Codecrackx15

My Religious Beliefs in a Nutshell: Deism

2012-02-26T00:50:00.002-05:00

Actually... god created the Universe
(The Big Bang) not just the world.

My religious beliefs in a nutshell: Deism
I'm a deist. I believe a god created a scientific world with scientific laws and does not interfere or take any active participation in it whatsoever.

Basically, god created the universe as a science experiment, took it to school, got a D- on it, brought it home and put it in his closet and then threw some dirty socks on it and went outside to play. So here we spin. I find it comforting.

Deism is not atheism because when one dies the energy goes somewhere. The law of conservation of energy states (basically) that energy can not be created or destroyed so therefore the energy inside humans goes somewhere. No one knows where so believe what you will. Atheists on the other hand just believe that that is the END. Science itself disproves this but on the other hand it can not prove what comes next.

Deism is in part responsible for the US Constitution. What? Yes, many of our founding fathers were deist and believed in reason. That is why the Constitution works so well... well... until the idiots in the Democrat and Republican Parties shit all over it anyway.

You see, all that God stuff that was put in to our founding documents is there for a very good reason. Humans want to believe that there is a higher power looking out for them so the founding fathers in all their wisdom decided that writing "Under God" into our documents and such was basically a way to bring everyone together under the banner or freedom through reason. Unfortunately, humans being stupid humans never came around and now pervert a very reasonable document into some kind of religious treaty for which it is not.

Back in the day (and still today even) people believed that God was the highest power so in saying that our rights are granted straight from God it took care of any kings or dictators that could come between the people and God. It is a play on words basically. It was just a way to state that people should be free from tyranny so people could understand it. Why do you think the founding fathers said that all people shall have the freedom of religion? Because, they didn't care one way or the other what someone believed in the first place so long as it came across that no man could rule over the people.

So in essence, America was founded on Deist beliefs. That is also comforting.

An Atlanta story: Forced Annexation and the Ripping of the City.

2012-02-16T18:01:00.000-05:00

My wife and I spent a long time trying to find a place in town with an Atlanta address. When I found a foreclosure with an Atlanta address and in an unincorporated area we knew what we wanted. Fast forward to now (6 months after moving in) and our property rights are being played with. The city of Chamblee wants to annex us into them and it makes no sense to do so.

1) Chamblee cares about us whereas Brookhaven (who also wants to Annex land but happily leave us out) does not.
To this I say BS. Brookhaven wants commercial spots in unincorporated Atlanta (Dekalb county) and Chamblee all of sudden see's the tax they could be receiving if they pushed their boundaries further. Government does not care and they do not do anything unless they can see a money value or vote value. In this case Chamblee wants the money but they are using our neighborhoods as the main reason to get the commercial property. Chamblee cares is nothing but a scam.

2) Better Services. Take that!!!!
Once again... Bullshit. The mayor of Chamblee stood up at the meeting and couldn't even offer better services. Garbage, nope... he said Dekalb is doing good. Recycling? oooh we wouldn't have to separate the recycling anymore... LAME!!! It doesn't change the school system and services are still contracted out to... drum roll please... Dekalb county.

3) What about the police?
What about the police? My car still would have been stolen regardless of if we belonged to a city or not. Dekalb has on average 2 extended police drive-byes in these neighborhoods every week. Their presence is felt. What? A city cop is somehow different than a county cop? Fucking A... A cop is a cop is a cop... No difference. They follow preset patrols and work under a metric evaluation system so if you're hoping for a one on one relationship with your protecting beat cop then you are living in the 30's. It ain't going to happen.

4) OK... well what about this? Being in the city makes the area more desirable.
Bullshit... wait, I already said that. Bullshit anyway. Being inside the perimeter is desirable (ITP) and being in an unincorporated area that doesn't have to pay Atlanta city tax or any city tax is way the fuck more desirable than living under another layer of government. Having an Atlanta address is a status symbol. Having a Chamblee address... where is that again??? Make no mistake, it is just another layer of government.
Our main point of moving here was for the Atlanta status and being unincorporated. So anyone saying that being unincorporated makes the area less desirable is smoking the wacky weed in large amounts.

5) What about what the mayor said about our millage rate?
What I heard was... Chamblee is around 7.1%. Dekalb county is 6.? something but after the prebate it drops to 3.? something. So when the mayor of Chamblee and our lovely representative (D) says that our rate will go up from losing the commercial areas to Brookhaven then what do you get after the math? You still get a hell of a lot less than 7.1%!!! Even Brookhaven is projecting 6% so Chamblee is fleecing somewhere... must be that lame leaf blowing machine because we already went over services and Chamblee doesn't have much difference than what we already have... Oy Vey!!! I had a real estate license so I know this game!!!

6) Well... the mother of 2 said we would be more of a community.
A city does not make a community. A community is neighbors that are different, friendly, interesting, and exciting. I have that now and I live in unincorporated Atlanta. I can honestly say that I have the coolest neighbors that I've ever had. That was a big plus to moving in too. It doesn't take being in a city to be a community.

7) Then we will either be stranded islands of unincorporation or become Dekalb city.
I'm more than fine with being an island and it will be one of the more desirable areas as such... Atlanta baby!!! Dekalb city is like a big What IF? I mean, the negative reaction of the majority of people against Brookhaven or Asheville City or whatever the hell they want to call it this week is LOUD!!! There is no certainty that that city will even happen. So... slow down you move to fast... we got to make the morning last...

Summary:
Right now we are proud Atlanta home owners with awesome neighbors and a great community. What more can you ask for?
Selling off portions of your property rights for tighter restrictions? Throwing away money for services we already have? Come on... there is more freedom in being unincorporated and a lot more value in having Atlanta as an address!!!

On the flip side... I fully expect this to go through. Logic and reason go hand in hand with liberty and in spite of that humans in general like to band together to force some sort of made up order on their lives that only really restrict them more and drain their funds.
People hear "services" and regardless of if it exceeds current services or not they only hear the catch word. I know how the game works. I've played the political side before. You can bet that Chamblee, Brookhaven, and Dekalb have each spent a shit load of money on cost analysis in the effort to see what the spoils come too and that is why the smiling faces of politicians come out to fluff their constituents. They see the money involved and it has nothing to do with giving neighborhoods a better anything. It all comes back to the money... Gotta love politics.

Coming to you LIVE from a future Chamblee, this is your roving Blogger signing off.

PS: At least I still have a fresh water creek and one way in and one way out entrance/exit in case of a Zombie Apocalypse!!!

The Age Old Question: Star Trek Vs. Star Wars

2012-02-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

It is a question that has reverberated through the hallow halls of Sci-fi fandom since these two reining franchises ascended the throne to top honors. Which one is better Star Trek or Star Wars?

I have always liked both of these franchises but as far as putting one over the other a new crossroads has come upon me. When I was a kid I was all Star Wars all the time. I had EVERY toy and every novelty. My friends and I would play outside in the parts of Star Wars characters. What kid wouldn't want a lightsaber to swing around and make those fuzzy burning sounds? I even had the toy of Han Solo's gun so when it came time to pick who you wanted to play I was always laying dibs on Han. Star Wars provided movement and action for a kid that you couldn't get by acting out Star Trek. Besides finding some good chairs and acting like photon torpedoes are hitting you so you can pretend to be thrown this way and that way it just wasn't as much fun.

That was then and this is now though. Star Trek has "Star Trek" logic but it kind of makes sense. It makes you think more once you get past all the aliens that are so damn human. When saying what kid wouldn't want to be Luke or Han you can also say what man wouldn't want to be Captain Kirk? The man has swagger and let's face it, he get's the hot (and maybe sometimes green) girl as much as a certain English MI6 spy. When it comes to Federation rules he is an anti-hero who has his own methods for what he does and that makes him the eventual hero.

So if I answer the age old question now I would have to say Star Trek because it just fits better with interests in that genera or maybe because it can crack a joke without looking like a goddamn cartoon with kiddie effects. You can even make a case for the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and maybe even Enterprise for topping the prequels and cartoon spin-offs of Star Wars. Maybe George Lucas just raped my wallet one too many times with his excessive releases and re-imaginings of movies that didn't need to be re-imagined. Hell, even the Star Trek original series reboot is light years better than anything Star Wars has done in the last twenty years or so. Come to think of it, it has Kirk and crew so it even beats Star Trek Next Generation though Enterprise as far as fun and excitement are concerned.

As a kid my favorite was Star Wars but when it comes to adult Sci-fi; Star Wars leaves a lot to be desired and between the two Star Trek fits the bill much better.

Alternatives to Cable TV Part 4: Is Cutting the Cable Possible?

2012-02-13T20:09:00.000-05:00

Cutting the cable is possible but the loss of sports would be heart breaking. For the most part you can get the shows you want to watch online through Amazon Prime, Netflix, and even Hulu but none of these present a solution to the loss of sports.

The Atlanta Falcons are carried locally so I could see every game by getting an HD over the air antenna. Between $100.00 and $200.00 gets a person a good rooftop antenna that should keep a perfect image even when rain and wind are concerned. So the NFL and Football would be covered for the most part.

The Atlanta Braves though would be a painful summer loss. Some games are on Peachtree TV and then maybe one or two would be on FOX during a couple Saturdays throughout the year but for the most part the Braves are showcased on FOX Sports South which is only broadcast on cable TV. So without cable America's pastime is missing time and no time and that makes for a very sad time!!!

I looked into MLB TV but local games are blacked out thanks to contracts with despicable FOX. Not to mention Saturday games and the post season which are also blacked out. Why the hell would I pay all that money to watch other teams who are not my team? The work around is running MLB TV through a proxy from a server somewhere else in the country but even then there is still a chance that the MLB will parse credit card addresses to black you out. So in other words MLB TV is pretty sad and not the answer. No, if you want to watch your baseball team then you are tied to the cable devil with weighted chains.

Having said all that and knowing that I would be missing most Braves games, the LFL on MTV2, Arena Football and other NFL games that are not local but broadcast on the NFL network, ESPN games, and a whole fucking lot of sports I'm still tempted and toying with the idea of cutting the cable to be free of that damn high bill.

For those that are not locked into sports then the answer is pretty simple. Yeah, you may have to wait to see some shows but patience brings with it savings!!!

Stay tuned for regular updates on the decision and temptation in cutting the cord!!!

Alternatives to Cable TV Part 3: Netflix

2012-02-12T11:25:00.004-05:00

This will deal with Netflix streaming only as I believe the DVD is at its end of life (EOL) and as digital media takes center stage I don't think Blu-ray will hang on anywhere near as long as the DVD has.

As of this writing I am 2 days into my trial period with Netflix and I'm planning on keeping it around like Amazon Prime. I was worried before going into the trial because friends who used to have Netflix had said that the online content was not very good. I am happy to report that what I've seen of selection so far has been very positive. I've queued up several newer movies that I have not yet seen and even a couple of older gems that got away from me before I had remembered to view them.

Newer movies like Limitless and the remake of True Grit were both happy finds and most unexpected as I thought the releases would be even older than that. The TV series contain full seasons up to the current season. Current seasons are placed on after the season is completed on its initial run. I'm looking forward to checking out Mad Men as I have heard several great reviews on this series.

Streaming is seamless and like Prime runs through my Blu-ray player directly into my TV. Menus are easy to get around in and selections based on your selections can bring up stuff you never would have thought to look for so their search is at times helpful. At only $7.99 a month the price is a deal.

I've heard that Netflix wants to put its weight behind the streaming side of the company and eventually phase out the DVD side. With the content they are currently offering and making available I think they are on the right track. Netflix gets a solid A = Content rich and up to date.

Alternatives to Cable TV Part 2: Amazon Prime

2012-02-11T11:45:00.000-05:00

Amazon Prime, what is not to like? $79.00 for the entire YEAR!!! That means a one time fee and tons of streaming video. Not to mention FREE 2 day shipping on most anything you order without having to hit that $25.00 minimum.

So what kind of content are we talking?

Well, if you like Sci-fi like I do then you are in digital nirvana. EVERY Star Trek TV show EVER. That includes the newly remastered (with brand new CGI ship, planet, and effects scenes) Original series Star Trek. Or if you like a little tea and crumpets with you Sci-fi then don't worry because you get almost everything DR. Who from across the pond that you could ever hope for. Not just the new stuff either... I'm talking in addition to the new stuff you get classic Tom Baker and Peter Davison and much more!!!

Another good thing about Amazon Prime is that they carry the entire season and past seasons unlike Hulu Plus. There are movies but not quite as many as Netflix and not as new either. There is a lot of content though so I'm really only scratching the surface with the Sci-fi as there is much more that they offer from current network TV shows that are popular right now.

Did I mention HD streaming from my Blu-ray? Yep, many TV series are all in HD but can also be streamed in standard. The picture looks better than what you are normally used to from the cable providers. The HD is just that good.

With deep content and HD quality streaming packaged with the FREE 2 day shipping Amazon Prime is definitely worth it for me and I highly recommend it. The only thing lacking is newer movies but TV is well covered. Amazon Prime gets a solid A- = Excellent but movie choices need to be expanded.

***I've been using Amazon to "rent"/ Stream movies for awhile and while this is not an Amazon Prime complaint or critique but an Amazon digital media tidbit in general I would like it if they let you buy movies in HD rather than only in standard (DVD Quality) for streaming. You can buy the TV series in HD but not the movies. Hopefully they will do that soon so I can cut Blu-ray and DVD buying out completely in my onward transition to the cloud.

Alternatives to Cable TV Part 1: Hulu Plus

2012-02-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

Plus what? Most content seems to be the same as you would get with the free version. I connected my Blu-ray player because I wanted to see if I could watch SYFY favorites Being Human, Lost Girl, and Face Off in this way instead of having to watch them through cable. Surprisingly you can't even watch ANY of the SYFY content streamed through your Blu-ray player onto a TV because Hulu does not have those rights. Rights??? SYFY is owned by NBC which is owned by Comcast which in turn NBC also owns Hulu so Hulu is owned by Comcast so what the fuck???

Sounds to me like those rights would be very easy to get since they are floating around in the same mega company but let's look at this a little closer. Comcast could lose viewers from people cutting the cable to go to services such as Hulu so it is in their best interest to tie up Hulu as much as possible. NBC bought Hulu and Comcast in turn bought NBC right when Hulu was getting hot. Coincidence? I don't think so.

As a second test I noticed that they have Nikita from the CW up so I went to check that out and 5 episodes from season 2 come up. With Plus You are supposed to get the entire season I thought? What happened to season 1? Why would I pay for this when I can get these same 5 episodes free from the Hulu regular service? What the hell is the point to Hulu Plus???

So after one day in a one week trial period I have canceled my trial subscription because the precise thing I was looking for isn't even allowed and other shows I like are not put up in their entirety. The limited content is not even worth the $7.99 per month that would kick in if I let it get past the trial period.

Without complete content and the ability to view it where I want to view it Hulu Plus gets an F = Failed.

Let's Talk Atlanta Falcons Uniform Changes.

2012-02-07T18:06:00.000-05:00

Nike has taken the reins from Reebok with the NFL contract for the teams official uniforms and merchandising so next year we are anxiously awaiting what our teams will be wearing when they take the field.

Some people want to go back to the throwbacks of a time long gone by but I say no. Football has changed and as the sport races to the future our teams need to be updated and dressed for the game play.

If Nike and the Falcons organization really want to get the crowd to RISE UP then I think they should think very seriously about the Nike combat concept uniforms that can be found everywhere on the internet.

With out further ado...

The Home Uniform.

The Away Uniform.

Notice the sleek styles and the all around future look to it. These are uniforms that say we have come to play. The Falcon on each shoulder pad and the Falcon wings down the sides of the upper legs are perfect and bring this design to the forefront of style.

Of course we can't just look good, we've got to play good to but I'm pretty sure we'll be topping this last season and in designs like this we'll look good doing it!!!

GO FALCONS!!!

Thought Process 2

2012-02-06T18:07:00.001-05:00

The Cable Conundrum...
AT&T has me at the end of their 6 month promo and it all hinges on a call I will make Friday as to what happens. Without extending or getting a new promo my bill jumps by over fifty big ones and that is not happening. Cable and DVR is great but not for that unreasonable price. Comcast is not something I want to go back to because their new equipment out on the poles in a word sucks and tends to drop the signal several times a month. Waiting for their customer no-service is a pain and waste of my time.
So I'm hoping that whatever customer service rep. I get will be one of the "good" ones who will re-up me or else I will be left with having to contend with drastic measures.

Social Networking Burn...
I think I'm reaching a social network burn. It's very strange even having burned out on it before. Last time I removed all my info from Facebook just because... Well... because.
Maybe it is the endless political youtube videos that flood my stream? That just brings up another point altogether though... I'm supporting the same candidate that most of my friends, circles, and followers support so the whole flood of like minded videos is convincing who really? Preaching to the choir people.
Maybe I just need more content driven posts to lay my eyes on? I mean posting up a video is one thing but at least write something about why you like it or how you see this as meaningful!!!
Maybe it is posters that flood the stream in a constant posting haze? I think if a poster goes over 5 posts in a row with the time stamping them as being one after the other then that is a little much. Where is the social networking etiquette? Twitter people you are excused because how you get any info out with such limits on characters is beyond me.
Maybe I'm just in a mood? Who knows???

Welcome to the Sports Dead Zone...
NFL has ended for the season and the MLB and AFL don't start until April. This is officially the dead zone in sports for me. I'm not into the NBA because let's face it... all the greats like MJ and Magic are long gone and retired and I could care less about these new school kids that don't compare.
The Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Force are just around the corner so I just have to hold tight!!! That corner is so wide though...

Political Burnout
Yes, I wish this dummy election would just get over because it is becoming a joke. The electorate is a joke. The joke is so freaking funny that I can't even take it seriously anymore. The people ask not what they can do for their country and only ask what their country can do for them. The people are a bunch of whiny babies that suck on the tit of the nanny state now. So all of your Romney and Obama voters... you are the problem. Read a history book your nincompoops.
Hey... maybe that is why I'm getting the social media burnout after all!!!

Social Networks - Advertising and Privacy.

2012-01-28T19:48:00.001-05:00

Everyone is so scared these days that Google, Facebook, and "insert online company here" is going through your personal data so that they can make personalized advertising to target you. The media reports on it almost daily and politicians decry it while watchdog groups call it an invasion of privacy, but is it?

No, it isn't. I'll show you that it isn't and make it clear that your info is not being viewed by a sweaty fat guy eating gummy worms who decides what ads should be targeted to you and likewise there is no secret tech police in suits searching your data and going through your comments, posts, and personal data. That's just the fear mongering that the media, politicians, and uninformed and uneducated watchdog groups put forth and nothing more.

1) How do these companies target me with ads from things I'm interested in?
Companies such as Google and Facebook use an algorithm that runs through their sites and parses data and information. An algorithm runs within the system and it is not picking out individual comments and posts so human eyes can see or read them. Simply put the algorithm parses the data and picks out keywords and then based on those keywords mathematically chooses an advertisement that it has associated with those key words.
As an example, if I go to FansEdge and start looking for an Atlanta Falcon pullover then that information may have been sent to Google and the algorithm has checked my search and then when I go to another site I may see an advertisement showing me the pullover I looked at on FansEdge or it may be showing me other Atlanta Falcon related items. The algorithm has checked my key words and is not targeting my interests while not another human has viewed my likes and dislikes. It's not as dark and dastardly as the fear mongers would have you believe. It also shows me things that may interest me as opposed to advertisements that I have no interest in.

2) What about information that I post and what others can see?
Look, you are using a social networking site so use it how it works or don't use it at all. No one is forcing you to post and no one is forcing you to use the site. You need to be responsible for yourself and if you feel a site does not protect you from you then you should probably just stop using the site altogether instead of whining about it.
Facebook hears this one a lot because of the changes that seem to continually take place in their privacy policy but check this out... It's a FREE site and you don't have to use it. You don't have to use Google+, Facebook, or Twitter. So get over this whining and either use it as it is presented to you or leave. Period.

3) But it's not really FREE because they get paid by selling my data right?
Your data that no one see's is sold so that ads may target you but the amount of money it takes to keep social networking sites up and running has to be monetized in some way. Users literally go ape shit if they hear the rumor that Facebook is going to start charging money on a monthly basis. Do you not realize the cost of servers, software, storage, and upkeep that goes into keeping these sites running for millions upon millions of people? That shit is not cheap and you don't want to pay a monthly fee so it has to be paid for somehow.
Like I said earlier, no one sees your info. All of these targeted ads takes place using 1's and 0's and a pretty cool algorithm that ties it all together.

So stop being afraid that your social network is "looking" at your information and selling it to the highest bidder because the way the media, politicos, and watchdogs present it is just fear mongering.
Learn how your site of choice uses its security policy and look into the tools they give you on the site to manage your information. If you really think that the gummy worm guy is still looking at your info then don't use the site but stop complaining about it. The fact that you are wrong about how this all works and then choose to whine about it only shows you to be the loser that you are and given that information, you would probably not be very social on a social network anyway so we ho do use them won't miss you.

I hope this has been more informative than the fear mongering that continues in the news on a daily basis. Feel free to share it around so others can understand that social networks are really not selling them out in the way that the media would like you to believe.

***Now, if you go and break the law or do some stupid shit that is highly illegal then the Government can have the ISP track your data and pull everything on you. Internet companies can be sent a warrant and they then could pull all of you info. It is not something internet companies like to do but then if you are doing something illegal it is your own damn fault for doing it and then posting it to social networks... so it still comes back to you being the idiot!!!***

So Which Candidate Can Really Beat Obama?

2012-01-27T19:10:00.002-05:00

In this Presidential election it is the libertarians and independents who will control the vote when it comes to a Republican candidate versus Obama. So let's look at this closer and see what that means for Republicans who need to choose and nominate a candidate.

Libertarians and Independents support and will vote for Ron Paul and no other Republican candidate. That means that to beat Obama the GOP would need to nominate Ron Paul to be their candidate. If the GOP picks Romney, Gingrich, or that other guy (Santorum) then they will not win against Obama because we Libertarians and Independents will not support that option. We will vote for the Libertarian Party candidate, write in Ron Paul's name, or stay home and abstain and without us Obama wins. Republicans are telling us that a vote for Ron Paul is a wasted vote but I say that a vote for any other candidate running on the GOP ticket is a vote for Obama.

If Ron Paul does not get the nomination then I urge everyone to vote for the Libertarian candidate (who may be Gary Johnson who is a Ron Paul supporter). I believe that this will be a much stronger showing in many ways than trying to do a write in that never gains momentum. Voting for the LP candidate shows mass support for the Libertarian philosophy that Ron Paul champions and also shows that we are voting not just for the man but we vote for the ideal. The LP candidate should be on every states ballot and this makes it an easy vote to give against the GOP who turns their back on Liberty and the Democrats who left it a long time ago. In the last Presidential election Ron Paul asked his supporters to stand behind a Third Party vote and as the LP is the third largest political Party and on these ballots championing liberty then it makes sense to push the LP forward and stand up for Liberty.

Republicans will say that a third Party vote is a wasted vote but in this election it is a show of protest and a time for liberty minded people to stand up for our beliefs. Republicans will say that we are blackmailing them to vote Ron Paul right now but I say we have seen their candidates and we do not trust them because they look exactly like Obama anyway. Both Parties spend to their hearts content to capture their votes. Neither Party wants to do anything to Social Security or Medicare. Neither Party wants to cut defense spending or nation building. Neither Party really wants to push tax reform. They may not look the same but they act the same in different ways that leads to the same results.

If the GOP does not give Ron Paul the nomination then I urge everyone to vote for the Libertarian candidate and carry on the message of Liberty!!!

Ron Paul 2012
http://www.ronpaul2012.com/

The Libertarian Party
http://www.lp.org/

Falcons, Please Make Me Eat My Words...

2012-01-17T18:48:00.000-05:00

What are you doing???

WE made it to the playoffs and we are out in the first round so the logical step would be to find the issue and remove it so we can go farther. Mike Mularkey (OC) and Brian VanGorder (DC) were the issues and when they left we were given a get out of jail free card to go out and hire some top quality people to fill the Offensive and Defensive coordinator positions. But what do we do?

We hire Dirk Koetter from Jacksonville for the OC. He has been with Jacksonville for 5 years of which his first year was his only good year. This year he ran the 32nd ranked offense. There are 32 teams in the NFL so that means last placed offense. People have said that he never had the players of quality caliber to work with but this is just BS. He is part of the process that brings in talent. If you think that the Head Coach doesn't listen to his coordinators then you have to be smoking something. The fact of the matter is that this guy is not cut out to be in charge of our Offense. He says he likes to pass up field but his track record shows he likes the run. I have a very bad feeling about this pick.

Now we get Mike Nolan as our Defensive Coordinator. Where is he coming from you ask? Miami. You know that other team in Florida that is pretty much the bottom of the barrel. Before that he was at Denver (when they were bad) and then before that he was in San Francisco (also when they were bad). OK, so his offense stops the run... fine... his teams are still on the losing side so his defense against the pass must be lacking or something here??? Either way you spin this is a scary pick. Maybe not as scary as Koetter but also not far off from it.

I hope beyond hope that these guys can gel and turn this around because if they don't... I don't think Smith will be around as Head Coach after next season. He is staking his name on these guys from losing teams to take our playoff team to the next level. That is scary!!!

Social Networking and Why it Matters in the Company Landscape.

2012-01-02T16:09:00.000-05:00

Who would have ever thought that social networking sites would have taken off as they did? Now those very sites such as G+, Facebook, and Twitter are the network to the eye's and ears or millions of people. Those people are not only a vast wealth of consumers but the single biggest word of mouth network on the planet. Companies no longer need to rely on TV commercials and newspaper advertisements to reach the public and spread their message. Now that very message can be spread through targeted and interactive social media interactions.

The advertisement isn't as important as the connection. What I mean by this is that click through advertising is usually fairly low but companies still do it because it puts the company name or branding into view. The actual ad that the click through puts a consumer in touch with may never be seen but the person has that image in their subconscious. The important part is not that ad though. The important part is making the connection. When a consumer comes to a companies social network page and +1's, Likes, or Follows them then they are initiating a connection that many companies fail to nurture. I've been to several sites where consumers have left messages all the way down a companies Facebook wall but nowhere did that company take the time to interact and nurture the relationship. Every interaction should not be a sales pitch but some sort of reply should be sent that further builds upon the relationship through the interaction. A reply shows that the company is actively listening to the consumer while not making a sales pitch shows interest in the consumer without being pushy and overbearing.

Targeted company updates and informative articles on the company can further engage the consumer and be an invaluable tool to keep consumers returning and keep your companies name in the spot light. This however does not meaning spamming peoples walls with the same press release or several in a row. This means targeted information, content, and posted updates done daily at various intervals to show that human interaction is indeed taking place. This also means that the post itself is not the point but the content that is crafted to go out in the post is the main draw.

Blogging sites can be a treasure trove for a company wanting to create content for social network updates. The message should be clear and informative. Products, solutions, and sales information should be intermingled with company insights into the inner workings of the facility and staff. Is it any wonder that reality TV is such a draw? Consumers want a glimpse into the inner workings of the companies they like. They will be receptive to company profiles and pictures documenting regular every day activities that not only show off the staff but the company itself. This put's a face on the company in a humanizing effect.

It is a form of trust through these interactions that endear a company to a consumer on deeper levels than just making a transaction. The tools are in place and it is just a matter of content creation and then continued interaction.

These are the reasons that it really matters for companies to nurture these relationships via social networking.

The Chromebook Marketing We Need.

2011-12-27T18:22:00.000-05:00

Being a fan of the Google Chromebooks means I want to see them succeed. Judging from the sell through on Amazon over the Holidays it seems like they are selling really well. The Acer I'm typing this very blog on was one that showed up with a limited quantity of 2 for only moments. Luckily I scooped mine up when I did. It looks like Amazon is currently waiting for more shipments.

The problem is that the general public is not aware of the Chromebooks or what they are about. They may hear a critic or see an article by one of the many archaic Windows dinosaur loving Microsoft fanatics and then never really dig into the real functionality and usefulness of a Chromebook.

Google needs to do more than produce 7 or 8 (very cool) videos on youtube to get the word out. I'm liking the idea of the small kiosks that are set up inside malls. They could have 3 or 4 demonstration models that people can log into so that the general public can get a feel for them. The employees working these kiosks would have to do more than sell the Chromebooks though. They would have to be knowledgeable enough to explain the entire idea behind cloud computing effectively so that people know that when they buy a Chromebook they will be getting a fully supported web experience from Google but they will not be tied in exclusively to just Google. I don't think people are generally aware that they can use Amazon Cloud Player instead of Google music for the storage and playing of their music. Likewise, while I may use Google Docs there is nothing preventing you from using Microsoft's Office 365 or Open Office if that fits your needs. Going over the Google inventory is a great selling point but telling people that these options are also available is the foot in the door.

Let Apple and Microsoft have the glitzy big stores and instead of being an in your face glam campaign like that; Google can wage a guerrilla war right in the lanes that people are traversing. Nintendo does this and their Kiosks are always busy. It's a way of grabbing the attention of people who won't be walking into those stores normally.

Next, Google needs to advertise on TV and those advertisements can not be just about the Chromebooks being the web. Statistics need to be given that show that most people do most of their computing online on the web and that localize storage is just the perception that the dinosaurs want you to believe is a necessity. Once people see that they can get to their music apps, books, and office documents then the information starts to sink in that local storage isn't all it is made out to be. Also... to fight this lame comment by the detractors that a Chromebook is just a paper weight without a wi-fi connection Google needs to make people think about how much they actually use their computers if there is not a connection. Chances are... most people don't bother using their current PC's if there is an issue with the net. Besides... chances are also with a person that they will be connected and find a connection just like they currently do with the dinosaur Windows PC's they are already using.

The keyboard is also something that needs to be stressed as it is something that people want and need. This sets it apart from a tablet. A tablet for the most part is only seen as a entertainment gadget whereas a Chromebook can bring you your entertainment and productivity.

Chromebooks are the innovation and ease of use that Windows lacks and from what I see coming down the pike from Win7 and Win8... Windows is still that dinosaur lacking any real innovation.

Hopefully, if Google does release a tablet of their own then they will use Chrome and not Android for the OS. They could even call it a Chrometab and further brand the Chromebook line. Just like cell phones and notebooks the Chrome line could have something for everyone.

The Acer AC700 Chromebook

2011-12-26T12:47:00.004-05:00

I received the Acer AC700 (Wi-Fi) Chromebook for Christmas and I am loving it. Once you find that everything you do in computing can be accomplished from the web then there is no excuse to be using the dinosaur known as Windows anymore.

Upon opening the lid to the Chromebook I am greeted with my login in right around 7 seconds. I type my Google password and "BANG" I'm online. No more having to wait one, two, ten minutes for the OS to boot up. Once I'm online then everything I need is right there. Music? Yep, Amazon cloud player contains everything I've purchased from Amazon with no need for local storage. WEll, how about documents and writing? I have that too... I use Google Docs and all of my writing and documents are stored in the cloud.

So, the overwhelming criticism I've heard is from people who can't store things directly on their machine locally... If you don't need to... Why do you want to? Trust me, cloud storage is much safer than your local pc that can have a hardware failure at any time.

But I can't install or play my Call of Duty??? Chromebooks are netbooks... A netbook containing a Windows OS will not be running your Call of Duty either so this whole argument is just stupidity on the users part.

But, without the internet it is just a paper weight. To which I say... without an internet connection... that is what a PC is to me anyway. Back in the days of having Comcast and their always failing internet (due to their new Xfinity equipment out on the poles that loses connection) I found that when the internet went down, my use of my computer all but stopped. Besides the fact that everything I use is all online for entertainment and productivity the internet is integral part of computing today.

The Chromebook gives you a fast way to get online and access all of the things you really need. The Chrome OS is innovation where Windows is that Dinosaur that network admins cherish because 90% of the network admins are afraid of innovation and refuse to shift their thinking out of their comfort zones.

For me, the Chromebook is perfect and works exactly as I intended for it to work. Thank you Google for a truly innovative OS!!!

So do you have an Ultra.Net.Notebook to go along with that useless marketing lingo?

2011-12-16T16:26:00.000-05:00

The new term of the moment is Ultrabook. These are considered high powered super-thin notebooks that lack a DVD/CD-ROM. They also come with a premium price tag attached to them. Last years flavor was the Netbook. A Netbook is a cheaper, smaller, compacted Notebook sometimes containing a DVD/CD-ROM and sometimes not. Sometimes they have a good processor and again sometimes they don't. All of these iterations descended from the Notebook or "laptop" to the simple minded.

Let's just be clear about this for a moment... These are all Notebooks. What you have now is insipid marketing lingo and nonsense branding. This is something that the PC market largely steered clear of and was mainly an Apple thing... Mac Book Air anyone? Unfortunately it has now carried over to the PC market where it forces the PC makers to brand their lines in these new divisions.

Dell has decided to end their foray into Netbooks and focus on Ultrabooks. Ditto for Samsung and Acer, the company that has taken most of Dell's market share has also stated they would be pushing Ultrabooks simply for the higher profit margin while also ending their Netbook line. This move by Acer only shows that the branding of the Ultrabook as high end is more than meets the eye. If the profit margin is bigger for an Ultrabook over a Netbook then you know that the price has been inflated by the effort to brand and categorize the "in" product. In other words, right now is an excellent time to buy a Netbook or God forbid an old school Notebook at a big savings. Staying away from the Ultrabook branding lingo over the next year will drive the prices down for this iteration and will possibly lead into whatever comes next for the sales and marketing weasels that use nonsense branding and advertising to their advantage.

Don't get sucked in by the hype of fancy advertising lingo and spend more on something you don't need or something that doesn't have what you need. Identify the key reasons you are in the market for a Notebook and buy based on what those needs are. Most of all, take in the big picture and look through the lingo. The hype is usually only that... hype.

Facebook Timeline - One Big Ho-Hum...

2011-12-15T17:40:00.000-05:00

You know that sound a balloon makes when you open and close the nozzle randomly and the helium rushes to get out? That is the culmination of what Facebook's new Timeline is.
I had already removed 99% of my posts from my wall and deleted most of my "Likes" and such in preparation for this monumental change to the great advertising engine. I enabled Timeline today and it amounts to a face lift on your profile page. Yes, you can search back through months and years of posts since you joined the passive aggressive marketing engine but after viewing a couple of people who have their Timeline's also enabled and published I've come to the conclusion that the jumbled mess of a page is just that.
Stretching certain events across the double sided flow that runs from top to bottom can break up the in your faced mess to an extent but for the most part it is an exercise in tedium unless you were really stalking a person. Chances are that you've seen all these posts and pictures when they were originally posted so a journey back through the retread is largely pointless.
If you know me or have read this blog then you know I'm not a big Facebook user but really... I expected something more than this!!!
If you click on your "Home" page you're back on the page that you normally stay on when visiting Facebook so the whole Timeline extravaganza is largely hokum. Quite literally one big gigantic non-event.
So, I came, I saw, I'm bored. See you all on G+!!!

Libertarian by Design: Immigration

2011-11-22T23:05:00.001-05:00

Immigration is one of the hot topic issues right now with Republicans wanting to round up every illegal to send them back and then build the second Great Wall to keep them from coming over again. While Democrats have no problem throwing the doors to the borders wide open and stealing from this nations people through taxes to pay for illegals welfare and healthcare. The issue is really a lot easier to deal with than the big two Party's make it out to be.

I see it in two ways that are very much opposite. I'll start with my ideal solution first though and then come around to the opposing solution.

1) I would have no issue throwing the doors to our borders wide open if Federal and State government removed all taxes from my income. That means Federal, State, and Social Security. There is no reason that I should be robbed of my money to pay for the welfare and healthcare of an illegal alien. By ending the tax on the people it would clear the path to open borders. The tax system I support is the FairTax and all money the government would take in would be off consumption from purchased products. Anyone in this country including illegal aliens would be paying into the tax system so there is no longer a burden to legal citizens.

2) If the people of the US fail to use common sense and insist on keeping a broken social security system and healthcare system that will only erode faster from illegal aliens using services and citizens tax money then the only other option is to build a Great Wall and position the National Guard on the borders in continuous patrols. We would need to adopt strict border crossing measures like the ones that Mexico has on their books. This option would be the bloodiest option and loss of life would be severe and very high to get the point across.

I of course would prefer option 1 but to do this the people of this country need to wise up and abandon the entitlements and nanny state mentality that currently infects us. Services can not continue under the weight of illegal aliens who pay nothing into the system. It is not fair to the American People who shoulder this burden. Removing the cost from the American people removes the burden without having to resort to the opposite extreme.
You can not demand that a doctor use his time, effort, and free will for nothing in return, just as you can not expect that supplies should be freely given with no concern for paying those that put their hard work and effort into making and creating them. The people of this country should not be forced by the guns of government to give up hard earned money out of their checks that they worked for to cover services for those that pay nothing into them. No matter how you look at it, it is not right.

Removing the income tax on the people is the only way to open the borders.

Libertarian by Design

2011-11-19T15:18:00.001-05:00

I am a Libertarian.
So what does that mean?
First and foremost it means that I hold the libertarian ideal above that of any Party. That ideal is one of individual liberty and freedom of expression and freedom of action. It is an ideal of limited government intervention into the lives of the people and responsibility of ones self.
In other words if my actions are not hurting anyone else then there should be no rules or laws against them. This includes those who are thinned skinned and get "offended" so easily. The offended have the option of not participating, looking, taking part in, or being around the actions of people that so offend them. If the offended choose not to take themselves out of the situation then so be it but they have no right to impose the guns of government to force their lives or beliefs on another.
Now, as far as Party line I reserve the right to vote for or support the person with the libertarian ideals that further the libertarian cause. For example, if Ron Paul (a Republican with libertarian ideals) were to get the nomination to run for President it is sheer stupidity on the Libertarian Party's behalf to run a Libertarian candidate against him just for the sake of being pro-Party. The Libertarian ideal outweighs the Party and in this sense the LP is no different than the GOP or Democratic Party in self service to itself. One who pushes the Libertarian ideal should choose based on pushing the Libertarian ideal regardless of Party because without the ideal there would be no Party to begin with.
Being libertarian does not mean ensuing anarchy. Limited government is not a bad thing. Laws would only need to be in place to protect a persons life, liberty, and property. If you inflict bodily harm on a person you are breaking the law. If you restrict a persons free will upon themselves or force a person to relinquish their time or energy then that is breaking the law. If you harm or destroy a persons property then that is breaking a law.
People need to have common sense and personal responsibility and a libertarian court system that comes down to a libertarian philosophy would go a long way in cleaning up the mess that currently is our legal system. No more lawsuits for huge sums from consumers who burned their tongues on hot coffee due to their own bad judgement and no more frivolous lawsuits that have no business even being heard.
The government would no longer be able to force blanket rules and regulations upon the states as they do now. We are the "United" States not the Federally mandated States. The States should have the right to choose the direction of their laws by the people living in them. The supreme court as it exists today does nothing but enforce blanket laws on the entire nation under a federal mandate backed by the guns of government.
The federal government was set up to maintain infrastructure, provide for the defense of this nation, and negotiate contracts with other nations. That is all they should be doing and nothing more. The federal government should not be using tax dollars for entitlements, welfare, medical insurance, or retirement safety nets. These things should fall under State governments, local communities, shelters, churches, and charities. Entitlements to other countries should all be ceased because it is nothing more than robbing from the people of this country. With exception to cross state infrastructure the federal government should be removed from any and all equations where the State and private companies under State laws and regulations are able to operate.
I am a Libertarian because I believe in Freedom. There is limited freedom when the Federal government maintains iron clad control with rules and regulations that restrict the people.
I am a Libertarian because I refuse to be offended by others or push my beliefs on others forcefully to make them do what they do not want to do. Likewise a person who forces their beliefs on me steals my right to liberty.
I am a Libertarian because it is the only philosophy that supports personal responsibility, common sense, and true freedom.
I am a Libertarian.

Lifers - Jeff Somers - 5 out of 5 Stars

2011-11-11T21:32:00.001-05:00

Lifers by Jeff Somers is a great book and not just great in the sense that you pick up the book, read it, and then put it down and you feel satisfied, but great in identifying the need that many people have to find themselves and escape the doldrums of everyday life that happens just because...

"Being successful at your job was the cheapest form of fulfillment there was. Dedicating your life to your employment was for those who liked to court life but wilted at the sight of her parted, smooth thighs; the poseurs who had so little originality in them that they accepted someone else's goals as their own and smiled happily around the gruel."

The above was the very first exert that I ever highlighted and saved in my Kindle so the book really resonated with me. I ended up highlighting several more lines throughout the book that either struck me as something that I identified with or something that just made me smile and/or laugh for how great the lines came through.

The main character is a guy named Dub and for the most part he is stuck in a dead end job that he hates but keeps just so he can get by. He and his two friends are going nowhere and the average night is drinking at the local watering holes. The idea to commit a crime comes up and each of the three friends has their own reasons for going in on it. Dub just needs a change. That's all you get for a set up, you should read the book and I guarantee you will find witty lines of dialog that are never forced and a great story that will pull you right into the character.

Lifers was written before Jeff Somers' Avery Cates series that falls into the world of Cyber Noir Sci-Fi which is not to be missed. I like the fact that I enjoyed this book just as much as the five great books in the Cates series. There was nothing Sci-Fi about it but that just goes to show that Jeff Somers can't be pigeon-holed into any one neat little category. That is the work of an author worth reading.

So check out Lifers and then get started with the first book in the Avery Cates series. Trust me, you will be in for a great ride.

1 Star - Bad/ 2 Stars - Underwhelming/ 3 Stars - Good/ 4 Stars - Very Good/ 5 Stars - Excellent

Piracy is NOT the Cause

2011-11-02T17:30:00.000-04:00

When are the movie and music studios going to stop blaming piracy for their own inability to change with the times? When will pigs begin to fly might be an easier question to answer as the case may be.

The MPAA for movies and the RIAA for music have taken to the role of jack booted thugs who currently claim that losses in profit are due to nothing more than piracy. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can deduce that this type of logic is utter nonsense. Of course the government and the court system seems to have been bought off by the MPAA and the RIAA; how else can a woman in the mid-west be sued for some ungodly amount of money for a single download? OK, well... the court system has had a misplaced common sense for quite awhile.. anyone up for suing Micky D's for spilling hot coffee?

Let's put the facts out there real simple and in plain English. The things people are downloading on P2P sites and such is mostly stuff they would never see or listen to otherwise. In other words, the media being downloaded is nothing but icing. That in turn means that they would not go out and buy it anyway.

So the question is, why are they not wanting to buy it? The answer has more than one part.

1) Price. The price of a Blu-ray should not be any more than a DVD and the price of a DVD should NEVER be over fifteen bucks.

But what about all the extra features? What extra features? Lately movie companies have been double dipping and skimping. Look at the latest Transformers Dark of the Moon Blu-ray release. Just the movie for twenty to twenty-five bucks. The special edition isn't coming out until it gets closer to Christmas. Talk about your low down dirty rotten marketing schemes and this one is right up there in the top bracket.

If Amazon would release just the movie in HD quality for $9.99 then I would most likely be buying my movies digital from now on. The fact is, movie companies sometimes push up the price for digital so it is more expensive than buying a physical copy. This also happens a lot with music, remember we have two thieves scheming on us here.

I think a $9.99 price point for the movie in HD digital form is about perfect. I'm not asking for special features here just the movie as it is when it is placed on the disc that sells at the same time.

Stop the press... Let's not forget movie studios releasing different copies at the same time. IE: Theatrical cut or Directors cut/ Special edition/ Extended cuts. Any price breaks in there? Nope, nada, zilch...

So movie studios, your marketing geniuses are screwing over the consumer... how do you expect them to react? Now I have to drop an extra twenty on the special edition Transformers, thanks a lot movie studios. Instead of buying some other movie I'll have to make a cut somewhere.

2) Quality. How many times do we need to get reboots? When will Hollywood start turning out good movies again? I can probably count on 2 hands the number of good movies I saw out of the last years new crop of movies and that is with some fingers left over for just in case scenarios. In other words the quality is dropping yet we're paying more. Maybe Hollywood needs to concentrate on story more and less on CGI and the late gimmick known as 3D.

3) Have you seen what your competition is?

Seriously, we have more entertainment these days than ever before. Movies, Music, Video Games, Books, the ENTIRE internet. Making time for more than 1 or 2 movies a week is a bit tough these days. Let's look at your main target audience who also plays video games. A game costs on average seventy dollars to a movie costing around twenty to twenty-five. That movie will be over in about 2 hours. That game may take 10 - 100 hours of playing time to get through. There is more bang for your buck. This one falls back to price but when you think about all the things we have to occupy ourselves with then going out and dropping a lot cash on a movie isn't giving us much back.

As far as the RIAA I think that the music industry as it was is just about dead. The music business doesn't nurture or treat its musicians well and many artists and groups will make it bigger on touring and selling themselves through social media than being under a contract that does not work for them. I think the old music industry is on it's last legs as the digital MP3's have for the most part done away with any need for buying a CD. Besides, home studios are cheap these days so who needs a major label telling you what to do?

The publishing industry needs to keep their eyes open because it is following very closely in the footsteps of the music industry. I think the Author and distributor model as done through Amazon is where we are going and while there will always be print media; the digital is now going to rapidly overtake it. I see it as a win for the authors and a win for the consumers.

So with all of the above issues put into play it is more than obvious that piracy by a small percentage is NOT the reason the glorious movie world is losing money. Bad marketing, fleecing the consumer, low quality, and just flat out entertainment variety are the main culprits. The movie studios need to wise up and come into the digital age instead of fighting it like the music tried to do.

P.S. For starters. Put the digital download of the movie up for sale ($9.99) on the day it comes out in the theaters. I'd happily give up going to theaters if I could watch my opening day movie on my HD TV in the privacy of my own home. No more cell phones going off or even worse... those rotten texters with their bright screens glaring. Yeah, I know theaters won't like it but hey... neither did Blockbuster. Times change and brick and mortar are the dying ways.

To the Cloud using Google and Amazon

2011-11-01T22:08:00.000-04:00

How do you Google?

G+ or Google+ as it is known is my central hub to the internet. Everything I need is just a few short clicks away when using G+ as my central cloud location. Let me just say that the amount of cool people I've met and socialized with on G+ is amazing. The exchanging of thoughts and ideas is in no short supply. So a quick shout out to all the great writers I've met on G+.
I use Google Docs for my writing, Google Reader keeps all the headlines and stories I want to read in one place without having to go to every site I would normally surf too. Gmail is my method for email and chatting with Gtalk can be done either in Gmail or G+.
Google products now contain a uniform look, color, design, and aesthetic that really makes the user experience flow like no other on the web.
My Browser is Google Chrome and using Extensions from inside the Chrome Web store I have one click access to Reader, Gmail, posting web pages to G+, and even my Yahoo email account. I even have a nifty extension that tells me the time and score to any MLB game being played or that is scheduled. Now that is what I call cool.
Let's not forget that coming this Christmas I will be purchasing a Google Chromebook by Acer to really be living in the cloud.
Just to let you know, I do not work for Google but I do utilize their products on a daily basis. Even Blogger, the Blog from which I am typing and posting this is another Google product. Using Google for the cloud experience simplifies and streamlines just about every nuance through cloud computing.
Some people worry about Google and privacy but Google has even gone to the trouble of creating a site to let everyone know how their personal information is used to enhance their experience. There really isn't another company that I know of that goes to all the trouble of showing you how your information is used and then letting you take it with you at any time. For information on this just head on over to the Good to Know page.

That is Really Amazon!!!

OK, so I can't use everything Google and that is where Amazon steps up to the bat.
I use Amazons Cloud player for all of my music purposes. You can upload up to 5GB but any MP3 purchases from Amazon do not count toward your storage capacity. So you guessed it, I get my MP3 music from Amazon.
Amazon really has the media side covered fairly well. When we moved to a new house I found that moving all of my books was a huge chore. I then decided to go cloud with my book library and downloaded Amazons Cloud Reader. This as all well and good but you know I went all out and bought a Kindle and I have to say, while I always said I would never go digital when it came to books I was wrong. Now I highly doubt I would ever go back.
I don't know about you but almost every brick and mortar place that you could rent movies from in Atlanta has basically closed up shop so for me renting movies through Amazon and streaming them from my Sony Blu-Ray player was the way to go. HD movies direct to my TV screen.
I'm in the debating stage when it comes to Amazon Prime and if the actual movie prices go down a little for purchasing HD quality movies through Amazon then I might go that way for no other reason than saving space from having all these DVD's and Blu-Rays on the shelf. Price matters on that point though and the prices need to fall before taking that step.

This is just the set up I currently use and many other people have found something that works ideally for them. Test the waters and give the Cloud a try. You may be surprised about how easy it is and how much more streamlined your online experience becomes.

Thought Process 1

2011-11-01T15:36:00.000-04:00

A WRITING WE Will Go...
Writing continues on the big book. Yes, that is what I'm referring to it as lately. Momentum is up and words are flowing so all is well on that front.
In other writing news I posted up my recently completed noir short story titled Darker Regrets over on Writing.com so if you have a few minutes please go and check that out. I am really liking the hard crime noir setting recently and it is one I plan to write more of later.

Halloween
Halloween at our new house inside the Atlanta perimeter gave us the chance to put up decorations and feel more at peace in the new neighborhood. We actually received trick or treater's this year and got to hand out candy.
I watched Halloween 2 (Rob Zombie version) last night and I really wish I could get those 2 wasted hours back. Talk about bad acting, story, and pretty much every part of the movie. Zombie needs to really rethink using his wife in every movie he does especially when he killed her character off in the first Halloween. Coming back as a ghost was super lame.

Google it all the way...
The redesign of Google Reader is sweet and the roll out of the redesign of Gmail started today and that looks to be just as brilliant. I like that the design style is now flowing through all of Google's products. I'm actually hoping Blogger will get a template with that same style.

Sports Today
Baseball has ended and we're left with Penaltyball er... I mean Football. While I'm still cheering on the Atlanta Falcons I can't help but feel a bit bored with the game itself these days. The rules and regulations have really ripped the excitement right out of the game. Any one of the games played in the World Series totally beat every game played in the NFL so far this year in terms of excitement.
I can't wait for the Braves season to start again!!!

Thought Process 0

2011-08-05T12:35:00.000-04:00

Writing:
I've come to discover that Chapter 6 is a tough chapter to write no matter what story or book idea I am working on. I'm not sure why chapter 6 is always the biggest hurdle to overcome or why it is that I agonize over every word and paragraph just trying to get out of it and into chapter 7 where words seem to become easy again. It must be a mental hurdle on some sub-conscience level. This particular problem often forces me to put whatever it is that I am working on down and go back to another piece that has stalled at chapter 6 and then work my way through it with fresh ideas. It's probably a good thing that I have several stories in development at once so I can jump around like this but it is still frustrating none the less.

Sports:
At this particular moment the Braves are falling behind the Philies in an ever increasing slide and I'm not liking that so much. I'm not quite sure why the pitching staff has been so off recently or why we are hitting and getting on base but failing to score. Now I'm hoping we can stay ahead in the race for a wildcard spot and a backdoor into the playoffs. Her is hoping for some wins coming up!!!

Understanding:
I'm totally on board with the Ancient Astronaut theory as described in the History Channels Ancient Aliens. Not all things mind you but I can keep an open mind and when you use common sense crossed with the evidence that has been observed then it just makes sense. Of course a real live alien could descend from the sky and the religious people of the world would make up some excuse to pretend the occurrence never happened so they can continue to validate their own belief system.

The Rat Race:
If you ever want to be around fake people then just get a job in Corporate America. Now I'm not saying everyone is fake but a huge majority of the people are made up of ass kissers and fake smiling, double talking, liars. This is coming from someone who is a capitalist and independent libertarian too. I can not deny the level of fake that is in the corporate setting though. My personal fave for this week is the idiot who has to CC your boss and all the higher up's when sending you an email reply for something insignificant. I have no idea why these people think that this would make their nose any browner than it already is but I guess that is their own crazy way of thinking.

Fast Food...yeah, right:
Why do people head to McDonald's and get in the drive through and have to think about they want? It's McDonald's for crying out loud. The menu items are pretty standard fare. The other thing is people in the drive through line that want to make a special order out of everything. This is McDonald's people not Burger King, you can not have it your way!!!

Heat Wave:
The heat wave that is blanketing Atlanta is just really a big, gigantic, killer. If I was one of those people who didn't look at science and just believed fake political talking points and insane people like Al Gore then I too probably believe in global warming after being out in this heat. As it is though, the sun is just really freaking hot.

Dual Blogging:
Yes I have another blog and yes it gets a good bit of traffic so why am I posting to this one and using up bandwidth? Easy answer: I have no idea why.