Thursday, September 30, 2004
I got to ride a Segway today. My company held a commuter expo during lunch today. It had tables for all the various public transportation that can be used to get to work as well as assorted attractions and apartments and restaurants around work. I joked that I shouldn't go since I don't really commute since I live within walking distance of work, but I went because I wanted to see and possibly ride a Segway. Turns out the expo was worth me going to because I got various train/light rail schedules that I could use to go places from my apartment. Anyway, the Segway was really cool to ride, once I got the feel for it. I think it would be great to have to get to/from work. I'm thinking of starting the "Buy a Segway for Tom" fund.
Speaking of public transportation, I figured out that a round trip Pittsburgh/Philly Amtrak ticket cost approximately the same as gas and tolls for a roundtrip drive from Philly to Pittsburgh. So when the weather gets bad, I'm probably going to try and take the train home rather than deal with bad weather on the turnpike.
Speaking of public transportation, I figured out that a round trip Pittsburgh/Philly Amtrak ticket cost approximately the same as gas and tolls for a roundtrip drive from Philly to Pittsburgh. So when the weather gets bad, I'm probably going to try and take the train home rather than deal with bad weather on the turnpike.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
There was alot of complaints about the super bowl halftime show, but I've seen a couple things on tv this week that definitely should not be allowed on tv.
First I was flipping channels and happen to stop on a channel, the Discovery Channel I think, that was showing a baby being born C-Section. I know it was a C-Section because the baby was half, yes half, way out. Of course, it didn't help that I had just finished watching the "V" television series, so my mind immediately thought of when the half-alien baby was born in the mini-series.
A day or two later I flipped to Bravo to see if West Wing was on. Miami Slice was on instead. They had a topless woman not long after breast surgery. They definitely showed more nipple than Janet did in January. I say, if shows have to blur breasts out when healthy, they should be forced to blur them out when they're are swollen and bruised and ugly looking.
First I was flipping channels and happen to stop on a channel, the Discovery Channel I think, that was showing a baby being born C-Section. I know it was a C-Section because the baby was half, yes half, way out. Of course, it didn't help that I had just finished watching the "V" television series, so my mind immediately thought of when the half-alien baby was born in the mini-series.
A day or two later I flipped to Bravo to see if West Wing was on. Miami Slice was on instead. They had a topless woman not long after breast surgery. They definitely showed more nipple than Janet did in January. I say, if shows have to blur breasts out when healthy, they should be forced to blur them out when they're are swollen and bruised and ugly looking.
Bydaway, the football pool I'm in has a side pool this year. It's a suicide pool. A suicide pool is simple. You pick one team each week. If they lose, you're out of the pool. And you can't pick the same team twice in a season. So far, I'm still in. My picks have been:
Week 1: Tennessee
Week 2: Cincinnati
Week 3: Philadelphia
The pool is down to 15 people down from around 40.
Week 1: Tennessee
Week 2: Cincinnati
Week 3: Philadelphia
The pool is down to 15 people down from around 40.
By the way, Van Halen Greatest hits and Guns N Roses Greatest Hits, I agree with. Van Halen already had one, but they were in need of a volume 2 and essentially just packaged volume one and two for their latest best-of. Since I bought it for the price of a single cd set, it's a good thing.
Guns 'N' Roses only had a few albums, but they had plenty of hits and they've stopped putting albums out. (There will actually be democracy in China before 'Chinese Democracy' is released'.)
My rules for greatest hits is that the artist should either have enough hits to inspire a good debate over what should or should not be on it or have stopped making studio records for atleast the better part of a decade with no new studio record in the foreseeable future.
Britney Spears and Everclear have greatest hits coming out. I actually like Everclear. I have a number of their albums, but I don't think they've had the hits for a greatest hits and they haven't been off the charts long enough to deserve one.
Britney Spears has only four albums. Four albums doesn't deserve a greatest hits. Think the average album has four hits. Four albums equals sixteen hits. Thus, her greatest hits likely contains all her hits. You can't call a group of something greatest unless there's something outside of the group for the somethings to be greatest than.
Also, I would like to make a third greatest hits rule. A greatest hits (or any new singles from a greatest hits) shouldn't come out too close to an actual album by the artist. Britney's last album just came out a year ago. Can't we go a short period without a single from her?
It is possible it's being released for the same reason the first Aerosmith greatest hits was released. Aerosmith's behavior was so unreliable (due to drugs) that their album being recorded was costing too much money and was taking so long, the record company had to recoup some money. Maybe the record company wants to get money from her before she truly unravels.
Guns 'N' Roses only had a few albums, but they had plenty of hits and they've stopped putting albums out. (There will actually be democracy in China before 'Chinese Democracy' is released'.)
My rules for greatest hits is that the artist should either have enough hits to inspire a good debate over what should or should not be on it or have stopped making studio records for atleast the better part of a decade with no new studio record in the foreseeable future.
Britney Spears and Everclear have greatest hits coming out. I actually like Everclear. I have a number of their albums, but I don't think they've had the hits for a greatest hits and they haven't been off the charts long enough to deserve one.
Britney Spears has only four albums. Four albums doesn't deserve a greatest hits. Think the average album has four hits. Four albums equals sixteen hits. Thus, her greatest hits likely contains all her hits. You can't call a group of something greatest unless there's something outside of the group for the somethings to be greatest than.
Also, I would like to make a third greatest hits rule. A greatest hits (or any new singles from a greatest hits) shouldn't come out too close to an actual album by the artist. Britney's last album just came out a year ago. Can't we go a short period without a single from her?
It is possible it's being released for the same reason the first Aerosmith greatest hits was released. Aerosmith's behavior was so unreliable (due to drugs) that their album being recorded was costing too much money and was taking so long, the record company had to recoup some money. Maybe the record company wants to get money from her before she truly unravels.
The remains of the latest hurricane is hitting the area right now. When I went home for lunch, it was just a light rain. By the time I left work for the day, it was a downpour. Apparently, there was even tornados in Cherry Hill, where I've been doing most of my shopping out here. I don't have to worry about tornados, because my building is strong and well made. I know it's well made because, when they turned it into apartments, they didn't tear it down and start from scratch. If it would come down easy, it would have been cheaper for them to tear it down and start from scratch. Besides, it's a big building. Six stories high and taking up an entire block.
That being said, there is a possible exception to the building being safe. I just got back from the work out room. The workout room is in the tower on the seventh floor. The tower is two floors high and a little bigger than my apartment. Two walls is all windows and one also has a number of windows. When I went up to the workout room, I first noticed the leak in the ceiling. A bucket was set up to catch the water. Also, the wind was howling. I thought for a second maybe being in a small room with a lot of windows when there has been tornados around might not be the best idea, but then figured that if I got injured by flying glass, I wouldn't have to finish exercising.
That being said, there is a possible exception to the building being safe. I just got back from the work out room. The workout room is in the tower on the seventh floor. The tower is two floors high and a little bigger than my apartment. Two walls is all windows and one also has a number of windows. When I went up to the workout room, I first noticed the leak in the ceiling. A bucket was set up to catch the water. Also, the wind was howling. I thought for a second maybe being in a small room with a lot of windows when there has been tornados around might not be the best idea, but then figured that if I got injured by flying glass, I wouldn't have to finish exercising.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Am I'm the only one tonight who was hollering for Casey Hampton to just fall on the ball?
The Steelers got the ball anyway, which is why the announcers probably didn't comment on it, but come on. If you're 320lbs and the ball is loose by your feet, don't try to pick it up and run. You wouldn't get far anyway. Fall on the ball, or even in the remote vicinity of the ball, and you get the fumble recovery.
Well, a good sign the Steeler game went well is that I criticize a play where they recovered a fumble. They did as well as could be expected with a rookie QB and a playing environment resembling the set of Hard Rain. Dolphins sucked on offense, but they are good on defense so scoring just one touchdown and getting four field goal attempts was pretty good.
It's amazing that Miami traded for their QB. The only ability that Feeley has that I consider impressive is the ability to get soccer player Heather Mitts as a girlfriend. Between that and a minor league baseball player engaged to Jennie Finch, I wonder what happened to the best athletes getting the hot chicks. Now apparently any uniform will do. I do understand Jeff Garcia dating the current Playmate of the Year, though. He has had some success and, being from around Cleveland, she really only had him and Drew Carey to choose from.
The Steelers got the ball anyway, which is why the announcers probably didn't comment on it, but come on. If you're 320lbs and the ball is loose by your feet, don't try to pick it up and run. You wouldn't get far anyway. Fall on the ball, or even in the remote vicinity of the ball, and you get the fumble recovery.
Well, a good sign the Steeler game went well is that I criticize a play where they recovered a fumble. They did as well as could be expected with a rookie QB and a playing environment resembling the set of Hard Rain. Dolphins sucked on offense, but they are good on defense so scoring just one touchdown and getting four field goal attempts was pretty good.
It's amazing that Miami traded for their QB. The only ability that Feeley has that I consider impressive is the ability to get soccer player Heather Mitts as a girlfriend. Between that and a minor league baseball player engaged to Jennie Finch, I wonder what happened to the best athletes getting the hot chicks. Now apparently any uniform will do. I do understand Jeff Garcia dating the current Playmate of the Year, though. He has had some success and, being from around Cleveland, she really only had him and Drew Carey to choose from.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
So I watched ABC's TGIF shows friday night and they've replaced the older daughter on "Hope and Faith" this season. The new one seems like a clone of the blonde daughter on "8 Simple Rules", which is on earlier in the night. By that, I mean she's on the verge of being a tramp and she's not very bright. Essentially, she's a watered-down version of Kelly Bundy. Seems like it's almost a requirement for any sitcom that has atleast one teenage daughter to have one of them.
Personally, I don't care much for the change. The old one seemed on the verge of going into the watered-down Kelly Bundy mode, but wasn't there yet. That made for an interesting relationship with Kelly Ripa's character who is the Kelly Bundy fifteen years later. The new actress just seems older. The interesting thing is that the old actress was actually 27 years old and there are rumors that she got fired for being too old. I think it's funny if they fired an actress for being too old and replace her with one that comes off looking older. I honestly thought she was only fourteen or so.
Oh well, hopefully I'll get some sort of social life here in NJ soon and I won't be home on a friday night to watch it.
Personally, I don't care much for the change. The old one seemed on the verge of going into the watered-down Kelly Bundy mode, but wasn't there yet. That made for an interesting relationship with Kelly Ripa's character who is the Kelly Bundy fifteen years later. The new actress just seems older. The interesting thing is that the old actress was actually 27 years old and there are rumors that she got fired for being too old. I think it's funny if they fired an actress for being too old and replace her with one that comes off looking older. I honestly thought she was only fourteen or so.
Oh well, hopefully I'll get some sort of social life here in NJ soon and I won't be home on a friday night to watch it.
Friday, September 24, 2004
I was supposed to have tomorrow off, but because I took off work to get my car inspected, I'm making up the time tomorrow morning and going in for a half a day.
Yesterday evening, I took a walk along the river. It's a nice little walkway with a good view of Philadelphia. I kinda rushed the walk though because the sun was setting and it seems a lot of homeless use the grassy areas and benches as beds. I know most homeless people are harmless, but I still didn't care much for the idea of being alone in the dark with people without much to lose. Tomorrow after work, I think I'll go for another walk down there in the sunshine and maybe even take the ferry over to see whatever there is to see on the other side.
There's a marina right outside of the amphitheatre, which I found kinda cool. For those in Western PA, imagine a river running right outside of Star Lake and being able to drive a boat to a concert instead of dealing with automobile traffic.
Speaking of automobiles, my car insurance is now half of what the original quote was. It dropped first because I went up an age bracket. The second dropped occurred for no apparent reason other than the company is adjusting their rates to take in effect the new tougher insurance fraud laws that were passed to get insurance company to come back to the state. Anyway, a new car in the near future is looking more promising, even if it's not a Mustang this time.
Yesterday evening, I took a walk along the river. It's a nice little walkway with a good view of Philadelphia. I kinda rushed the walk though because the sun was setting and it seems a lot of homeless use the grassy areas and benches as beds. I know most homeless people are harmless, but I still didn't care much for the idea of being alone in the dark with people without much to lose. Tomorrow after work, I think I'll go for another walk down there in the sunshine and maybe even take the ferry over to see whatever there is to see on the other side.
There's a marina right outside of the amphitheatre, which I found kinda cool. For those in Western PA, imagine a river running right outside of Star Lake and being able to drive a boat to a concert instead of dealing with automobile traffic.
Speaking of automobiles, my car insurance is now half of what the original quote was. It dropped first because I went up an age bracket. The second dropped occurred for no apparent reason other than the company is adjusting their rates to take in effect the new tougher insurance fraud laws that were passed to get insurance company to come back to the state. Anyway, a new car in the near future is looking more promising, even if it's not a Mustang this time.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
I went to get my car inspected today. I was not looking forward to it because I just got in inspected less than two months ago in PA and didn't look forward to paying to do it again in NJ. But I had fourteen days from when I got it registered to get in inspected.
Turns out I didn't have to worry about it. Turns out that if you take it to a state-run inspection place and not a private place, you can get it done for free. The catch is, there's often a long line, but I timed it good and didn't have a line. It passed the inspection, of course. Everything that needed fixed got fixed at the PA inspection.
Now, I believe all I need to do to complete my move is register to vote. That asks the question, can you vote "None of the Above" in NJ?
Turns out I didn't have to worry about it. Turns out that if you take it to a state-run inspection place and not a private place, you can get it done for free. The catch is, there's often a long line, but I timed it good and didn't have a line. It passed the inspection, of course. Everything that needed fixed got fixed at the PA inspection.
Now, I believe all I need to do to complete my move is register to vote. That asks the question, can you vote "None of the Above" in NJ?
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Hey, I just caught part of the first episode of the new Real World and actually saw my apartment building on it. I might actually have to watch this one. The last Real World I actually regularly watched was the one in San Francisco. I've also watched enough of the Hawaii and New Orleans episodes to be familiar with the people, but the only one I've seen most, maybe all, of the episodes of was the first one.
At the very least, watching this Real World might actually give me some suggestions of things to do around here.
At the very least, watching this Real World might actually give me some suggestions of things to do around here.
Bydaway, this is one of my new favorite things.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
I got my New Jersey driver's liscense and liscense plates today. It's strange looking into my wallet and seeing the different color liscense there. I need to get my car inspected again, also.
I decided, like last time I had to take a liscense photo, I'd shave off the goatee. So I'm clean shaven again, the first time in over two years. This time, it doesn't seem to be bothering me as much. Most times, I've spent the first day constantly touching my upper lip because I'm not used to it being bare.
According to the article about Star Wars in Entertainment Weekly, George Lucas originally had a scene in the script showing Boba Fett crawling out of the pit in Return of the Jedi. It's nice to know that him surviving in the books goes along well with his vision.
Both the Pitt/Nebraska game and the Steelers/Ravens games are on the network channels here this weekend. I don't plan on both Pittsburgh football teams being available on network tv here every weekend. Hopefully, the steelers will fare better than Pitt did today.
I decided, like last time I had to take a liscense photo, I'd shave off the goatee. So I'm clean shaven again, the first time in over two years. This time, it doesn't seem to be bothering me as much. Most times, I've spent the first day constantly touching my upper lip because I'm not used to it being bare.
According to the article about Star Wars in Entertainment Weekly, George Lucas originally had a scene in the script showing Boba Fett crawling out of the pit in Return of the Jedi. It's nice to know that him surviving in the books goes along well with his vision.
Both the Pitt/Nebraska game and the Steelers/Ravens games are on the network channels here this weekend. I don't plan on both Pittsburgh football teams being available on network tv here every weekend. Hopefully, the steelers will fare better than Pitt did today.
Thursday, September 16, 2004
I got my first credit card early in my sophomore year of college. It was the one that came with my picture on the card. For it, I used the best picture I had of me at the time. It was one of my high school senior pictures. It had a brick backdrop (which was cropped out for the credit card) and I was wearing my "Wayne's World" ballcap (which wasn't cropped out). I took the picture less than a month before my seventeenth birthday.
So, I got that credit card with my picture taken at sixteen put on my credit card when I was nineteen. I used that card regularly up until about five or six years ago until I switched to one that gave awards.
Two years ago, I was given a free upgrade on that credit card. With it, I got a new credit card. One without a picture.
That card expires soon and I got the replacement this week. The picture has returned. I opened up the envelope and pulled out a card with the picture of me from thirteen years ago. It was just a wierd moment for me.
I'm thinking about using the card in a store just to see if I get a reaction from the clerk. Of course, more and more places I shop nowadays, the clerks don't even bother looking or even touching the cards. Kinda ruins the whole point of having your picture on your card.
So, I got that credit card with my picture taken at sixteen put on my credit card when I was nineteen. I used that card regularly up until about five or six years ago until I switched to one that gave awards.
Two years ago, I was given a free upgrade on that credit card. With it, I got a new credit card. One without a picture.
That card expires soon and I got the replacement this week. The picture has returned. I opened up the envelope and pulled out a card with the picture of me from thirteen years ago. It was just a wierd moment for me.
I'm thinking about using the card in a store just to see if I get a reaction from the clerk. Of course, more and more places I shop nowadays, the clerks don't even bother looking or even touching the cards. Kinda ruins the whole point of having your picture on your card.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
This weekend, I was considering shaving off my goatee when I got back to NJ. Then I spent four hours sitting in the bleachers high up in Heinz Field sunday. I didn't want to risk shaving and having my chin being one big tanline. Maybe I'll do it next week.
Speaking of the Steelers game, the game was good, but clueless refs cost me 25 points in my football pool.
Speaking of the Steelers game, the game was good, but clueless refs cost me 25 points in my football pool.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
I'm more confident in my fantasy football team than I have been in the past. I can tell this because I'm worrying about tight ends. I'm trying to decide whether I should exchange one or both of my tight ends with one or two of three free agent tight ends. Most years, I don't even bother to carry a second tight end except for the week my first tight end has a bye week.
I think why I like my team this year is that I got one of the big three running backs, Ahman Green (I actually got to choose between him and Tomlinson), and a top notch QB, Brett Favre. Also, some of my risky picks are looking better, including two former Pitt receivers Fitzgerard and Bryant.
Anyway, if anyone has any opinions, my tight ends are Pollard of Indy (usually a good pick but got nothing last week) and Watson of the Pats (rookie TE who was second favorite last week). The free agents are graham of the Pats (obviously shares time with Watson), Johnson of SF, and Smith of Philly (all three had double digit points, which mine didn't get combined).
I think why I like my team this year is that I got one of the big three running backs, Ahman Green (I actually got to choose between him and Tomlinson), and a top notch QB, Brett Favre. Also, some of my risky picks are looking better, including two former Pitt receivers Fitzgerard and Bryant.
Anyway, if anyone has any opinions, my tight ends are Pollard of Indy (usually a good pick but got nothing last week) and Watson of the Pats (rookie TE who was second favorite last week). The free agents are graham of the Pats (obviously shares time with Watson), Johnson of SF, and Smith of Philly (all three had double digit points, which mine didn't get combined).
Just some notes on some news articles:
When I saw the headline to this article, I thought, for a split second, if the bill is frivolous, why would they pass it.
I wonder if this will get any political notice considering it's an election year and it can be used as an argument for guns. Of course the real lesson is, if you rob a house in Western PA, be careful which one you choose.
Does this mean CMU will have the SSCS, the Satan School of Computer Science.
When I saw the headline to this article, I thought, for a split second, if the bill is frivolous, why would they pass it.
I wonder if this will get any political notice considering it's an election year and it can be used as an argument for guns. Of course the real lesson is, if you rob a house in Western PA, be careful which one you choose.
Does this mean CMU will have the SSCS, the Satan School of Computer Science.
Coming back from Pittsburgh sunday night, I made it off of the PA Turnpike not long after midnight and only about an hour or so later, there was a big crash involving a car and a tractor trailer. It totally closed down the eastbound lanes. And since truckers tend to drive fast, especially late at night, five or six of them couldn't stop and ran into all the stopped cars. Thus, when I left for work at 8am the next morning, the turnpike was still closed. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer to leave my folks.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
I spent the three day weekend taking care of my apartment. I only left to go shopping for food or a lamp. I watched Sports Night on dvd and the West Wing marathon on Bravo, so you could say it was a very Aaron Sorkin Labor Day weekend.
After moving my desk up to my bedroom, it became obvious that I need a table. I'm not accustomed to having enough floor space for a table. I'm hoping to go looking for one the weekend after next.
This coming weekend, I'll heading back to Pittsburgh. I'll be seeing my new niece, Maurie Marie, and the rest of my family, visiting Bill and Terri, kicking Bill's ass at a trivia game in the process, and going to the Steelers season opener with a guy named Flash.
I subscribe to over ten magazines. From subjects from sports to news to entertainment that arrive weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. But the one I found in my mailbox today probably has my favorite magazine cover in recent memory. It's from the bi-monthly gambling magazine Avery Cardoza's Player. Anyone who has watched poker on tv, especially the world poker tour on the Travel Channel is likely to be familiar with Shana Hiatt. It's a great cover for a magazine whom primary purpose isn't for pictures of beautiful women. My favorite parts are usually the tips columns it has for each type of popular vegas gambling game. The Shana cover and article was just a plus.
After moving my desk up to my bedroom, it became obvious that I need a table. I'm not accustomed to having enough floor space for a table. I'm hoping to go looking for one the weekend after next.
This coming weekend, I'll heading back to Pittsburgh. I'll be seeing my new niece, Maurie Marie, and the rest of my family, visiting Bill and Terri, kicking Bill's ass at a trivia game in the process, and going to the Steelers season opener with a guy named Flash.
I subscribe to over ten magazines. From subjects from sports to news to entertainment that arrive weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. But the one I found in my mailbox today probably has my favorite magazine cover in recent memory. It's from the bi-monthly gambling magazine Avery Cardoza's Player. Anyone who has watched poker on tv, especially the world poker tour on the Travel Channel is likely to be familiar with Shana Hiatt. It's a great cover for a magazine whom primary purpose isn't for pictures of beautiful women. My favorite parts are usually the tips columns it has for each type of popular vegas gambling game. The Shana cover and article was just a plus.
Friday, September 03, 2004
I became an uncle again on Wednesday. I have my first niece. She's the first girl in the immediate family and my mom was holding back tears when she called to tell me. Despite my lobbying, she wasn't named Tommie.
I won't get to see her until next weekend. I'm staying in NJ for this three-day labor day weekend.
I won't get to see her until next weekend. I'm staying in NJ for this three-day labor day weekend.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
The following articles all appeared in the "Latest Local News" section on the front page of the Post-Gazette website today:
-Drunk-driving defendant shows up drunk at hearing
-Clerk fooled by $200 bill with Bush's picture
-Porn slips into Hempfield school video presentation
That's just one afternoon in the Pittsburgh area. If they were reported to happen in another country, I would cry Urban Legend.
By the way, kids, there's the deal. Two dollar ($2) bill is good. Two hundred dollar ($200) bill is bad.
Also, the President Bush with the best chance to make a legimate U.S. monetary bill is the nephew and he won't even make President unless he's dumb enough to want it and good enough to escape his family's shadow.
-Drunk-driving defendant shows up drunk at hearing
-Clerk fooled by $200 bill with Bush's picture
-Porn slips into Hempfield school video presentation
That's just one afternoon in the Pittsburgh area. If they were reported to happen in another country, I would cry Urban Legend.
By the way, kids, there's the deal. Two dollar ($2) bill is good. Two hundred dollar ($200) bill is bad.
Also, the President Bush with the best chance to make a legimate U.S. monetary bill is the nephew and he won't even make President unless he's dumb enough to want it and good enough to escape his family's shadow.
