlier in the ALCS.
I am damn near giddy from the last 48 hours -- and in fact, about midnight on Thurday/Friday, I was giddily jumping up and down in my living room as the Red Sox scored 8 runs in 3 innings to take Game 5, 8-7.
If past is prologue, tomorrow promises to be a bad day for Tamp Bay fans. In 2004, the Red Sox came back from an 0-3 series hole, tied the series, then whipped the Yankees on the road at Yankee Stadium, 10-3. Last year, after trailing 3-1 in the series, the Red Sox tied it, then destroyed the Indians at Fenway, 11-2, in Game 7. So in the last two ALCS Game 7's, the Red Sox have beaten their opponents at home and on the road, and have outscored their opponents, 21-5.
Now, I'm not predicting that kind of blowout. My prediction for tomorrow is , 7-5, Red Sox over the Rays.
GO SOX!
I am damn near giddy from the last 48 hours -- and in fact, about midnight on Thurday/Friday, I was giddily jumping up and down in my living room as the Red Sox scored 8 runs in 3 innings to take Game 5, 8-7.
If past is prologue, tomorrow promises to be a bad day for Tamp Bay fans. In 2004, the Red Sox came back from an 0-3 series hole, tied the series, then whipped the Yankees on the road at Yankee Stadium, 10-3. Last year, after trailing 3-1 in the series, the Red Sox tied it, then destroyed the Indians at Fenway, 11-2, in Game 7. So in the last two ALCS Game 7's, the Red Sox have beaten their opponents at home and on the road, and have outscored their opponents, 21-5.
Now, I'm not predicting that kind of blowout. My prediction for tomorrow is , 7-5, Red Sox over the Rays.
GO SOX!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Victory dance victory dance victory dance...
victory dance victory dance victory dance victory dance
JIG ON OLD BROOKFIELD ROAD. YEEEEE-HAAWWWW!
JIG ON OLD BROOKFIELD ROAD. YEEEEE-HAAWWWW!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Five Guys
Little things in life count. When I was living in DC, a little annoyance was that you couldn't get a decent hot dog there. Now that I'm in the Chicago area, it's not a problem - order the char dog.
Of course, now that I'm out here, I have been denied a Five Guys cheeseburger since aught-six. Fortunately, our long national nightmare is at an end. Five Guys is coming to Chicago.
Though the quality of the place certainly must be diminished from when it was just a few stores in DC to now more than 330 places, I will be there as soon as they open.
Of course, now that I'm out here, I have been denied a Five Guys cheeseburger since aught-six. Fortunately, our long national nightmare is at an end. Five Guys is coming to Chicago.
Though the quality of the place certainly must be diminished from when it was just a few stores in DC to now more than 330 places, I will be there as soon as they open.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
We have a home.......
After Cherie's promotion (and associated transfer back to DC), the major milestones became:
1. Find a job (for me)
2. Find a home
3. Find daycare
As posted previously, I was able to find a job within my company very quickly. Tonight, we achieved milestone #2 -- we have a house!
We are the newest renters of a beautiful, 3-level townhome in Alexandria, VA. It's in a hidden gem of a development called Loftridge about a mile south of the Beltway, about evenly split east-west between 395 on the west and Route 1 on the east. It's 2 miles from Old Town, it's on a piece of property surrounded by forest and parkland, within easy walk/drive of a brand new baseball field complex, and it has great history -- including the property being the former residence of a Virginia governor and Lee family member, Fitzhugh Lee.
It has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half-baths, finished basement with fireplace (aka the future guest bedroom/den), living room with french doors out onto a beautiful deck, hardwood floors throughout, nearly new appliances in the kitchen, and a small, fenced yard that leads out to a huge common area -- a groomed field where the kids and dog can run around.
It is just about perfect -- out of the 16 or so houses we visited in a whirlwind 2.5-day househunting trip we took last week, it was #1 on our list. And, we got it. We'll probably make the physical move around the last week of October. Lewises, stand by for your first weekend cookout invite!
Hot damn. Now it's on to daycare -- and we're making progress there, too.
1. Find a job (for me)
2. Find a home
3. Find daycare
As posted previously, I was able to find a job within my company very quickly. Tonight, we achieved milestone #2 -- we have a house!
We are the newest renters of a beautiful, 3-level townhome in Alexandria, VA. It's in a hidden gem of a development called Loftridge about a mile south of the Beltway, about evenly split east-west between 395 on the west and Route 1 on the east. It's 2 miles from Old Town, it's on a piece of property surrounded by forest and parkland, within easy walk/drive of a brand new baseball field complex, and it has great history -- including the property being the former residence of a Virginia governor and Lee family member, Fitzhugh Lee.
It has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half-baths, finished basement with fireplace (aka the future guest bedroom/den), living room with french doors out onto a beautiful deck, hardwood floors throughout, nearly new appliances in the kitchen, and a small, fenced yard that leads out to a huge common area -- a groomed field where the kids and dog can run around.
It is just about perfect -- out of the 16 or so houses we visited in a whirlwind 2.5-day househunting trip we took last week, it was #1 on our list. And, we got it. We'll probably make the physical move around the last week of October. Lewises, stand by for your first weekend cookout invite!
Hot damn. Now it's on to daycare -- and we're making progress there, too.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Beer Goggles 2.0
Google has implemented a feature that helps you prevent sending those drunk emails. I've often joked that BlackBerry's should have a breathalyzer feature. We're just one step closer now.
Monday, October 06, 2008
YES YES YES YES!
Oh the drama. Bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, man on 2nd, Jed Lowrie eaks out a single just beyond the outstretched glove of the 2nd baseman, Jason Bay sprints home from 2nd, and RED SOX WIN! RED SOX WIN! RED SOX WIN!
So long, Angels. We own you.
It's on to Tampa Bay and to the battle for the American League Pennant!
So long, Angels. We own you.
It's on to Tampa Bay and to the battle for the American League Pennant!
Dear Terry Francona...
Your team is up 2-0 in the top of the 8th.
Your starting pitcher has shut out the Angels through 7, is humming along, is just over 100 pitches, has a strong, 24-year old arm...and then you yank him. Huh?
Then, you're on defense, your opponent has 1 man on and 2 out, and you feel the need to make another pitching change -- though your current relief pitcher only walked 1 after getting 2 outs, and has been solid all season after performing like a hero in last year's playoffs.
You have a bullpen filled with veterans with outstanding postseason performance records
So, what do you not do? You do NOT -- DO NOT! -- put in an inconsistent and sometimes wild rookie to get the final out in a pressure-packed 8th inning of a crucial playoff game.
That is BAD MANAGEMENT.
How do I know?
Because that rookie just walked a batter, threw a wild pitch (after getting the pitch signal wrong), then gave up a 2-run single. Now it's 2-2. Way to go...ASS.
Gaahh!
Your starting pitcher has shut out the Angels through 7, is humming along, is just over 100 pitches, has a strong, 24-year old arm...and then you yank him. Huh?
Then, you're on defense, your opponent has 1 man on and 2 out, and you feel the need to make another pitching change -- though your current relief pitcher only walked 1 after getting 2 outs, and has been solid all season after performing like a hero in last year's playoffs.
You have a bullpen filled with veterans with outstanding postseason performance records
So, what do you not do? You do NOT -- DO NOT! -- put in an inconsistent and sometimes wild rookie to get the final out in a pressure-packed 8th inning of a crucial playoff game.
That is BAD MANAGEMENT.
How do I know?
Because that rookie just walked a batter, threw a wild pitch (after getting the pitch signal wrong), then gave up a 2-run single. Now it's 2-2. Way to go...ASS.
Gaahh!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Even when the Cubs lose, XM radio is great
300+ miles over the road in a driving rainstorm yesterday were made tolerable by flipping back and forth between the Cubs mailing one in against the Brewers (and almost winning) while the Mets capped off their implosion of Shea Stadium vs. the Floria "We Hate the Mets" Marlins.
So very, very, very much better radio than the coverage of the presidential election.
So very, very, very much better radio than the coverage of the presidential election.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
So...
...I've been trying to lay off the political posts, because the less sleep I have as my son fails to even approach sleeping through the night, and as the stress builds from trying to sell our house in the worst market in memory, and move to Virginia in 6 weeks, the more angry and strident I get.
But, I just can't pass this up.
Ever since she was chosen as the Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin and her party colleagues have been stating over and over and over again, and with complete seriousness, that her chief foreign policy credential is that Alaska is close to Russia. And they have made the (incredibly weak, shameless, and pathetic) argument that as governor of a state near Russia, she has some foreign policy "experience by osmosis".
Except now, in an interview with Katie Couric, she first claims it again in seriousness, expands it to sharing a land boundary with Canada, but then, apparently realizing in the moment how retarded she sounds, tries to switch gears and claim that it's all a big joke, and that the argument was meant all along to mock reporters.
Only she can't even do that intelligibly, because she's an idiot. So Katie Couric has to simultaneously bail her out and humiliate her by providing the English for her to use. See the video here.
I'm SO proud of my country that one of its two major political parties, and the one that is supposed to be regarded as the "serious" party, the party to be entrusted with national security and foreign policy over the liberal, pot-smoking, incense-burning hippies of the Democratic Party, has just burned its credibility in the cauldron of Sarah Palin's ignorance and imbecility.
Oh, and seeing as I: a) was born in Alaska; b) have lived in 3 different countries; c) can speak some conversational German, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish; d) have actually BEEN to Russia and China, as well as more than 20 other countries; e) actually once had a subscription to Foreign Affairs Magazine, according to Republican Party logic, I'm something like 1000 times more qualified to be Vice President of the United States than Sarah Palin.
I await my nomination.
But, I just can't pass this up.
Ever since she was chosen as the Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin and her party colleagues have been stating over and over and over again, and with complete seriousness, that her chief foreign policy credential is that Alaska is close to Russia. And they have made the (incredibly weak, shameless, and pathetic) argument that as governor of a state near Russia, she has some foreign policy "experience by osmosis".
Except now, in an interview with Katie Couric, she first claims it again in seriousness, expands it to sharing a land boundary with Canada, but then, apparently realizing in the moment how retarded she sounds, tries to switch gears and claim that it's all a big joke, and that the argument was meant all along to mock reporters.
Only she can't even do that intelligibly, because she's an idiot. So Katie Couric has to simultaneously bail her out and humiliate her by providing the English for her to use. See the video here.
I'm SO proud of my country that one of its two major political parties, and the one that is supposed to be regarded as the "serious" party, the party to be entrusted with national security and foreign policy over the liberal, pot-smoking, incense-burning hippies of the Democratic Party, has just burned its credibility in the cauldron of Sarah Palin's ignorance and imbecility.
Oh, and seeing as I: a) was born in Alaska; b) have lived in 3 different countries; c) can speak some conversational German, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish; d) have actually BEEN to Russia and China, as well as more than 20 other countries; e) actually once had a subscription to Foreign Affairs Magazine, according to Republican Party logic, I'm something like 1000 times more qualified to be Vice President of the United States than Sarah Palin.
I await my nomination.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Delicious irony...
In a coincidence that is too good to miss, the World Financial Center (where I work and home to Merrill Lynch world HQ) is hosting its annual MotorExpo this week. All over the lobby areas of 3 and 4 WFC, luxury auto manufacturers including Bugatti, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, etc., are showing their wares...to customers who suddenly have no money to buy luxury automobiles.
Ah, schadenfreude, you are so good to me.
Ah, schadenfreude, you are so good to me.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
God's Revenge On Vegetarians...
So it turns out that being a vegetarian shrinks your brain. Ah, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha....I always felt like vegetarians were stupid. Now I know why.
Eat your meat! If you don't eat your meat, how can you have any pudding? Thank you, Pink Floyd.
Eat your meat! If you don't eat your meat, how can you have any pudding? Thank you, Pink Floyd.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sort of Sad
This caught my eye today: the Grog and Tankard is closing/is closed. For those of you who never went there, the Grog was like the late great Ye Olde Malt Shoppe - without any of the charm (or Caleb dishing out antifreeze-laced Bud Heavy).
During my time in Glover Park, my roommates and I would occasionally wander over there. The sights included strippers off duty from JP's, pool tables not close to level, and random bands (covered in the above Post article). My favorite part about going there was when the owners tried to charge a cover - we would either start to leave and they would waive the fee or we would just wave off the request as we entered (with no objection from the owners).
That said, it was an awful, awful place. An institution. But an awful, awful place.
During my time in Glover Park, my roommates and I would occasionally wander over there. The sights included strippers off duty from JP's, pool tables not close to level, and random bands (covered in the above Post article). My favorite part about going there was when the owners tried to charge a cover - we would either start to leave and they would waive the fee or we would just wave off the request as we entered (with no objection from the owners).
That said, it was an awful, awful place. An institution. But an awful, awful place.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Friday, September 05, 2008
Wal-Mart Democrats
Rahm Emanuel is pushing the absurd theory that since Wal-Mart thrived when Democrats held the White House, Wal-Mart thrived because Democrats held the White House. Of course, he say "When Democrats Are In Charge." His basic premise is that after the Republicans won Congress and Democratic hopes of a leftist utopia ushered in by Clinton--no, wait, he omitted that part.
Well, one silly assumption is no reason to ruin a good partisan rant. What he means, is that after the Democrats managed to get Congress back more recently, and have been threatening to raise taxes, prevent an increase in oil supplies, or even using useful raw materials to make energy (e.g., oil, coal, natural gas, uranium) and by the way, run companies like Wal-Mart (by which I mean companies that are Wal-Mart) out of business--no, wait, he omitted that part, too.
OK, with two such flawed arguments, I'm not sure how he manages a straight face, but I guess his point is that if you just trust him and his buddy BHO, real middle class incomes will increase, defying the laws of economics (OK, he left that qualifier out, too). But what could possibly go wrong?
Well, one silly assumption is no reason to ruin a good partisan rant. What he means, is that after the Democrats managed to get Congress back more recently, and have been threatening to raise taxes, prevent an increase in oil supplies, or even using useful raw materials to make energy (e.g., oil, coal, natural gas, uranium) and by the way, run companies like Wal-Mart (by which I mean companies that are Wal-Mart) out of business--no, wait, he omitted that part, too.
OK, with two such flawed arguments, I'm not sure how he manages a straight face, but I guess his point is that if you just trust him and his buddy BHO, real middle class incomes will increase, defying the laws of economics (OK, he left that qualifier out, too). But what could possibly go wrong?
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Unsubscribe
Jesus, who let you guys barf all over the blargosphere? I was just directed to the comment storm here and... Wow.
No McCainiac He
I thought it was time for some counter-prop to the stuff we've been reading around here lately, and who better to deliver than Karl Rove. I think that neither his friends nor his enemies would ever describe him as a "McCainiac." I think they'd also all agree that he knows about winning close presidential elections.
Today he writes about why the VP pick may actually matter this year. And I think this comment may explain why Brian is so fond of Sen Biden:
Not related to the Rove article, but I love her comparison of being Mayor to "community organizer," but with actual responsibilities. No wonder the Dems are so scared of her.
Today he writes about why the VP pick may actually matter this year. And I think this comment may explain why Brian is so fond of Sen Biden:
In the vice-presidential debate, Democrats must be concerned about Mr. Biden appearing bombastic and condescending -- which is almost a permanent state of mind for the Delaware senator...
Not related to the Rove article, but I love her comparison of being Mayor to "community organizer," but with actual responsibilities. No wonder the Dems are so scared of her.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
The Final Word on the Sarah Palin Debate
http://www.palinfacts.com/
UPDATE: This may be my favorite: Sarah Palin is the only woman who can make Tony Romo WIN a playoff.
UPDATE: This may be my favorite: Sarah Palin is the only woman who can make Tony Romo WIN a playoff.
Monday, September 01, 2008
So now the news breaks...
...conveniently on Labor Day, after the noon news, while coverage of Hurricane Gustav is ongoing... that Sarah Palin's 17 yr-old daughter is 5 months pregnant.
To me, this only reinforces the notion that Sarah Palin should be spending more time focusing on the needs of her family and less time gallivanting around the country campaigning for the vice presidency.
One might also suggest that this news is evidence that she has already not been paying enough attention to her children.
So let's see what we've got now. We've got a vice presidential candidate with a 5-month old with Down's, and a pregnant 17 yr-old?
And if she and McCain win, her daughter's going to give birth in the midst of transition activities in December or right around the Inauguration in January?
And her mom will be busy with those activities, getting briefings on the latest international crises, terrorist threats to the country, helping to interview candidates for the VP staff as well as for some of the thousands of political appointments that must be made by a new administration, moving her family from Alaska to Washington, meeting and greeting with supporters who made her victory possible -- and somehow finding time amidst her duties to work with her teen-aged daughter helping teach her how to nurse, change diapers, establish routines for that child, manage that child when it's fussy, learn how to manage her own frustration and anger when the baby has kept her up all night long and won't stop screaming, etc.?
Or will she leave her teenaged daughter at home in Alaska with her new baby and (likely) teen-aged father to fend for themselves while the rest of the family is moving into the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue?
And knowing your daughter is a teenager and is 5 months pregnant, you accepted a position that you had to know was going to result in your daughter's pregnancy being splashed across every major newspaper in the world?
If you're Sarah Palin, are you thinking about these things, or are you so ambitious that you just don't care?
Thoughts?
To me, this only reinforces the notion that Sarah Palin should be spending more time focusing on the needs of her family and less time gallivanting around the country campaigning for the vice presidency.
One might also suggest that this news is evidence that she has already not been paying enough attention to her children.
So let's see what we've got now. We've got a vice presidential candidate with a 5-month old with Down's, and a pregnant 17 yr-old?
And if she and McCain win, her daughter's going to give birth in the midst of transition activities in December or right around the Inauguration in January?
And her mom will be busy with those activities, getting briefings on the latest international crises, terrorist threats to the country, helping to interview candidates for the VP staff as well as for some of the thousands of political appointments that must be made by a new administration, moving her family from Alaska to Washington, meeting and greeting with supporters who made her victory possible -- and somehow finding time amidst her duties to work with her teen-aged daughter helping teach her how to nurse, change diapers, establish routines for that child, manage that child when it's fussy, learn how to manage her own frustration and anger when the baby has kept her up all night long and won't stop screaming, etc.?
Or will she leave her teenaged daughter at home in Alaska with her new baby and (likely) teen-aged father to fend for themselves while the rest of the family is moving into the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue?
And knowing your daughter is a teenager and is 5 months pregnant, you accepted a position that you had to know was going to result in your daughter's pregnancy being splashed across every major newspaper in the world?
If you're Sarah Palin, are you thinking about these things, or are you so ambitious that you just don't care?
Thoughts?
Friday, August 29, 2008
CALLING TODD YOUNG, CALLING TODD YOUNG...
Sarah Palin?
Sarah...Palin?
Take off your Obama-hater hat and put on your analytical hat. What do you think of this pick? What are your colleagues inside gov't saying?
Sarah...Palin?
Take off your Obama-hater hat and put on your analytical hat. What do you think of this pick? What are your colleagues inside gov't saying?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Zing!
If any of you have watched the wretched ESPN show "Around the Horn", you have been exposed to Jay Mariotti (for that I'm sorry for you), who until yesterday wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times. Mariotti's style wore on me over the years and I had stopped reading him - but you couldn't get away from him because his columns always were discussed on sports radio. His pugnacious, overly-critical style suited his personality - if you can call being a complete jack-ass a personality.
Anyway, here's what the Sun-Times editor had to say about Mariotti's departure:
"We wish Jay well and will miss him—not personally, of course—but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days."
Yowza!
Anyway, here's what the Sun-Times editor had to say about Mariotti's departure:
"We wish Jay well and will miss him—not personally, of course—but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days."
Yowza!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Lemonade Stands
Walking my dog yesterday afternoon, I was confronted with one of the scourges of summer: children's lemonade stands. Rather than say no once again when they ask me whether I wanted some lemonade, I cowardly adjusted our route to avoid the stand.
I'm not proud of this, but I am ok with it.
I'm not proud of this, but I am ok with it.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Fake Olympic Sports
By watching this year's Olympics, I have been unfortunately exposed to the growing number of fake/craptastic/stupid sports that somehow are considered worthy of the Olympics. Here are the three that bug me the most (right now):
- beach volleyball - Dear NBC, enough already!
- trampoline
- syncrhonized diving
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
EMC...
Edward Michael "Edziu" Chapin was born at 10:02 a.m. EST, at Danbury Hospital.
He takes his first name from his late great-grandfather and my maternal grandfather, Edward Danovich. He takes as his middle name the middle name of his maternal grandfather, Richard Michael Raven.
His nickname, Edziu (pronounced Ed-Ju) is a Polish affectionate nickname often used as a substitute for Edward.
And, he is beautiful.
He takes his first name from his late great-grandfather and my maternal grandfather, Edward Danovich. He takes as his middle name the middle name of his maternal grandfather, Richard Michael Raven.
His nickname, Edziu (pronounced Ed-Ju) is a Polish affectionate nickname often used as a substitute for Edward.
And, he is beautiful.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
"We are going to smash the Americans..."
"...that is what we came here to do."
"...tomorrow morning we take all that they have."
The French men's 4x100 freestyle relay team, talking to the press.
Before losing the gold medal to the American team of Michael Phelps, Garret Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones, and Jason Lezak.
Enjoy your cheese, surrender monkeys.
"...tomorrow morning we take all that they have."
The French men's 4x100 freestyle relay team, talking to the press.
Before losing the gold medal to the American team of Michael Phelps, Garret Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones, and Jason Lezak.
Enjoy your cheese, surrender monkeys.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Oh, NBC, Why Must You Suck...
If you're NBC, and you're trying to win back viewers in the country's largest media market during the post-strike environment, what do you do?
How about:
1. Pre-empt the Season Finale of one of your most enoyable shows (Last Comic Standing) on New York's NBC HD channel without notice for NFL Preseason Football (Giants vs. Lions)
2. List LCS being moved (from 8-9:30 pm) to 10 pm-11pm on all of the cable TV programming guides, so that a) DVRs set to record LCS episodes automatically record NBC at that time; or b) live viewers will tune in expecting to see the LCS Season Finale.
3. Instead, run America's Got Talent from 10-11 pm, so that viewers (live or via DVR) will now get a full shiteous hour of America's Got (NO) Talent.
4. Don't air the heavily advertised LCS Season Finale at all, ever, on New York's NBC affiliate.
5. Now, viewers who watched LCS all season have missed the SEASON F'ING FINALE. Great job, NBC. Congratulations on that stunning display of competence. Asshats.
How about:
1. Pre-empt the Season Finale of one of your most enoyable shows (Last Comic Standing) on New York's NBC HD channel without notice for NFL Preseason Football (Giants vs. Lions)
2. List LCS being moved (from 8-9:30 pm) to 10 pm-11pm on all of the cable TV programming guides, so that a) DVRs set to record LCS episodes automatically record NBC at that time; or b) live viewers will tune in expecting to see the LCS Season Finale.
3. Instead, run America's Got Talent from 10-11 pm, so that viewers (live or via DVR) will now get a full shiteous hour of America's Got (NO) Talent.
4. Don't air the heavily advertised LCS Season Finale at all, ever, on New York's NBC affiliate.
5. Now, viewers who watched LCS all season have missed the SEASON F'ING FINALE. Great job, NBC. Congratulations on that stunning display of competence. Asshats.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Weezer
I heard an ad on the radio on my way home tonight for tickets to see Weezer. I think quite a few of the folks who read this blog went with me to a Weezer show back in 1995/6 at the old Radio Music Hall (now the 9:30 Club). My recollection was that was one of the worst shows I've ever been too (and I understand Weezer is supposed to be very good). Can anyone who was there tell me if my memory is off?
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
We're on our way, we're on our waaaayyy, home, sweet home....
So just about now I thought I'd be writing, "It's a Boy!" or "Special Delivery!" or something similarly cornball, announcing the birth of our son. But apparently one major life event at a time is never enough in the Chapin family...and oh by the way, he hasn't come yet. Cherie's due in 2 days, and he shows little sign of budging any time soon.
No, instead I write to say -- we're coming home to Washington!
Yesterday, we were informed that Cherie has earned a promotion. She's going to be the Deputy Director of Ethics and Compliance for one of the 3 "LoBs" (Lines of Business) at her current employer.
In particular, the "Defense" Line of Business.
That job is located -- you guessed it -- in Tysons Corner, VA.
So, the Chapin Family will soon begin the process of moving itself from Connecticut to the Washington, DC metro area.
It will be a long process, as we'll take time out for maternity leave over the next 3 months, and then Cherie will probably spend 30 days wrapping up responsibilities here.
But, some time in November/December, we'll return to a place we called home for many years, and are excited to call home once again.
Huzzah!
No, instead I write to say -- we're coming home to Washington!
Yesterday, we were informed that Cherie has earned a promotion. She's going to be the Deputy Director of Ethics and Compliance for one of the 3 "LoBs" (Lines of Business) at her current employer.
In particular, the "Defense" Line of Business.
That job is located -- you guessed it -- in Tysons Corner, VA.
So, the Chapin Family will soon begin the process of moving itself from Connecticut to the Washington, DC metro area.
It will be a long process, as we'll take time out for maternity leave over the next 3 months, and then Cherie will probably spend 30 days wrapping up responsibilities here.
But, some time in November/December, we'll return to a place we called home for many years, and are excited to call home once again.
Huzzah!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Glad I Clicked on this Link
Lewis and Chapin may recognize the wife of this guy (the mayor of Berwyn Heights, wherever that is) whose house was raided after accepting a 32 pound brick of marijuana. I believe she was in the honors program with us, though not on our floor. Seems like a very weird story altogether though.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
A Guide to Metal
This video is not safe for work. It opens with the lines, "Not everyone likes metal. F*CK THEM!" It is, however, quite humorous. And reminiscent of a former fellow resident.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A wonderful memory sullied...
In the winter of 1992-93, I was a senior at Ramstein American High School, located on the premises of Ramstein Air Force Base and a short drive from the German town of Landstuhl. I was also the president of RAHS' chapter of the National Honor Society.
Like many NHS chapters, we chose a service project to give back to our community. Our project that winter was to remodel the Family Waiting Room for the Intensive Care Unit at what was at the time known as Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center (LARMC). It has since dropped the "Army" from its title.
At the time, Landstuhl was lesser known than its cousin to the north, the Wiesbaden military hospital. For any who may remember, the US hostages taken during the Iranian Revolution were flown to and treated at Wiesbaden following their release in 1981. Partly as a result of not being well-known (and also because the Army is just generally bad at facilities upkeep, a truth brought home by the appalling conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital), several facilities within LARMC were in disrepair.
The project came out of a tour of Landstuhl the NHS took as it was considering potential service projects. During our tour, I noticed family members sleeping in a waiting room for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I also noticed that the room in which they slept was enclosed by stained walls covered in peeling paint, and filled with furniture that was broken and/or stained and so small and uncomfortable as to make sleeping (or even sitting for long periods of time) deeply uncomfortable, if not impossible. The room and its furniture clearly had not been updated in decades.
I was appalled, and so were my classmates. We could not imagine that family members sitting vigil, awaiting word of the fate of a loved one fighting for his or her life, were forced to endure such awfulness in an already terrible situation.
Back at RAHS, we made a quick decision to make the renovation of that Family Waiting Room our Winter/Spring Service Project.
Over several snowy days in December 1992/January 1993, we raised money for funding, scraped and painted walls, scrapped the old furniture, and hunted down and purchased new sofas and recliners that would make sleeping and/or sitting much more palatable. When we were done, that Family Waiting Room looked like new. I was prouder then of that service project than of any individual academic or athletic achievement.
For many years, the memory of that service project has been one of my most fond memories. As Landstuhl has received frequent mention in the press as the primary treatment facility for veterans wounded grievously in Afghanistan and Iraq, I have recalled my experience at Landstuhl, glad that we may have made families a little more comfortable -- and I have wondered whether that facility, getting much more use now than then, is in need of another renovation.
Then, in the last week, I've been sickened by the use of Landstuhl and its wounded residents as a political football by the McCain campaign. Whatever you think of the wisdom of the move (I think he should have gone), Barack Obama and his campaign made a good-faith effort to avoid politicizing the facility by not going when he and his campaign perceived that the trip to visit wounded soldiers at Landstuhl might be politicized.
Now, John McCain, in a dishonest, disingenuous ad, and with words used during campaign stops, is using Landstuhl and its wounded veterans for shallow, temporary political advantage. It is deeply inappropriate and it makes me nauseous.
It shocks me that a military veteran and former POW, who knows and understands intimately the sacrifices endured by wounded veterans, would think for one moment of using them as part of a political ploy. His willingness to do so, and in fact his campaign's insistence on continuing to doing so in the face of evidence contradicting his charge (see linked article above), is craven. It demonstrates that he values the short-term political value of pasting his opponent with a tag of "military-hating liberal" more than he does the concept of honoring the sacrifice of wounded veterans by keeping them off the political playing field. In so doing, he has proven that he is unfit for the highest office in the land.
He has clearly lost himself in his desperation to be president. It's sickening, and it's sad. And though I was considering it, I will no longer consider voting for John McCain. He has sullied my memories, sullied his campaign, and sullied himself with this disgusting gambit. He should be ashamed of himself. I pray only that the American public sees this shameful ploy for what it is and, if he continues it, rejects it soundly in November. Pathetic.
Like many NHS chapters, we chose a service project to give back to our community. Our project that winter was to remodel the Family Waiting Room for the Intensive Care Unit at what was at the time known as Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center (LARMC). It has since dropped the "Army" from its title.
At the time, Landstuhl was lesser known than its cousin to the north, the Wiesbaden military hospital. For any who may remember, the US hostages taken during the Iranian Revolution were flown to and treated at Wiesbaden following their release in 1981. Partly as a result of not being well-known (and also because the Army is just generally bad at facilities upkeep, a truth brought home by the appalling conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital), several facilities within LARMC were in disrepair.
The project came out of a tour of Landstuhl the NHS took as it was considering potential service projects. During our tour, I noticed family members sleeping in a waiting room for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I also noticed that the room in which they slept was enclosed by stained walls covered in peeling paint, and filled with furniture that was broken and/or stained and so small and uncomfortable as to make sleeping (or even sitting for long periods of time) deeply uncomfortable, if not impossible. The room and its furniture clearly had not been updated in decades.
I was appalled, and so were my classmates. We could not imagine that family members sitting vigil, awaiting word of the fate of a loved one fighting for his or her life, were forced to endure such awfulness in an already terrible situation.
Back at RAHS, we made a quick decision to make the renovation of that Family Waiting Room our Winter/Spring Service Project.
Over several snowy days in December 1992/January 1993, we raised money for funding, scraped and painted walls, scrapped the old furniture, and hunted down and purchased new sofas and recliners that would make sleeping and/or sitting much more palatable. When we were done, that Family Waiting Room looked like new. I was prouder then of that service project than of any individual academic or athletic achievement.
For many years, the memory of that service project has been one of my most fond memories. As Landstuhl has received frequent mention in the press as the primary treatment facility for veterans wounded grievously in Afghanistan and Iraq, I have recalled my experience at Landstuhl, glad that we may have made families a little more comfortable -- and I have wondered whether that facility, getting much more use now than then, is in need of another renovation.
Then, in the last week, I've been sickened by the use of Landstuhl and its wounded residents as a political football by the McCain campaign. Whatever you think of the wisdom of the move (I think he should have gone), Barack Obama and his campaign made a good-faith effort to avoid politicizing the facility by not going when he and his campaign perceived that the trip to visit wounded soldiers at Landstuhl might be politicized.
Now, John McCain, in a dishonest, disingenuous ad, and with words used during campaign stops, is using Landstuhl and its wounded veterans for shallow, temporary political advantage. It is deeply inappropriate and it makes me nauseous.
It shocks me that a military veteran and former POW, who knows and understands intimately the sacrifices endured by wounded veterans, would think for one moment of using them as part of a political ploy. His willingness to do so, and in fact his campaign's insistence on continuing to doing so in the face of evidence contradicting his charge (see linked article above), is craven. It demonstrates that he values the short-term political value of pasting his opponent with a tag of "military-hating liberal" more than he does the concept of honoring the sacrifice of wounded veterans by keeping them off the political playing field. In so doing, he has proven that he is unfit for the highest office in the land.
He has clearly lost himself in his desperation to be president. It's sickening, and it's sad. And though I was considering it, I will no longer consider voting for John McCain. He has sullied my memories, sullied his campaign, and sullied himself with this disgusting gambit. He should be ashamed of himself. I pray only that the American public sees this shameful ploy for what it is and, if he continues it, rejects it soundly in November. Pathetic.
Monday, July 14, 2008
1999 Called...
...it wants its sequel back.
Isn't this a little odd. I mean, if the main movie-going public are teenagers and college kids (I have no idea if that's correct by the way) then that audience has almost no exposure to the X-Files, which ceased to be on the air 10 years ago. Who is going to watch this?
Isn't this a little odd. I mean, if the main movie-going public are teenagers and college kids (I have no idea if that's correct by the way) then that audience has almost no exposure to the X-Files, which ceased to be on the air 10 years ago. Who is going to watch this?
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
What...
...is this?
A) An Irish links-style golf course located about 30 minutes from my house;
B) Home to a course designed and built by the Irish Golf Association, because they could not find an adequately authentic Irish links-style golf course in the US;
C) Home to one of the most beautiful, engaging, and challenging courses I've ever played;
D) Home to my first (and probably last) HOLE IN ONE!
E) ALL OF THE ABOVE
Hint: Pick E. More details at my blog....
A) An Irish links-style golf course located about 30 minutes from my house;
B) Home to a course designed and built by the Irish Golf Association, because they could not find an adequately authentic Irish links-style golf course in the US;
C) Home to one of the most beautiful, engaging, and challenging courses I've ever played;
D) Home to my first (and probably last) HOLE IN ONE!
E) ALL OF THE ABOVE
Hint: Pick E. More details at my blog....
The New Atlantis was on "Penn & Teller's Bullshit"
You guys watch Penn & Teller's Bullshit, right? You saw this weekend's episode about NASA? Did you notice the guy from The New Atlantis being interviewed?
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Why Democrats are the way they are
I think we've all wondered, from time to time, "Just what the fuck is wrong with Democrats?"
Thanks to Sen Harry Reid, now we know. Apparently, they didn't get the message that you're not supposed to drink the oil--you're supposed to burn the oil.
Thanks to Sen Harry Reid, now we know. Apparently, they didn't get the message that you're not supposed to drink the oil--you're supposed to burn the oil.
Fringe Benefits...
One of the fringe benefits of my job is that I get to sit here on certain afternoons while I a) participate in a conference call; and b) work on end-of-month financials. Mmmm, beer.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Someone Was Paid to Write These Stories
Only in America.
Boy George denied entry into the U.S. - this guy has some weird problems.
Shaq loses badge over Kobe rap - the bigger question is, who gave him a badge in the first place?
Boy George denied entry into the U.S. - this guy has some weird problems.
Shaq loses badge over Kobe rap - the bigger question is, who gave him a badge in the first place?
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Myth of Multitasking
Check it out, Keiper's rag made the front page of slashdot. Wonder if this will be good or bad for him?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Least Surprising Revelation Ever
Don't know how many of you are watching the Real World Hollywood...anyone?...anyone?...but I finally watched last week's episode where Joey leaves the house for good to deal with his drug and alcohol problem. As he's leaving, he recounts how he first got hooked on illegal drugs at 19 when he started using anabolic steroids.
If you have watched this show at all, it is the least surprising revelation ever. I don't think it even counts as a revelation. This guy was so clearly roided up that it would have been a revelation if he got that way WITHOUT using steroids. And does MTV bear some responsibility for casting this guy on the show where he undoubtedly would come across copious amounts of drugs and alcohol?
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that in - parents, don't let your children grow up to appear on the Real World.
If you have watched this show at all, it is the least surprising revelation ever. I don't think it even counts as a revelation. This guy was so clearly roided up that it would have been a revelation if he got that way WITHOUT using steroids. And does MTV bear some responsibility for casting this guy on the show where he undoubtedly would come across copious amounts of drugs and alcohol?
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that in - parents, don't let your children grow up to appear on the Real World.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I do believe...
I smell a championship.
101-70, Celtics over the Lakers, with 9:07 to play. Beautiful.
101-70, Celtics over the Lakers, with 9:07 to play. Beautiful.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Todd Young Maltcast - Part Two
Here's the second part of the podcast with Tood - discussing our racist landlord and dead landlords. And Todd sings Paul Williams' greatest hit: The Buffalohead song.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Whoa, It's Todd
The podcast is back - in two parts. Part one is a talk with Todd Young, aka, Rod Hung, aka, Mom, about AU's Conduct Council - including Conduct Council's most famous case.
I have just one word to say about...
tonight's Last Comic Standing (because I can't stand to watch Game 1 of the Lakers-Celtics opener until at least the 3rd quarter): WHOOOOOOORRRRRRRE!!
God-damn that was funny ( and sick).
God-damn that was funny ( and sick).
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
The Original 44th St. Hibachi Story...
I had multiple fun stories with the hibachi -- but the original story of the hibachi at 44th St revolved around my erroneous belief that the bottom of the hibachi was built to be "heat-proof".
I didn't realize that...the hibachi...had legs.
So, I set the hibachi down on its metal bottom on the wooden sill of the porch.
I lit it, put the chicken on, and walked away.
I came back some time later to find small flames licking up from beneath the hibachi. I immediately grabbed the hibachi, put it down on the floor of the porch (where it melted the indoor-outdoor carpet), and yelled to Chris, "Hey, can you get me a glass of water?"
He replied, jokingly, "Why, is the chicken on fire?"
I shot back, "No. the porch is."
A ha ha ha ha hilarity ensued........
I didn't realize that...the hibachi...had legs.
So, I set the hibachi down on its metal bottom on the wooden sill of the porch.
I lit it, put the chicken on, and walked away.
I came back some time later to find small flames licking up from beneath the hibachi. I immediately grabbed the hibachi, put it down on the floor of the porch (where it melted the indoor-outdoor carpet), and yelled to Chris, "Hey, can you get me a glass of water?"
He replied, jokingly, "Why, is the chicken on fire?"
I shot back, "No. the porch is."
A ha ha ha ha hilarity ensued........
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Gen Y Thinks We Care What They Think
Check out this story about Northwestern seniors upset that their commencement speaker is the Mayor of Chicago. I did like the response of NU's president to one of the students, though. Gen Y is stupid.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Things That Make You Go "PHOOM!"
Summer's practically here in San Diego, and I threw out my old $10 charcoal grill a few months ago. To replace it, I purchased one of those hibachi style propane grills at the local drug store. Also $10. You know the kind: Chapin nearly burned the house down with one.
Do you know how useful the gas regulators are on those things? I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with "Snot at all." Of course, it took a mighty "PHOOM!!" thundering through the front door to illustrate this fact clearly to Nicole and me. It had only been lit for 2 minutes before the damned thing became a raging inferno of flaming propane and aluminum.
I'm smarter than Chapin. I know this. Except I now have evidence to the contrary.
Do you know how useful the gas regulators are on those things? I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with "Snot at all." Of course, it took a mighty "PHOOM!!" thundering through the front door to illustrate this fact clearly to Nicole and me. It had only been lit for 2 minutes before the damned thing became a raging inferno of flaming propane and aluminum.
I'm smarter than Chapin. I know this. Except I now have evidence to the contrary.
Faith
A little bit of my faith in the world was restored today, when I learned that you can still get bubblegum cigarettes from the right sort of ice cream truck. And that my daughter bought a pack.
Friday, May 23, 2008
50 games in...
The Red Sox have completed 50 games -- or approximately 30.8% of the 2008 MLB regular season.
At this point, they stand at 31-19. They are #1 in the AL East, #1 in the AL, have the most wins in MLB, the best winning percentage in MLB, are ranked #2 in team batting, #7 in team pitching (ranked by Batting Average Against), and #11 in team fielding according to fielding percentage (.985). Now, subtracting Julio Lugo, that might go up significantly -- he has 11 of Boston's 28 errors. Subtract Lugo, and Boston has the most error-free defense in the league at a .991 fielding percentage.
All of this is to say, it's shaping up to be another fine year to be a member of Red Sox Nation.
2003 -- ALDS champs, ALCS losers
2004 -- ALDS champs, ALCS champs, World Series Champs
2005 -- ALDS losers
2007 ALDS champs, ALCS champs, World Series Champs
2008 -- Defending World Series Champs
At this point, they stand at 31-19. They are #1 in the AL East, #1 in the AL, have the most wins in MLB, the best winning percentage in MLB, are ranked #2 in team batting, #7 in team pitching (ranked by Batting Average Against), and #11 in team fielding according to fielding percentage (.985). Now, subtracting Julio Lugo, that might go up significantly -- he has 11 of Boston's 28 errors. Subtract Lugo, and Boston has the most error-free defense in the league at a .991 fielding percentage.
All of this is to say, it's shaping up to be another fine year to be a member of Red Sox Nation.
2003 -- ALDS champs, ALCS losers
2004 -- ALDS champs, ALCS champs, World Series Champs
2005 -- ALDS losers
2007 ALDS champs, ALCS champs, World Series Champs
2008 -- Defending World Series Champs
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Question for the Two of You Who Watch "How I Met Your Mother"
Has a main character on a TV show ever been the least interesting character on that show? Really. This is a question that must be answered.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Hadn't Thought About This in a While
I opened my Chicago Tribune today to find this story in there.
It's weird the things that slip from your mind. 20 years ago, my grade school, 2-3 blocks from the grade school where the shooting happened was on lockdown. The kid who was killed lived behind my parents' house at one time and next door to one of my classmates. The teacher of the classroom (not the substitute) was the wife of my grade school's former p.e. teacher. And the college student who was shot was from my parish and the brother of a guy a year behind me in school who was locked down with us at the time.
Anyway a downer of a story but quite the flashback to 7th grade.
It's weird the things that slip from your mind. 20 years ago, my grade school, 2-3 blocks from the grade school where the shooting happened was on lockdown. The kid who was killed lived behind my parents' house at one time and next door to one of my classmates. The teacher of the classroom (not the substitute) was the wife of my grade school's former p.e. teacher. And the college student who was shot was from my parish and the brother of a guy a year behind me in school who was locked down with us at the time.
Anyway a downer of a story but quite the flashback to 7th grade.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
New Malt Shop Logic Podcast
Snyder and I talk about NASCAR, the end of Metacrawler, Brandl's request to join the Malt Shop Logic family and whether Joe's quilt deserved it.
And it's under 40 minutes! Listen here.
And it's under 40 minutes! Listen here.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
speaking of housekeeping
After 14 half-assed years (the last six of them bankrupt and out of business), Metacrawler finally remembered to turn off its free e-mail service.
The mattsnyder@metacrawler.com address goes away ca. June 6. It is replaced effective today with snyder.matthew.r@gmail.com though I suggest using my work address if you are interested in reaching me more quickly.
F technology.
The mattsnyder@metacrawler.com address goes away ca. June 6. It is replaced effective today with snyder.matthew.r@gmail.com though I suggest using my work address if you are interested in reaching me more quickly.
F technology.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
What was that I had said about Obama being "Reaganesque"?
Seems I'm not the only one who thinks so...see George Will's quote below from his most recent column. The entire column can be found here.
"McCain's problem might turn out to be the fact that Obama is the Democrats' Reagan. Obama's rhetorical cotton candy lacks Reagan's ideological nourishment, but he is Reaganesque in two important senses: People like listening to him, and his manner lulls his adversaries into underestimating his sheer toughness -- the tempered steel beneath the sleek suits."
"McCain's problem might turn out to be the fact that Obama is the Democrats' Reagan. Obama's rhetorical cotton candy lacks Reagan's ideological nourishment, but he is Reaganesque in two important senses: People like listening to him, and his manner lulls his adversaries into underestimating his sheer toughness -- the tempered steel beneath the sleek suits."
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Housekeeping Note
You'll see to the right that I have added Brian's blog to our exclusive list of links here at maltshoplogic.
Also, I expect to have a new podcast up by Sun./Mon. That is all.
Also, I expect to have a new podcast up by Sun./Mon. That is all.
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