Caveman

Too Small? Maybe

2012-07-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

Chris Palmer of ESPN has brought up the question that Team USA might be too small. You would think with guys like Lebron James 6'8'' 250lbs, Kevin Durant 6'9'' 235lbs, and Carmelo 6'8'' 230lbs, all playing a mix of small forward, shooting guard, and power forward the team would be considered enormous.

The problem is with the actual power forwards and centers on the team. Tyson Chandler measures out 7'1'' 240lbs, Kevin Love is 6'10''260lbs, and Anthony Davis (who I didn't even know of before this) is 6'10'' 220lbs. The team drops off sharply after that. If you look at what could have been it starts to become more apparent for what we are lacking.

The team could have included a few of the following big guys:
Amare Stoudamire 6'11'' 260
Dwight Howard 6'11'' 265
Andrew Bynum 7'0'' 285
Tim Duncan 6'11'' 255
Roy Hibbert 7'2'' 265
Lamarcus Aldridge 6'11'' 240
Blake Griffin 6'11'' 251

I am not saying that defensive player of the year Tyson Chandler is not deserving, but considering the level of talent at the other 4 positions, talent at the bigs drops off a cliff. With respect to most of the teams in the tournament the US will not need these big guys. Lebron, Durant, and Carmelo will be able to rebound and and play defense on enough Centers and PF from other countries to win. BUT, and this is a big BUT, if they run into a healthy Spain, they may be in for a long night. Spain cannot keep up with the USA at the PG, SG, or SF positions. The US has the best set of players at those positions ever assembled, but at the PF and C positions the USA is at a stark disadvantage. Pau and his brother are too big, too long, and too skilled for the US players. Tyson Chandler will get in foul trouble, probably early. This puts Lebron/Durant/Melo gaurding Gasol while Love will be tasked with defending the much larger Marc Gasol. Thats just at the defensive end, on the offensive end, they will have to deal with potentially three big men in the paint and Serge Ibaka the leading shot blocker in front of the rim (given in international play you can play zone). I think this is a tough match up for the US if they can't get stops and get out in transition. Durant and Deron Williams will need to hit threes, while Lebron and Kobe make plays.

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OKC and Miami

2012-06-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

What an NBA finals, it has been a back and forth series so far. Miami stole game two, barely hung on last night. Lebron has been having, statistically, good performances. Durant is exactly what we thought he was going to be, and by that I mean a scoring machine. The only things that seem to slow Durant down are Russell Westbrook and the officials.

Not to harp on officials, as I used to be one, but there is no other person in professional sports that can push an agenda quite like an NBA official. They have complete freedom to bend, the already gumby like, rules to their liking, and no one is better at this than Joey Crawford. If you don't believe me, maybe you remember this:

Mr. Crawford isn't wrong in how he implements the rules, just as a cop that gives you a ticket for 1 MPH over the speed limit isn't technically wrong. He is wrong however in how his calls give direct advantage to another team. The beauty of an 82 game season is that Lebron and Durant see a multitude of referee's over the entire season. Some will give Lebron and Wade those ticky tack fouls that send them parading to the line, some however will not, but over an entire season it averages out. However, in the Finals it can give a team a dramatic advantage over another and sustain that advantage forcing the team to make adjustments.

Watching the series, so far two things have become incredibly apparent:

1) Russell needs to get his in transition or when he has a match-up advantage. He is not good functioning in the half-court offense and keeps the ball out of Durant's hands. The Thunder also need to do a better job of forcing it to Durant when the offense is set, this forces Lebron to play defense on Durant, and honestly he can't keep getting away with what he has been.

That leads me to my second point.

2) The officiating needs to get better. Its the true sign of a homer when you start complaining about the officials, but the Thunder are being forced out of their game because they DO NOT get calls when they drive the lane, and the Heat DO get calls when they drive the lane. This changes everything, because now your shot blockers are pointless because breathing on Wade or James is an automatic foul.

I suggest that the NBA needs to rotate officials during the Finals, because otherwise it can give one team or another a distinct advantage over the course of the series.

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The Elephant in the Corner

2012-06-12T08:13:00.002-07:00

After reading the morning shift on one of my favorite blog sites Jalopnik, I was startled by a piece of information. "The median family net worth in the United States is down to the levels of the 1990s." Well that sucks. I am not very surprised considering we are in the middle (or beginning) of a recession, and there has not been any good news about the global economy in years. But, this does point out a major problem I see in the economic future.

I'll start by explaining that this is all the Baby Boomers faults. They decided that having 10 children was a great idea, and it can be when you are trying to grow a work force, but other generations pay the price. Namely, my generation. We are one of the upcoming generations that will pay into social security but we won't see a dime of it. Basically we are paying to take care of other people on the vague promise that one day someone will take care of us. Well they won't.

What problem does this cause? Well first of all, we are in lean times, which means wages are down but prices are up on almost everything but houses. That combined with the fact that we have to start thinking about retirement at a much earlier age, and we have to pay into social security means that our wages are garnished even further. Don't get me wrong I believe that planning for retirement early is great and a lot of our older generations would have been better served to plan early. But, wage matching programs are more of a hindrance than a help. Just pay me my damn money, don't fool me into thinking that I'm getting a bonus by differing 5% of paycheck so that you'll match some of it according to some mathematical equation that involves Sine and Cosine.

What has happened is that more wages are being differed until later, and more wages are being taken out earlier. This reduces the amount of take home income a person has. It also reduces the amount of investments that a person can make.

We are heading towards an inevitable dead end. Student loans will eventually bust as older people are working longer thus there are less jobs. Everything is becoming more expensive, including groceries, gas, bills, etc. reducing the amount of available income. The housing market is royally fucked because the only ones that can afford to buy are investors keeping good homes out of hard working peoples hands.

I don't know what the solution to the problem is, but I do know that there are far more problems than people are alluding to. Maybe instead of businesses and the government trying to reduce salaries, maybe they should try to increase them and quit bitching about how the budget sucks and no one wants to work (in fact no one does want to work for peanuts).

How to Prevent Future T.O.'s

2012-06-07T11:05:00.004-07:00

Recently it came out that T.O. (Terrel Owens) is broke. Not, I can't save for retirement broke, we are talking broke broke. As in, I no longer have the 30 million that I earned broke.

He's not the first athlete to have this happen to him. I mean it's prevalent in boxing, but it's also prevalent in the NFL, and honestly it shouldn't be that big of a problem. The league minimum is over $300,000, thats more than most doctors make in a year, but somehow the players that make 10 million a year keep ending up poor half a decade after they retire.

I know that the league covers money management in rookie camps and the players agents are supposed to help when it comes to financial planning. But, try telling a person with a god complex that they can't spend their money on that Ferrari because they are one knee injury away from losing their house. It won't go over well. These are kids straight out of school (that they didn't even attend class at), and you expect them to be financially sound when you hand them millions.

I propose that the league differs 40% of a players paycheck until after they have retired for 5 years. This would do two things. One, it would reduce the amount of money that players are given initially, forcing them to adhere to a more stringent budget (ya because 3 million is so much different than 6 million). It would also give players a fall back after they have retired. For most players, it takes them about five years to wind down from the lavish lifestyle they were used to. Differing 40% of their money gives them a nest egg that they can dip into after they have fallen out.

It also gives players incentive to retire, instead of sticking around late in their careers trying to make up the extra money they lost. It gives them a way out, something to look forward to after they retire. I think we would see far fewer players stick around and get hurt.

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New Rubbers

2012-05-19T19:17:00.001-07:00

Eventually a car will need new tires no matter how you drive. In my case I was able to stretch these P Zeros to 28000 safely. Next ones are Firestone Firehawks. Let's light the fires and kick the tires baby.

Sharpening The Saw

2012-04-23T21:45:00.001-07:00

Working in any industry can have any multitude of effects on your skills in your chosen field. Some jobs hone your skills to the point that you are capable of doing that one task better than anyone else. Some jobs expand on your skill set, giving you more tools in your toolbox of knowledge.

Then there are some jobs that take your tools away from you, giving you an entirely new set of tools. This can make you uncomfortable with your tasking, it can make you bored with your new job, or it can give you a new challenge that you had not yet faced.

I have experienced the whole spectrum. I have had jobs that challenged me from my work ethic to just my ethics. But, the job that gave me the most satisfaction was the job that I had the most problems with.

The company I worked for was cutting employee benefits while demanding that the employees work "extra" hours (off the books). The selling points were either "you're lucky to have a job" or "you won't get promoted if you don't play the game." Both of which did not sit well with me, and is part of the reason that I left and accepted a job elsewhere.

The job was the best job that I have ever had though, and here are the reasons:

It demanded that I learn new skills, AND apply them daily.
It challenged my belief system.
It contained some manual labor.
The responsibilities of the job were very apparent.
It meant working on exciting stuff.

Those just happen to be my five keys to an enjoyable job. I didn't even know that number 2 was in my best interest or would make a job more enjoyable, but they all help.

Number 1 meant that I was constantly challenged. I cannot be happy in a job that doesn't challenge who I am and demand that I get better.

Number 3 (we'll get to number 2 in a minute) meant I got out of the office and got sweaty. This may not be a key for everyone, but I grew up in an oil field town so manual labor is just part of the daily grind. Theodore Roosevelt said:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

I can't even try to put it better.

Number 4 is key to someone that like responsibility and strives to achieve. The job had military planes, foreign planes, projectiles, and protesters. When people protest your job, you are either doing something wrong or right but either way its important. Having a job that requires you to be accountable means that you feel like the work you are doing is meaningful. That can be the difference in a 40 year grind or a life of happiness.

Number 5 should be a key for everyone. I worked in airplane hangers that could house Air Force One. I worked on things that required me one up the Mythbusters. I was never not excited to go into work, even if it meant a 60 hour week. I loved it.

Number 2 was the most shocking to me, and was not apparent until after I left. When a job challenges your beliefs it gives you a reason to complain, but more so it gives you a reason to be invested in your lively hood. Being able to complain about something meaningful means your not just a whiny little bitch but someone that is informed and cares. It gives you purpose at your job, and if gives you a sense of "fight the power." Even if someday you might be that power, you feel like you can makes changes.

If you are not happy in your current job, take a look at my keys to a good job. Maybe you can borrow a few of them and make yourself happy.

The Best Idea I Have Ever Had

2012-04-21T14:11:00.002-07:00

Women absolutely love shopping. So when I met my fiancée shopping was a past time that I had to adopt. She knew when sales were, what was going on sale, for how much, and how quickly it would sell out.

Initially I would drag myself out to the stores and suffer through the shopping experience, but after 100 shopping trips or so I just couldn't take it anymore. Spending that much money that consistently was just tough to watch.

One day I realized that she had skill that almost all women posses but she was so much better at applying them. So the idea I had was to buy and sell clothes on eBay. The realization that most if the country lives in places without huge malls or name brand clothes gives you a huge client base.

Now she shops just as much as she did before, but she is making money doing it. I'm not talking quit your job money, well not yet, but enough that a friend and her are opening a shop.

There was also the added benefit of her spending less on her own clothes.
Now that she gets the satisfaction of shopping and spending out of the way, she has spent far less on her own clothes.

All in all, we have reduced her monthly bills by $150, and increased the amount she makes a month by $300. For someone that makes $1100 a month that is a big deal. Especially when you count the reduction in shopping.

Now if only it was this easy for everyone. My advice would be to look at what you spend the most time doing, because time is money. Turning a hobby into money is actually a great way to achieve your goals. It fulfills you and it pays or itself.

Real Estate Agents

2012-04-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

I finally started working with a real estate agent and I am starting to notice a pattern. They don't really listen to what you want.

We were fairly specific in what we were looking for in a place to live. We wanted a two car garage, washer and dryer in the unit, a certain amount of HOA fees, within a certain distance from where I work, and a certain price point.

Apparently, what the agent heard was "You're willing to pay that much." Of the ten listings he has shown us, only two have had the two car garage. Every single place he has shown us has HOA fees over $350. That's high even for San Diego.

It isn't like I haven't experienced this before. When I bought my car the dealer kept trying to add options or get me into a car that was more expensive that what I wanted just because I said I could spend more. I understand that they are just trying to make as much as they can, but just give the customer what they want.

Even when I send the agent listings that I have found myself, he/she disregards them. He/she either tells me that some are in escrow or that he can't show us those listings. I understand both answers, but at the same time I don't. If you can't show me what I want then I will need to find someone who can.

This whole process of looking at places, getting a loan and all the extras is more difficult than I originally thought. I understand that buying a house is a huge decision, one that requires tons of research and time, but one would think it would be easier than this. Any tips from experienced house hunters would be welcomed/encouraged.

Extra Cash On The Side

2012-04-19T21:05:00.002-07:00

When money is tight, you have to be able to be creative when it comes to bringing in extra. Here are some not so creative ways to make money, but applied correctly can be very creative.

Sell everything not tied down- Take a look around, do you have anything you absolutely need? What about that old computer, gaming system, do you have an old car cover, or weights. If you're handy I'm sure you have old car parts lying around. Those can get you at least $20 a pop.
Charge for talents or hobbies- If you have an extra marketable talent you shouldn't give it away for free. Maybe you're good with cars, tell your friends you'll do their brakes for cash or something in trade. Maybe you're good at tutoring, knowledge is power and people should pay you for it.
Drive that old beater-Do you have an older car that you don't drive? You should probably drive that before you drive your brand new Mercedes. First of all, the operating costs of older vehicles are much lower and keeping the miles down on a brand new car keeps the re-sale value way up. Think long term not short term when it comes to cars.
Rent out that extra bedroom-Do this with only people you trust. Don't let some stranger live in your house. We all know someone that needs a roof over their head at minimal cost. Just think how cheap $300 a month is, now imagine your rent being that much lower.
Use free offers more- Restaurants.com and Groupon would love to take your money, and trust me its worth it to get a nice meal for 1/2 off. You know you're going to eat out, don't fight it, embrace it just make sure you get a good deal.

Those are my best tips for today. As 5 eludes to, cutting costs is the next big way to save money.

Super Repair Man

2012-04-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

If you were forced to wear a fanny pack, and the only purpose it served was to help you fix things what tools would you shove into it?

I know, that's an incredibly non-crazy question that only a normal person would ask.

These are what I would put in there:

Phillips Screwdriver
Flat Head Screwdriver
Knife
Tape Measure
Electrical tape

I would say duct tape, but honestly a roll of duct tape won't fit into a fanny pack.

Blind Spot

2012-04-18T18:11:00.001-07:00

Things to keep in mind in big purchases are the "extra" costs or sustainment costs.

Yes your Porsche costs 60K amd insurance is insane but can you afford the tires when they wear down, or the brakes when you need to get them done?

It happens I everyone and not just with cars. Some people buy a house but don't realize they may have to replace an appliance if it fails. I mean, could you afford a refrigerator tomorrow if yours broke today?

I suggest creating a monthly budget for these things. I put $30 away every pay check for my car. It's the cost of a dinner out but when I need tires I can afford them.

Feel Good Song Of The Day

2012-04-17T08:41:00.001-07:00

Eric Church - Springsteen

Last Weekends DIY

2012-04-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I decided it was time to replace the wiper motor and blower motor in my 1990 GMC C1500 Sierra. It took me about 6 hours total, but it saved me $300 bucks over what a mechanic would have charged me. The parts cost me $100. Overall I look at the project as $300 bucks in my pocket to go towards something else.

Other Ways to Save Money

2012-04-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

The best way that I have found to save money is DIY projects. Being even somewhat handy can save you tons of money over the course of a year. This can include anything from big projects to small projects, but they all add up to saved money.

DIY can be anyting from making your own pot holder out of an old towel rack, or even doing your own brakes. The point of DIY is to cut out the paid labor, and potentially lower the price of replacement parts.

For example, doing your own brakes can save you hundreds of dollars. Just recently I was told that the brakes on my new car needed to be replaced. The quote they told me was $750. That seemed a little ridiculous since all new rotors and pads would only run me $500, but whatever they need to make a buck. Instead I replaced the brake pads myself and it only cost me $150. Thats $600 extra in my pocket and it only took me an hour because I had help from a friend, and I know what I'm doing.

This weekend, I replaced the windshield wiper motor, and blower motor in my 20 year old truck. A mechanic would have charged $400 for the job, but I got the parts for $100 and it took 5 hours of my Sunday to get it done.

Cars aren't the only place you can save tons of money. Being able to do basic plumbing can save you hundreds as well. I'm not talking about re soldering pipe or anything crazy, but understanding how a trap works and being able to unscrew a piece of plastic. Having a basic skill set (and a camera) can go a long way in saving you money. It can also fight off that "I'm Bored" feeling that you get.

Some people view these things as chores, but you should try to view them as making "extra" money. Having that mindset will motivate you to do the job. Especially if you want to use that extra $200-$600 from one job on something you want.

UFC on Fuel TV

2012-04-13T09:33:00.002-07:00

I am looking forward to this card. Should be full of fireworks.

Dollar Shave Club Is Genius

2012-04-13T08:32:00.003-07:00

Another idea that I wish I had.

2012-04-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

You cannot call yourself a custom car company when all you do is put insanely tall rims on a car. Case and point:

This is a sports car. It performs. Putting 32 inch rims on it suddenly makes it the worst sports car on the road. Save the "spinners" for Escalades, and SUV's. Please keep them away from our precious sports cars. Also, this should be illegal:

Tips for Finance

2012-04-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Just going to share some quick tips that helped me with my finances.

Mint-What is Mint? It is an online portfolio manager. The makers of Turbo Tax came up with this great way to manage your money. You simply create an account and link any accounts you want to manage. They can handle anything from a brokerage account to basic checking. I love it because they offer great tips on how to save money, and have a great budgeting tool. I'm sure some banks have similar setups, but Mint is a great way to track all your money.
Checking Accounts-With Bank of America charging fees for accounts and Wells Fargo doing the same, it is hard to keep your money yours. I suggest going with an online bank or credit union. They offer great interest rates so that you make money on your money. They also refund any ATM fees, now any bank just became your bank. The only draw back is depositing checks. If you don't have direct deposit it can be awhile before you see your money.

Those are my two tips for today. I'll update with more as I go.

The worst state so far

2012-04-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have lived in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, and now California. Of all the places I have lived, California has got to be the worst. This is the point where everyone from California gets upset and exclaims how great their state actually is quoting some Katy Perry song or if they're old the Beach Boys.

I know this first hand because my fiancée believed California was the best state and every other state wished it was California. She has since changed her mind, and wants the hell out of this state.

The reason or should I reasons she changed her mind are simple. California charges one of the highest income tax percentages in the country. They also charge one of the highest sales taxes in the country. What does that mean? In a state like New Mexico where you pay %5, California charges you at least %8 and most places closer to 9 or 10. That means that you can pay significantly more for a car, engagement ring, or anything with a price tag. It adds up in a hurry. Even though most companies and even minimum wage is higher out here, you actually make less than you would if you worked in New Mexico for a lower salary.

The cost increases just don't stop there. In California you also pay significantly more for a place to live. This can vary depending on where your job is, but I just happen to work in one of the harder to reach and more expensive parts of state. That means living closer to work costs more, but living far away costs just as much in the gas I would spend. The rent out here can be 3-4 times as much as say Texas. That combined with the highest gas prices in the country and you basically hijack your wallet every month.

One thing that most people don't realize while living here is that food costs more as well. With higher gas prices, higher electricity bills, and higher minimum wage mean higher prices at the grocery store. I spend almost 1/3 more a month of food then I did anywhere else.

Now my real problem is not with how expensive it is out here. That would just be petty. I more have an issue with what you get for your money. When you look at this state in that aspect it almost immediately falls to the bottom of the list.

Out here you do get great beaches, great views, and something to do all the time. In that aspect it is already better than a small town. But, when was the last time anyone here went to the beach. If you live here you know that going to the beach on a nice day is almost impossible. There is no parking because everyone is already at the beach. Once you're there, you can't find a place to even lay down, and no one is leaving their stuff because either a bird or person will steal it.

Its the same with going out. You can't go to a bar or club without waiting outside for days. The only places that aren't crowded are too expensive to even go to. Ya I'm looking at you Sessions.

I also have a huge issue with the lack of rights as a citizen of this state. You cannot work on your own car without fear of retribution. As a car guy, I am used to doing anything from an oil change to a complete engine replacement. But nooooo, you can't replace an engine out here without having it signed off by mechanic which will cost you a lot extra. You can't put after market parts on your car either. CARB standards out here make a person want to pull their hair out. Your two choices are to either get it done illegally or make minimal upgrades and make your car look fast. You can't even put a cone air filter on your car!?!

The environmental laws out here get you charged too. You get charged a disposal fee for everything you buy, even if it will never be disposed. You get charged $40 when you buy new tires so they can dispose of your old ones. The only problem is that most tires don't get disposed. They get sold to companies that either shred them or re-tread them and sell them. So tire places make even more money off of you.

Honestly, if you have a job offer in this state seriously re-evaluate it. What you do get out here is not nearly worth what you pay. The only way this state is worth it is if you have rich parents, or at least ones that will help you out. Because when it comes time to buy a house and you need 70K as a down payment and another 10K for closing, you might need a little help.

House Hunting Experience

2012-04-11T12:46:00.001-07:00

This week I met with a loan specialist. I talked to them about what I was looking at and what I could afford. I told them how much we could afford monthly, and they went from there. After doing a credit check, they came back with numbers on the high end of what I had told them.

Honestly, this didn't surprise me that much. I know that the bigger the loan they give me, the better it is for them. But, they completely disregarded on piece of information that I gave them. I told them to factor in $250 for HOA dues.

For those of you that don't live in a big city, Home Owners Associations (HOA) charge you a fee for living where ever it is that you live. This is common among Town Homes and Condo's. You aren't just throwing money out the window however. They take care of the cleaning of the outside of the property, maintenance, and sometimes you get cable and water. HOA fees range anywhere from 150-500 depending on where you live, what you get, and how many people live there.

Now, disregarding that little piece of information threw off their entire estimation. Instead of a 200K loan, they went up to 220K. They also charge me a higher interest rate because they wanted to use a different type of loan.

I had to correct them, and put them back on track given their mathematical error. This cost them another day, and it cost me precious time. When I am in the housing market, I want someone who understands my needs. Also, when estimating a price for someone, it is always better to come in under rather than over. Coming in over gives people sticker shock, rather than "Oh I can afford better than that."

This whole house shopping experience has been an adventure so far and I haven't even seen a place yet. As someone that plans every detail to ensure success I am sure that everyone working with me on this process will eventually hate me. I have made my peace with that.

In the future, I suggest that you talk with a loan specialist early in the process. Do not let them do a credit check unless you are intent on buying however. This will lower your credit score. I suggest knowing your credit score and asking them to proceed with that. Knowing the value of the loan is one thing, but I specifically asked them to work from a monthly payment perspective. This meant that whatever they came up with worked with MY budget, not what some computer said I could afford.

Rhodesianman's photostream

2012-04-11T08:44:00.001-07:00

Rhodesianman's photostream on Flickr.

Braves Win

2012-04-11T07:56:00.001-07:00

So I am a huge Atlanta Braves fan. Some may ask why, and my answer is always the same. I was born in the 80's, grew up in the 90's, and we had cable. For those of you that don't know, the Ted Turner owned the Braves and TBS. That meant that every Braves game was on TBS. It was a great idea for growing a fan base, well that and 14 straight division championships, suck it Yankees.

Well last night was the first win the Braves have had this season. It was another great performance by Tommy Hanson, and Chipper Jones hit a home run is his first game back. That would seem like great news, but it still left a sour taste in my mouth. Once Hanson was out, the pen gave up two more runs and forced the Braves to score late. This game should have been a 5-2 game instead of a 6-4. That may not mean a lot to the rest of you, but to me it just shows the holes they need to sure up.

Hopefully having Chipper back will give them the on field leadership they need. That and the bullpen needs to have better damage control. The 8th and 9th innings are going to be a desert, but we need outs in the 6th and 7th.

Thunder Fan

2012-04-10T20:09:00.001-07:00

This one is for the people that grow up with no home team. Yes there are actually states that have no professional sports teams. What do the people that live there do? We actually get to pick our favorite teams.

Imagine the freedom of choosing your own team. You don't have to be a Cubs fan, because honestly who chooses to be a Cubs fan. You get to decide what team fits your personality, color choice, or excitement level. You get to decide what players you like, what players you don't. It frees you to make your own bad decisions instead of your fathers bad decisions.

I must say, this is the only reason Yankees have so many fans. When you get to choose your favorite team its really easy to choose the most popular team. This is why they never play an away game, and also why I hate them so much. When the majority of your fans are posers, it makes your team seem fake.

When a new team comes along, it gives bastard fans a new chance. That is all bastards want, a new chance.

Introductions mean everything

2012-04-10T10:33:00.002-07:00

I was introduced to this band in 2008 by a good friend of mine. Every song they put out has a great sound. Enjoy.

Food Creations

2012-04-10T09:26:00.001-07:00

When you grow up around three women that know their way around a kitchen you are bound to have some of it rub off on you. I was lucky enough to have a grandmother that would put Paula Dean to shame. She taught my father, mother, and aunts how to cook. Her recipes are so guarded that my dad only gives me half of it and I have to figure out the rest.

This recipe is for a little bit healthier Mac and Cheese. Healthier in the sense that it is healthier than what you get at a restaurant. The reason I can post this one without feeling bad is that it was stolen and tweaked to become my own recipe.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

6oz Muenster Cheese

6 slices of Muenster Cheese

6oz Sharp Cheddar

4oz Parmesan (Grated)

1 Egg

Cayenne Pepper

Salt

Evaporated Milk (or regular milk if you prefer it really creamy)

Box of Pasta

The recipe is really easy. You grate all the cheese into one bowl. You then whisk the egg in a bowl with a pinch of salt, cayenne, and the evaporated milk. Mix the two together in large pot on medium heat, stirring so that it is all mixed will. While melting the cheese, cook the pasta in standard fashion and drain. If your cheese concoction isn't runny add a little water from the pasta. Now combine the pasta and the cheese in the large pot and stir. Pour into a glass baking dish and cover with the slices of Muenster. Bake for 5-10 minutes at 450 or Broil until the cheese is nice and melted. Enjoy while hot.