July 2002 Archives

Last week, I received a note on my door warning me that my expanded basic cable service will be removed if I don't call Liz. That made me chuckle and remember that almost two years ago, a disgruntled cable installer provided me with the expanded basic cable when I ordered the basic service.

The installer (we'll call him Rick) inquired why I was only ordering the basic service, so I explained that Kris was getting digital cable and I was getting DSL. To save money, I would watch TV at Kris's, and she could use my computer in return. Rick continued with his story (keep in mind, this is nearing 9:00 P.M. and 90° outside) about his previous hookup to a group of nine sorority sisters. Someone had tapped their box to get free cable, and in doing so, really screwed up the wiring. The girls were so bitchy to the first installer, he did half the job and left. Rick came in next, with even bitchier (more bitchy?) girls than before, to clean up and set things straight. He was so appreciative at our kindness, he gave me the expanded basic and even HBO for the first two months.

Now, two years later, they finally discovered my secret. Because I am moving in two weeks, I decided that I really wouldn't mind not watching ESPN in the morning. It would be a learning experience. But the next morning, I check out ESPN. Snow. NBC? Snow. Weather Channel? Snow. Not only did they take away my expanded basic, but also the basic channels, too. I now have snow on every channel. To top it off, I received a bill for next month's service yesterday. Now they want me to pay for the snow, but still at the basic price. But I can't be mad because Rick hooked me up and saved me a ton of money. I will just have to cancel my already non-existent service.

Part of my preparation for the wedding is looking backward to look forward. The decorations will be made from old pictures, which, when reviewing, automatically leads to funny stories or fond feelings about the picture. Last weekend, as part of the reminiscence, we decided to pull out some old videos of the family. The most popular is my Dad's infamous quote "Peddle-Peddle-Peddle-Peddle-Peddle-Peddle-" to my sister as he ran along holding her bike upright, stopping only when she fell off. No matter when it's said, it always garners a laugh.

Part of the trip down memory lane was unexpected. The videos made me realize that all my memories of my brother have unfortunately decayed to still-life representations from pictures. I remember some of his quotes, but the vocalization of him saying it gets lost quickly. The videos brought back the tone in his voice, which carried his care-free attitude and the lingo of the decade. It was also beneficial to sit in a third person position, to see him make the down and out move, and to see myself react and toss a wounded duck ten feet short of the end of his route. (I didn't have a good arm in 1986.) It's hard not to extrapolate what life would be like now with him around. The ever unanswerable 'what if' comes up way too often.

However, the old videos have recreated the need for new, modern video recording, and I hope we'll be able to capture the new events, and update the original, precious memories digitally to save for another walk into the past.

Read the on on the usage of the word ironic from Dictionary.com. You might have just learned something. I did.

This article is being e-mailed throughout my office this morning. It was published Monday in the wake of the recent business scandals and stock market downturn. But it uses employee survey data collected last year, when companies were practicing these controversial unethical behaviors, and people were more likely to bolt. I wonder how different the survey results would be now that jobs are harder to find?

That is the quote a New Mexican man uses when people wonder how he recorded his second hole-in-one with one arm. ESPN.com has the story.

An interesting article at ABCNEWS.com talks about the need to name a decade. Recently it's been the 'nineties', 'eighties,' 'seventies,' and so on. How are we to refer to this decade now, and even in the future? Will they even be the same?

I think we should be looking for a name. Pop culture names like that just happen, just like catchy nicknames. In the movie "Swingers," Vince Vaughn's character, Trent Walker is called "Double Down," for his great betting abilities. Trent didn't pick the name, it came naturally. The best nicknames are always as a result of an action, character trait, or event. We shouldn't go looking for a name, we should wait and let it come to us.

The French fans applaud their own, Richard Virenque, who admitted to illegal doping in 1998. But in the same breath, they turn right around and jeer at Lance Armstrong as he continues to dominate the Tour de France. The best part about the story is Lance's quote:

"I don't really care. Nor will I care in three or four years when I'm sitting on the beach with my kids, having a cool beer.''

The best show on television last year, (best show ever IMO) appropriately received 23 Emmy nominations, four shy of NYPD Blue's record.

"This is a very good day to be a member of 'Six Feet Under.' They're not six feet under, they're on top of the world."

Why are mug shots so damn ugly? I though driver's licenses were bad. I think they have make up people that actually make you look bad, especially if they know they are going to be splattered all over the internet, like these: Noelle Bush, Jeb's daughter & Allen Iverson. Ugly. Just damn ugly.

Update: New photo of Noelle Bush.

A clip from the live text-log of MacWorld Expo.

Steve Jobs started out talking about the Switchers ad campaign. "These are real people telling their story." In a little over a month, 1.7 million unique visitors to the Switch Web site -- 60 percent of those visiting are Windows users. Response has been "off the charts."

If you caught any of the highlights of the All-Star Baseball game last week, you most likely saw the Great Sausage Race. At my company picnic on Saturday, we got to meet the Bratwurst.

People spend about two weeks a year in the bathroom -- that's an hour a day, according to last year's National Association for Continence survey. Two years earlier, another study put the time at 35 minutes a day.

A man pulling out of his driveway this morning was taking his time, and eventually a car approached and had to wait while the man finished backing up. I was walking by and heard an apologetic "Sorry" come from the man to the waiting car. Problem was, while his window was open, the car's windows were rolled up and couldn't hear his nice apology.

I continued on my way to work, and eventually had to wait for a gap in two lanes of traffic to cross. While waiting, a car in one of the lanes honked at me, saying I could cross in front of him. Problem was, there were cars zooming past him in the other lane that surely would have struck me and the other pedestrian. I proceeded to tell him this, while motioning for him to continue moving. He didn't have his window open either.

Do we say things to out loud, stuff that nobody has a chance of hear, to make ourselves feel better? Does this mean trees really do make a sound in the forest?

This couple borrowed (stole) electricity from their church to charge their cell phones. They didn't have a house, so they came to the church for a charge.

Why do they have a cell phones, and not a house? Have our priorities gone that awry?

I'm not concerned with Sesame Street introducing a HIV-positive character. I think it is very appropriate. But I am really concerned that according to this photo, Elmo's name is actually Neno. How long has he been playing dual roles? Does he have other names?

For all you golfers out there, here's the Onion.com Golf Tips

How stupid can you feel when you pull up to the urinal for the first time of the work day, and you realize that you have just spent the last 3 hours with your fly down?

Speaking from experience, it's pretty dumb. Your mind quickly races through everywhere you've been and how many people you've seen. For me, I spent half of it in my car by myself, but there was that stop for gas. Damn! It was busy, too. Maybe 20 people, tops?

An enlightening article on what goes through the mind of suicide bombers. (via Jason)

My conscience is pretty clean after watching the MTV Cribs special, "How to Live Like a Rock Star." After getting tours through million dollar buses, $6,000/night suites (which they talked proudly of trashing), multi-million dollar homes, personalized vehicles, and listening to profound stories of groupies sexing it up for themselves and others, Kris made the best comment of the night. "I don't feel so bad about downloading music for free. They obviously don't need my money." I wholeheartedly agree.

Went to see MIB II tonight. Entertaining, but really short at 82 minutes. This p/review mentions a holographic image of K on board the alien ship. Did you see one, 'cause I didn't.

To all those Americans (and anyone else that wants to) that celebrate the 4th of July, enjoy it.

The trees here are starting to grow around the overhead wires. I think they know that if they don't, the power company will hack them apart as they wish.

Some people like to eat hot dogs really fast. There's even an international federation that governs speed eating. Surprisingly, this is a sport.

I got my first taste of actually being involved with politics. A report that I worked on is part of a larger development. That development was turned down by the City about a month ago. The developers have appealed the decision, asking the City Council to refer it another 120 days. All that is standard government. Here's where the politics come in.

The alder of the district where the development is occurring left a message on the developer's voice-mail, strong-arming the project to require more guarenteed union labor. Problem is, he's the president of the labor union that would benefit. Now, more developers are coming forward saying he's used these tactics before. A bit of a conflict of interest, no? All that was danced around as the council discussed the vote of the 120 day referral. The vote came back narrowly against the referral of 120 days. Someone quickly called a 10 minute recess, and we nervously prepared our rebuttal presentations. Upon reconveining, a motion was made to revote, and low and behold, the referral carried without us saying a word. Now, that's politics.

Top scientists have finalized the color of the universe. And they also named it: Cosmic Latte.

A big hearty congrats goes to Steve Fossett and crew. He is the first to circumnavigate the globe by himself in a hot air balloon. Said Fossett, "You can't do very much celebrating...I do have a couple of bottles of Bud Light, but there's no one to drink it with."

That sucks. Not only does he have to drink diet beer, Bud no less, but because he flew solo, he drinks alone. Sucker.