A Better Version of Me

Best Description of Fiat Currency, Ever.

2008-02-17T14:02:00.002-06:00

Even though most Earthlings do not like to be told how stupid they are, it is a good thing that they are stupid, because if "homo dumbo" truly, truly comprehended the sheer horrifying enormity of what is going to happen because of all of this incomprehensible debt and leverage financed by the Federal Reserve, they would crap in their pants in sheer terror and it would stink like hell.

Another place to look for evidence is anywhere you look in the whole history of the freaking world, even little dip-squat little prehistoric places out in the middle of nowhere, where the primitive people used mastodon crap for money, which was stupid because there was mastodon crap everywhere, and so the money supply was unlimited, so inflation destroyed them all, too, but who can almost be excused for adopting such a stupid money and economic system because they had tiny little brains, and whose entire language system apparently consisted of about 30 words, 5 of them being various nuances of "mastodon crap".

Read the rest of the article, if you wish.

Back from the Dead

2007-08-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

Yes, just like Everlast on the second House of Pain album, I am back from the dead. I've been spending most of my time on Facebook and Myspace for the past several months. However, I will try to be better about posting on the ol' blog now and then. I just haven't had much to write about lately. Guess I'm just more of a commenter than a storyteller.

Global What?

2007-01-22T00:11:00.000-06:00

The last thing I expected to see when I arrived in Tucson tonight was snow. That's right. Snow. There is currently about two inches of the white stuff on the ground in freaking Tucson, Arizona. WTF? Where's my damn global warming when I need it?! If I wanted to play in the snow I'd have stayed in Kansas.

I Second That Emotion

2006-12-27T20:37:00.000-06:00

Well, I was in the fantasy football superbowl in each of my leagues last weekend and I lost 'em both. Damn. Oh well, now I can turn my full attention to my fantasy soccer league. My team, FC Tonganoxie, currently leads the league I'm in, and is about 1500th overall out of approximately 1.2 million players. Not bad for a beginner!

Mete un gol, baby. Mete un goal!

It Wasn't Me

2006-12-18T20:23:00.000-06:00

Kansas Dad Accused of Running Dryer With Kids Inside

That'll learn that boy not to piss in his pants!

And, just a few days prior...

Pritchard and a cousin were arrested in late November when police found the two men on top of a grain elevator in Hutchinson, with backpacks full of beer and alcohol.

That there's a dad worth emulating.

Tearin up shit with fire, shooters, looters

2006-12-12T20:16:00.000-06:00

Now I got a laptop computer!

'Bout time. I've been eyein' 'em for some time now. I finally had a good excuse to get one and I took advantage. You see, Bree just got herself a fancy new Roland 300SX digital piano. So, I decided it was only fair that I get something cool, too. It sure makes these business trips more fun. I can surf the 'net in my room rather than hangin' out in the lobby. Word!

Gang Bangin' in Little Rock

2006-12-10T22:41:00.000-06:00

Well, I find myself in Little Rock, Arkansas, this week for some more training. Maybe I'll hit the streets at night and do some bangin' with the local thugs from the infamous HBO documentary. Or maybe I'll just do my best to avoid that scene.

On another note, I may try and find the Clinton Presidential Library. First I have to think of a good way to deface it without getting into too much trouble. Any ideas? ;)

BACT That Ass Up

2006-11-29T18:55:00.000-06:00

I am currently in Des Moines, IA, learning about the analysis involved in choosing the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for air pollution sources during their permitting process. Aren't ya jealous?

I've been all over the map lately. NYC, DC, Fargo (North Dakota) and now Des Moines. The road trips to Fargo and Des Moines within the last week have helped me once again appreciate how vast, and yet quite beautiful, the midwest really is. Too bad most people spend their lives merely flying over it. You really should stop by sometime and take a tour. You won't regret the decision!

Just don't do it right now. The snow and ice is a bitch!

Oh Deer

2006-11-15T21:51:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to keep your eyes peeled for those damn deer running across the road. Check this out. Auto accidents involving deer have risen dramatically in Kansas since the 1980s. Just another reason we need to issue more permits to the hunters to kill those animals. Even the deer have to prefer getting shot to getting splattered all over the highway by an 18-wheeler.

Deer. They are SO not kosher.

Where's Waldo?

2006-10-26T20:59:00.000-05:00

I'm the only non-Hasidic man in this picture. Can ya find me??

Wingdings

2006-10-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

You know the font, right? I was playing around with it today and discovered a spooky combination of characters that arise when converting "NYC" to wingdings. Converting it to webdings also produces an interesting string of pics. While new to me, apparently this phenomena has been known of since '92. Man, I'm way behind the times.

I do find the NYC wingdings thing a bit creepy. Could it really be random? What's the probability of such a string of characters coming about randomly and actually seeming to mean something? It's gotta be pretty slim.

Say Lettuce And Spell Cup

2006-10-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

I want my spinach back! Enough already. I'm tired of having nothing but lettuce to put on my samiches and in my ensaladas. It's so blah. Spinach is where it's at! E. coli schmoli.

I Scream Sundays

2006-09-24T11:25:00.000-05:00

I love Sundays--eSpecially in the fall.

Start the day with an EPL game at 10.

Then its NFL at 12, 3 and 7.

Then the kicker: I don't have to think about going to work in the morning!

My First Meme

2006-09-23T23:08:00.000-05:00

Thanks, PN. I'll do my best.

LIST TEN THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW BUT YOU NEVER WILL, FOR WHATEVER REASON. DON'T SAY WHO THEY ARE. USE EACH PERSON ONLY ONCE.

1. Why do you wear a watch on each wrist? Seriously, one watch does the job. Two is just plain creepy.

2. Stop using the handicap button to open the restroom door. You're not freakin' handicapped! Do you really think that button is much cleaner than the door handle? Well, I've got news for ya.

3. I don't mind talking to you, but I'd like it more if you didn't have such a body odor problem. I swear, I can smell you from 10 feet away. WTF?!

4. No, you can't have my dog, broad!

5. Yes, I voted for Bush and I don't regret it. F*ck off!

6. Dude, those Livestrong-like bracelets were so 2005. Take'em off already!

7. When I don't ask for help, I don't need it. Please stop offering.

8. For the love of G-d, SHUT UP!

9. Alright, maybe the first kid was a mistake. However, now you're expecting a third? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? You're still a kid yourself.

10. We have a connection. I don't know what it is exactly, but I like it.

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

2006-09-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

Something I'll never forget took place on my flight home from Minnesota this morning. Two marines were on the flight, making their way home from Iraq. Sadly, one of them flew back to KC in the cargo hold.

I wondered what was up when I arrived at the gate and saw a sharply-dressed marine sitting nearby. Then I noticed the triangularly-folded American flag resting in his lap. Even then, I thought he might just be delivering the flag to a soldier's family. Little did I know that his fallen comrade was making the flight with him.

As we taxied toward the runway, the captain came over the speaker and announced that we had two special guests on board, both marines and brothers. Then he broke the news that only one of them was in the passenger cabin. Wow. That made for the most awkward, somber flight I've ever experienced.

When we pulled up to the gate in KC, there was a hearse, several marines and a police motorcade waiting on the tarmac to recieve the body. We were asked to stay seated while they unloaded the casket and carried it on to the hearse. I watched the whole thing take place from my window. I was speechless and fighting back tears and it was all I could do to restrain myself from knocking some sense into the guy next to me who spent most of this time on his cell phone.

Some situations call for a certain amount of respect. Yes, there are times when you can delay that phone call for ten minutes. I guess some people just don't get it.

Mama Said NOx You Out

2006-09-18T17:31:00.000-05:00

Well, combustion turbine day has ended. You know, if I was better at planning ahead, I'd have brought a jacket with me to Minnesota. I haven't felt too cold yet, however. So far the weather's been in the 40's and fitty's and I'm a fairly hot-blooded dude to begin with.

I enjoyed our afternoon tour of the combustion turbine peaking plant near Bloomington. Listening to Minnesotans talk aboot their turbines is fun. I like their accents.

I wish the frickin' Twins were in town. I'd like to have the chance to see some good baseball on this trip. Damn.

All Apologies

2006-09-17T09:56:00.000-05:00

I've been a bit under the weather for the last week. That mostly explains my lack of blogging activity. This coming week likely won't be any more active. I'm leaving today for St. Paul, MN, for some training and I won't get back 'til Friday. If I only had a laptop! So, have a good week and I'll check in from the Land O'Lakes if I get a chance.

How's This Sound?

2006-09-07T18:18:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking that if I ever have twin boys I'll name them after my grandpas.

Yep, that's right.

Elmer & Delmer.

Oh You Silly, Stupid, Pastime of Mine

2006-09-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

Just one night away from the beginning of another NFL season. The Chiefs should be OK this year, but I don't think they'll do much besides maybe make the playoffs and lose in the first round. I'm more excited for my fantasy team. I've got LaDainian Tomlinson this year. I've never had him on a team before. He'd better not suffer some catastrophic injury! Although, I endured one of those with Culpepper last year and ended up winning my league. Still, I'd rather have a healthy LT2 all year. Bree was happy that I got Jake Delhomme. She thinks he's hot.

Let the games begin!

Tecmo Bo

2006-09-03T21:32:00.000-05:00

I was a huge Bo Jackson fan growing up. So, of course I also loved Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson. That guy was the best video game football player ever. Check out this highlight reel run of his.

Absolutely amazing! You go, Bo!

I'm Addicted

2006-08-31T20:05:00.000-05:00

To egg mcmuffins.

I've been eating them a lot lately since I work right across the street from a McDonalds. However, I did look at the nutrition facts the other day, and the egg mcmuffin is about the best option calorie-wise for a McDonalds breakfast food. Mmmm...I can't wait for tomorrow's breakfast break!

P.S. That new McDonalds coffee ain't half bad, either.

My Baby's All Liquored Uuuuup

2006-08-27T12:42:00.000-05:00

Bree and Pam played a short set at the "Croquet for Curing Cancer" event Saturday. We all had a good time. The band that played after them, The Snot Rockets, kept us very entertained with several excellend Johnny Cash tunes and their own songs, includind my personal favorite of the evening--"My Baby's All Liquored Up."

The title of the song would prove to be spot-on for all three of us by the end of the night. You see, besides playing and listening to music, we all got in on the croquet action. Bree won her initial round, which enabled her to advance to the finals. In my round, I only got 2nd; but I received a free pass to the finals anyway because the winner of my round had to leave. And wouldn't ya know it, I ended up winning the finals. Woohoo! Yes, I enjoyed quite a come-from-behind victory. Bree seemed poised to win after dropping her final approach shot right in front of the last two wickets; especially since I had just gone before her and blasted my ball several feet beyond the final target. However, my next shot would be nothing short of miraculous. I chipped the ball from behind the wickets and managed to hit Bree's ball--that means I get another shot! So, from there I cooly hit my ball through the last two wickets and nailed the stake to seal the deal. Yessssssssss!

The victory helped contribute to the liquored-up portion of the evening. My prize for taking first place consisted of an autographed Kevin Lockett K-State cap (very nice) and a fifth of Jameson. Needless to say, most of the Jameson disappeared before we got home. Ah, good times indeed.

I Wish I Was A Little Bit Taller...

2006-08-25T22:06:00.000-05:00

A new study says tall people are smarter.

Tall.
Check.

Smart.
Check.

OK, where's my big raise??

Today is a Good Day

2006-08-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

Tottenham Hotspur grabs their first win with the help of current FC Tonganoxie captain Dimitar Berbatov. Oh yeah, and my team's already one of the most valuable in the world. I love this game!

Spurs Lose

2006-08-19T23:12:00.000-05:00

My newly adopted favorite English soccer team, Tottenham Hotspur, lost their first game of the season to Bolton, 2-0. Bummer.

However, my fantasy soccer team seems to be fairing well this first weekend. My captain, Darren Bent, scored a PK and Steven Gerrard had a decent game. Yakubu scored a goal, but I had him on the bench. Damn! I've since figured out that I can play three forwards instead of just two. So I'll start Bent, Yakubu and Berbatov from now on and go with one less defender.

A couple of my better players, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, have yet to play their games this weekend. Chances of them scoring me some points should be good.

I'm glad the real games have started up. This should be a fun season. Cheerio!

My Weekend Goes to 3. It's...1 Longer.

2006-08-19T18:51:00.000-05:00

That's right. I no longer have to go to work on Mondays. I'm beginning to like this getting paid by the hour thing. Four ten hour days works for me.

The Test Adults Have Grown to Love. It's the G.RRRRRRRRR.E!

2006-08-09T21:42:00.000-05:00

I'll be taking the GRE in about a week so that I can apply for engineering graduate school. Anybody taken this test? Is it very difficult? Methinks it'll be more like the LSAT than the SOA exam. That's a good thing. I got through the LSAT with high marks, but that actuary stuff hit me below the belt. If you're an actuary, I've got mad respect for your skillz. It ain't easy bein' cheesy.

Four Eyes and Two Wheels

2006-08-08T22:17:00.000-05:00

That's right, I got my motorcycle license today. Apparently my 4 hp Ruckus is 0.5 hp too big to qualify as a moped. Oh well, now I'm qualified to ride even the biggest of hogs. Yeehaw!!

Chelsea's Goin' Down. Down, Down, Down!

2006-08-06T10:02:00.000-05:00

MLS All-Stars 1
Chelsea FC 0

What a game! I know it was Chelsea's first match of the preseason and they were no doubt rusty, but I'm still amazed that our MLS players could beat them and also shut them out. Woohoo!

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned, And Then Some

2006-08-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

Check your pockets and piggy banks for nickels and pre-1982 pennies. They're now worth more as metal than as U.S. currency. According to this cool site I found, the metal in a nickel is currently worth about 6.2 cents and the metal in a pre-1982 penny is worth about 2.3 cents. Horde those nickels now before the government debases them with a bunch of zinc! They'll be a good hedge against inflation. ;)

Bad to the Bone

2006-08-02T22:04:00.000-05:00

I bought myself a Honda Ruckus last week and I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Just call it the Hummer of 50cc scooters; much cooler than the Honda Spree I had before. Now I just need someone else in Tongie to get one so we can hotrod around town like these guys in the Bay Area (I love their videos!). Maybe I should just move to one of the coasts.

Matt, this one has three times the fuel capacity of the Spree (1.3 gallons) so you'll be able to go much further before running out of gas. (If you ever stop by to visit, that is. I know San Diego is a much cooler place to be these days.)

Yeah, And I'm One Of'em

2006-07-30T21:50:00.000-05:00

Some persons who enjoy statistics will (they do really exist) come up with odds of 1 in 17 billion. Remember that you don't need to match in exact order - we use combinations and not permutations.

Excerpt from Powerball's website that I came across while checking my loser numbers. I know, the odds are horrendous, but hey--"You got to be in it to win it!" I'll probably continue to play the higher jackpots, even if they do make fun of stat geeks on their website.

Frustrated Incorporated

2006-07-29T20:09:00.000-05:00

Saw Clerks II today since my wife is on holiday (she's not much for humor related to lewd and lascivious behavior). Loved it!

Randal cracked me up with his reenactment of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I couldn't agree with him more. I'd take Star Wars over Lord of the Rings any day of the week.

I really gotta get some of Jay's dance moves. That guy rocks.

Oh, and Rosario Dawson looks great in the movie. I couldn't take my eyes off her! Giddy up!

I Had a Dream, I Had an Awesome Dream

2006-07-26T22:12:00.000-05:00

Finally, I can be one of those people in the park; playing games in the dark. That's right, I got a Playstation Portable. Woohoo! My first-ever portable game system. I don't know how I managed to miss the whole Game Boy bandwagon, but I never did get one of them.

On another good note, I've also been given the green light by my wife to replace my 20-year-old Honda Spree scooter. So, within the next couple of days I will be bringin' the Ruckus to all you muthaf*ckas.

This new scooter will go much better with my mohawk. I'll take some pics when I get her.

What He Said

2006-07-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

Do Yourself a Favor: Watch Landis

Ole Floyd won the yellow jersey back today and he'll begin the ride into Paris tomorrow with a 30 second lead. Eight straight American winners at Le Tour? That would be great!

Wookin' Pa Nub In All Da Wong Paces, Wookin' Pa Nub

2006-07-20T17:48:00.000-05:00

In the midst of my search to find a favorite English Premier League team to latch on to for the upcoming season, I stumbled upon an excellent article by Bill Simmons. Apparently, he's doing the same search. I was on the verge of going with Arsenal until I read his list of their celebrity fans.

Celebrity Fans: An astonishingly bizarre group that includes Gavin Rossdale, Spike Lee, Hornby, Dido, Johnny Rotten, Roger Waters, Andrew Ridgeley (the other guy from Wham!), Ray Davies, Colin Firth, Will Wheaton, Freddie Prinze Jr., Kevin Costner, Jackie and Joan Collins, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry, Fidel Castro, John Gotti, Michael Moore and Osama Bin Laden. Now there's a list you want to avoid.

Yeah, so much for picking them. I do really like their 'kits' though.

My other potential pick was Tottenham Hotspur, and Simmons' description of them really hit home with me.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
• American Comparison: As one reader explains, "If the Dodgers had stayed in Brooklyn, they'd be the Spurs."

• Nickname: The Spurs. This is important: You either call then "Tottenham Hotspur" or you call them "the Spurs," but no other option is acceptable.

•In a Nutshell: If London was the Corleone family, Manchester United was Sonny and Arsenal was Michael, then the Spurs would be Fredo with a little more street smarts … the name "Hotspur" comes from the character Henry Hotspur in "Henry IV," so here's a team that really does have a Shakespearean legacy … blessed with a devout fan base in North London that routinely packs the other team's house during road games (a la Sox fans) … if they ever won the Premier League, it would be the American equivalent of the Jets winning the Super Bowl or the Indians winning the World Series.

• Bandwagon Potential: Invitingly low since they haven't finished in the top four since the Premier League launched back in 1993. Plus, as a reader explains, "Way back in the day, other English teams' fans would derisively jeer Tottenham fans, stereotyping them as Jews and calling them just about every anti-Semitic name you could call someone. So, the Hotspurs fans just turned the jeers around, proudly proclaiming themselves a 'Jew Army' and -- despite the fact that most weren't even Jewish -- embraced the imagery wholeheartedly. Just to spit in the face of the racist idiots who misidentified them in the first place." Seriously, how weird is English soccer?

• Celebrity Fans: Steve Nash, Salman Rushdie, Ray Liotta, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jude Law, the late Bob Marley, Donal Logue, Shania Twain, Baby Spice … and the head of ESPN, John Skipper. On the Sucking Up Scale, picking the Spurs would be a solid 10 out of 10.

• Colors/Jerseys: Traditional white shirts with blue pants, blue jerseys on the road. Does the job.

• Signature Players: Irish striker Robbie Keane (known for his crazy celebrations after goals), 20-year-old wing Aaron Lennon (considered the odds-on favorite to take Beckham's spot on the 2010 World Cup team), midfielder Edgar Davids (a black Dutchman with dreads and tinted goggles). In particular, Lennon looks like a potential Dwyane Wade-type down the road. So that's appealing.

• Unintentional Comedy: They have a Kafka-reading, gigantic Dutchman of a coach named Martin Jol who (A) has brothers named "Cock" and "Dick" (I'm not making this up), and (B) apparently talks just like Goldmember (in the third Austin Powers movie). Now there's someone who needs to be in my life.

• Sponsors: A gambling Web site called Mansion. Good times! This pick is almost becoming a foregone conclusion, right?

• Stadium: A 105-year-old stadium (White Hart Lane) that holds only 36,000 seats … the same number as Fenway Park. Hmmmmmm.

• Vacation Destination: They're based in London, so absolutely.

• Most Hated Rival: Arsenal. And "hated" isn't a strong enough word. As a couple of the readers explained, "[This] dates back to 1919 when Arsenal was promoted to the top division ahead of Spurs under the shadiest of circumstances. So they have an 87-year rivalry made worse by the fact that their stadiums are only a few miles apart. The equivalent of having Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium at opposite ends of Charlestown. Surpasses Yankees/Sox, Leafs/Habs, etc. There has been blood spilled between fans, not to mention the hatred started because of a corrupt Arsenal president. Add to that the fact that last season Spurs finished underneath Arsenal by two points because of a case of violent stomach flu, conspiracy theorists claiming that Arsenal fans poisoned the team's food at a hotel party prior to the final game of the season. Not even Aaron Spelling could come up with that plot line. It would have been the first time in years that they had finished above their North London rivals. What's not to love?"

(By the way, the food poisoning story DID happen -- it was the biggest EPL subplot of last year. Can you imagine if the Mavs had lost Game 7 in San Antonio because most of the team came down with food poisoning from their hotel food the night before the game? Cuban would still be blogging about it two months later. I'm telling you, crazy, crazy, CRAZY stuff happens in the EPL.)

(Bonus reason to pick them: They finished fifth last season and are considered the proverbial "Team on the Rise," but they haven't actually done anything yet and perhaps never will. Now that's tempting.)

• Single Best Reason NOT to Pick Them: One reader writers, "If you want a team that will absolutely crush your spirit, you must support Tottenham Hotspur for the '06-'07 EPL season."

I love it! I shall look no further. The Spurs are my team. You can count me in as the newest member of the 'Jew Army.' Let the games begin!

Don't Call It A Comeback

2006-07-20T17:44:00.000-05:00

Floyd Landis put on a show today in the Tour de France. He faded fast from the top spot yesterday; finishing over eight minutes out of the lead. However, today he showed that he's still a force to be reckoned with by winning the stage in a major way. He's now only 30 seconds behind the leader. Wow!

So Fresh and So Klinsmann?

2006-07-19T20:48:00.000-05:00

Now that Bruce Arena will not be back as the United States' soccer coach, I'm left to ponder who the next manager will be. I think Juergen Klinsmann would be a great choice, but so far he is claiming to have no interest in the position since resigning from the German squad. Maybe he'll change his mind.

I don't know much about potential coaches besides Klinsmann. As long as we hire someone who doesn't have such a crush on Landon Donovan, I'll be happy.

Get This

2006-07-18T20:16:00.000-05:00

We have a cleaning lady now and my wife insists that we 'clean up the house a bit' before she comes over. Isn't that what the cleaning lady is getting paid to do? Clean? There are some things in this world that I just don't get.

What's Your Fantasy?

2006-07-11T20:35:00.000-05:00

I've grown a bit tired of constantly dominating NFL fantasy football. I feel like I could sleepwalk through the draft in a couple months and still field a championship-caliber team. I just know too damn much about the NFL. I need a new challenge. Therefore, I've decided to try my luck at English Premier League fantasy football. Yes, fantasy soccer for those of you who don't know better.

The league I've signed up for is a salary cap league. Basically, every player is assigned a value in pounds and you are given 100 million pounds to field a team of 15 players (11 starters and 4 reserves). I played in a baseball league like this once. It's not quite as fun as a draft league, but it'll do. The best part about this kind of league is trying to 'buy low' and 'sell high.' At the beginning, you can't afford to field an entire team of studs--the proven players cost way too much. You have to choose a couple stalwarts and surround them with several players who possess massive upside potential. Then, if you're lucky, several of your 'potential stars' will have a strong start to the season. This will cause their respective values to increase significantly; allowing you to sell them and by some proven studs get you through the rest of the year in a dominating fashion. Fun stuff, huh? I sure think so.

Anyway, here's my current lineup:

Goalkeepers
Tim Howard, Everton, 5 million pounds
Dean Kiely, Portsmouth, 4 million pounds

Defense
John Terry, Chelsea, 8 million pounds
Wes Brown, Manchester United, 6 million pounds
Michael Dawson, Tottenham Hotspur, 5.5 million pounds
Lucas Neill, Blackburn, 5 million pounds
Liam Rosenior, Fulham, 4 million pounds

Midfield
Tomas Rosicky, Arsenal, 9 million pounds
Aaron Lennon, Tottenham Hotspur, 7.5 million pounds
Steven Davis, Aston Villa, 6.5 million pounds
Ashley Young, Watford, 6 million pounds
Lee Cattermole, Middlesbrough, 5.5 million pounds

Forwards
Thierry Henry, Arsenal, 14 million pounds
Dimitar Berbatov, Tottenham Hotspur, 8 million pounds
Ricardo Vaz Te, Bolton Wanderers, 6 million pounds

I actually accomplished the perfect pump. 100 million pounds exactly! Hopefully I'll get an excellent return on my investment.

These Englishmen in my league had better watch out! This yankee means business!

Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish guy! Help me Tom Cruise!

2006-07-09T16:19:00.000-05:00

I heart Will Ferrell and I can't hardly wait to see his new movie.

I Did Not Know This Was The Quiddich World Cup

2006-07-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

I Heart World Cup Commercials

2006-06-29T20:17:00.000-05:00

Don't Believe the Hype

2006-06-22T18:19:00.000-05:00

That's right, the vaunted USA soccer team has left the pitch for good in this installment of the World Cup.

This sucks.

Who am I supposed to root for now?

Dammit! Now I have to wait 4 MORE YEARS for another shot at USA soccer glory.

Did I say this sucks?

I gotta go drink some more. Peace.

Bison-tennial

2006-06-21T22:22:00.000-05:00

The U.S. Mint will be issuing a new 24k gold coin on Thursday. I'll be snatching up a couple. You may want to do the same. Not only are they a nice coin; they also make a good investment. Getting at least some of your savings out of cash-based assets is a good idea, imho, the way inflation and debt has been building in this country lately. We're beginning to draw lots of parallels with the mid-to-late stages of the Weimar Republic. Yikes.

Me & the Lollypop Guild

2006-06-10T13:01:00.000-05:00

I must say, the fact that I bear no relation to the others in this photo can be deduced rather easily upon viewing. However, Rachel, little Jason, April and Haley often feel like the closest thing I'll ever have to real siblings. If only we could all hang out more often like we used to back in the day. Growing up and moving away tends to put a strain on those activities. I especially miss our coed softball leage games--good times indeed.

Uh oh, Now It's Got A Webite

2006-06-02T21:28:00.000-05:00

Now you can't say you didn't know the pandemic was coming.

Whew, I'm Glad They Didn't Have Me Do Their Taxes

2006-06-01T20:49:00.000-05:00

GE files 24000-page tax return.

CPT, CAL, my Locality--Yeah, Right!

2006-05-29T19:02:00.000-05:00

Check out this map of the latest non-attainment data for air quality in the United States. Sorry California, you can keep your shitty ass air. I'll stay here in Kansas where I can get all the fresh air I want--save for the occasional whiff of the local pig farm.

Relate to the Matter As I Drop the Bomb, Because I'm Housin'...on Houston

2006-05-16T07:46:00.000-05:00

Time for some overdue New York blogging.

A week ago, Bree and I returned from our trip to NYC. We really enjoyed our time there. Friday night we saw Carlos Beltran and the Mets beat the Braves in a 14-inning marathon of a game.

Saturday we met up with Karol, Dawn and Fisch for some pizza on Houston St. (that's How-ston, not Hue-ston, the concierge at our hotel was quick to correct my bad pronunciation). Meeting them definitely highlighted the trip for me. They couldn't have been any nicer or easier to get along with. I look forward to the chance to meet up with them and other bloggers again in the future. Dawn has an excellent recap of our conversation here. I wish I'd gotten a picture with them but we left in a hurry as we did not want to be late for the play. We did arrive at "Three Days of Rain" on time and we both liked it. I got some great center orchestra seats on eBay at a super price and we couldn't have been happier with them. I know many critics haven't been the biggest fans of Julia Roberts and this production, but I enjoyed it. I'd see it over a Broadway musical anyday, but that's just my humble opinion.

Jessica was out of town, but she did bring the Five Boro Bike Tour to my attention. So, thanks to her, Bree and I got signed up in time for that event which took place on Sunday. This is me waiting for the subway train to take us down to Battery Park for the start of the tour.

While the pace wasn't the fastest (we spent about as much time walking our bikes as riding them due to congestion from the 30000+ cyclists), we had fun taking in the sites of the city from our bikes. Plus, we were able to finish the 42 mile ride with nary a flat tire or wreck. Whew! I'm too cheap to buy the action shots taken by the tour photgraphers, but you can view them here and here if you'd like.

Monday we went to the Statue of Liberty, shopped and spent some time in Central Park. All-in-all, our trip went very well. We stayed in an excellent hotel, met some excellent bloggers and got some excellent exercise. I guess you could say it was a real "triple-ex" experience! :)

The Royals Swept A Series!

2006-05-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

Hey Fisch, maybe you should think about trading that Indians hat in for a nice KC royal blue one. :)

Random eBay Find of the Day

2006-04-27T18:38:00.000-05:00

My mom has one of these torches, except she actually carried the flame with hers. I had no idea that someone would pay a thousand dollars for a commemorative torch. Maybe I should tell mom to put an alarm on the case that contains her authentic one.

Deep Thoughts

2006-04-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

Today I saw my newest neighbor across the street mowing his lawn and I realized, for the first time, that he looks just like Peter Griffin. That made me smile. I love that guy.

"Just don't forget our deal, Lois. I sit through this and later tonight I get anal. You hear me? No matter how neat I want the house you have to clean it."

I Uncocked My Shit...I'm Heartbroke, But I'm Still Loc'ed

2006-04-18T11:32:00.000-05:00

At the moment, the Royals are mired in an eight-game losing streak with no hope of it ending anytime soon. This sucks when the season ends before it really even gets going. However, at least Carlos Beltran (ex-Royal) and the Mets have begun the season on a good note. I'm looking forward to the chance to see them in person in a few weeks.

If the curse of the Royals' outfielders of 2000 holds true, then the Mets should win the World Series this year. You see, in 2000, the Royals' starting outfielders were Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye and Carlos Beltran. Shortly thereafter, they all left because the Royals' could no longer afford them. Since then, Damon won a World Series in 2004 and Dye won one in 2005 (and was the Series MVP). So, to completely make Royals' fans upset, Beltran's team should win the title this year. Go Mets!

Independence Day

2006-04-10T22:22:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, Bree and I finally got around to taking a short trip to Independence, MO, to learn more about their favorite son, Harry Truman.

First, we took the tour of his beautiful home. It's a nice, well-preserved place. Harry's hat and coat still hang by the door, the last place he put them before he died. His wife, Bess, never felt the need to move them. The kitchen calender remains on the month of October, 1982, when Bess died. The public can't yet tour the second floor because the Trumans only child, Margaret, is still alive. Bess's will specifically stated that the second floor of the house should remain a private residence for Margaret while she's alive, in case she wants to come back and visit. Margaret, 82, currently lives in New York and she hasn't been back to the area in twelve years. I thought that was some interesting trivia put forth by our guide.

Next, we walked about a mile down the street to the Truman Library. The house definitely impressed me, but the library was the highlight of the trip for my history-addicted self. The place contains a wealth of knowledge and artifacts from the Truman years in office. The Recognition of Israel section had me in awe. Being able to stand within inches of the original document, signed by Truman, recognizing the state of Israel really got me. And next to it was the beautiful Torah inside a silver and copper ark given to Truman by Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel, that same May of 1948. Some other excellent exhibits included the decision to drop the bomb, the reconstruction of Europe and the origins of the cold war. Whether you agree or disagree with Truman's actions, you certainly must recognize the fact the he faced some of the toughest challenges of any president in the 20th century. I certainly admire him for that. Having the guts to drop the bomb, be the first leader to recognize Israel and stand up to Stalin in the beginning of the arms race certainly proved his main point--"The buck stops here." Not bad for a guy who, at age 33, had deemed his life a complete failure.

So, if you're ever in the Kansas City area, I urge you to check out the Truman Library. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I'm Tellin' You, Kansas City, Kansas City's Oh And One

2006-04-04T11:17:00.000-05:00

They play some crappy baseball contests there and I went and, saw me one.

But hey, at least I got a free picture out of it!

Here's to another 100-loss season!

If You're Ever In Boulder, CO

2006-03-29T21:41:00.000-06:00

Make sure you go downtown and catch a street performance by The Zip Code Man. He's freakin' amazing. He knows the location of EVERY zip code in the U.S. and international ones, too. I saw him several years ago when I was in Boulder for a K-State/Colorado football game. I yelled out all the zip codes I knew, including 66962 for the tiny town of Palmer, KS (pop. 100) where my grandparents live, and he got them all correct! I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Anyway, that's my random thought for the day.

Hard Up For Some Good Hip-Hop?

2006-03-27T14:27:00.000-06:00

Check out DJ Premier's discography. I did and I discovered a treasure-trove of excellent tracks produced by this Gang Starr legend that I had been overlooking for all these years. I've been a Gang Starr fan for several years but I'd never bothered to check out Premier's other work. Well, I guess it's better late than never. Now I have several 'new to me' songs to enjoy. I've had much better luck reusing and recycling some old hip-hop than trying to listen to the new stuff that comes out these days.

Here are some of my favorite DJ Premier collaborations to which I've been bobbin' my head lately:

"Mathematics" by Mos Def
Anything on Jeru The Damaja's first two albums ("The Sun Rises in the East" and "The Wrath of the Math")
"Unbelievable" by The Notorious B.I.G. (I've enjoyed that song for years, but never realized Premier was behind it)

I also came across "Ms. Fat Booty", by Mos Def, while looking for "Mathematics." It's not a Premier song, but it's good anyhow. Nothing else on Mos Def's "Black on Both Sides" album grabs me like those two tracks do.

So, those are my suggestions. Check'em out and tell me whatcha think. Also, do you have a secret to hip-hop listening success? If so, let me in on it!

Quite Possibly the Sexiest Matchup in the History of the NCAA Tournament

2006-03-19T12:18:00.000-06:00

Letter B

2006-03-18T11:36:00.000-06:00

When I find I can't remember
What comes after
"A" and before "C,"
My mother always whispers,
"Letter B."

She told me "B" starts
"Big" and "bird" and
"Ball" and "bat" and "battery."
Yes, buh-buh-buh-buh-buh means
Letter B.

Letter B, letter B, letter B, letter B.
She whispers "Buh-buh-buh means Letter B."

And when I feel downhearted,
Mother whispers
"B" words constantly,
Like "bib," "Bob," "Bulb," and "bubble,"
Letter B.

Now in my hour of darkness
There's a sound I know will comfort me,
It's the buh-buh-buh-buh-buh of
Letter B.

Letter B, letter B, letter B, letter B.
My mother whispers "B" words,
Letter B.

Letter B, letter B, letter B, letter B.
My mother whispers "B" words,
Letter B.

Letter B, letter B, letter B, letter B.
Bless the "buh-buh" sound of
Letter B.

Please don't whisper these "B" words to any downhearted Jayhawk fans.

Bucknell Bison
Bradley Braves

Those words aren't likely to comfort KU fans in their current hours of darkness.

Are there any other "B" schools left to knock them out of the tourney next year? Maybe the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure. Or how about Brandeis. Do they play D-I basketball?

Seton Hall Took A Beatin', Y'all

2006-03-16T21:07:00.002-06:00

Since K-State failed, yet again, to make the Big Dance, I decided to adopt the Wichita State Shockers (No, not that shocker. It's actually short for Wheatshockers. We midwesterners like to brag about our crop harvesting skillz. See Nebraska Cornhuskers.) as my team for the NCAA tournament. They certainly got off to a good start, garnering their first NCAA tournament win since 1981 by slamming Seton Hall 86-66.

Tennessee's up next. They looked less than impressive in squeaking past Winthrop. I think the Shockers have an excellent chance to pull off the upset of the #2 seed. We shall see.

¡Bailamos!

Got Change For A Billion?

2006-03-15T12:12:00.000-06:00

$1B Bank Notes Discovered

U.S. authorities have seized 250 counterfeit bank notes in billion-dollar denominations from a man who smuggled money into the country. The 250 bogus Federal Reserve notes had dates and were stained to make them look old, but no such currency exists, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman. According to The Associated Press, the man has been charged with cash smuggling, but no charges have yet been filed in connection with the1934 issue counterfeit notes. "A billion is a substantial number. We want to ensure that no one was duped or fleeced by the passing of these documents," the customs spokeswoman said.

This recap of a 2001 forgery had me laughing, too.

In 2001, a man bought a sundae at a Dairy Queen in Danville, Kentucky using a phony $200 bill--with George W. Bush on it--and received $198 in change. The back of the bill featured a picture of the White House with lawn signs saying things such as "We like broccoli".

Jeez, I can't believe people fall for this stuff.

Disarm You With A Smile

2006-03-14T19:12:00.000-06:00

The following is a "personal DNA map" produced by my Personal DNA Report.

Independent Analyst

Of the several lines in the report used to describe me, this one is my favorite:

"You quietly observe a lot about the world, giving you a keen sense of both how things are and how things should be."

The whole report pretty much hit the nail on the head for me. Take your own quiz if you get the chance. Thanks to Karol and Dawn for pointing this one out.

What The Hail?!

2006-03-13T14:25:00.000-06:00

We got our first taste of the thunderstorm season early this year and I was lucky enough to drive through it on the way back from the airport. At least we didn't get the baseball-size hail that some areas got. That would've taken out the windshield. Yikes! My car received enough new beauty marks from the smaller stuff. Looks like I may have to make my first insurance claim.

Malfunction, Malfunction

2006-03-07T10:02:00.000-06:00

I'm tired of wasting time talking to computers on the phone when I'm trying to get some real customer service from a freakin' human being. Thankfully, I found this database, which give tips on how to quickly get to a person at many of the worlds major companies. What a novel idea!

Real-life Simpsons

2006-03-07T09:57:00.000-06:00

Simpsons fan? If so, you'll get a kick out of this real-life version of the into from The Simpsons.

Woop Woop, That's The Sound Of The Police!

2006-02-28T20:41:00.000-06:00

Who knew it was also a brand of wine? I saw some at the liquor store today while picking up a couple (or ten) bottles of wine for Bree. The name really hit home with me, so I just had to add a bottle of the shiraz to my cart. I hope she enjoys it. They should make a commercial with a little song by KRS-One as the seem song. Freakin' awesome that would be.

Sweet'n the Ride, Black Sunshine, Sweet'n the Ride, Yeah!

2006-02-28T11:11:00.000-06:00

Gripping the ~~wheel~~ bars his knuckles went white with desire
The wheels of his ~~mustang~~ bicycle exploding on the highway like a slug from a .45
True death: 400 ~~horsepower~~ watts of maximum performance piercing the night
This is black sunshine.

This beautiful 70 degree weather allowed me to dust the winter cobwebs off my ol' brilliant orange Trek 1000 and get myself reacquainted with the pedals and the wind in my face. My new iPod made the workout even more enjoyable as I could listen to some White Zombie and really get the adrenaline pumping (one earpiece only, gotta be safe). You can't beat that with a bat!

Finally nothing moves. High noon.
Black top rolling below the asphalt ~~drive~~ ride
A concrete fascination scraping the edge of nothing
This is black sunshine.

Can I Get A 'Sale Yeah?'

2006-02-26T20:10:00.000-06:00

Like to pinch pennies on major purchases? If so, here's an excellent site from which to begin your due dilligence. It's an information lover's dream come true! A complete database of your area's weekly retail advertisements broken down into specific categories (ie laptops, portable dvd players, vacuums, you name it). There's even a 'free after rebate' category. All the best deals in one place for super-simple comparison. I'm lovin' it!

It Burns, Burns, Burns, The Ring Of Fire, The Ring Of Fire

2006-02-25T13:04:00.000-06:00

One of the best times to drive through the Flint Hills of Kansas has to be during the spring burning season, especially during the evening hours. If you're lucky, you'll catch some spectacular glimpses of fields ablaze as the ranchers burn off the dead stuff to make way for some fresh, green grass to come up.

One caveat, you may want to plug your nose. The smell of the burning fields ain't exactly the best.

Welcome Down With The Warrior Sound, UH!

2006-02-17T18:07:00.000-06:00

The following list comprises the next 25 songs due to be played on my iPod, according to the latest shuffle.

Nothing New by The Waifs
Little Acorns by The White Stripes
High Powered by Dr. Dre
I Believe In Love by Dixie Chicks
I'm The Man by Gang Starr
I Think I Smell A Rat by The White Stripes
Hazy Shade of Criminal by Public Enemy
911 Is A Joke by Public Enemy
Rhymin' & Stealin' by The Beastie Boys
The One On The Right Is On by Johnny Cash
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
She's Crafty by The Beastie Boys
Tourniquet by Evanescence
O' Sailor by Fiona Apple
Rollin' Wit You by Ol' Dirty Bastard
Don't Tread On Me by Metallica
Tymps (The Sick In The Head Song) by Fiona Apple
The Unforgiven by Metallica
Fell On Black Days by Soundgarden
Good Morning Heartache by Ol' Dirty Bastard
Come As You Are by Nirvana
Goodbye Earl by Dixie Chicks
Bullet In The Head by Rage Against The Machine
She's Like Heroin by System Of A Down
Bound by Disturbed

That's not a bad list. However, I'm not sure I can make it that long without hearing any Chubb Rock, Eric B. & Rakim, Ultramagnetic MCs or A Tribe Called Quest. Oh, and White Zombie. Where's my White Zombie?! Sampling sizes be damned!

It's Not Just The Snow That's White At The Winter Olympics

2006-02-17T07:33:00.000-06:00

Bryant Gumbel made an interesting statement about these winter games recently on his HBO Real Sports show:

"Count me among those who don't care about them and won't watch them. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention."

Good one, Bryant. We all know what happened to Rush Limbaugh when he made some racial remarks about Donovan McNabb a few years ago. That became a huge deal in the media. I have a feeling Mr. Gumbel's brilliant take on the Winter Olympics will get widely ignored. Too bad. He deserves to get booted from his post like everyone else who has made stupid remarks in the past. I don't think I'll be adding HBO to my cable package anytime soon--so there!

Turkeys

2006-02-13T09:58:00.000-06:00

Billy Zane and Gary Busey must be really desperate for a paycheck these days. Both of them star in the most expensive Turkish movie ever made ($10 million!), "Valley of the Wolves: Iraq." In this anti-American film, Billy plays a rebel American soldier of sorts and the great Gary Busey takes on the role of an evil, organ-stealing, Jewish-American doctor. Rrrrriiight. I think I'll pass on this one. I knew Busey was washed up, but this is ridiculous.

This Would Be A Handy Little Pill

2006-02-12T19:50:00.000-06:00

It's All In The Sauce

2006-02-09T17:51:00.000-06:00

How to make a Bree

Ingredients:

3 parts competetiveness

3 parts brilliance

3 parts leadership

Method:
Add to a cocktail shaker and mix vigorously. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of curiosity

How to make a Jason

Ingredients:

5 parts friendliness

5 parts silliness

3 parts ego

Method:
Blend at a low speed for 30 seconds. Add a little wisdom if desired!

These recipes help explain why my wife is a huge corporate success story and I'm a fantasy football champion.

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Via Dawn Summers

Detroit Iraq City

2006-02-03T07:28:00.000-06:00

Jerome Bettis recently received the key to his hometown of Detroit. Looks like he's in some very select company now, as only three others have received such a key. Too bad one of them is an infamous former dictator from the middle east.

Ho Ho Ho, Green Giants

2006-01-26T22:28:00.000-06:00

It's not everyday I get to be around things that make me feel like the small one, but the giant Redwoods in California certainly made me feel itty-bitty.

Impressive specimens, indeed.

There's A New 43 In Town

2006-01-24T21:44:00.000-06:00

With Darren Sproles now making his living in a Chargers uniform, the Wildcats had to find themselves a new person to fill the 43 jersey. Looks like they finally found their man--Big Dub himself. George Bush became the sixth president to speak in the Landon Lecture series at Kansas State University when he delivered his speech on Monday. Welcome to the Little Apple, Mr. President. I hope you enjoyed your stay.

Public Enemy Number One...One, One, One...One, One, One...One, One, One

2006-01-21T10:36:00.000-06:00

You know, I don't mind the occasional debate, but I'm getting tired of constantly feeling like an outcast around many friends and relatives when subjects like politics and music are being discussed. I'd like to find at least a few friends that'll genuinely nod their heads in agreement when I say something like, for instance, "Ronald Reagan was a good president," or "Johnny Cash made some great music," or "Taxing someone because they die just doesn't jibe with me." But alas, I usually get strange, 'are you serious?'-type, looks when stuff like this comes from my mouth. So, I'll just keep these feelings to myself for now.

The Hosty Duo Returns

2006-01-18T21:08:00.000-06:00

This weekend I'll be seeing my favorite area band, the Hosty Duo, perform at Auntie Mae's in Manhattan, KS. Their shows can't be beat; especially for a mere $5 cover.

Here's a short little video bio of the group if you're interested in learning a bit about them.

Oh Yeah, I Almost Forgot

2006-01-18T19:55:00.000-06:00

59-55

I guess I need to go to San Francisco every time K-State plays the Jayhawks!

Do the BART

2006-01-18T15:31:00.000-06:00

I had a great time in San Francisco over the weekend. I toured Alcatraz and Muir Woods (giant redwood trees really are big!), drove across the Golden Gate and up to Point Reyes, saw the sea lions on the pier and went all over the city in the street cars and cable cars. I'll post some pictures once I get more organized.

Don't Take Your Guns To Town Son. Leave Your Guns At Home, Bill.

2006-01-12T20:10:00.000-06:00

I'm heading west this weekend and I won't be taking my guns. Actually, I don't own any guns (unless you count my hand-held plastic catapult that launches tiny pink piglets across the living room like nobody's business).

Yup, Saturday morning I'll be leaving for a three-night stay in San Francisco. I'll have to update my states-visited map after the trip since it will be my first trip to Cali. 'Bout time I made it out there! I'll try and remember my camera so I can share some cool pics with everyone when I return.

Tax That Booty, Co-Tax The Booty

2006-01-10T21:13:00.000-06:00

I prepared my first tax return as an H&R Block tax professional today. It went fairly well. Running the numbers is the easy part. Keeping all the papers and signatures in order takes some serious coordination, however. I should get the hang of it before peak season begins in a couple weeks.

I wish I could do my own taxes now, since we should get a nice refund (thank you mortgage interest, oh, and you, too, tuition expenses). But alas, I have way too many W-2s, 1099s and 1098s to receive yet. Bah, humbug.

Also, I think Refund Anticipation Loans are a rip-off. Seriously, you've already waited a year for this money--what's 1-2 more weeks? This first customer of mine went for the RAL so he could get his money by Monday (the IRS doesn't start accepting returns until the 13th). I guess many people who have several thousand dollars coming their way don't mind the extra 100 or so dollars in fees for the loan. Me, I'll wait a week and keep the 100 bucks for myself.

I can do a few friends and family for free, so, if you happen to be driving around Lawrence with your W-2s and nothing better to do, stop by and I'll hook you up!

I Just Said, "Up Yours, Baby!"

2006-01-06T15:35:00.000-06:00

What Is Your Animal Personality?
brought to you by Quizilla

Via Ms. Summers

Yes, I Won. Yes, I Dominated.

2006-01-03T09:42:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Larry Johnson, for leading the Tonganoxie Terrors to the Kansas City Soap League fantasy football title! Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald and Corey Dillon helped a lot, too, but LJ was THE MAN down the stretch. He defined the term "Unleash the Beast!" When Priest went down my team was 3-5. Enter Larry Johnson and the Terrors proceeded to finish 8-6 and steamroll the competition in the playoffs. Woohoo! Gimme da loot, gimme da loot! I can't wait to get my winnings and treat my wife to something nice and totally unneeded.

*UPDATE* Check out my team on the Football Guys 2005 Wall of Champions. If you're looking for an excellent fantasy football information site, go to Football Guys. You don't even have to subscribe. You'll get plenty of good info in the forums from dorks like myself.

Happy New Year!

2006-01-01T11:25:00.000-06:00

Bring on 2006. I'm ready. I think this could be a good year on many fronts.

I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt

2005-12-30T14:59:00.000-06:00

I did a search on Myspace for 1997 graduates of Washburn Rural High School the other day and found some surprising pics of my old friend Eric. Looks like he finally broke out of his shell. He was about the quietest, most straight-laced guy I knew in high school. I'd have never guessed that he would be the guy from my class to go to NYC and do some modeling. Ya learn something new everyday!

Are You A Pissed-Off New Yorker?

2005-12-20T12:30:00.000-06:00

Then go to the Transport Workers Union's blog and bitch at them. It's fun! At the least, go there and read through the comments. They'll add some laughter to your day.

We're Gonna Party Like It's 1999

2005-12-20T08:14:00.000-06:00

Kansas State's new head coach, Ron Prince, landed his first prize recruit late last night. Highly touted prep quarterback Josh Freeman backed out of his oral commitment to Nebraska and decided to attend KSU instead. Take THAT Husker fans! Prince is bringin' the "Purple Reign" back to Manhattan!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

2005-12-13T19:05:00.000-06:00

Tonganoxie Moxie

2005-12-11T21:35:00.000-06:00

Danni, the girl from Tonganoxie, won Survivor! My town just got its fifteen minutes of fame. Woohoo!

Get Yer Scissors Ready

2005-12-04T21:18:00.000-06:00

It's time for some serious budget cuts. See if you can come up with a feasible balanced budget for the U.S. It's no small task.

(Ding!)

2005-12-04T10:38:00.000-06:00

I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes
-And-
I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I still only travel by foot and by foot, it's a slow climb,
But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time

...

Do I so worry you, you need to hurry to my side?
It's very kind
But it's to no avail; I don't want the bail
I promise you, everything will be just fine.

If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine.

Thanks, Fiona, for writing a song about my life. Keep up the good work!

Oompa, Roomba, Doom-pa-dee-do

2005-11-29T09:36:00.000-06:00

I have a perfect vacuum for you.

I purchased myself a Roomba last week and I couldn't be happier with it. There's nothing like coming home to freshly vacuumed carpets. This little guy's especially good for dog owners, like myself, who have to vacuum everyday if they wish to stay on top of the pandemic dog hair problem that constantly afficts the carpet.

The mopping robot is next on my list. However, the Roomba does a good enough job cleaning the loose dirt off the kitchen tile for now.

Yeaaaah Boyyyyyyyy

2005-11-29T09:02:00.000-06:00

Gold's flirting with $500 an ounce! If it can break this ceiling this rocket could really take off! Oh, and silver's above $8. That's a pretty sweet price, too. I'm loving my precious metals investments right about now.

Not That This Is Anything To Brag About, But...

2005-11-26T12:41:00.000-06:00

I put on a trivia clinic last night at Dave & Busters. Throughout the night, only a select few people could hang with my expansive knowledge of otherwise-useless information. I have to give Dawn credit for one of my correct answers, though. I would have had no clue what Buffy the Vampire Slayer's last name was if I hadn't read Dawn's blog. I walked away with about 2700 coupons after a couple hours of gaming--not a bad haul. 40,000 more and I'll have myself a nice Playstation Portable unit!

I Say It's My Birthday

2005-11-22T06:34:00.000-06:00

27. Not a bad lookin' age, I guess. I think I'm going to the new Dave & Buster's near my house tomorrow night to celebrate. That should be fun. Booze and video games--fantastic! However, before I'm allowed to celebrate, I have to buy a turkey for Thanksgiving. Don't let me forget. That would not make Bree a happy camper.

One Week

2005-11-15T23:12:00.000-06:00

Well, one week from today I will go from Clinton Portis to Larry Johnson. That's right, I'll be another year older. I don't know who will be my birthday runningback next year. Corey Dillon? Warrick Dunn? Curtis Martin? There are plenty of good ones to choose from.

Also, I've finished my wish list for the holidays. So, if you get depressed by the anniversary of the JFK assassination (that's all anyone talks about on my b-day), buy me a present. It'll make us both smile!

Bummer

2005-11-15T09:24:00.000-06:00

Snyder to coach Wildcats for final time Saturday.

I wish Coach Snyder could have left Kansas State after winning a bowl game. Two straight losing seasons kinda put a damper on the miracle that he pulled off in Manhattan. I wish him the best and thank him for putting K-State on the map.

Thanks for the memories Mr. Snyder. I sure am lucky that I was able to attend school at KSU during the best part of your 'Decade of Dominance.'