Thursday, December 30, 2010

NO - Not Captain Kangaroo

No no no I'm not going to say that Captain Kangaroo was texting anybody.

But I do see that it is an urban legend that Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) was a war hero. He actually never saw combat. The legend was that Lee Marvin, on the Tonight Show, said he served alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Except not only did he never actually say that but Marvin was in the hospital from wounds received in the Battle of Saipan at that time. Keeshan was a Marine but never saw action.

Keeshan was the original "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody though which is as scary as fighting in Iwo Jima.

Mr Green Jeans (Hugh Brannum) served in WWII and was in the Marine band (which is where I would want to be in WWII) after the war he was in the group The Four Squires, later moving to Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians where he met Bob Keeshan.

Before joining Captain Kangaroo, Brannum was the host of . . . . wait for it . . . .

UNCLE LUMPY'S CABIN!!

Brannum was NOT the father of musician Frank Zappa as legend has it.
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Movie Star of the Year goes to Leonardo DiCaprio with Shutter Island (128 million and Inception 293 million).

The critics top 10 movies of the year are

127 Hours
Black Swan
Blue Valentine
Inception
The Kings Speech
Please Give (I've never heard of this one)
The Social Network (also receiving the "Why did't more people see this) award
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winters Bone (receiving the "Worst Title for a Movie" award)

Brainy Movie of the year goes to Inception with Shutter Island and Black Swan close behind.

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They asked TCU defensive coordinator who the Wisconsin Badgers remind him of. He said The 1966 Green Bay Packers, but much bigger!

The front line of the 1966 Packers in Super Bowl 1 averaged 245 pounds! The front line of the Badgers average 327. The #1 defense in the country as never played a team THIS big!

The problem is that TCU's defense is built to stop the spread attacks. While the Badgers just bludgeon there way down the field. TCU is a bunch of super fast Ferrari's and Wisconsin is a bunch of big ass dump trucks!

Nuff Said

Have a Happy New Year and be safe!

Rod

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

AHH HAA!!!!

How many dogs do you have to kill to get to go to the Pro Bowl. Micheal Vick get's in and Rogers is an alternate? COME ON MAN!

So now that the Vikings kicked the Keystone cop lookalike Eagles last night the Packers probably won't have to play the Bears twice in a row. HOWEVER - now that might have to play the Eagles which scares the bejesus out of me. Yea - the Eagles looked pitiful last night but I think it was a case of overconfidence.  Of course they DID have to have a miracle comeback against the Giants.

---------------------------------

Every day I go through the same routine with Blake our dog. He get's half a can of food in the morning - another half at night and about 9:00 he gets a big chunk of Fresh Pet Select dog food that comes in a big tube from Hy-Vee (if I ever had to eat dog food this would be the brand to eat).

Well Blake always looks forward to the Fresh Pet as it's like a big chunk of bologna but is REALLY good for a dog (not bad for humans either).  Odd thing is that last night he just did not have an appetite!

This was very very strange. He inhales it normally.

I found out why this morning and playing the night back . . .it all makes sense.

Last night Milo and Blake seemed to want to go out a lot and they spent a good amount of time outside. This morning I let Blake out and he disappeared for a while which was odd because he is like clockwork in the winter. About 10 minutes and he barks to come in after he poops on the driveway. It raised a big "?" above my head when he was AWL after 20 minutes but you know dogs! You just never know.

So DJ and I are about to go to work and I open the door to the garage and - DAMN - I left the garage door open last night, and look, there is a big Turkey Breast in the middle of the garage and garbage all over!

AHH HAA!!!!! No wonder they were out so long!

sigh! 
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I picked up the shell of my laptop last night after it was restored to factory settings. Got it home and turned it on and noticed that while it has a 200 gig hard drive, only 80 gig were free. WTF! Now I have to take it back and have them delete whatever it is that is clogging it up!

BTW - Grahman Man turned me on to a wonderful free software from Microsoft called SyncToy 2.1 Very easy to use and install. Check it out of you have an external hard drive or flash card and want to automatically back up everything.

Also while I'm getting my desk top into working order I wanted MS Office Pro 2010 which costs a big bundle.   You can get the entire suite at Online Office Software  for $99.  Reason its so cheap is it's all downloadable. 


And if you want cheap music? Go to GoMusicNow.com   OK OK - let me explain a little about this place.  First of all . . . . .it's based in Russia.  You can get entire albums for like $1.40.  What's the catch?  None that I know of - they have been around for a long long time and I've done extensive research on the net and  either a review site totally hates the place or they totally love the place.  I've had zero problems for over a year and MUCH music downloaded.

You will all say "I'm not going to give my CC to a company in Russia". Well - it is WAY more dangerous to give your CC to a stranger waiting on your table at a restaurant.  

Just like any place using your CC you give them $30 and you have instant access to way way more music then iTunes.  

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Last thought - from my unofficial count and I'm being serious,  it looks like 10% of the State workforce will retire in the next few months.  I know DPI is retiring 50 and 26 THIS WEEK!!  Thank you Governor Elect Walker.  I'm sure nobody really cares because the people that hate State Workers are not the ones on welfare, or have health problems or in group homes which are the ones that will suffer from programs that will suffer from staff vacancies. 

Have a day
Rod

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Laptops SUCK!

It would be a lie if I said I was not disappointed in the Packers. I mean they can't even get a coach fired anymore! Why even bother playing.

YEA - I'm BACK and cranky!!

Reason is that I got the call of doom last night. My worthless piece of crap laptop has to be "restored" which means I lose all of my photo programs. I can get most of them back but Photoshop CS3 was sort of a gift and now I actually have to purchase it.

Having my laptop restored to factory settings is something like losing your wallet. It's not the end of the world but it's a big freaking headache! As luck would have it I had purchased a new desk top computer and was a weekend away from transferring/copying all important things over to it but . . . FUBR!!
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As you all know Josh got to go into a burning house and was front man on the hose which was pretty cool. What was NOT cool was the people who had the fire hydrant in their yard had not kept snow away and precious minutes were lost shoveling the hydrant out. remember - that fire could be YOUR house!

The BIG thing was that the house that burned was a duplex and keeping the fire away from the other side was a very very good job. Well done Columbus Volunteers!

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We all know that changing a password every few months is a complete waste of time. IF someone knows you password and intends harm they are not going to wait a month and THEY rip you off right?

Well - if you own a WIN XP computer did you know that anyone with a WIN 2000 CD can insert the CD and bypass all your protection? COOL - how handy is that!!

BTW - I LOVE Windows 7.

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Anyway - I'll have exciting news tomorrow . . well . . for our family at least!

Rod

Friday, December 24, 2010

It was the Night before the Night Before Christmas

It was the Night before the Night Before Christmas
and all through the house
not a creature was stirring
except for

eight large dirty yellow oxygen breathing firefighters from Columbus. One of them looking a lot like Josh.


I heard the fire siren and though, there goes Josh somewhere as he answers ALL fire calls no matter how trivial and about 15 minutes later DJ gets a text saying there is a house fire about a block away from us. 

Then I hear more sirens and figure this might be something larger then a smoke alarm so I go outside and see flames shooting into the air about a block away.  WHOA!!!  

I run up the hill and it's the last duplex on Ridgeway.







While I'm there I shoot a lot of photos - get home and as I'm working on the images my laptop with all the sophisticated software for my little photo business . DIES!!!!

DAMN IT. 

Luckily three days earlier I purchased a NEW desktop computer but it's basically empty and I have no way to get Photoshop CS3 on this computer and all of my photos are shot in RAW which needs special software.  grrrrrrrr

ANYWAY - back to the fire.

LINK to CH15 report

Columbus Firefighters Battled Blaze Thursday Night

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While on vacation I have learned something about blogging and my writing style.  It only happens early in teh morning.  IF I say I'll blog later in the day . . it never happens.  Take today for instance. I've been up literally 10 minutes and BAM - I'm halfway coherent.  If I waited another couple hours . . .for get it.

It's been a busy week.  We help Suz move back to Columbus from California. WELCOME BACK SUZ.   No one ever leaves Columbus! Part of them will always be here. 

OH - I was SO excited to get a new computer and move the weather station to it - HOWEVER - the weather station is so old the only cable that works ONLY WORKS in the old computer - DAMN IT!!  You have to be kidding me! 

I have so much software to try to find.  This new computer is amazing for $399 with 4 gig of RAM - my old desktop I think has 512K  LOL

OH - and there was a Christmas Miracle.  That thing DJ has been looking for of a few years was found - it's all I'm going to say at the moment. But it is a very very good.  HAPPY TIMES!



Have a wonderful weekend and Merry Merry Christmas.

Rod

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sports

I remember in the Packer exhibition games Fuzzy Thurston was talking about Matt Flynn and he commented that among people that would know such things, they considered Matt Flynn "the best back-up Quarterback in the NFL".

Well - of course I sort of took this with a grain of salt because we all know that the truth tends to stretch a little with homey announcers. Such as JJ Hardy being one the the best fielding Shortstops in the majors (more on that later).

WELL - I gotta say I was impressed last night!

I was also impressed on just how inept our Special Teams unit is but that has never been a surprise.

But lost in all the Packer news is the Brewers. They got a fantastic deam and a blockbuster trade and ESPN suggested that this trade just put the Brewers in the World Series hunt.

Zack Greinke joins Gallardo and Marcum as the right handers on the staff with Wold Wolf and Narveson (who both finished very strong) as the lefties.

Greinke is the 2009 AL CY Young winner who went off his meds last year (Social Anxiety Disorder) because he hated playing for a perennial loser (Kansas City) and is excited to Come to Milwaukee.

He is no Don Sutton and is a WONDERFUL pitcher who starts 30+ games every year!

Brewer have an actual contending Starting staff.
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Here is something Google-licious. Google now has 5.5 millions books online and you can search how many times a certain word has been used in literature since like 1820.

For instance - the word GREEN. I figured green was a pretty hot word lately.  Here is the results.


Check out  Google Ngram Viewer

It's all I have for today - I'm off this week so probably shorty blogs because I don't have copious amounts of coffee in me!

Be careful this afternoon - drizzle and a few inches of snow.

Rod

Friday, December 17, 2010

American Packaging Expands

I was on a Home Brew Forum yesterday talking about my being a home brew consultant at Cannery Wine and Spirits when a guy from Indiana responds that he will be in Columbus next week to spend a week doing something at American Packaging!

I tell him that the only place to get craft beer is either at Bobs Liqueur or the BP Station has a few.

Then I see that American Packaging is expanding. They received a $350,000 grant from Wisc Commerce to help implement a $17 million plant expansion which will create 47 new jobs!

SWEET!

Who says the American economy is in bad shape. Who? FOX News that's who. A project conducted by the World Public Opinion, managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes found that FOX News will actually make you more stupid!

Fox News viewers are significantly more misinformed than consumers of news from other sources. In fact . .

91% percent believe the stimulus legislation lost jobs
72% percent believe the economy is getting worse
60% percent believe climate change is not occurring
49% percent believe income taxes have gone up
63% percent believe the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts
56% percent believe Obama initiated the GM/Chrysler bailout
38% percent believe that most Republicans opposed TARP

Of course this is all a liberal lie and as one person told me Fox News is the ONLY News Corp that tells the truth. I said what about the BBC and he said that the BBC was just another liberal lie spreader!

--------------------------------------

Speaking of Minnesota Vikings! Seems the new Monday Night Stadium will be a WONDERFUL venue to watch a football game. Game time temps will be about 10 degree and alcohol will not be allowed in the Stadium. WOW - that just sounds like a great time!

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WHERE IS THE FREAKING WARM AIR!!

Man it's been cold way to early! Alaska is still full of cold air so there is no big warm push on it's way. We should be nearing 30 next week for a few days. Just get past the cold weekend and we will moderate and MAYBE hit . . "average".
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Have a nice weekend and stay warm! Cuddle up with a loved one in one big Family size Snuggie. It would have like 8 arms in it for the entire family!

Rod

Thursday, December 16, 2010

wee-tah-kah-wee-loo

Larry King will have his last broadcast tonight which is fine since I rarely watched him. However how will people know what the terrorist threat level is if we can not see his suspenders.

Speaking of terrorism - remember after 911 and all the weirdness that went on. We were at JJand C's house and they had a Furby on their TV. There were 40 million Furby's sold with speaking capabilities that were translated into 24 languages.

I remember when Furby's were being linked to terrorism because they could remember secrets and it was thought that the Taliban would collect Furby's and using a Furby kill all the American infidels. Furby's were banned from all intelligence offices.

--------------------------------------------

SO - you have seen the Dunkin'Donut Coffee ave you not? Well DJ and I were talking and we decided to buy a pound and try it. WOW - if you like Folgers Coffee which is the best part of waking up or Maxwell House which is good to the last drop you will love Dunkin'Donut Coffee.

If I had to compare Dunkin'Donut Coffee to a beer the beer would be Miller Lite except with a more green grassy taste. Also instead of 4 scoops for 2 cups I'm up to 6 scoops and will go 7 scoops tomorrow to start getting SOME taste!
--------------------------------------

Of course we have all heard about the Union Contracts not passing last night because the Top Democrat went against his party and voted NO!

Odd - Why is it the Democrats are better then Republicans because they have the ability to vote Republican! Does not seem right! I actually applaud the guy - here we are talking about thinking on your own and not always going lock step along Party lines - yet - when someone DOES think for his self he gets castrated.

Maybe the Unions will get some backbone and start pounding with their glass hammers to make a point. Maybe we will all start making $7 an hour with no benefits.

-----------------------------

BUT - we're not Minnesota who no longer have a Stadium OR a Quarterback. At least Green Bay has a Stadium! Time for Minnesota to move to San Antonio and buy a Quarterback. Why do I keep thinking Matt Flynn will be on Minnesota next year!

Also - the Vikings want an outdoor Stadium?? ARE THEY MADD.

Here is the thing - in Green Bay there is tradition. It's freaking cold at Packer games but because of tradition it's a thing of pride. In Minnesota which is colder then Green Bay there is no tradition. They are used to nice warm games - let's see how many season ticket holders will re-up knowing that instead of a nice warm game they can now sit outside in freezing drizzle for 4 hours.

I'm PRETTY sure if Green Bay fans had a choice of drinking and partying in a 70 degree enclosed Stadium or a 10 degree with -20 wind chill game . . . .they would go with the indoor option.

Yea - The Metrodome had more roof collapse last night! LOL - why is that so funny! NOW they have an outdoor stadium!

Rogers probably not playing Sunday night, Pack are 11 point dogs. Minnesota is favored over the Bears. I believe it's time to put the Packers to bed and look towards next year when we are not playing 22 members of the practice squad. Let the Bears have their one year wonder.
----------------------------------------

If God is omnipotent and knows what we will do before he created us, how can we have free will?

Just sayin'
------------------------------------------

Have a fine day - turning cold again!

Rod

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

All the news from Columbus

There is a new Computer Fix It Store opening in Columbus on 131 E. James Street called "Diversified Utility and Communications". Pretty catchy name!
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The Fire department had a pretty busy day yesterday! I wonder if any of the "volunteers" showed up! That's all I'm going to say!
---------------
Charlie Shortino, was at Cbus Elementary the other day for their shout out! While I like Charlie as a person . . .he is one of the  . . . least accurate, I feel for forecasting weather. David George, even though he has two first names, which always scares me (must be phobia name for that) on CH 15, I consider the best although in the morning we watch CH3.
-----------------------
There are 229 property taxpayers in Columbus that have not payed their 2009 taxes and Mayor Bob Link said "it's sobering" which makes me think that perhaps we need sobriety tests before the City Council convenes again!
-------------------
Udey Dam continues to be worked on and I'll see if I can get some photos if I ever get out in the daylight again! They are waiting for spill way gates to arrive.
-----------------------
I guess there is a grievance involving the Police Department. A woman had a scheduled sick day BUT THEN responded as a first responder emergency medical person (EMS) in Fall River. MY GOD - you can not be allowed to save a person on your sick day! WHAT WAS SHE THINKING!!

There are rules against saving people on your sick day you know! Policies are in place to cover saving people.
 --------------------------------
Check out this cereal - apparently it will change your skin to white!   



You are invited to an Open House and Ribbon Cutting

Avalon Commons Townhome Development on 590 West Avalon Road

Monday December 20 4:30pm—5:30pm

Visit with Santa as he delivers presents to the children!

Help Celebrate the success of Brookstone Homes and the City of Columbus in developing this exciting new residential development!

Columbus Business Roundtable
Thursday, December 16
11:00am-Noon    NOTE TIME!
Napoli Italian Restaurant
128 E. James Street, Columbus
Update on James Street Sewer and Reconstruction Projects
Jason Lietha, City Engineer
  
it's all I got for today! 

Monday, December 13, 2010

Packers Raise Alert Levels

Well - I place 100% blame on yesterdays Packer game squarely on McCarthy's head.   Seems The Packers are RIPE for not getting up for easy games and even though they were not UP, McCarthy managed to find so many ways to grasp defeat out of the jaws of victory.

Let's see - how about NOT throwing a red flag on Jennings non-TD catch.  He saw exactly what we saw on TV and what WE was was inclusive. However - the Packers were in desprit need for a lift and EVEN if they lost the review . . . how much could that hurt!  The UPSIDE was so so much greater then the assumed downside.

Then after a commercial - it do look like did was a catch.

Then - 4th and 1 with plenty of time and he has our new QB go for it all?  ARE YOU CRAZY????

Yea - the Packers played pretty piss poor but it's the coach that is suppose to motivate the team to be up for EVERY GAME!!

Now we have basically a playoff game next week.  Let's hope the Patriots have a down game as it's meaningless . . . somehow I don't see that happening with a Bill Belichick.

The GOOD news is that Matt Flynn - the quarterback that will take over Rogers spot for the next 13 years is no T.J. Rubley! 

You remember T.J. Rubley don't you?  The worst Packer Quarterback of all time? 

In 1995 Brett Favre AND Ty Detmir were both injured in the same game against Minnesota so in comes QB #3,  T.J. Rubley.  Luckily the game was tied and the Packers were in Field Goal range.  It was 3rd and 1 and all Rubley had to do was take the hike and fall and the Packers were basically win the game on the Field Goal.

So what happened?   Rubley audibled and called a roll-out. He passed the ball and it was quickly intercepted, giving Minnesota the ball and eventually, the win.  Rubley was cut the next morning.
----------------------------------------------------

Speaking of ALERT LEVELS

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats, and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards". They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender". The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides".

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile, and as usual, are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies "just in case".

Canada doesn't have any alert levels.

New Zealand has raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA". Due to continuing defense cutbacks, New Zealand has only one more level of escalation, which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!", "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of this final escalation level.
-----------------------------------------------

The Blizzard.

Saturday I was in Elwood's place hooking up his new computer! All was going well and I got a text message saying BLIZZARD WARNING starting at 6:00. It was pouring rain (as I had predicted) and I felt I still had some time to "play". About 4:00 Elwood wants to be alone with his new toy so I take off.

It's still raining and as I reach the city limits the rain has a little substance to it, not slush but it was . . . . "thick". Reaching the outskirts of Sun Prairie it's starting to snow and on the other side of Sun Prairie it's now all snow. Still, not a problem.

Driving north there are 5 cars ahead of me in a little caravan with the 1st car going a little too slow. Then car #2 decided he has had enough and starts to pass slow car #1. He get's in the left lane and . . . nothing, he stays there and then going back into the right!

Car #3 then does the same thing and after a few minutes, back to the right lane.

"Morons" I say and I go to pass and as soon as my car is is solid in the left lane I start to pass and . . . . I feel like I'm now walking on a tight rope sort of like running trying to get to the end before I fall off.

Back I go to the right lane.

It's dark, the wind is howling and my exit is coming up . . somewhere, THERE IT IS . DAMN - too late as my HWY N73 slides past me! GRRRRRRRR Ok, I'll take 60 in and I drive and all of a sudden I see the Pic-N-Save sign going past my right side window WTF - I missed THAT exit!!!

OK OK - all of a sudden I'm now a Navy Pilot trying to make a night landing on a pitching aircraft carrier! I have one more exit until it's a 20 drive to Beaver Dam. HWY S73 is my last chance!

As luck would have it the 1st car in the caravan goes to the right and starts to fly! AHH HAA! Must be the exit as it goes up the hill. I tip toe into the lane and am basically safe.

OF course I reach Cbus and the Amtrak is right there so I have to stop. I actually turn into Julies Java House and snapped some very un-amazing photos which I played with for a while.


And finally home.
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Driving to work today I heard the Christmas Macrama song which I feel Tim Burton somehow had his hands on!  I believe this is a once in a lifetime song . . .  all you want to do is hear this once in your lifetime and that is enough!




Stay warm today

Cheers
Rod

Friday, December 10, 2010

Good-Bye Chedder Heads

OK - I'm looking for ANY review of The Tourist that does not say this is one of the worst movies of 2010. The 2nd review I read today says this is the worst performance of Johnny Depp EVER in a movie and Jolie is basically a mannequin.

On TV last night was Brew Masters and watching my man crush Sam Calagione agonize over having to dump $500,000 of his signature 120 IPA made me cry inside. If you have never watched Brew Masters it's now on Thursday nights and is very very entertaining. Even DJ loves the show and she is not a beer drinker.

If you have missed any shows check out their site

Brew Masters 

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Cheddar Heads Pizza will no longer exist after Saturday!   I talked to the dude and  he is closing. Man they/he had good pizza but it's going belly up.  With  WONDERFUL Nepoli's opening down the block and now the Snack Shack making pizza right next door he just can not sell enough.  He did say that the store could stay open IF there was not so much debt.

It seems that most things that open and then close in Columbus is not for the lack of customers, it's the lack of a good (or any) business plan!  He just had to buy to much equipment and could not make up the difference.   Sad.

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Had about 3 inches of snow yesterday and tomorrow could be messy - I believe Columbus will be adding maybe 5 inches with less south.  This storm keeps sliding north which is good.

Drive Carefully.

OH - has anyone have any experience with OpenOffice?  Looks like an open source MS Office - sort of a free clone.

Rod

Thursday, December 9, 2010

a little of this and that

So Governor Elect Walker said yesterday that if State Employees to now bow and take MORE involuntary pay cuts he will just absorb all of them into his body! "GET IN MY BELLY!" he was heard saying after the press conference. 

On Keith Olbermann's Countdown - Walker has been "The Worst Person in the World" twice!

-------------------------------------------------

Drive safely tonight going home, 2-4 inches at drive time and 3-6 inches Saturday before we drop to -30F wind chills Sunday night.
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Get this - there was a dude, Arnold Schonberg, that suffered from triskaidecphobia, the fear of the number thirteen.  He died thirteen minutes to midnight on Friday the thirteenth.

I have Tonsurphobia - the fear of haircuts, but I'm getting my semi annual one tonight I think.

Phobatrivaphobia is the fear of phobias and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.  SOMEONE has a sense of humor!!!

Speaking of Kentucky!  Did you know that by law every citizen of Kentucky is required to take a bath at least once a year?   They also have a law that reads

"No female shall appear in a bathing suit on any highway within this state unless she be escorted by at least two officers or unless she be armed with a club." The law was later amended with: "The provisions of this statute shall not apply to females weighing less than 90 pounds nor exceeding 200 pounds, nor shall it apply to female horses."

Well at least we got THAT straight!!

And speaking of laws - the new tax-cut bill that Obama signed I believe is a good thing. While on the outside it LOOKS like he caved in to the Republicans in the long run it is a sweet deal.  A screen pass per say. 

By 2012 the deal's "big new stimulus" component will most certainly lower unemployment and help the economy in the short term. By MAKING Obama cut this deal they have basically helped Obama win re-election in 2012 and Obama knows that!

The GOP has won the battle but in doing so is losing the war. The bill contains all sorts of GOOD things for Joe Common, unemployment insurance for another 13 months, EITC expansion, college tax credits, and a pay-roll tax cut.

As the far left get all anal about Obama moving towards the Center by not making the uber-wealty not pay taxes the GOP all of a sudden can not vilify him by being stubborn.  

I think most democrats are dumbass's and most republicans are just angry cry babies and the tea party . . .well . . . sigh . . . ANYWAY - the GOP got played on this one!

And that bill which is HUGE?  HA!   Internet Poker players are watching this as there might be a tiny little bill slipped into the middle that would allow Las Vegas Casinos to have their own internet poker rooms!  Sort of like how the Republicans slipped the anti-poker bill into the anti-terrorism just after midnight!

Have a warm day - we should hit 30F degrees (T-shirt weather finally) tomorrow.

Rod    

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

It Was 30 Years Ago Today That Sgt Pepper Passed Away!

When I was younger I would see "old" people with their tray of pills and vowed never to be one of THOSE kind of old people. Now that I'm nearing "old" I see that before bedtime I have my little tray of pills. Nothing dramatic, a couple pills to boost my lack of GOOD cholesterol and one pill to raise (or lower) my triglycerides and an aspirin and then I see I have a Vitimin E and if I remember I take a Ginko for my memory . . . if I remember.

I think that once you hit a certain age you realize that if you have not been killed by a bone head blunder YET - it's only a matter of time. BUT - why risk dieing of natural causes (which would be SOOO boring).

This is also why my little cubical at work is now full of bubble warp. Some people think it's just leftover from hanging my artwork on the 7th floor but in reality - it's going to save my life when Scott Walker or Governor elect (although he believes he is already our Governor) car bombs our building to get rid of his State employees who are the cause of the budget deficit.

I will be protected by huge quantities of bubble wrap.

Although I will need massive skin graphs as the plastic will melt to my body but after a year of intense pain I'll be back at my gray desk and gray chair living the dream of a being a civil servant.

I hope it happens soon as I have an early retirement coming up in late March.
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Do you remember where you were when John Lennon was gunned down 30 years ago today? There are a few dates I remember from the past. JFK's death I was cleaning erasers in school at lunch time (I had been naughty and put a box over a door so when the teacher walked in the box fall on her - but it was not the teacher that walked in it was the Principle which was funny for only a few seconds).

I remember Princess Di's death (which was odd because I really had zero reason to care at the time). I remember JFK Junior (what was his real name anyway) dieing in a plane crash because he interrupted the British Open.

I remember the Space Shuttle Exploding because I was cheating taking  an Accounting test at the time.

Man that Ginko is really working!
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It was one year ago today when I did not come to work because of copious amounts of snow (13.5 inches). 

At least it felt warm yesterday wit ha high of 23 I believe.  Next week we will have highs near 5F above (at least it's ABOVE).    Couple inches of snow tomorrow late.

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Work  . . . . . . . . hmmmm . . . .maybe the Ginko is NOT working.  I typed "work" and went for coffee!!  Not a clue what that thought linewas - perhaps it was telling me to GET TO WORK!!

Cheers!

OH - BTW - I ordered a  A 13 shot venti soy hazelnut vanilla cinnamon white mocha with extra white mocha and caramel.  Only cost $13.76.  Tastes like I only got 12 shots though. What a rip off!

 MAN I'M WIRED!!!   

Rod

Monday, December 6, 2010

Ginko is making me

Trivia Question.

Who caught Brett Favre's last TD catch in Lambeau Field- answer at the end.
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Josh and Jenny went to a symposium about Ginko and how it has shown to help kids with Down Syndrome. Something about how it get's rid of plaque which causes Alzheimer's.  Seems one of the odd things about kids with Down Syndrome is that they all get Alzheimer's at a very early age (like teens or something and I'm sure Jenny will correct me) but THEN by some sort of miracle they cure themselves.

Well - I figured what the heck - I'll buy some Ginko and pop one every day and I won't forget stuff as I grow old and decrepit.

Ever since I start taking the Ginko I forget what I'm going to write blog about!  At least I still know what a blog is!
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We went to Millers to kill our Christmas tree and this year we went with a Concolor Fir.  What?  Concolor Fir? Yea - I had never heard of it either, it's also called a White Fir.  It's not a long needle and not a short needed - sort of an inbetweener.
 
While we were at the farm they were having sleigh rides which would transport you to different parts of the farm (it's pretty big).  They have like 4 or 5 different areas with different trees and to get there you take the horse drawn sleigh. 

We had our tree already but what the heck - let's take a ride. So we did a circuit and then I felt I had to get my camera so we went again.  This time I took some photos along the bouncy trail. I can't remember what the names of these Belgian Work Horse's were, (Matt and Mike?) but each weigh 2000 pounds and one pooped like a MoFo once.  Talk about a close up education as I sat in front of the sleigh! (no photos).

Belgian Work Horse's are the strongest of the heavy breeds of horses and a team of two can pull 17,000 pounds for up to 7 feet if  . . . . you needed to have something moved 7 feet and had two of these horses standing around doing nothing.

Here is Mike and Matt(?) taking us down the trail towards the Douglas Firs 


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Man the Bears are so lucky - everywhere I read they got a game changing break from the refs on a bad call by Ed "Hochules" Hochuli, who seems to be making a lot of bad calls this year.

Ever wonder what these refs do when not blowing calls that go against the Packers?

Ed is a lawyer for a HUGE firm in Phoenix and he specializes in . . . . civil litigation in  Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Liability, Complex Litigation, Insurance Coverage and Fraud, Legal Malpractice and Professional Liability, Product Liability Defense, Trucking and Transportation Industry Defense, and Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Defense.

Yea- very very specialized, I wonder how much he would charge for Traffic Ticket Defense.

Actually "Hochules" is a very good ref for the most part, just bad timing as far as the Packers are concerned.
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I was watching Inside Lambeau Field Saturday night as I was feeling very ill (thought I was getting the flu) and the guest was Desmond Bishop.  They ask what he was the most proud of and he said he was proud to be the guy that caught Brett Favres last TD pass in Lambeau.  

THAT was funny!

Did Favre AGAIN end a season with an interception? In fact I think this will be the third time he has ended his career with an INT?  
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Who could have predicted THIS.


I want to see what happened next!  

Sort of reminds me of when Elwood and I were landscaping and with a wheelbarrow full of dirt we decided to share the load.  He took one side and I took the other side.

LIFT!

Lasted for less then 1/2 second!   Lesson Learned. No one was injured! 

And THAT reminds me of when I was on a bike and wanted to see if I could put my right hand on the left handle bar and left hand on the right handle bar. What could possibly go wrong.   I believe that was another 1/2 second event.  I was amazed how fast that experiment failed.

Maybe I need MORE Ginko

Keep warm.

Rod

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Gas up the blower

Here we go - the winter of 2010-11 is about to hit us with both fists! POW - right in the kisser! I'm thinking in Columbus we will be in the 5 inch range and Madison an inch or two more! Mostly coming on Saturday and THEN C C C Cold and sunny! For our house sunny is the key word. We have so much passive solar heating that our heating bills are directly related to how much sun we get.
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In other news the Packers will be wearing their butt ugly blue and yellow polka-dot uniforms this Sunday.

As far as the playoffs go - it's all going to rest on the final game of the season with Da Bears in teh FORZEN TUNDRA January 2nd unless either team collapse. I the Pack do beat the Bears we own most if not all the tie breakers!

If both teams end up 12-4, they would both be 5-1 in the division. The next tiebreaker would be record vs. common opponents, they'd both be 10-2. Tiebreaker #4 is record within the conference. The Packers would be 9-3, the Bears 8-4.

If both teams end up 8-8, the Packers would be 4-2 in division, the Bears 3-3.

If both teams end up 11-5, the Packers win on most of the combinations of how the teams could get there, either on division record, record vs. common opponents or conference record. There is also one way in which it could come down to the 5th or 6th tiebreakers (strength of victory and strength of schedule). In both cases the Bears would almost certainly lose because of their win against 1-10 Carolina.

And if both teams end up 10-6 or 9-7, the Packers could still win the tiebreakers.

SO - the Pack just have to keep winning.

Up dar north Brett Favre has announced that he's done after this year! Which, weirdly I have to think is probably true this time . . . unless the Vikings run the table and Brett feels he is once again a superhuman.

In case you are wondering Favre has a TD to INT ratio the game after he retires of 22to25.
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Survivor - I'm just pissed WIMPS!!!

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Did you see the moon this morning? That is Venus shining next to it. Very beautiful.  Another cool feature in the night sky is the constellation Orion and you will recongize the three stars which comprise Orion's Belt. The bottom star is Alnitak and is 100,000 times brighter then our sun. It's 800 light years away. Alnilam is the middle star and is 1340 light years away. The top star is actually the double star Mintaka and is 90,000 brighter then our sun.

We all know that the universe is expanding and sooner or later the sky will be basically void of all stars (a long long long time from now) as we all drift apart.

As the stars drift new patterns will emerge, yet Orion is in such an area that it will be around for much longer then other constellations. So . . . . .get used to it.

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Check out this supercell thunderstorm that rolled across Montana.  I would seriously wet my pants if I saw that!  


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For you guys out there - check out this new "game changing" weapon that squads are beingn equipped with in Afghanistan.

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System a pinpoint accurate and programmable grenade launcher. I feel manly just saying that!

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I'm not sure how I feel about this story but I gotta say the quotes are rather  . . . . funny?

An illegal immigrant in Polk County Florida who got pulled over in a routine traffic stop ended up killing the deputy who stopped him. The deputy was shot eight times, including once behind his right ear at close range.
Another deputy was wounded and a police dog killed.

A state-wide manhunt ensued. The murderer was found hiding in a wooded area and as soon as he took a shot at the SWAT team, officers opened fire on him. They hit the guy 68 times. Naturally, the media went nuts and asked why they had to shoot the poor undocumented immigrant 68 times.

Sheriff Grady Judd told the Orlando Sentinel: "Because that's all the ammunition we had."

The Coroner also reported that the illegal man died of natural causes. When asked by a reporter how that could be since there were 68 bullet wounds in his body, he simply replied "When you are shot 68 times, you are, naturally, gonna die."

  
See what I mean?   Those wile and whacky Floridians! 


Enjoy the last full day of no snow on teh ground for . . how long?


Rod