30 November 2005
LifeSavers to Sponsor 2006 Olympic Medals
Wow, this is really some brilliant marketing. Sure, there are tons of products that are "The Official (product type) of the Olympics" but LifeSavers have taken it to the next level here. They've actually gotten the official Olympic medals designed in the shape of their candies:
As this is the Winter Olympics, I imagine this is part of their push to expand the global market share of their Winterfresh flavor. Also, rumor is the gold medals are going to be called Butterscotch Medals this year, as part of the same sponsorship agreement. If you ask me, the butterscotch flavor could really use a boost, the kids these days barely pay it any attention.
Good job LifeSavers!
(Yes, I know they look like donuts too, but athletes do not eat donuts, and donuts are also not available anywhere in Europe) ¶ 10:34 PM 0 comments
As this is the Winter Olympics, I imagine this is part of their push to expand the global market share of their Winterfresh flavor. Also, rumor is the gold medals are going to be called Butterscotch Medals this year, as part of the same sponsorship agreement. If you ask me, the butterscotch flavor could really use a boost, the kids these days barely pay it any attention.
Good job LifeSavers!
(Yes, I know they look like donuts too, but athletes do not eat donuts, and donuts are also not available anywhere in Europe) ¶ 10:34 PM 0 comments
29 November 2005
The Miseducation of Kevo: Holidaze
This month, Kevo gives us a look into the mind of the public school teacher midway through the academic year. Think the holidays make it hard to do your job? He might have it worse.
This is the time of year when stress starts to roll in. Teachers are starting to finish their second full unit, there’s pressure for some kind of holiday performance or celebration while well-groomed classroom management gets tossed out the window by the kids. The children begin to bare the brunt of every teacher’s frustration. We are tired, we feel we are being treated unfairly, and we’ve had this low-grade cold that’s annoying but not quite debilitating for weeks now. So we snap - some more than others. Welcome to a failing American public school. The kids run the school, really. If they decided to riot for some reason, they could take over command and control in the main office and thrash their opponent. But instead, they start to slowly chip away at their teacher’s sanity until the ELA test is over and we can teach what we want. Don’t worry, just wait it out until the spring- everything will be better then. Don’t worry, just wait until next year when we will have planned better and are going strong with a new core group of young teachers. Actually, the kids don’t want to riot and they don’t want to take over the school. They desperately want intense structure and to feel success. They just have no idea how to get those things by themselves. They need help, they’re kids! This is why we have school. It is there so that kids can have a place to screw up then learn how not to screw up the next time. I guess nobody thought that school would have to be and teach all the support systems put in place to help raise our children.
Read Part I of this series here and Part II here. ¶ 9:37 PM 0 comments
This is the time of year when stress starts to roll in. Teachers are starting to finish their second full unit, there’s pressure for some kind of holiday performance or celebration while well-groomed classroom management gets tossed out the window by the kids. The children begin to bare the brunt of every teacher’s frustration. We are tired, we feel we are being treated unfairly, and we’ve had this low-grade cold that’s annoying but not quite debilitating for weeks now. So we snap - some more than others. Welcome to a failing American public school. The kids run the school, really. If they decided to riot for some reason, they could take over command and control in the main office and thrash their opponent. But instead, they start to slowly chip away at their teacher’s sanity until the ELA test is over and we can teach what we want. Don’t worry, just wait it out until the spring- everything will be better then. Don’t worry, just wait until next year when we will have planned better and are going strong with a new core group of young teachers. Actually, the kids don’t want to riot and they don’t want to take over the school. They desperately want intense structure and to feel success. They just have no idea how to get those things by themselves. They need help, they’re kids! This is why we have school. It is there so that kids can have a place to screw up then learn how not to screw up the next time. I guess nobody thought that school would have to be and teach all the support systems put in place to help raise our children.
Read Part I of this series here and Part II here. ¶ 9:37 PM 0 comments
Epsilon!
¶ 3:21 PM 0 comments
another tropical storm(!)
forming near where the perfect storm came to be -- this late in the season, something like this could certainly become a nasty nor'easter, though the forecast doesn't indicate that (yet)
Progress report
On Iraq from Think Progress.
Also check out the "Salvadoran Option" at Daily Kos.
¶ 3:01 PM 0 comments
25 November 2005
Things
¶ 9:58 PM 0 comments
Read: "Reevaluating the war" at MyDD.
Discussion question (from McSweeney's):
Q: Cinnamon or nutmeg?
A: Cinnamon is a nice spice people are comfortable consuming throughout the year, sprinkled either on toast or in a delicious coffee beverage. Nutmeg is a nasty, gritty substance that wants nothing to do with us in the spring or summer but demands our favor come November, only to disappear to the back of the shelf for another year. Why do we continue to accommodate this so-called seasoning? Nutmeg is a stupid jerk.
I do not think nutmeg deserves that torching, but I agree that it ought to makes it's presence known more throughout the year. I am envisioning some sort of spingtime nutmeg key lime pie.
For those in NY, review your October weather.
Slate discusses taking your laptop out at the airport. And in other countries too.
More CYHSY news.
23 November 2005
Two good forces unite
I've talked previously about how much I enjoy "The Office" on NBC. Last night's episode, in which Michael arrives uninvited at a party thrown by Jim, was one of the funniest ever. I won't get into a detailed plot discussion here, because you've either seen it or you haven't, but it's worth noting that Jim was playing some damn good music at his party. What music you ask? None other than "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (ok I admit I'm not 100% that was the song). I know their stock has been rising lately (as chronicled on this blog) but network TV already? Back in June when their self-released album came out, I had to run to Other Music to get a copy -- only 2000 copies were made and that was one of the few brick and mortar stores selling it. Now they've sold over 50,000 copies and you can get a copy pretty much anywhere. And still haven't signed a record deal (despite some probably desperate pleas from multiple labels).
Related notes:
CYHSY new year's show is now SOLD OUT. Tickets are going for 70 bucks a piece on craig's list. Glad we bought ours early.
Dwight Shrute, the character on The Office, has an (in-character) blog.
BJ Novak, who plays Ryan the Intern, had a blog for a few weeks on the TV Guide website.
But, the question with no answer is still, What About Jim and Pam?
¶ 9:38 AM 0 comments
Related notes:
CYHSY new year's show is now SOLD OUT. Tickets are going for 70 bucks a piece on craig's list. Glad we bought ours early.
Dwight Shrute, the character on The Office, has an (in-character) blog.
BJ Novak, who plays Ryan the Intern, had a blog for a few weeks on the TV Guide website.
But, the question with no answer is still, What About Jim and Pam?
¶ 9:38 AM 0 comments
16 November 2005
NY Times Select on Brooklyn celebrating Trinidad's victory
But I don't have a damn password. If you do, read the article, and let me know what it says.
UPDATE: I signed up for the free trial. You know, I read the NY Times online every day, and this is the first TimesSelect article I just had to read. If you want to read the article, leave a comment, and I will post it. ¶ 11:29 PM 0 comments
UPDATE: I signed up for the free trial. You know, I read the NY Times online every day, and this is the first TimesSelect article I just had to read. If you want to read the article, leave a comment, and I will post it. ¶ 11:29 PM 0 comments
Are there direct flights from Port-of-Spain to Germany?
If you know me, you might know I am a big supporter of CONCACAF soccer (that's the North/Central America and Caribbean Soccer Federation). The US, Mexico, and Costa Rica are the perennial powers of the region, and the usual three that go to the World Cup. But the 4th place team in the region has a chance to go too -- if it beats the 5th place Asian team in a playoff. And so it was that our region's 4th place team, Trinidad and Tobago, got to play Bahrain in a home and away aggregate score series for a spot in Germany. I watched the first leg Saturday, which was a 1-1 draw and not what the Soca Warriors (T&T) were looking for in their home game. I missed todays game due to work, but followed the score in the midst of a busy day (I have become a big Soca Warriors fan ever since moving to NYC and getting exposed to the West Indian Carnival, soca music, and Carib beer). What was the result? I'll let tomorrow's front page of the Trinidad Express give you a hint. Read some articles here and here.
UPDATE: This link will just show the current front page of the paper, not that day's. I'll keep it up just for the hell of it.
¶ 11:15 PM 0 comments
UPDATE: This link will just show the current front page of the paper, not that day's. I'll keep it up just for the hell of it.
¶ 11:15 PM 0 comments
10 November 2005
Not to mention he shares a surname with a Super Bowl MVP
"Warner just got a rocket boost for his candidacy. He has shot to the top of the not-Hillary list. He'll be in great demand for Jefferson-Jackson (party fund-raising) dinners. He'll have more entree to the big donors and power brokers. He can offer himself as a successful Democratic governor of a red state at a time when Hillary Clinton has yet to demonstrate (in polls) that she has wide appeal in the red states."
-UVA political scientist Larry Sabato (who is quoted way too much by the way)
¶ 3:54 PM 0 comments
09 November 2005
08 November 2005
Victorious B.I.G.
I predict that in 2009, we will see a picture of these two men with the caption:
"Gov. Kaine (D-VA) and President Warner discuss..."
(Kaine won the governership of Virginia yesterday, and Warner, the current holder of that office, will run for president in 2008) ¶ 11:08 PM 0 comments
I predict that in 2009, we will see a picture of these two men with the caption:
"Gov. Kaine (D-VA) and President Warner discuss..."
(Kaine won the governership of Virginia yesterday, and Warner, the current holder of that office, will run for president in 2008) ¶ 11:08 PM 0 comments
Helping Disabled Iraq War Vets
¶ 11:07 PM 0 comments
This seems like a great project:
Project Valour-IT,in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The experience of CPT Charles " Chuck" Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important this voice-controlled software can be to a wounded servicemember's recovery.
Road Warrior
"We're working out of the bridal suite of the La Quinta in in Oklahoma City, conference calling from a cell phone and sharing an internet connection."
If some of you have wondered where I have been lately, I have a new job and have been travelling a lot. The job is great (but you will never find out any more specifics on this blog). The associated travel is a different story, it's a good topic, I think.
A few thoughts:
--La Guardia airport on a Monday morning sucks. That's not particularly suprising. But what is suprising is that there is only one place to get breakfast in the entire American Airlines terminal. Since lots of people like to eat breakfast in the morning, and since it's too early to eat right when you get up, and since the airlines don't even serve peanuts on morning flights any more, you and everyone else go to this place to get breakfast. That makes a line. A very long line. And when you've already waited in line to get your boarding pass (or check your bags, if you're into that) and to go through the security check (which now, by the way, requires you to take off your shoes even if you have sneakers on), you don't want to wait in line any more. But you do, because the awful coffee and rubbery bagels are your only chance to eat until lunch. And that lunch is in another city, probably another time zone. So, add one more line to the list.
*(for those of your familiar with this part of La Guardia, you might be saying, "wait, there is another place...right?". Well, yes, Pretzel Time, and one morning at 6 am I did indeed order a pretzel with zesty nacho cheese, making the "it's pretty much the same thing as a bagel" argument to myself. Well, it ain't.)
**(you'd think the manager of this place would say "Hmm, if we're going to be open at 6 am MAYBE WE SHOULD SERVE BREAKFAST FOODS)
--As for the comment at the top of this post, yes, two weeks ago I worked out of a bridal suite at a La Quinta in OKC. Pretty bad ass, I know. Various issues with the client we were visiting necessitated us getting out of their building (a converted Best Buy with 8000 sq ft or more of space and three windows). But anyway, this is again a case of not suprising/suprising. Not surprising: there is a La Quinta Inn and Suites in OKC. Suprising: It has EIGHT luxury suites, one of which in particular is aimed at newlyweds. What does this mean? There is an untapped market for honeymoon destinations of Oklahomans who do not have the desire or means to travel far, yet are able to spend nearly $300 a night on a Suite situated in a (shiny new) strip mall. If you have some bucks to invest, look at this market.
More thoughts later.
¶ 1:54 PM 0 comments
07 November 2005
More blogging soon
Really, I promise. I have a new piece from the Garbage Collector and some more stuff on the way. Just stay tuned.
¶ 5:09 PM 0 comments
03 November 2005
Grade A Loser
¶ 12:53 PM 0 comments
Actually, loser is not even nearly harsh enough to describe this idiot. Of many, many sickening examples of cronyism in the now decimated Bush administration, this guy is probably the worst:
Melancon used an e-mail sent September 2, four days after the hurricane hit, to illustrate his point. On that day, Brown received a message with the subject "medical help." At the time, thousands of patients were being transported to the New Orleans airport, which had been converted to a makeshift hospital. Because of a lack of ventilators, medical personnel had to ventilate patients by hand for as long as 35 hours, according to Melancon.
The text of the e-mail reads: "Mike, Mickey and other medical equipment people have a 42-foot trailer full of beds, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, etc. They are wanting to take them where they can be used but need direction.
"Mickey specializes in ventilator patients so can be very helpful with acute care patients. If you could have someone contact him and let him know if he can be of service, he would appreciate it. Know you are busy but they really want to help."
Melancon said Brown didn't respond for four days, when he forwarded the original e-mail to FEMA Deputy Chief of Staff Brooks Altshuler and Deputy Director of Response Michael Lowder.
The text of Brown's e-mail to them read: "Can we use these people?"
01 November 2005
Reid is awesome
¶ 7:52 PM 0 comments
This receives my highest possible praise:
On a quiet Indian summer afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid dramatically wrenched the political agenda from the Republican majority Monday by forcing the Senate into secret session.Reid's gambit was designed to prod Republicans to agree to speed up "Phase II" of the investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, into how spy data was used or misused in the prelude to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
