A new crack addiction

I don't watch much network tv anymore since I moved to my New Englang abode bacuse most of my favorite (except those damn Patriots) sports teams are located here, so I watch sports instead. Not to mention the Netflix subscription I have keeps me occupied on days when there are no games, or no big political things going on.

Also, not to mention the downloading of great writing going on over at Showtime and HBO.

However, late one evening I ran across a show that I am now fully addicted to and must watch. Late night on USA Network, they run old episodes of "House" with Hugh Laurie, who is apparently going to be or is now the most highly paid tv actor of all time because of how insanely popular his show is....and it is rivetingly good.

I cannot look away during this show. He is so compelling as House, it makes me wonder when the writing will begin to suffer. As with any great show, it eventually will. But, what I'm seeing now...wow.

A Kozy Shack?

When you think of a cozy shack...what do you think of? I'm quite certain it isn't this:




As seen while driving home on the highway. I'd never heard of Kozy Shack, but it is apparently a pudding, applesauce type snack company that kids put in their lunch boxes.

I know if I saw this at school in the lunch room, even with kids around...I'm sorry, my mind goes to shaggin'.

Kozy Shack? Really? What's with the name?

Edit: P.S. Upon further searching, it looks like a mix of things type of company...food for adults (pies) and food youngin's could eat like the pudding. Weird company, yo.

True Colors

As a Red Sox fan all my life, the last 6 years have been redeeming.

Yet, one portion of those 6 years has always remained, usually silently, subterraneaneously below the surface...a stench.

The stench of the bad attitude of one man: Manny Ramirez, perhaps the greatest pure right-handed baseball slugger of our generation.

Before blogs were popular, I came out vocally in support to anyone who would listen during the 2004 season of the trade/dumping of the unhappy, petulant Nomar Garciaparra.

I came out on this blog, to dumping Manny earlier this season, and Manny has shown his true colors. In this article, Manny clearly indicates he dogged it during this season, and showed what a classless act he is.

Manny didn't like winning here in Boston, so he pulled every string he could (even to the point of shoving a 60+ year old man) to get out. He succeeded. He claimed he was hurt many weeks before he left, refusing to play, at one point refusing to get on the freaking team plane. Clearly, after the trade where he ran all out around the bases, posted a .400+ average and hammered several home runs.

Manny showed his colors, and he's all about one thing...him and his money. Most players these days are, but he took it to another level. I'm glad he's gone. What a maroon.

GM...blech

On the heels of an announcements that the US Automakers are getting essentially a free $25 million paycheck to do with what they will...I can only ask, why, oh, why, oh why??? Upon this news, GM's big cheese said the following:

"GM Chairman Rick Wagoner spoke of plans to invest 370 million dollars in a new plant, which will be the exclusive site for production of the gasoline engine or "range extender" for the electric Chevrolet Volt, due out in November 2010."

Really eh?

A. How come you need to build a brand new plant instead of refurbishing/remodeling one of those old plants you've left vacant in the past few decades?

B. This seems totally dubious...so, how much of a "range extension" is this volt going to get? How many mpg are we talking about here? If your talking in the 60mpg range, I have news for you jackass...there are already automobiles that get that kind of range mpg and beyond...so this is hardly a wise, or novel investment/idea.

This AGAIN, proves why the US Automakers deserve to go straight into the ground and go belly-up. They've already stripped away any benefits their retirees get anyway, so going under completely can't hurt the retirees who worked so hard for DECADES for these asshats that much more than their being stripped of benefits they were due already has done.

These people shouldn't get a dime of that $25 million, and the story I read says that automakers like Honda and Nissan will be eligible for a piece of that pie (for some reason Toyota must not be eligible...odd), and I sincerely hope they get every freaking morsel.

This is utter bullshit.

Get out of the stroller already!

As I walk around the area near my abode...it suddenly strikes me that I have seen this scene many a time before:

(Painting a mental image)

Children 2-3 years of age being pushed around in strollers, when they are clearly of age to walk. Get the frreakin kid out of the stroller and make them WALK!

it's bad enough parents feed th eir spawn McDonalds and call it "food." But, could we at least get them out walking???!!!

Geez, this country has some stupid people/parents!

The WIIG

As noted on this blog originally, I heart Kristen Wiig of SNL. But, I must say, if they (the writer's, producers, HER) insist on this retarded repeat of character-types where Wiig basically repeats the same thing over and over really fast in "character"...she must go...and go quickly.

The sketches are dreadfully awful, annoying, and unoriginal. Stop this baloney. Wiig can be better, and if she can't get her out, NOW!

Newman

Paul Newman dead today at 83. It's a shame, but kinda knew this was coming if you were paying attention to Hollywood. We'll miss you Paul. Damn fine career and activist.

The brilliance or stupidity of Vegas

Strippers are making money in Vegas simply by sunbathing topless. Brilliant. Hope, though I wouldn't bet, they are being paid well.

If only America was so enlightened to allow public toplessness and we weren't so puritanical about our sexual mores...

Random query

Would one ever need a doo-hickey to actually cover up an actual hickey? Hmmmmmmmm...

A brilliant way to exercise

Just as companies who treat their employees well do well financially, this is a brilliant way for employers in this country to take a massive one-time cost on board, while they will see the benefits in the end.

If I could teach and do this, I totally would, but I think the special education kids I service (almost all of whom have some attentional difficulty) would be slightly distracted by me walking on a treadmill.

If I worked in a cubicle however, I would love this idea. I've often thought about putting one in front of my television, and hooking it up to a power-converter for the tv when the Sox are playing a game. I'd walk like 10 miles a week during the baseball season.

For some of us people who will NEVER be morning people, no matter how long we get up early, this is a great solution. Moreover, it's better than paying a membership to a nasty gym where you have to deal with lockers, other people staring at your ass, and not to mention...their sweat leftover on machines. I'll never understand gym people. *Icky*

I hope more companies allow employees to take advantage of this product, while not forcing it on some of the old time, fat ones, because they could literally die of a heart attack and that wouldn't be good for liability. But, each new employee should be heavily encouraged to utilize this product to get some good exercise, and there should also be a way to get some rest time built in. I love this idea, biut I know I couldn't walk ALL day...oy. Least not at first for sure.

Ointments, balms, salves

The humorousness or these similar topical applications amuses me. Makes me wonder what standards or benchmarks must be met to be considered as such.

I have ointment and one balm in my abode...clear difference. Clearly, the balm has a much more naturally pungent smell to it, while ointment tends to be scented?

I wonder if there's some governmental oversight here, or anyone could manufacture an creamy-type substance and call it a balm just to be a balm...hmmmm.

A Weedy Demise

I used to watch Weeds. I watched the first season and I found it funny, refreshing an intriguing.

I watched season two and was immediately turned-off, but I hung in there against hope. And it continued to suck.

Weeds lost me after season two. I believe it was clearly because the writers had said all they wanted to say in the first season, and didn't really know what to do. So, they started taking themselves way too seriously and went off the deep end.

It was supposed to be a COMEDY people. The first season was FUNNY. You don't take a comedy and turn it into some fucked-up, drama which has seemingly no essential point.

I like Mary-Louise Parker, but the show has to end.

Clever, clever

Just saw an ad extoling the virtues of a Ford or Chrysler pickup truck.

They were saying that this pickup was better than the Toyota Tundra and one of their claims was "highest predicted resale value."

I buy that claim. I'm sure people trading in those pickups DO get better resale value, but this is for a few reasons:

1. The most likely people to have bought this pickup truck are probably some of the same people who are really hurting financially right now, and have traded in a pickup that's only a few years old, with only ten thousand miles or so on them, for a newer and more fuel-efficient car. Those who probably bought the slightly more expensive Tundra, given there were no "deals" (harken back to those big deals the American auto-makers were extending in desperation to get people to buy cars a few years ago), had the disposable income that they could afford the Tundra and have a cheaper more fuel-efficient car on the side. This more wealth would allow them to ride out the current fuel prices, and drive their more efficient cars, while using the Tundra only when absolutely necessary or use it whenever they want depending on their income.

2. Finally, considering the foreign auto-makers like Toyota and Honda make more reliable, more durable engines and automobiles in general, it would make sens that they would be able to drive said automobile for more mileage. Therefore, trading in a Ford F-150 with 100,000 miles on it would no doubt garner more money than the Toyota Tundra with 150,000 miles on it.

It's a clever ad campaign the American automakers have tried these past few years, but finally Americans seem to be starting to get it...or perhaps it's just where I live.

All I know is that I LOVE my Honda and I will be driving that son-bitch into the ground before buying another car. I'm banking on at least 150,000 miles, if not 200,000.

More JFK fetishness

More information on the likelihood of the possibility of more than Lee Harvey at work here. Check it.

The Rose Paradox

I am a fairly serious person when it comes to real issues, issues that most American's don't care about or refuse to actually think about because they are so busy being entertained. Nothing is wrong with being entertained, but as an old man trapped in a younger man's body, I think American's clearly indulge themselves way too much.

Moving onto the point...I watch shows like Charlie Rose, the interviewing show on PBS. Often Charlie has some of the biggest movers and shakers who make, shape, and really determine the policy in America (as opposed to the politicians who are bought off by people like these, or are influenced heavily by these people).

I like Rose's show simply because of the access it grants us into the minds of people like Richard Holbrook, and businesspeople like the CEO of E-Trade or something.

However there are two things I dislike about his show:

1. Rose is not a truly disciplined interviewer. Anyone going on his show can essentially provide his/her own road map as to what topics they want to cover by making some random point, which Charlie too easily takes onto another direction. He's got ADHD interviewing skills.

2. The second is the paradox of news in general, and it goes back to why I want to institute mandatory debates in order to be eligible for the office of Presidency or VP: Charlie gets tremendous access at times to these movers and shakers, but how does he get such great access? By being essentially an easy interview, an interviewer who won't really push hard or address the interviewee with tough topics and questions that makes one squirm.

For instance, consider this past Friday night's show. Charlie had on Robert Nardelli for what appears to be the whole hour. Honestly, I didn't watch it, but I venture that if Charlie touched what Nardelli did to Home Depot under his watch, it wasn't hit hard. Home Depot was a wicked awesome store that was well known for it's very real ability to have real experts help you design and teach you how to implement a home improvement project. Nardelli took that fantastic company and ran it through the sewer. Home Depot is a shell of it's former self. I've been in there and what Nardelli did was shameful.

He fired all the local experts they had hired before he came on board, and hired in their stead, some regular retail knuckleheads who couldn't tell you the difference between a two-by-four and a two-by-eight. All in an effort to maximize the bottom line, where his stock options, but more importantly, bonuses were maximized before he jumped out and cashed in. Leaving a company that has yet to recover and whose stock has nosedived.

My problem with Charlie is that he doesn't hit hard enough and he lets people like Eisner, Nardelli, etc, come on his show and give voice to their side of the story without seeking out an alternate explanation/investigative look into what really went on behind the scenes.

The paradox. Oy.

OSU again looking like a D-O-G

Once again "Thee" Ohio State Buckeyes football team looks like a bunch of dawgs.

Year after year, this team has a high BCS ranking (which is a total joke in and of itself) and takes a giant dump on the field.

Being an Alum of the Big Ten, I must say our football programs are at a significant disadvantage in Bowl Games and warm weather games.

The Big Ten, historically, has been a pound the football running conference and as passing systems have gotten more exotic even in college football, the conference has struggled to keep up.

Once the vaunted Big Ten, now the football programs are largely overrated. Sad, but true.

The yellow

What asshat(s) in a company meeting didn't strike down the idea of making a yellow Dry-Erase marker? Seriously!

What's the point of using a marker when your students can't see the writing. Companies looking to pad their bottom line I tell ya...

A bad idea?

Am I the only one slightly unnerved by the idea of scientists purposefully trying to re-create the Big Bang Theory in a tunnel buried underneath Switzerland and France?

Yeah, it's only one neutron and proton, but who the know what happens when/if shit goes wrong and we suddenly open a worm hole and get swallowed into the 30th century?


I'm a just askin'.

Okay after reading the article I just linked above, now I'm even more worried. Oy.

David Gregory is a blowhole

After the passing of one Tim Russert, NBC and MSNBC seemingly was searching for his replacement. I think they've found him with Chuck Todd, yet it was also apparent that David Gregory was beginning to exert more influence behind the scense of NBC News and it's related MSNBC. As the White House lead reporter, it would be a logical fit to move him up a chain link or two, however...

According to Drudge at this hour, the blowhard himself (Gregory) may be on the verge of a tremendous coup. Late update: Here's the link.

As quoted from Drudge: "MSNBC drops Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from anchor chair... David Gregory will anchor news coverage of the coming debates and election night.... Developing..."

I cannot stand Gregory and his Race for the White House program on MSNBC, I routinely skip it between Hardball and Countdown because Gregory is so intolerable.

This is a tremendous mistake on the part of MSNBC. A tremendous overreaction to possible criticism from right-wing media, saying they've become too liberally-biased.

I see what MSNBC is doing internally, however. They apparently have no inclination to re-sign Matthews whom has come under criticism from women's groups himself (but, I like him because while he's obnoxious, he's got spunk). Moreover, they probably haven't gotten a clear message from Matthews as to whether he intends to run for the Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2010 or not, as has been rumored.

And, I LOVE Olbermann, but even I ackowledge his bias towards the liberal orthodoxy...which is why I love him. We liberals need SOMEONE with some balls to stand up to those wing-bats on FoxSnooze. So, I understand why he cannot be the "face" of MSNBC.

The fantastic Rachel Maddow, who will be hosting the premiere of her show tomorrow night on MSNBC, is too young and inexperienced on television to be the "face."

That leaves, Gregory...oy!

But, to dump Olbermann AND Matthews for a lone Gregory is a fantastic mistake. The strained banter back and forth between Olbermann and Matthews is wonderful television, and I appreciate having alternate views and having them go at it a a bit.

A year ago, Jeff Greenfield left CNN for CBS. I loved Greenfield because he too always had interesting things to say. I rarely watch CNN for more than 2 minutes anymore because they've gotten so damn generic and boring. I can't bring myself to like Anderson Cooper as he doesn't seem like a real reporter to me. Wolf Blitzer is a colossal bore who can put a blade of grass to sleep, or at least cause it to commit suicide. John King is good, and he seems to be getting better, but then there's his wife Dana Bash. Bash has a wicked odd face that is so distracting, I forget what she is saying.

Finally, there's Candy. I've already spoken my piece on a reporter named Candy...I can't stand that crap.

If MSNBC really goes through with this, I do not know where I will turn. Perhaps PBS. Not CNN though, and certainly not the FoxSnoozers.

Gregory is such a egomaniac and a smug SOB, it makes me want to reach through my tv and smack him silly.

Bad move Daniel Abrams. Dreadfully bad. Your ratings will tank. OY!

Darwin says hello

Again, me being an asshat in the possible view of many, but some motorcycle speed racer died after losing control of his bike at 239 mph while going across Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats.

Buh-bye Bubba. You deserved to die. Thank you for dying, so I don't end up footing the bill to provide health care to your 3rd degree-burned, quadriplegic ass.

Clarkson

Driving home tonight from work, I was listening to the iPod and the Kelly Clarkson song "Because of You" came on.

I found myself looking at this song in a new light, most likely not intended by Ms. Clarkson:

As a self-identified introvert who generally doesn't like people, I have come to understand through my 20s my own pathology, and the likely reason I became this way if it wasn't a gene that made me as such.

Not talking much could be nature or nurture, but not particularly liking people as a general fact, seems to be more nurture-related (or the lack thereof, more specifically).

As a kid, I was constantly bullied (as I have noted in the past post on Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the Columbine boys).

The words, "Because of you, I never strayed to far from the sidewalk. I learned to walk on the safe-side so I don't get hurt.", take on another meaning in my young life.

I believe my pathology largely comes from me now subconsciously seeing the "you" as society and the very adults I walk among being the very same type who treated me like total shit just because I looked a bit different.

I have never taken shit from anyone, even as a primary kid, I didn't. I always fought back physically when confronted, as I would do now. But, the verbal and nonverbal browbeating never ceased in my mind and in reality and my teachers did little to fight back. Perhaps they never knew, but being a teacher now, I know better.

I am acutely aware of bullies as a teacher. Moreover, the old, standard mythology of the bully doing what he/she does because they are boosting their own low self-esteem has been recently discredited by researchers at Stanford. Instead, they found bullies tended to be your classic extrovert, type-a personality, who think they are the shit.

I can honestly say of all the things I treat most harshly as a teacher, it is bullying. I have even gone into other teacher's classrooms and asked to speak to a student who didn't know me from Tom, Dick, or Harry.

It's only gotten worse. Between parental irresponsibility, and teacher's being stripped of rights...bullying is back with a force. I am on a mission to stop it wherever I see it, and I'm just glad our school has a full time psychologist that works with students who have some issues in this area. I'd certainly have been fired by now if we didn't.

A sad day in Kinko's

Well, as of a few weeks from now you may no longer see the following logo around anymore:



FedEx has announced that the "Kinko's" will no longer be part of their name for these locations, and this is truly a sad day. I don't remember exactly what they are planning to change it to, but I believe it's like "FedEx Office."

How lanme! Kinko's was one of the best names in all of business. I lends oneself to having kinky thoughts, and anything that supports kinky thoughts....I'm all for.

New Time, New Location

From this moment forward, this will be the blog I use to post general stuff...as the political junk has massively overtaken my basic blog.