I was going to just tag this in Del.icio.us and be done with it; but this should be shared with everyone.
The video below is only 10 minutes of the 18 minute segment which can be found in its entirety here.
NSFW for Profanity.
HT: Get the Picture, Reason, and Deadspin
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Frozen bliss
Perhaps the greatest single upgrade in alcohol consumption since the ice cube.
The Sand Bar, located next to to City Bar on College Avenue and previous home of Wolf Camera, is now home to Athens' first Jack and Coke slushy dispensing machine.
Being that the machine dispenses Jack and Coke and not Jack and Diet Coke, I only sampled one sip, but that sip was awesome. Everyone with us agreed with my lofty opinion.
This machine dispenses pure bliss.
According to the staff; the owner found this machine in Vegas and decided to spend way to much money to be the first bar in Athens to deliver this to the masses.
More pictures below. Here are the non-exciting pics from the Skirts' gig and Twilight.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Fickle Pickle
I've tried to write this post about 4 times and each time I was reminded that I lack the skill or imagination to be a professional writer. So we'll make this rough and to the point.
The Fickle Pickle Cafe is a quaint restaurant located near the square of historic Roswell. I had the Cajun fried pickles and the Cuban sandwich. All sandwiches come with a side of either; Potato salad, Caesar salad, Coleslaw, French fries, Wedge salad, or Cup of soup.
The fried pickles were good. Not the best I'd ever had, but good. The Cajun dipping sauce (they call it a "Creole Remoulade Sauce", but I'm not qualified to write that) was crisp and fresh with a slight kick.
My side was a cup of chicken tortilla soup. Hearty pieces of chicken in a tangy tomato base but it included two large chunks of avocado. Thankfully, the chunks were large and easy to fish out of the soup. (Read: I don't like avocado.)
The Cuban sandwich was next. Maybe I've been lucky, but I don't think I've ever had a bad Cuban. This was no exception. Delicious. But the part that stood out was that every component of the sandwich, all the meats and cheese, were all exactly the same size as the bread. Perfect bite, every time.
A cute restaurant. Good food. Close by. I'd hit that again.
The Fickle Pickle Cafe is a quaint restaurant located near the square of historic Roswell. I had the Cajun fried pickles and the Cuban sandwich. All sandwiches come with a side of either; Potato salad, Caesar salad, Coleslaw, French fries, Wedge salad, or Cup of soup.
The fried pickles were good. Not the best I'd ever had, but good. The Cajun dipping sauce (they call it a "Creole Remoulade Sauce", but I'm not qualified to write that) was crisp and fresh with a slight kick.
My side was a cup of chicken tortilla soup. Hearty pieces of chicken in a tangy tomato base but it included two large chunks of avocado. Thankfully, the chunks were large and easy to fish out of the soup. (Read: I don't like avocado.)
The Cuban sandwich was next. Maybe I've been lucky, but I don't think I've ever had a bad Cuban. This was no exception. Delicious. But the part that stood out was that every component of the sandwich, all the meats and cheese, were all exactly the same size as the bread. Perfect bite, every time.
A cute restaurant. Good food. Close by. I'd hit that again.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Dinner tonight - Salmon on the grill
Simple, quick, healthy, and not messy.
Pre-heat grill to medium.
On a large piece of aluminum foil spray Pam butter spray (Or any non-stick spray, I just like the Pam butter spray) in a footprint large enough cover the base of the salmon.
Cover top side of salmon with spices you like. I used Garlic powder, Sea Salt, Fresh ground pepper, red pepper flakes and dill. When I got finished with the spices, it ended up looking like a delicious dry rub.
2nd sheet of aluminium foil, spray with Pam butter spray and place on top of the salmon.
Seal the two sheets together by folding each of the four sides together.
Place on the grill for 7 minutes on each side. Cut open and make sure the salmon is done.
Put in mouth.
Ridiculously good and beyond easy and healthy.
I'm stunned we don't do this more often with other fishes.
Here fishy fishy fishy fishy fishy.......
Pre-heat grill to medium.
On a large piece of aluminum foil spray Pam butter spray (Or any non-stick spray, I just like the Pam butter spray) in a footprint large enough cover the base of the salmon.
Cover top side of salmon with spices you like. I used Garlic powder, Sea Salt, Fresh ground pepper, red pepper flakes and dill. When I got finished with the spices, it ended up looking like a delicious dry rub.
2nd sheet of aluminium foil, spray with Pam butter spray and place on top of the salmon.
Seal the two sheets together by folding each of the four sides together.
Place on the grill for 7 minutes on each side. Cut open and make sure the salmon is done.
Put in mouth.
Ridiculously good and beyond easy and healthy.
I'm stunned we don't do this more often with other fishes.
Here fishy fishy fishy fishy fishy.......
Test driving a hybrid
During the Twilight Criterium many of the streets in downtown Athens are closed to provide an arena for the races but College Avenue also gets shut down. Food vendors selling meats on sticks, Criterium sponsors, inflatable things for kids to bounce in and a stunt bike area are just some of the items you'll see set up on College Ave. An addition this year was Toyota with an interactive trailer and tent area to promote the Prius, it's hybrid vehicle.
Prior to walking up to the tent, my knowledge of The Prius was equal to seeing a few drive by, being jealous of the MPG, and reading that the pick up and acceleration is very poor. But they were offering test drives and being very curious about any way to combat the rising gas prices, I jumped at the opportunity.
The interior is mysteriously absent of many of the dials and meters we're used to seeing in vehicles. There are two main display panels, the one near the windshield displays your gear, speed, and status of the gas tank. The other display, located where you would expect the stereo controls to be, is a combination touch and button interface for controlling the stereo, climate, and is also a monitor for what type of energy the car is using and creating.
The gas millage is debatable. EPA rated at 45/city and 48/highway. But during the probably 3 mile test drive the car never switched to the gas engine. We charged and used the batteries only. So the actual range the Prius can travel in between fill ups is going to be based around the type of driving you do. Based on this theory, you could actually receive better than the EPA tested MPG. (The 2008 model's MPG were based on the newer EPA testing standards and are supposed to be closer to reality that the tests of the past.)
It was fun and little weird to push a button to start a car. Much less do the same after I parked. We cruised down Broad Street where at a few red lights, I had the opportunity to feel first hand the lack of acceleration that I had read about online. I stepped on the gas and even with a full car of passengers, the car went forward quickly and smoothly. It's either a myth or only relevant in previous models.
After we got back, I quizzed the back seat passengers on their experience, and they said they were comfortable and had plenty of room. Being a hatch-back and hybrid, I expected the trunk to be full of batteries and no storage room. Wrong again. A large and spacious trunk.
Outstanding questions from the test drive:
- Leg room; would it be comfortable for a long trip or even a daily downtown commute?
- Battery life; the batteries never allowed to be charged over 80% or under 40% to extend the life of the batteries. Plus the car is under an 8 year bumper to bumper warranty. But how long is the life of the batteries and what will they cost to replace out of warranty when they wear out?
With those outstanding questions aside, and other than looking about as stylish as Gerard Depardieu, I was really impressed with the Prius and will strongly consider making a hybrid as the next car purchase. But with two car payments away from paying off the Hyundai, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Prior to walking up to the tent, my knowledge of The Prius was equal to seeing a few drive by, being jealous of the MPG, and reading that the pick up and acceleration is very poor. But they were offering test drives and being very curious about any way to combat the rising gas prices, I jumped at the opportunity.
The interior is mysteriously absent of many of the dials and meters we're used to seeing in vehicles. There are two main display panels, the one near the windshield displays your gear, speed, and status of the gas tank. The other display, located where you would expect the stereo controls to be, is a combination touch and button interface for controlling the stereo, climate, and is also a monitor for what type of energy the car is using and creating.
The gas millage is debatable. EPA rated at 45/city and 48/highway. But during the probably 3 mile test drive the car never switched to the gas engine. We charged and used the batteries only. So the actual range the Prius can travel in between fill ups is going to be based around the type of driving you do. Based on this theory, you could actually receive better than the EPA tested MPG. (The 2008 model's MPG were based on the newer EPA testing standards and are supposed to be closer to reality that the tests of the past.)
It was fun and little weird to push a button to start a car. Much less do the same after I parked. We cruised down Broad Street where at a few red lights, I had the opportunity to feel first hand the lack of acceleration that I had read about online. I stepped on the gas and even with a full car of passengers, the car went forward quickly and smoothly. It's either a myth or only relevant in previous models.
After we got back, I quizzed the back seat passengers on their experience, and they said they were comfortable and had plenty of room. Being a hatch-back and hybrid, I expected the trunk to be full of batteries and no storage room. Wrong again. A large and spacious trunk.
Outstanding questions from the test drive:
- Leg room; would it be comfortable for a long trip or even a daily downtown commute?
- Battery life; the batteries never allowed to be charged over 80% or under 40% to extend the life of the batteries. Plus the car is under an 8 year bumper to bumper warranty. But how long is the life of the batteries and what will they cost to replace out of warranty when they wear out?
With those outstanding questions aside, and other than looking about as stylish as Gerard Depardieu, I was really impressed with the Prius and will strongly consider making a hybrid as the next car purchase. But with two car payments away from paying off the Hyundai, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Office chair - you're doing it wrong.
I'm not sure which one of us went overseas and shared the game of "Office Chair" with Germany, but you taught them wrong. None of the Germans in this video attempted the course with a drink in their hand.
But first, food!
There are some great things to report from Athens. Frozen Jack n' Cokes, Twilight Criterium, Skirts, and an impromptu test drive of a Toyota Prius. But first; food.
The diet is still in effect; down a total of 16 pounds with five to go. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to get the last few without doing some exercise. And I don't like exercise. But we've still found ways to eat out and smart and not blow the idea of eating smaller and mostly healthier portions.
On the way out of Athens, we decided to try a new addition to the downtown restaurant scene; Which Wich. Located on Broad near the Mayflower; Which Wich is a sandwich chain but new to us. You order by checking various boxes on a sandwich bag and then handing it to the cashier for it to be rung up. The bag is turned over the the cooks who prepare your sandwich to your exact specifications, then place it in the same bag. Efficient ordering and tasty tasty sandwiches. The veggies, meats and breads were all fresh and tasty. Everyone gave the food very positive feedback. The only downer was the homeless guy who snuck in and locked himself in the only bathroom.
Starting tomorrow, I'm off for the next few Mondays (Comp time = Awesome) and to celebrate I'm going to try a new restaurant each Monday. Tomorrow I'm starting with; The Fickle Pickle in Roswell. I can't wait to try the fried Cajun pickles.
The diet is still in effect; down a total of 16 pounds with five to go. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to get the last few without doing some exercise. And I don't like exercise. But we've still found ways to eat out and smart and not blow the idea of eating smaller and mostly healthier portions.
On the way out of Athens, we decided to try a new addition to the downtown restaurant scene; Which Wich. Located on Broad near the Mayflower; Which Wich is a sandwich chain but new to us. You order by checking various boxes on a sandwich bag and then handing it to the cashier for it to be rung up. The bag is turned over the the cooks who prepare your sandwich to your exact specifications, then place it in the same bag. Efficient ordering and tasty tasty sandwiches. The veggies, meats and breads were all fresh and tasty. Everyone gave the food very positive feedback. The only downer was the homeless guy who snuck in and locked himself in the only bathroom.
Starting tomorrow, I'm off for the next few Mondays (Comp time = Awesome) and to celebrate I'm going to try a new restaurant each Monday. Tomorrow I'm starting with; The Fickle Pickle in Roswell. I can't wait to try the fried Cajun pickles.
Friday, April 25, 2008
K Thx Bai!
Woot!!!1!!! After 21 days "on", it's finally time to get out of town for a few days.
Skirts tonight at the 40 Watt and the Twilight bike races tomorrow with friends and beer.
My camera is fully charged and expecting a high level of shenanigans.
Skirts tonight at the 40 Watt and the Twilight bike races tomorrow with friends and beer.
My camera is fully charged and expecting a high level of shenanigans.
Celebrate
Today is my parents wedding anniversary and being that they secretly read but never talk about my blog, I thought I should take a moment to embarrass them tell them how much I love them.
My mother is a wonderful woman who, as I've gotten older, has become less shy about sharing her opinions and that is a compliment.
My father, equally as wonderful, is very much like his father, but less stoic and that also is a compliment.
They have always (read: FUCKING ALWAYS) been there for me. (Yeah...I enjoyed typing the word FUCKING in a post to my parents. What fun is a post to your parents if you can't rile them up a little bit?) They raised a quasi-decent person whose greatest desire is nothing but the best for his friends and family. My parents gave me everything I needed and nothing I didn't deserve. I love them more than I can express in words or actions.
In addition; after experiencing marriage, I can't begin to think about the turmoils my parents experienced and on top of that, they were raising three boys at the same time.
Through it all, my parents are my inspiration. More than I could ever tell you to your faces, but the love you still show for each other inspires me to be a better man and husband. Thank you for your example and your love.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
And I'm sorry that my dog chewed up your wallpaper and still, for whatever reason, still treats your living room as her personal toilet.
See you Sunday!
My mother is a wonderful woman who, as I've gotten older, has become less shy about sharing her opinions and that is a compliment.
My father, equally as wonderful, is very much like his father, but less stoic and that also is a compliment.
They have always (read: FUCKING ALWAYS) been there for me. (Yeah...I enjoyed typing the word FUCKING in a post to my parents. What fun is a post to your parents if you can't rile them up a little bit?) They raised a quasi-decent person whose greatest desire is nothing but the best for his friends and family. My parents gave me everything I needed and nothing I didn't deserve. I love them more than I can express in words or actions.
In addition; after experiencing marriage, I can't begin to think about the turmoils my parents experienced and on top of that, they were raising three boys at the same time.
Through it all, my parents are my inspiration. More than I could ever tell you to your faces, but the love you still show for each other inspires me to be a better man and husband. Thank you for your example and your love.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
And I'm sorry that my dog chewed up your wallpaper and still, for whatever reason, still treats your living room as her personal toilet.
See you Sunday!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
More Poker
It turns out that when I don't feel good, I don't write. I've had ideas but each time I log in to post something, the cold/allergy medicine kicks in and I loose the ability to focus. On a related note, it's been a really fun week at work. But I think I'm over the hump. Despite snoring loudly (I never snore) because I couldn't breath, I think I'm getting better. Or at least the drugs are being more effective. Maybe?
Last night I entered a cheap deep stack tournament. I normally play deep stack tournaments when GG is out of town, mainly because they can last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. She was in town but I needed to get a better feel for the players at Full tilt. The tournament kicked off at midnight with 1500 starting chips, a field of 1,640 people, and blinds at 15/30 going up every ten minutes. I took a few notes during the tournament.
After an hour, there were only 652 players left and the payouts started at 261. The average stack size was 3773, mine was 6025. While that seems like a huge stack, it wasn't close to the top 20. But I was in really good shape. I was playing a very A,B,C type of game and not getting tricky at all.
In hour two, the only pivotal hand was calling a quarter of my stack off for what felt like a race and it was. My 44 against AQ. His queen on the river made my backdoor diamond flush. I'm up to 7400.
Then there was a really weird hand. I'm not sure but I think I either played it perfectly or horrifically wrong. A player two to my right who has twice the amount of chips, min raises my big blind, the small blind calls the raise and I min raise back with 10/10. The big stack raises me double my raise. OK, he could be representing Aces or Kings and quite possibly AK. I'm fairly confident he's not holding AQ or a mid pair. The flop came 4, 6, J rainbow. There is only one way I'm winning this pot. I bet a quarter of the pot and he moves all in immediately. Either he had me read for weakness or he had a big pocket pair. After getting extended time (awesome feature on FT) I fold and he mucks. I keep replaying that hand wondering if he really had it or not. This hand left me with 6500 with the blinds at 80/160. I'm still in pretty good shape. We're down to 490.
I have a mouse (weak player) sitting to my left. Stealing and trapping is very easy. Up to 7300, blinds at 100/200.
For the first time I'm moved to a different table. I hate that. Don't get me wrong; I know it's necessary, but you spend 2 hours building a table image....Moving on.
Arghh.... down to 6k....He gave me odds to call and I did. Great bet by him. Made notes on him immediately. Blinds 150/300, 50 ante
Well timed aggression plus late position, back up to 7500.
2nd break. Every subsequent hour should be harder as the field thins, but I've made no improvement in my stack size. That's frustrating. We're down to 250 or so. I've made it into the money. 6500, with 250/500 blinds, 50 ante. Now I don't have a choice, I have to start getting more aggressive.
Half way through hours three, I raised UTG with AKs, got re-raised by the big stack which had been bullying the table, I moved all in and was instacalled. My AK of spades vs. QQ. This is not a move I would have made earlier but I was pretty much committed and I was about to lose 10% om my stack to the impending blinds. His hand holds and I'm done. 176th place out of 1600. Not great, but not too shabby either.
I tripled my buy in and got a much better feel for the action at Full Tilt. Early indicators would say that it is a much more aggressive site. But that could be because of the sheer volume of players. I'm not really sure. The happy moment happened when I looked at the leader board and realized that I'd outlasted all the pros.
Last night I entered a cheap deep stack tournament. I normally play deep stack tournaments when GG is out of town, mainly because they can last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. She was in town but I needed to get a better feel for the players at Full tilt. The tournament kicked off at midnight with 1500 starting chips, a field of 1,640 people, and blinds at 15/30 going up every ten minutes. I took a few notes during the tournament.
After an hour, there were only 652 players left and the payouts started at 261. The average stack size was 3773, mine was 6025. While that seems like a huge stack, it wasn't close to the top 20. But I was in really good shape. I was playing a very A,B,C type of game and not getting tricky at all.
In hour two, the only pivotal hand was calling a quarter of my stack off for what felt like a race and it was. My 44 against AQ. His queen on the river made my backdoor diamond flush. I'm up to 7400.
Then there was a really weird hand. I'm not sure but I think I either played it perfectly or horrifically wrong. A player two to my right who has twice the amount of chips, min raises my big blind, the small blind calls the raise and I min raise back with 10/10. The big stack raises me double my raise. OK, he could be representing Aces or Kings and quite possibly AK. I'm fairly confident he's not holding AQ or a mid pair. The flop came 4, 6, J rainbow. There is only one way I'm winning this pot. I bet a quarter of the pot and he moves all in immediately. Either he had me read for weakness or he had a big pocket pair. After getting extended time (awesome feature on FT) I fold and he mucks. I keep replaying that hand wondering if he really had it or not. This hand left me with 6500 with the blinds at 80/160. I'm still in pretty good shape. We're down to 490.
I have a mouse (weak player) sitting to my left. Stealing and trapping is very easy. Up to 7300, blinds at 100/200.
For the first time I'm moved to a different table. I hate that. Don't get me wrong; I know it's necessary, but you spend 2 hours building a table image....Moving on.
Arghh.... down to 6k....He gave me odds to call and I did. Great bet by him. Made notes on him immediately. Blinds 150/300, 50 ante
Well timed aggression plus late position, back up to 7500.
2nd break. Every subsequent hour should be harder as the field thins, but I've made no improvement in my stack size. That's frustrating. We're down to 250 or so. I've made it into the money. 6500, with 250/500 blinds, 50 ante. Now I don't have a choice, I have to start getting more aggressive.
Half way through hours three, I raised UTG with AKs, got re-raised by the big stack which had been bullying the table, I moved all in and was instacalled. My AK of spades vs. QQ. This is not a move I would have made earlier but I was pretty much committed and I was about to lose 10% om my stack to the impending blinds. His hand holds and I'm done. 176th place out of 1600. Not great, but not too shabby either.
I tripled my buy in and got a much better feel for the action at Full Tilt. Early indicators would say that it is a much more aggressive site. But that could be because of the sheer volume of players. I'm not really sure. The happy moment happened when I looked at the leader board and realized that I'd outlasted all the pros.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
More bullets.
My allergies, while seemingly under control, are recking havoc on my ability to swallow (Yeah, that's funny). At least I hope it's allergies and not the beginnings of a cold.
There is a documentary coming out on Philip Glass; and it looks good.
To say that work is keeping me busy would be an understatement. Busy = job security.
Modern Skirts are playing Athens and Atlanta this weekend. 40 Watt on Friday and Smith's Olde Bar on Saturday. Both shows are being billed as "early" to accommodate the dance party the Skirts are throwing afterwards. They're scheduled to go on at 11 PM both nights and that really means 11:30. I, and hopefully Dave, will be playing on a tune or two. In Skirt news; this summer they're opening for REM in Ireland and Vampire Weekend in Amsterdam. I hope they make it. Or at least make it to a level that opens enough doors for them in the industry for the rest of their lives.
I thought Andrew Lloyd Webber was a recluse. Why the hell is he on American Idol? Better question; Why am I watching American Idol? Oh yes, I don't feel good and I don't have the remote.
It bothers me that the current tense and past tense of a certain word is spelled the same but pronounced differently. Example: "Do you read the AJC?" and "Yesterday I read the AJC." But English was always my worst subject, so I'm not even sure if my point is even valid. But it causes me to pause each time I read the word.
I really like movie trailers, but I rarely see movies in the theater.
Four days until Twilight. I better not be sick for this weekend.
There is a documentary coming out on Philip Glass; and it looks good.
To say that work is keeping me busy would be an understatement. Busy = job security.
Modern Skirts are playing Athens and Atlanta this weekend. 40 Watt on Friday and Smith's Olde Bar on Saturday. Both shows are being billed as "early" to accommodate the dance party the Skirts are throwing afterwards. They're scheduled to go on at 11 PM both nights and that really means 11:30. I, and hopefully Dave, will be playing on a tune or two. In Skirt news; this summer they're opening for REM in Ireland and Vampire Weekend in Amsterdam. I hope they make it. Or at least make it to a level that opens enough doors for them in the industry for the rest of their lives.
I thought Andrew Lloyd Webber was a recluse. Why the hell is he on American Idol? Better question; Why am I watching American Idol? Oh yes, I don't feel good and I don't have the remote.
It bothers me that the current tense and past tense of a certain word is spelled the same but pronounced differently. Example: "Do you read the AJC?" and "Yesterday I read the AJC." But English was always my worst subject, so I'm not even sure if my point is even valid. But it causes me to pause each time I read the word.
I really like movie trailers, but I rarely see movies in the theater.
Four days until Twilight. I better not be sick for this weekend.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Bullets! Now half off
I worked all weekend. Again. But not that I minded. I really do love my job. But I'm ready for two consecutive days off.
I would rather hurl freshly chewed Captain Crunch and habanero peppers than ever again hear any phrase similar to; "Clinical studies have proven...".
The level of excitement surrounding this weekend is rising to an unnatural level. Just going to Athens without the rush of a game or concert always makes me happy, plus friends, plus Twilight! Woot!!!1!!!
My early review of Full Tilt is positive. The user interface isn't nearly as difficult to get used to as I thought it would be a few years ago and I'm taking that as a positive sign. Plus, I'm already up 50% on my initial account. There is a seemingly lower level of skill on Full Tilt, but I'm still trying to get a grasp on that. I could be way wrong.
I would rather hurl freshly chewed Captain Crunch and habanero peppers than ever again hear any phrase similar to; "Clinical studies have proven...".
The level of excitement surrounding this weekend is rising to an unnatural level. Just going to Athens without the rush of a game or concert always makes me happy, plus friends, plus Twilight! Woot!!!1!!!
My early review of Full Tilt is positive. The user interface isn't nearly as difficult to get used to as I thought it would be a few years ago and I'm taking that as a positive sign. Plus, I'm already up 50% on my initial account. There is a seemingly lower level of skill on Full Tilt, but I'm still trying to get a grasp on that. I could be way wrong.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Saturday morning confusion
I have previously complained about last year's Cobb County School board race and Dr. Rev. John Crooks winning against a more qualified candidate with actual education experience. I've made no secret that A) I do not care for John on a personal level and more importantly B) I think electing a religious leader to a school board that has made egregious errors in the past (see also the Apple debacle and trying to put pro-creationism stickers in text books) is nothing short of a monumentally bad idea.
I remind you of that story to tell you this one.
A real estate agent called yesterday to ask if she could show the house today between 10 and 11:30 AM. Great! So this morning I locked the dog up, straightened the house and headed to the Atlanta Bread Company for a bagel, coffee, free wireless access and to kill an hour and a half.
It never crossed my mind that I would be trying to enjoy my bagel while John heldcourt his weekly Republican strategy meeting in the middle of the restaurant.
I remind you of that story to tell you this one.
A real estate agent called yesterday to ask if she could show the house today between 10 and 11:30 AM. Great! So this morning I locked the dog up, straightened the house and headed to the Atlanta Bread Company for a bagel, coffee, free wireless access and to kill an hour and a half.
It never crossed my mind that I would be trying to enjoy my bagel while John held
Friday, April 18, 2008
Poker Apple Poker - Updated!
-I took down a tournament last night. It was easy. Really easy. Like, I-shouldn't-even-talk-about-it easy. To even think about it is detrimental to my game. It was nice to plow through the field, but I came home reeking of smoke and I hate that.
-Impending geeky electronic purchases. The Apple Care on my trusty iBook expires this fall and the decision has been made to upgrade to a new machine at that time. I'm thinking about trying a Dell with the pro version of Vista. If you believed that last line I'm pointing and laughing at you.
Yesterday, it was reported that Apple was going to refresh the entire laptop line, launch iTunes 8 and launch a 32 gig iPhone at the WWDC on June 10. This included putting the MacBook into a shiny aluminum casing and giving it the multi touch track pad. I was giddy until just a few minutes ago when the same article updated saying that the photos were probably fake.
-I had a very rough break up last night with Ultimabet Bet. Epassporte, my online banking source, and Ultimate Bet would not talk to each other so I could not move any money in or out. Epassporte said it was all on UB's end. I called UB's Customer Service and received the worst customer service I have ever received. The first guy was nice but "unable" to help me. The supervisor came on and started the conversation with; "My name is _____ and I'm not giving you any money." *
I can't access my money AND you're rude? We're done. I know that I can be a gigantic jackass when it comes to dealing with customer service reps, but up until this point I was calm and rational. I figured that pissing in someone's cornflakes wasn't going to get my money moving any faster. I didn't go all "Perry on his ass" but after his curt opening, I was no longer friendly and became very direct.I explained my situation to him and he said that he couldn't do anything about it. He offered no other options, ideas, or hope. I then alluded to UB stealing my money by not giving it to me using one of their preferred banking retailers. At that point, it became evident he was not going to help when he hung up on me. Yup. Abruptly and purposefully. He said; "I can't help you, have a nice nigh..." *click*.
But he didn't hang up on me. He can't, it's a huge red flag in the customer support world to hang up on a customer. So he did the next best thing, he put me on silent mute. I stayed strong for two hours, hoping that someone might pick up the blinky line, but nothing.
Long story long, I've left and I've needed to for a long time. I just needed the reason to leave. I'm so happy to be gone that I'm don't even care about the three hundred plus "bonus dollars" I left behind. All of my money is out of UB and on it's way to me via ANOTHER third party bank with fees that caused me to choke on the glass of water I was drinking at the time.
I will never recommend UB to anyone. Ever. And if I did, I'm sorry. Get your money out now.
*Name with held because I can't remember it. Memory Fail!
UPDATED! - I'm not the only one.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Yeah and I'm the Atheist...
You know the Bible 90%!
Quiz HT: AmberWow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!
Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes
No, I do not take the results seriously. But I do find the results funny as hell...
Is it football season yet?
I just finished watching Georgia Sports Blog's defense highlight video from the Sugar Bowl. By the end of it I was really feeling badly for Colt Brennan. I can't imagine being on the receiving end of one of those sacks, much less 8.
Then I remembered Hawaii's Keenan Jones and his illegal helmet to helmet hit that gave Mickey Henderson a game ending concussion.....(1 minute and 12 seconds in)
Video cred: The Bulldawg Blawg
...I didn't feel so bad anymore.
I googled Keenan Jones to find out what he's doing now.
Then I remembered Hawaii's Keenan Jones and his illegal helmet to helmet hit that gave Mickey Henderson a game ending concussion.....(1 minute and 12 seconds in)
Video cred: The Bulldawg Blawg
...I didn't feel so bad anymore.
I googled Keenan Jones to find out what he's doing now.
CB Keenan Jones was suspended from the team on March 24 (2008). Jones was charged in two incidents. Recently granted a fifth year of eligibility, Jones was charged with unauthorized entry into a car and second-degree assault, both felonies.His court date is scheduled for sometime in April, but these (One and Two) are the most recent articles I could find with more information.
Twitter this
I'm really enjoying twitter, but I'm still new user and still exploring. But there's a student who used twitter to bust out of an Egyptian jail. That's pretty awesome.
And when I'm wrong
I'm wrong.
I wrote a rushed and poorly conceived argument about tax dollars being used to pay for portions of the Pope's visit to the United States.
My bad for publishing a poorly conceived opinion.
I shot from the hip and was wrong. We learn and we grow. I don't want to know anyone who says otherwise.
My point was this; I believe that our tax dollars should not be used to pay for extra security and clean up for the Pope when parades and other events aren't required for other heads of state. That's all.
No more email on this.
K. Thx. Bai.
I wrote a rushed and poorly conceived argument about tax dollars being used to pay for portions of the Pope's visit to the United States.
My bad for publishing a poorly conceived opinion.
I shot from the hip and was wrong. We learn and we grow. I don't want to know anyone who says otherwise.
My point was this; I believe that our tax dollars should not be used to pay for extra security and clean up for the Pope when parades and other events aren't required for other heads of state. That's all.
No more email on this.
K. Thx. Bai.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
16 down, 5 to go
I'm cashing in my once-a-week throwaway meal tomorrow and checking out the brand spanking new Taco Mac Metropolis, First day jitters and all, I'm taking the gamble.
Throwing money away on the Pope
...Brooks (a spokeswoman for the Washington Mayor) said the city’s Police Department would be most involved in coordinating street closings for (the Pope's) processions. The cost to the city to provide security, close streets and clean up after parades is expected to be about $2.2 million, she said.
Why is the city government swallowing the costs related to a visit from a religious figure? I don't think the Catholic church is hurting for money. According to the above article, they managed to cover a lot of the other costs from private donors. Shouldn't these same method be used to cover the 2.2 million tab for security and clean up?
I'm not a constitutional scholar, but I'm fairly certain the document makes it clear that government and religion are to be kept separate. Not together. Separate.
Like bacon and chewing gum.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Why internet poker is awesome
But before we get to the juicy stuff, let me set the scene. $100+30 buy in (yes the rake was steep) and only 1st place paid out. Yes...buying into a tournament with 90+ other people where only one place pays out is fairly weak on my part. But I also knew that I had been playing better than normal recently and decided on a lark to see if I could take it down. Plus, the 1st place prize was 12k. That's a nice touch of motivation.
The prize money is "intended" to be a buy-in into the WSOP Main Event plus 2k in travel money. Starting last year, online gaming sites were no longer allowed to directly buy a player's tournament entry fee. So instead, if a player wins a WSOP entry seat via their online gaming site, the prize money in deposited into the online player' account and then it becomes the player's discretion to either A) Use the money as travel and buy-in to the Main Event at the WSOP; or the highly more likely B) use the money as they deem fit. Put me directly into column B.
Side note: this change of rules of "who can by in for players" is the direct reason why the WSOP Main Event was down in participants last year.
Final table, 8 players left, hour 5 of the tournament. It actually went by fairly quickly. I'm middle stacked, there is one short stack and two players that have larger stacks but not the size that can allow them to bully the table.
I bust the first two players. Another mid-stack and the short. Both all-in pre-flop, both times I had the best of it. I then lose half my stack to a flush draw to my set, but I'm still fine stack wise. People take each other out, I steal, I get stolen from, and so it goes.
I'm heads up with equal stacks. It went back and forth for about 30 minutes. I wake up with KK on the button and he raises into me, which had become common for both of us. I re-raised and he pushed all in. I insta-called and he holds 55.
I'm so happy and my heart is beyond racing, it's thumping louder and louder. I am an 80% favorite to win and to win twelve thousand dollars!!! Pocket Kings against pocket 5s, he's crushed!!!
In my mind, this means we are instantly going to be able to afford a better house or we could pay off both cars, or I could actually go play in a few events at the World Series, or a myriad of other dreams we have and then the flop hits.
5, 5, 10.
He hits quad 5s on the flop. Insert sound of losing. And if you were near East Cobb, you heard the loud cussing.
I went from an 80% favorite to a 99.90% loser.
Dreams crushed. 5 hours of my life and very good play....wasted.
I'm very aware that I'm currently in the whiny and pouty stage of losing, but I feel so overly defeated.
So to wrap this up... At this time the loser would like to thank the following sponsors; Jack Daniel's; for nursing me through this painful time. Comcast; for surprisingly NOT crapping out once during a 5 plus hour session. And finally, La-z-boy for making a recliner very comfortable to lose in.
Insert witty ending here.
The prize money is "intended" to be a buy-in into the WSOP Main Event plus 2k in travel money. Starting last year, online gaming sites were no longer allowed to directly buy a player's tournament entry fee. So instead, if a player wins a WSOP entry seat via their online gaming site, the prize money in deposited into the online player' account and then it becomes the player's discretion to either A) Use the money as travel and buy-in to the Main Event at the WSOP; or the highly more likely B) use the money as they deem fit. Put me directly into column B.
Side note: this change of rules of "who can by in for players" is the direct reason why the WSOP Main Event was down in participants last year.
Final table, 8 players left, hour 5 of the tournament. It actually went by fairly quickly. I'm middle stacked, there is one short stack and two players that have larger stacks but not the size that can allow them to bully the table.
I bust the first two players. Another mid-stack and the short. Both all-in pre-flop, both times I had the best of it. I then lose half my stack to a flush draw to my set, but I'm still fine stack wise. People take each other out, I steal, I get stolen from, and so it goes.
I'm heads up with equal stacks. It went back and forth for about 30 minutes. I wake up with KK on the button and he raises into me, which had become common for both of us. I re-raised and he pushed all in. I insta-called and he holds 55.
I'm so happy and my heart is beyond racing, it's thumping louder and louder. I am an 80% favorite to win and to win twelve thousand dollars!!! Pocket Kings against pocket 5s, he's crushed!!!
In my mind, this means we are instantly going to be able to afford a better house or we could pay off both cars, or I could actually go play in a few events at the World Series, or a myriad of other dreams we have and then the flop hits.
5, 5, 10.
He hits quad 5s on the flop. Insert sound of losing. And if you were near East Cobb, you heard the loud cussing.
I went from an 80% favorite to a 99.90% loser.
Dreams crushed. 5 hours of my life and very good play....wasted.
I'm very aware that I'm currently in the whiny and pouty stage of losing, but I feel so overly defeated.
So to wrap this up... At this time the loser would like to thank the following sponsors; Jack Daniel's; for nursing me through this painful time. Comcast; for surprisingly NOT crapping out once during a 5 plus hour session. And finally, La-z-boy for making a recliner very comfortable to lose in.
Insert witty ending here.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Just so you know....
When saying the word "ballet", it is not necessary to pronounce the letter "t".
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Event - Part 4
The 4th annual Unofficial/Official RCB alumni party will be held June 14th in downtown Athens at The Village Idiot from 8ish until they kick us out. Old friends and cheap Athens beer prices, it really doesn't get any better than this.
Fair warning, everyone of you will be receiving emails, phone calls, facebook invites, text messages, and carrier pigeons. It comes down to a very simple formula; for very person that shows up, the better The Event gets.
There's more information/specifics on this year's "The Event" at theunofficialevent.blogspot.com.
Spread the word and hope to see you all there.
Fair warning, everyone of you will be receiving emails, phone calls, facebook invites, text messages, and carrier pigeons. It comes down to a very simple formula; for very person that shows up, the better The Event gets.
There's more information/specifics on this year's "The Event" at theunofficialevent.blogspot.com.
Spread the word and hope to see you all there.
It's not little - A quick review - Updated
Updated: Since Seth linked this post (thank you Seth) to Atlanta Metroblogging, I figured I should go back and touch it up a little bit.
This afternoon, I watched a few rehearsal minutes of this show and if you have tickets, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The band is smoking, as you would expect it to be. But the band itself is what surprised me. I assumed (dumb ass) that the performance would be to recorded music. There is some sampling with the band but they are the lead voice and sound amazing.
The sets are interesting. It's not what I expected, but I don't think anyone can really know what to expect out of a show like this. The lighting again, very cool, very hip, and very not "ballet". At least any ballet I've seen and I've been forced to sit through a few.
He puts a new spin on some old material, borrows from his Outkast partner and has some brand new original music as well. Being biased, there's some really great horn parts to look out for.
From what I heard and saw the show is pretty frickin' cool and I do not have a passion or even a desire to watch dance at all. This is not your Mom and Dad's Ballet. This is fresh., fun and different. Come with an open mind and I don't think you'll be disappointed. But a word to the wise, bring good ear plugs. It's very loud. Example: I can feel the kick drum in my office.
This afternoon, I watched a few rehearsal minutes of this show and if you have tickets, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The band is smoking, as you would expect it to be. But the band itself is what surprised me. I assumed (dumb ass) that the performance would be to recorded music. There is some sampling with the band but they are the lead voice and sound amazing.
The sets are interesting. It's not what I expected, but I don't think anyone can really know what to expect out of a show like this. The lighting again, very cool, very hip, and very not "ballet". At least any ballet I've seen and I've been forced to sit through a few.
He puts a new spin on some old material, borrows from his Outkast partner and has some brand new original music as well. Being biased, there's some really great horn parts to look out for.
From what I heard and saw the show is pretty frickin' cool and I do not have a passion or even a desire to watch dance at all. This is not your Mom and Dad's Ballet. This is fresh., fun and different. Come with an open mind and I don't think you'll be disappointed. But a word to the wise, bring good ear plugs. It's very loud. Example: I can feel the kick drum in my office.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Survey This
Last week I was contacted by the University of Kentucky and asked if I would be willing to participate in a survey about blogging and the blogging community. I accepted and on Monday; received the questionnaire. I didn't know what to expect in the questions, but I'm fairly certain that the weakness of the questions were directly responsible for my equally weak answers.
Why did you begin blogging? To chronicle my life and thoughts.
Why do you continue blogging? Enjoyment, to chronicle my life, and to share opinions with others and to receive feedback so I can learn and grow.
What satisfactions do you get from blogging? Gaining knowledge, perspective, or understanding; to review where I’ve been and to maybe get an idea of where I’m going mentally, physically, and spiritually. Meeting new people.
Were you motivated to blog in order to meet other people? Not at all.
If so, why? If not, why? I started out just to chronicle my life. I will go back and read previous posts on similar subjects to see how I’ve changed or how I’ve remained the same. But meeting people has never been a reason to blog.
Select any of the following online interactions you participate in with other bloggers (note by marking and "X"):
_X_ E-mail
_X_ Link to other blogs
_X_ Commenting on other blogs
_X_ Instant Messaging
_X_ Chat
___ Message Board Discussions
_X_ Facebook
_X_ Myspace
_X_ Other Online Networking Sites
___ Other (Please describe):
What determines if you will interact online with other bloggers? Ha! Not a whole lot. As long as they’re not a jerk, I’ll go grab a beer with almost anyone once.
Select any of the following offline interactions you participate in with other bloggers:
_X_ Phone Conversations
_X_ Text Messaging
___ Regular Postal Mail
_X_ Meeting In Person (One-on-One)
_X_ Meeting In Person (Two or more other bloggers)
_X_Group Events
___ Other (Please describe):
What determines if you will engage in offline interaction with other bloggers? Similar interests, if I enjoy their writing and again, not a jerk.
Why (or why not) meet bloggers face-to-face? For me, the written word can be tricky to interpret. There are some people I want to meet just to help complete the image of the person in my head. It gives a better idea of the entire persona. Others, I may want to meet due to similar interests or experience an event with them. Others, I may want to meet simply because they make me laugh.
How do you define or identify your interactions with bloggers (e.g. friendship, acquaintance, relationship, online-only, etc.)? It depends on the blogger. Some are dear friends; some a casual acquaintances, and some don’t even know I read them. It runs the entire spectrum.
How do you compare your interactions with bloggers to your offline or face-to-face relationships? I don’t compare. A friend is a friend, an acquaintance is an acquaintance and a stranger is a stranger. It doesn't matter if the relationship started online or ITRW.
Do you feel connected to a network of bloggers? Yes.
Below we present a definition of community that guides our research. Please read the definition and then answer the questions that follow.
Would you define community differently? If so, how? No.
Again, I gave some fairly weak answers, but that was my take. Any thoughts?
Why did you begin blogging? To chronicle my life and thoughts.
Why do you continue blogging? Enjoyment, to chronicle my life, and to share opinions with others and to receive feedback so I can learn and grow.
What satisfactions do you get from blogging? Gaining knowledge, perspective, or understanding; to review where I’ve been and to maybe get an idea of where I’m going mentally, physically, and spiritually. Meeting new people.
Were you motivated to blog in order to meet other people? Not at all.
If so, why? If not, why? I started out just to chronicle my life. I will go back and read previous posts on similar subjects to see how I’ve changed or how I’ve remained the same. But meeting people has never been a reason to blog.
Select any of the following online interactions you participate in with other bloggers (note by marking and "X"):
_X_ E-mail
_X_ Link to other blogs
_X_ Commenting on other blogs
_X_ Instant Messaging
_X_ Chat
___ Message Board Discussions
_X_ Facebook
_X_ Myspace
_X_ Other Online Networking Sites
___ Other (Please describe):
What determines if you will interact online with other bloggers? Ha! Not a whole lot. As long as they’re not a jerk, I’ll go grab a beer with almost anyone once.
Select any of the following offline interactions you participate in with other bloggers:
_X_ Phone Conversations
_X_ Text Messaging
___ Regular Postal Mail
_X_ Meeting In Person (One-on-One)
_X_ Meeting In Person (Two or more other bloggers)
_X_Group Events
___ Other (Please describe):
What determines if you will engage in offline interaction with other bloggers? Similar interests, if I enjoy their writing and again, not a jerk.
Why (or why not) meet bloggers face-to-face? For me, the written word can be tricky to interpret. There are some people I want to meet just to help complete the image of the person in my head. It gives a better idea of the entire persona. Others, I may want to meet due to similar interests or experience an event with them. Others, I may want to meet simply because they make me laugh.
How do you define or identify your interactions with bloggers (e.g. friendship, acquaintance, relationship, online-only, etc.)? It depends on the blogger. Some are dear friends; some a casual acquaintances, and some don’t even know I read them. It runs the entire spectrum.
How do you compare your interactions with bloggers to your offline or face-to-face relationships? I don’t compare. A friend is a friend, an acquaintance is an acquaintance and a stranger is a stranger. It doesn't matter if the relationship started online or ITRW.
Do you feel connected to a network of bloggers? Yes.
Below we present a definition of community that guides our research. Please read the definition and then answer the questions that follow.
A community is a group or body of individuals who share characteristics, interests, goals, or experiences, communicate and interact with each other, cooperate within a common environment (physical or computer-mediated), and identify with each other as part of a collective whole.Based on our definition of community, do you feel you and other bloggers are part of a community? Why or why not? Yes. Through commenting, emailing, tweets, phone calls and meet ups, we are constantly giving and receiving knowledge and information to each other on various life experiences.
Would you define community differently? If so, how? No.
Again, I gave some fairly weak answers, but that was my take. Any thoughts?
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Because Brett asked...
From the Tennessee Squire email that was sent out today.
Jeff Arnett became the 7th Master Distiller after Jimmy Bedford retired from the position on March 31st. Jeff began working at Jack Daniel's in 2001 and most recently was manager of quality control and whiskey maturation. He has also been involved in warehousing, maturation, distillation, charcoal mellowing management, barrel quality and bottling, as well as being a member of the Master Tasters' panel.In the press release he said;
"I fully understand the huge shoes that I'll be stepping into and can't begin to express my appreciation to those who have entrusted me with this position," said Arnett. "It's been a privilege to work with Jimmy Bedford and learn the trade over the past several years. I look forward to carrying on the Jack Daniel's tradition and following Mr. Jack's guiding words of 'every day we make it, we'll make it the best we can.'"To answer your question; I don't know who else was on the list, but it sounds like they got the right guy for the job.
Monday, April 07, 2008
CECWTWSPD; Part 2
In my previous post on the subject, I failed to mention that leaving the parking deck was just as ridiculous as entering it. Multiple possible points for egress, but they only opened one gate. Totally stupid. I understand that The Cobb Energy Centre with the World's Shittiest Parking Deal can't go back and redesign their deck, but they need to get a grip on their contractors.
But leaving the deck, let's visit the building. I never thought the exterior of the building was anything special. In fact I find the facade of the building reminiscent of a dollop of Coolwhip.
Photo:Fred Gerlich
But the interior of the CECWTWSPD is everything you've probably heard. The AJC photo gallery really doesn't do it justice. The lobby has high ceilings and a very open feeling to it. The colors and woods used are rich and beautiful. The walls surrounding the actual performance hall are covered in carpet. It's a little cheap looking but the lighting isn't very bright there and I didn't even notice it until we were leaving.
When thinking about the flow of a crowd, serious thought was put into the lobby area. The concession areas on the main level have plenty of space in front of them for lines to form without blocking people from getting to their seats. The concession areas all have flat screen TVs to allow instant changes to the menu. GG bought my beer, because I was STILL PARKING MY GHATDAMN CAR, so I'm not sure of the level of customer service.
The hallways on the audience left side of the theatre are very narrow so it took longer than expected to leave and I wonder what would have happened if there had been a fire. Seriously. Narrow. Death. Hot fiery burning death.
The staff I encountered were very nice and everything I expected from the Cobb Galleria/CECWTWSPD. The line staff of ticket scanners seemed to know their equipment and I noticed no problems. The ushers also were nice and knowledgeable. I did decide to take an opportunity to express my displeasure with the parking situation with one gentleman who, by his dress, was someone of managerial status. His response was lip service only and did nothing to improve my mood at the time. If I had a suggestion; allow those that are going to interact with the public the power to make angry patrons happy. It's amazing how much a free cocktail or parking pass will sooth an angry customer.
The theatre itself is very nice. The lighting on the acoustic panels make the room glow while we waited for Dunham to take the stage. The seating area is wide and not deep at all so there's not a bad seat in the house for concerts. But their width is going to sight line issues for some Broadway shows.
I'll review the Jeff Dunham show next.
But leaving the deck, let's visit the building. I never thought the exterior of the building was anything special. In fact I find the facade of the building reminiscent of a dollop of Coolwhip.
Photo:Fred Gerlich
But the interior of the CECWTWSPD is everything you've probably heard. The AJC photo gallery really doesn't do it justice. The lobby has high ceilings and a very open feeling to it. The colors and woods used are rich and beautiful. The walls surrounding the actual performance hall are covered in carpet. It's a little cheap looking but the lighting isn't very bright there and I didn't even notice it until we were leaving.
When thinking about the flow of a crowd, serious thought was put into the lobby area. The concession areas on the main level have plenty of space in front of them for lines to form without blocking people from getting to their seats. The concession areas all have flat screen TVs to allow instant changes to the menu. GG bought my beer, because I was STILL PARKING MY GHATDAMN CAR, so I'm not sure of the level of customer service.
The hallways on the audience left side of the theatre are very narrow so it took longer than expected to leave and I wonder what would have happened if there had been a fire. Seriously. Narrow. Death. Hot fiery burning death.
The staff I encountered were very nice and everything I expected from the Cobb Galleria/CECWTWSPD. The line staff of ticket scanners seemed to know their equipment and I noticed no problems. The ushers also were nice and knowledgeable. I did decide to take an opportunity to express my displeasure with the parking situation with one gentleman who, by his dress, was someone of managerial status. His response was lip service only and did nothing to improve my mood at the time. If I had a suggestion; allow those that are going to interact with the public the power to make angry patrons happy. It's amazing how much a free cocktail or parking pass will sooth an angry customer.
The theatre itself is very nice. The lighting on the acoustic panels make the room glow while we waited for Dunham to take the stage. The seating area is wide and not deep at all so there's not a bad seat in the house for concerts. But their width is going to sight line issues for some Broadway shows.
I'll review the Jeff Dunham show next.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Cobb Energy Centre - Parking Fail!
5 years and 11 days after I was born, my first brother, Brandon, was born. This is the guy that turned me into an uncle, forever forcing me to buy cheesy yet adorable stuff like this for the greatest niece in the world.
Friday night we celebrated by taking him and his wife to see Jeff Dunham at The Cobb Energy Centre, hereby renamed;
The Cobb Energy Centre with the World's Shittiest Parking Deal
I left the house at 6:10, pulled into the driveway of The Cobb Energy Centre with the World's Shittiest Parking Deal at 6:30 and turned off my car at 7:00 for a 7:00 PM show. My car was parked of the top level of the deck and I managed to grab one of the last remaining spaces. I'm not sure where the other cars that were still being allowed to PAY and pull into the deck were going, but not my venue and not my job.
Friday night we celebrated by taking him and his wife to see Jeff Dunham at The Cobb Energy Centre, hereby renamed;
The Cobb Energy Centre with the World's Shittiest Parking Deal
I left the house at 6:10, pulled into the driveway of The Cobb Energy Centre with the World's Shittiest Parking Deal at 6:30 and turned off my car at 7:00 for a 7:00 PM show. My car was parked of the top level of the deck and I managed to grab one of the last remaining spaces. I'm not sure where the other cars that were still being allowed to PAY and pull into the deck were going, but not my venue and not my job.
There are only 2 elevators in the deck and judging by the number of people waiting on each floor, I'm guess 2 very slow moving elevators. I bailed on the elevators and ran down four flights of wet stairs (that lacked the appropriate "Caution Wet Floor" signage) and into the facility.
AAA Parking chose to use only one point of entry; despite the deck having multiple portals. At the one portal in use, they formed two lines of automobiles and used both the entrance and exit sides to get the vehicles into the deck. So imagine both mechanical arms up with an attendant on each side quick to take your crispy five dollar bill. But then the two lines have to immediately merge to become one line of slowly moving vehicles. Did I mention there were multiple points of entry that could have been used?
Frustrating, aggravating and your tax dollars at work.
To their credit, someone (it could have been the promoter, the artist, or the venue) held the show 15 minutes.
I'm heading back to the CEC in May. Hopefully the powers that be will have figured out a way to ensure that all moments of the theatre going experience are as great as the performers on stage and as beautiful as the theatre.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
MycraigslistSpace
Day 1 of Operation: Two-days-off-in-a-row-before-working-21-days-in-a-row was a complete success. I slept in, surfed the web, straightened the garage, and tonight I'll finish shoring up a leaning bookshelf with some fancy smancy L brackets. Who knows what magical journey I'll have tomorrow.
Two news items from today that piqued my interest. First, was the announcement that MySpace was entering the online retail music business. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate MySpace. I've been waiting for a reason to delete my spacing-holding excuse of an account. I hate logging in once a week to delete the 7 or 8 spam friend requests I've received and to read a few blogs. But my real issue with this new venture; if MySpace can't stop their "users" from spamming and others from hacking your account, how secure do you think their retail store is going to be?
The second news story makes me thankful. My Craigslist debacle from earlier this week isn't nearly as bad as it could have been.
Two news items from today that piqued my interest. First, was the announcement that MySpace was entering the online retail music business. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate MySpace. I've been waiting for a reason to delete my spacing-holding excuse of an account. I hate logging in once a week to delete the 7 or 8 spam friend requests I've received and to read a few blogs. But my real issue with this new venture; if MySpace can't stop their "users" from spamming and others from hacking your account, how secure do you think their retail store is going to be?
The second news story makes me thankful. My Craigslist debacle from earlier this week isn't nearly as bad as it could have been.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
NBC Nightly News Transcript
Brian Williams on tonight's newscast:
And how many times have you heard the guidelines for good health?
A new study says there's no solid evidence that the average healthy person actually needs that much water. Their advice?
And how many times have you heard the guidelines for good health?
"We should all drink 8 glasses of water a day."How many times have you felt badly because your liquid intake is nowhere near that? Do you wonder who these people are who have the time to drink 8 glasses of anything a day? Well there's good news.
A new study says there's no solid evidence that the average healthy person actually needs that much water. Their advice?
"Your body will tell when you need water. Drink when you're thirsty."It's futher proof of our theory; if you're willing to wait long enough a new study will always come out that will justify your way of life.
Late night music - Updated!
There are two imbedded videos in this post that aren't showing in Google reader, please go to the post to see the videos.
Last night, the B-52's were on Leno and Cat Power was on Letterman and both were very odd.
The women of the B-52s didn't sound quite right and Fred looked like a combination of Bono and Michael Stipe and that's not a compliment. The song they performed sounded like every other B-52's song I've ever heard. The one question I had after the performance was whether or not Keith Strickland actually ages?
But maybe I'm wrong.
Then there was Cat Power on Letterman. I tried to listen to her but I couldn't get past the strange pee-pee dance she was doing all over the stage. I've never seen her perform so maybe this is normal.
Last night, the B-52's were on Leno and Cat Power was on Letterman and both were very odd.
The women of the B-52s didn't sound quite right and Fred looked like a combination of Bono and Michael Stipe and that's not a compliment. The song they performed sounded like every other B-52's song I've ever heard. The one question I had after the performance was whether or not Keith Strickland actually ages?
But maybe I'm wrong.
Then there was Cat Power on Letterman. I tried to listen to her but I couldn't get past the strange pee-pee dance she was doing all over the stage. I've never seen her perform so maybe this is normal.
Vegas? Beer?
I'm slowly getting around to booking my lodging for Vegas this summer. Slowly, because the deals really aren't out there yet and won't be for a few weeks. But being curious I logged into my player's club account at MGM/Mirage to see what my current offers were. Their website said that my account had been upgraded and I needed to call in to Account Services and talk to a rep before I could log in.
As I processed this, my bullshit alarm was going off. While I play a lot while I'm out there, I don't have the kind of bankroll that's going to get me noticed. I went ahead and called Account Services, thinking I was about to get hit with a timeshare sales person. Nope, due to my two trips last year, my account was upgraded from Gold to Platinum. I'm not sure what this means but I will extort the hell out of it.
I've complained about the poor quality of beer on the Vegas strip. Waiters look at you funny when you ask for a beer list and it is very common to not find anything darker than Sam Adams. Last year, when due to location, I was holed up in downtown Vegas for over a week. I stumbled (not literally) into Chicago's at Four Queens. Brewed locally, the stout was OK, the wheat beer had too much "extra" spices thrown into it for me but the IPA kicked my ass. I think I had three glasses and paid a severe price the next morning.
Well thanks to the Five Hundy by Midnight podcast, I am now aware of another beer option and this one is on the strip. Pour 24 at NY-NY is open 24 hours a day and carries 24 "American craft beers" on tap and a "featured" bottle list. I think I've had about half the few beers they offer, but I'm ready to sit there and try everything else. Now, I haven't been but I'm guessing that while Pour 24 is no Brick Store or Trappeze but it's definitely a huge leap forward for beer drinking in Vegas. But that's just a novice beer nerd's guess.
As I processed this, my bullshit alarm was going off. While I play a lot while I'm out there, I don't have the kind of bankroll that's going to get me noticed. I went ahead and called Account Services, thinking I was about to get hit with a timeshare sales person. Nope, due to my two trips last year, my account was upgraded from Gold to Platinum. I'm not sure what this means but I will extort the hell out of it.
I've complained about the poor quality of beer on the Vegas strip. Waiters look at you funny when you ask for a beer list and it is very common to not find anything darker than Sam Adams. Last year, when due to location, I was holed up in downtown Vegas for over a week. I stumbled (not literally) into Chicago's at Four Queens. Brewed locally, the stout was OK, the wheat beer had too much "extra" spices thrown into it for me but the IPA kicked my ass. I think I had three glasses and paid a severe price the next morning.
Well thanks to the Five Hundy by Midnight podcast, I am now aware of another beer option and this one is on the strip. Pour 24 at NY-NY is open 24 hours a day and carries 24 "American craft beers" on tap and a "featured" bottle list. I think I've had about half the few beers they offer, but I'm ready to sit there and try everything else. Now, I haven't been but I'm guessing that while Pour 24 is no Brick Store or Trappeze but it's definitely a huge leap forward for beer drinking in Vegas. But that's just a novice beer nerd's guess.
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