You see its an on or off type thing for me. a little fling so to speak. I write and update often, and then leave, but i miss my blog so i come back, and then leave again. Its like a bad falling off with a girl you dated for a while. In the end it never works out (also possibly while I have 4).

Come to think of it, blogging and girlfriends are very similar. Unless you know the code you aren’t going to get very far. maybe a few dates or blog posts, but that’s about it. upload a video is like buying a gift, its nice to see but in the end you could have searched/ bought it for yourself – its just thoughtful for her and the reader. but once you find the one that’s special you date, go out, link up with friends and if you really end up truly loving what you have… then it sticks for a long time.

N-E WAYS…….more about me later

The Microsoft ad below this post is not necessarily a bad ad – just hard to believe. However this new Taco Bell commercial takes the cake – no i don’t like idioms so for that i apologize and leave you with this – as George Carlin would say, “where would you take a cake. you know where i would take a cake, down to the bakery to see the other cakes.”

But really I think its time to take an in-depth look at this next Commercial.

So for those that haven’t seen this commercial… this guy – and I use that term loosely – decides to forgo the claimed 6 dollar nachos at the stadium and buys 3 different types of nachos from Taco Bell – one for 79 cents one for 89 cents and one for 99 cents. We’ll say this comes to 3 dollars after tax. How absurd is this, saving three dollars to look this ridiculous – and is he really saving any money??

He has a dress on, a wig, a purse, makeup and this fancy little clear round display case. Where did all of these come from? Let’s say he got the dress, purse and makeup from his mom (because he clearly does not have a girlfriend). Possibly the wig as well – but we’ll say he went out last Halloween with that wig – or one of his friends did. How about the display case? dollar store – or someone had that too and he borrowed it. So possibly up to 4 dollars spent for this outfit, but we’ll still give him the benefit and say hes still only paid 3 dollars for all of this.

How about saving yourself the embarrassment of 1) borrowing all of these items 2) looking completely ridiculous in front of his buddy and 35 thousand plus fans and 3) trying to slip past the security guard with that ridiculous looking outfit – as a ‘guy’. Alright, so on a very very very rare occasion its drag day at the park………………………….. no sorry i cant even go that far – that’s just unbelievable.

And another good point – if he is really worried about spending 3 more dollars on nachos – should he be going to this event anyways?? I would say the friend gave him a ticket but if on of my buddies pulled a stunt like this – I’m pretty sure i would have ‘lost’ the ticket.

So good job Taco Bell for creating another terrible ad – you just vaulted your way past Microsoft to the top of my ‘Worst ads on TV’ list ( no i don’t actually have a list but if i did they would be a top spot contender).

First off, Ok we get it, PC’s are easy to use – so easy a caveman can do it (yea wrong ad, i know).  Sure little Alexa can take a couple pictures, assuming she knows how to use a camera. And sure, little Alexa can press a few buttons on the screen to put the pictures of her fort together in a landscape picture. Thats not what gets me.

What gets me is the picture itself. She obvisously did not do this work herself. take a look at the freeze frame below. can you tell me whats wrong?

(i know its carppy photo - i did it in ms paint - something a child does know how to do...didnt have time for photoshop)

Still dont know? Well where can I start?

First the picture she printed is on top quality glossy paper (watch the ad, again i did this in MS Paint).  Now I’m not saying she doesn’t know how to put glossy paper in the printer – of course she can…she’s a PC. No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying that most households do not have glossy paper, so she would have printed the pic on regular paper. Now assuming she does have glossy paper in the house – would she have thought to use it? OK, OK, yes she did. Fine. Let’s get to the real point.

Look at the picture itself. Notice anything unusual? Take a closer look at the edges. The picture bleeds to the edge. Come on Microsoft, seriously? A 7 year old knows 1) how to make a picture bleed to the edge and 2) has a printer capable of bleeding to the edge? Either this girl didnt create/ make/ print this picture or our little Alexa is a prodigy – and if thats the case, does she have a resume cuz i want to hire her.

Also, Whats up with the fort? Surely if she can bleed edges then she can create a better looking fort than that. Maybe she should spend less time on the computer and more time being creative. Good job Microsoft for not paying attention to details….wait Vista dectects a problem to let Vista help you with this problem click yes, if you dont click no…………………………………

*Clicks no, goes out and buys a Mac*

For at least a year (an understatement), when ever you turn on a TV or read the news paper, talk with friends, listen to the radio, communicate in any shape or form, you have heard and probably been overwhelmed with all of the government spending and subsidizing.

Has any one ever sat down to calculate how much our government is actually spending? And I don’t just mean the $700 billion revive and recovery bill passed in 2008 or the $787 billion stimulus package approved this year (2009). Those numbers stare us in the face every day, whether its on CNN, network television or one of the many printed sources around the country. I mean all of this little things our government provides for.

Is it possible that these two numbers, over a trillion dollars,  hinder everyone from other government spending? It was just this morning that I heard on CNN that our government was planning on sending $900 million to Gaza for aid. This grabbed my attention because CNN mentioned it and moved on like it was nothing. Now before you judge me as a cold hearted asshole who doesn’t care about the rest of the world I’d like to explain that I do agree the U.S. should offer aid and support across the world – this story just got me thinking.

After just a few minutes of research on CNN, the Washington Post and the Herald Tribune I found some other proposed and planned spending by our government for the next several years. Take a look as you may not know about these:

• $700B revive and recover (2008)
• $787B stimulus package (2009)
• $900M Gaza rebuild (2009)
• $198M to Filipino Vets (2009)
• $30B to Israel Military Aid (2009 – 25% more preceding the Bush admin)
• $130B in Auto Bailout (proposed 2008-2009)
• $2.7-4.2T issue in bonds (propossed2009)
• $1T in revitalized lending (proposed 2009)

–Just to name a few–

Where does this money come from and who allows legislation to pass for these? At the time I wrote this (10:16 AM 2-24-09), thanks to a handy widget, the U.S.  National debt was $9,959,088,400,000.00 (with roughly $6T of that being held by the public) and of that, my share was $32,698.55 (about 60K for people who work).  But all things set aside economists say there will be a small recovery in 2009 and a solid recover in 2010. I understand I am talking on two different spectrums (economic growth, stimulus, job loss GDP, etc.), but the last time i checked if I was going to be in debt I would not be making a full recovery for some time – especially that much. I digress back to my original point.

If the U.S. is so far into debt how is it possible we continue to bail out companies (some that are VC’s), dish out stimulus packages and provide other countries with aid – all at the same time?

Why and how is it possibe, because China (mainland), Japan, the UK and Carribean banking centers hold about 50 percent of our debt. I find this funny because technically the U.S can never go into debt, because of seigniorage. But of course if we continued down that path it would eventually to hyperinflation. So we stand up to our necks and debt.  And, like every generation before us, and many after mine, I will cotinue to pay for – even though I dont even make enough to cover “my share” (the 60K for people who work) our governments egregious spending.

So what will I do when I get that nice stimulus check? Ehh, probably the same as everyone else, spend a little, save a little. Why?  I still want to retire by the age 35 (not looking so good right now). I want to be able to put my kids through college and have a nice savings fund to get that 35 foot jeanueu sail boat (that for you Pops). But we must remember that none of that will happen unless we invest back into our own economy.

Check this out:

I swear every time I see the new Pepsi ad, I’m gonna think of this. And you probably will too. You’re welcome.

Its just like the FedEx logo. You can’t not see the arrow. And just incase youve never seen that:

Now I know i didnt think of the Pepsi AD, and Im glad I didnt, but you’d think the ad agency would have been creative enough to spot this – or at least not jump on the Obama campaign wagon. Not that Ihave a problem with Obama, but could there be a larger tree to branch off. BTW – props to them, they did an awesome job – but they’ve helped create a fat Pepsi man.

Waiting for it to load… imagining all the spam I have to delete, and what other crap Ive subscribed to in the past, but when it loads I am surprised and shocked to find not one but two alike emails. One from someone I know, another from a subscription.

And this is why I ask: Is it too late?

What is the cut off date for an email to wish someone a happy new year?

I mean seriously? 22 days into the month and you finally get around to it? Im not sure if this is pure laziness or unthoughtful. I am utterly surprised to be receiving 2 emails that say happy new year.

The first from the friend is a little more understandable. Maybe they were on vacation, and things have been busy and were waiting to get back to college to send it. Ok, still doenst sound very reasonable but I can buy it.

The one from a subscription to a companies website is unacceptable. And correct me if I am wrong but it would seem that a company would want to stay in better contact with their customers and/ or consumers. Granted they did send it to me, but really? 22 days later.

I think the cut off date is about 2 business weeks, if you dont have it out 2 fridays after the new year, dont send it. I wouldnt have even noticed that they didnt wish me a happy new year, but now that they have, and with is being so late, im a little disconcerted.

Oh well – off to the delete box they go.

There are some things to keep in mind and be aware of, in order to prep for the big day, read on:

1. If you take the metro or are planning on taking the metro and do not have a smart trip – purchase your fare cards now. Avoid the long lines, and the possibility of metro running out of cards.

2. Go to an ATM on Wednesday or Thursday – DC’s banks do not have enough cash for 2 million people – let alone 4 million.

3. Leave your car at work, or try not to move it after Friday. Streets will be blocked off and you will not be allowed to park. Cars will not be allowed in side of M street to the mall – and bus parking is from M street, NW to P Street NW.

4. Bags larger then 8x6x4 will not be allowed in side of the M street area, so pack light – this means no umbrellas even if its raining.

5. Bars will be open 24 hours to serve food. Alcohol will be stopped at 4am, and will probably resume between 8 and 9 am.

6. There will be metal detectors you will have to go through in order to gain access to the mall area (for general admission). again pack light.

7. If you live in DC, bring something that verifies that you live in the city (ie. drivers license, phone bill, piece of mail). It will be hard to access several parts of the city – and trust me you will want to get back into your house.

8. Cab service will be limited – since there are no cars allowed inside of M Street. However, there is bus service from Maryland into the city. There will be service in Virginia but they will only take you to the bridge to walk across.

9. Standing room on the mall will be limited – if all 4 million people go to the mall you should have approx. a 1 foot by 1 foot square to yourself – so be kind and shower

10. Good luck getting around and enjoy!

I mean take Usain Bolt’s two Olympic medals in the 100m and 200m he currently is the fastest man alive. an awesome feeling for anyone, i mean i felt a little of it watching him set the world record. but it is not about winning the golds and trophies that i care about.

its about the celebration afterwards. only the true champions celebrate with class.

Take Michael Phelps for example, he just broke 7 world records, 8 Olympic records  and is the most decorated athlete of all time (in gold medals and in overall medals). How did he celebrate – with a fist pump and a smile. Even his mom celebrated with class, giving him a much deserved hug at the end. Now think about how bolt celebrated

Why is it that runners celebrate wores then any one else? They think they are the greatest person in the workld and rub it in everyone elses face, is that really necessary to chest thump, dance, taunt AND kiss your shoes?

For those who win just remember: your not the greatest if you just win, it what you do overall, before during and after that make the person.