Why is it ....

... that the character of the "lost son"/"bad boy"/ "rebel" always drives some vintage car or motorcycle?

I am watching the new CBS show "Jericho" - bizarre and mostly boring doomsday story. But a central character is one of these "lost son" characters, the apparent family bad boy who returns to town after five years to collect much needed money from his family.

When he arrives, he removes a completely unmolested car cover off of a perfectly preserved 1960's era vintage automobile. Why is it that bad boy lost sons always have such cars? Or motorcycles? Can't they for once, just have an Elantra or something? I'd have loved it if he had removed the tarp and it unveiled a new Beetle.

And are we really supposed to believe that this car sat in this city parking garage, covered with a tarp, completely untouched, for FIVE YEARS? And GAWD, he is flat broke.

This is funny

The Smoking Gun decided to highlight an amusing selection of letters to the NY Department of Motor Vehicles that either complain about custom license plates, or better yet, complain how custom license plate requests have been turned down.

This one is particularly amusing. Not only is this person "outraged" that their request for the custom license plate was denied, especially "during the war on terror", but the person also goes on to say to Governor Pataki that the governor as a republican represents the party that protects individual freedoms. Ha! I bet that person feels pretty stupid four years later, when being a republican is beginning to sound a lot like being a member of the Big Brother party.

It kind of illustrates the mind set of the ultra nationalistic American though, which post 9-11 is very scary indeed. Personally, I feel it is in our best interests to understand that the US does not, and should not, "kick butt". Instead, we should recognize where our strengths AND our weaknesses are, then work with other nations to complement one another. That will be the best way to stabilizing relations with more radical nations. I suppose I should now prepare for the Crapstorm I will get over this statement.

On a less serious note, the other letters to the DMV to complain about license plates are quite interesting as well. Why do people waste their time and energy getting so upset about such things?

Happy September

I have been off work the past week and although I did not go anywhere, I did do lots of things. I actually went to the Museum of Fine Arts for the first time since Junior High School, went to the Franklin Park Zoo and did other fabulous friend/family related things. I basically just enjoyed Boston, despite the weather.

I will write this week about the Museum and the Zoo, they were interesting and thought provoking. I actually live less than a mile from these things but have never been as an adult. Stupid me.

Feels Like Fall

So it has been sort of cold this week, and wet. This is all my fault, because it is my vacation week.

Regardless of this, I am enjoying the time off. Exercising, going to museums, seeing movies and spending time with family - it has been nice. But because I have been thinking about fall, I was thinking about some fall trips. I am taking two - one to Washington DC for work and one to the White Mountains for foliage fun.

I have been to DC many, many times, but I have always stayed outside the city in Maryland - this time I will be staying right downtown at the Wyndham Resort, which is great. And even though I will be there for work, I will have plenty of free time to do some site-seeing. Most of my stays there only allow me a little time to see the city's many awesome landmarks. The question is, what do I see first?

It has been many years since I headed north to the Mountains. I am feeling a need to hike in the woods and see the "Flume" again. So one weekend in early October I will be driving up and just "walking the wilderness".

Jerk of the Week

Donald S. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense.

Rumsfeld recently had the gall to suggest that people who criticize the foreign policy of the current administration are undermining our efforts to "fight a new facism". He is simply ridiculous.

Our nation is based on the fact that we can (and, in fact must) question the decisions of our leaders. Our leaders do not have an blank check of rule and control. They do, in fact, work for US. We elect them, they are accountable to us and they cannot tell us whether to question their decisions.

Keith Olbermann on MSNBC had a great message to give to the confused Secretary. I say "confused" because Rumsfeld's comments suggests he has no understanding of the liberties our constitution protect. His commentary is worth seeing - Crooks and Liars has it here.

Technical Difficulties

Ugh. Recently I purchased a brand new notebook from a well known technology "super store". My current one, which I had had for two years, was beginning to show signs of impending doom - hard drive noises, sluggish performance. I have been doing IT support long enough to know that I was looking at problems (or so I thought). I figured I would be proactive and treat myself.

I bring the cool notebook home and install all my software and spend about a day getting it up to speed with the old notebook. Then, with the appropriate amount of pomp and circumstance, I retired the old machine.

In the two weeks since, several of the major software programs naturally released major upgrades, including my accounting software. And Monday night, I downloaded a bunch of new family photos from an event that was held this weekend.

Tuesday morning? "Cannot find Windows file HAL.DLL - please reinstall file or operating system. GOD DAMMIT. No warning at all. Just death, pure and simple. Brand new freaking machine with all the software updated. I do some quick trouble shooting (after all, I am an IT guy) and nothing. I pretty much figure that I am screwed (well, I have to deal with technical support, which is similar).

Now luckily, I am a big believer in backups and I had a fairly recent one. So I quickly dust off the recently retired computer, bring it back online and get all the anti-virus and security programs updated. But then I realize that I updated a lot of software, especially my accounting software, over the web. And now, I could not read my accounting data files. GOD DAMMIT.

Another call, to another technical support. After much back and forth with the technical support people to get them to understand what my problem was, I was finally pointed to a web site to download all the new software. So I get the old computer back up to speed and get running again.

Then what happens? My backup hard drive fails - an external one that I back up all my data to. Now fortunately this happens after I restored everything, but none the less, it was quite close to being a complete loss. Luckily I had an old one which still worked well, so I could back everything up again just in case I had another crash. Funny that the brand new computer and external hard drive fail immediately but the older computer and external drive work well. I wondered if it could have been a virus but do not believe so.

So after a lot of on hold time (Michael Bolton seems to get a lot of business with on hold music services), I am told by HP that a replacement hard drive will be sent for the new computer. Now you can imagine I do not have much faith. But once I get it, I will install it and go through the whole process of getting the new computer up and running.

I am supposed to be on vacation damit, why am I dealing with this BS?

Creepy

This is creepy - A Daily Kos poster attributes it to global warming and I do not doubt it. Scary stuff - can you even imagine stumbling across a VW size nest of Yellow Jackets?

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N....

.... In the summer sun....

I start a full week of vacation Friday, my first in over a year (and boy do I need it). It will be pretty open ended, but I am going to take it easy, if anything of interest comes up, I will report it. But man, I am so excited just to do nothing!

Quote of the week (for real this time)

"According to reports, Fidel Castro is alert and being briefed. And I'm thinking, why didn't we get a president like that?"

- David Letterman

Memo to "That Guy At My Gym"

To improve the overall morale of all the members, please start wearing underwear effective immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Quote of the Week

"Your people will be assimilated as easily as Picard has been. Your attempts at a delay will not be successful, Number One. We will proceed to Earth. And if you attempt to intervene, we will destroy you".



Locutus of Borg, circa stardate 44002.3

Sorry - but it is on G4 right now as I type, and well, it's a classic.....

What is Joe Thinking?

Does Joe Lieberman actually think that people will see him as anything other than a really sore loser? In the best case scenario, he is a pretentious, arrogant ass, who sits on his own self constructed pedestal believing that he knows better than his constituents and therefore cannot let his primary defeat "stand".

Running as an independent, he asks the Democrats of his state to accept the fact that he does not trust their choices. He "reassures" them that he knows what is best and that they should quietly comply.

Joe, go home.

What a drag...

I have been dragging the past few days. Maybe I have caught a summer cold, maybe it is the onset of ragweed allergies coupled with exhaustion from ten straight long days at work (with lots of stressful project work), but I can hardly lift a finger.

I went to the gym after work tonight and just couldn't. Granted, I have worked the past ten days straight installing a massive new system that involved lots of stress and lots of late hours. The work went exactly as planned and no problems were encountered. The transition was pretty seamless, so maybe my body is just decompressing from the high levels of adrenaline it lived off of during the past week. But whatever, I just want to Rip Van Winkle and sleep for days.

I finally get some time off this weekend, and the weather appears to be cooperating. Maybe I will rejuvenate. I was thinking a full body massage and some other spa pampering would help.

Suggestions?

It's a Small World After All

If, like me, you have been to either Disneyland (CA) or DisneyWorld (FL), and, like me, you have been through the "ride" It's a Small World After All, then, like me, you are traumatized by nightmares of thousands of Pinnochios, holding hands, dancing and signing that horrendous song.

I feel your pain.

I do not think anything has ever made me hate a song that much so quickly. Michael Bolton did come close, though, with "How Am I Going To Live Without You".

I have a suggestion on how to improve the "ride" It's a Small World After All - turn it into a shooting gallery. Not a graphic one or anything, the standard kind where you fire your air rifle and the target drops backwards. Very simplistic but would greatly improve the overall experience. You just go in and do what feels natural when experiencing that ride - blowing the crap out of everything in sight.

Provincetown, Madonna, the World Cup, 19 Innings, et al... Part Three

Continued from Part Two:

By the time I get home Saturday night, I am exhausted. David and I just crashed on the couch, I opened some wine, and we watched "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel. That show is like a car crash, it's gross but you cannot look away.

Sunday morning I get a nice long sleep in. Since I got to bed reasonably early the night before, I was able to sleep long, but still get up at a reasonable hour - this is a good thing.

My Madonna Sunday

I start this wonderful Sunday off (it was beautiful out), by going to the gym. I figure I need it after a day of debauchery in PTown and want to look my best for her highness, the Material Girl, right?

So, some morning gym and errands, gets me home just in time to find on TV, what else, the World Cup final game. Ugh. So, now after spending the day Saturday dealing with it, I decide - what the hell, let it play in the background while I do some house work. But unlike the Germany/Portugal game - this one was more interesting. I wonder what my Italian friends are doing - how are they spending this afternoon separated from home? Anyway, all my interest wanes quickly when I realize how endless overtime is in Soccer, and that in the end a bunch of penalty kicks can actually determine it all. Whatever. I did run out and get Chinese Food though, which was fun.

Oh, and before I forget, this day was the David and my 17th anniversary. I mention to the Bird (who was with David when I first met him) that it was my Bird anniversary as well. I have lived with David and Rick longer than with anyone else in my life, including members of my own family. That says alot. It still feels like yesterday that we met and went on that first date. To put it in perspective, on that day - July 9, 1989, we went to see Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson in "Batman" (yes, the original one) when it was first out in the theatres. That was our first date. God we are old.

In the 17 years we have been together, one thing has always been constant - David is always late. I learned long ago to add 30 minutes to any amount of time we need to get ready to be anywhere.

As I am watching television and the news comes on it tells me two things. First, the predominantly Italian North End of Boston is going crazy due to the World Cup. Second, the Red Sox are still battling the White Sox in the 11th inning. Great. Due to this, I decide two things. First, we will take the subway to the concert and forego the car, and second, I do not want to watch the end of the Sox game.

Naturally we are running late - getting to the subway and then to the Garden right at 8. We run for some drinks and pray we are not too late. We are not. Everyone is loitering around outside and getting drinks. In the background, I see the Sox game is on the TV and I ask a guy - who won? (figuring it was long over by now). He responds with a sneer, "what do you mean who won? They are still playing". Ass. And wow - 19 innings - suddenly I am interested, but, well, Madonna and all. So off we went to find our seats. I would have to read the sad Papelboner story another time (by the way, I hear from a friend of mine he ran into Papelbon's parents while racing home from that very game - small world).

Before this, I had never been in the Banknorth Garden. This Garden is nothing like the old Garden. The old Garden had character and spirit - the new one is generic and bland. We had top row balcony seats, which are really, really way the hell up there. I felt like I was being guided by a Sherpa to get to them - we briefly stopped at base camp for oxygen and medical assistance then continued on.

I love Madonna, but did she have to make us wait 45 minutes? I mean, we all make a reasonable effort to show up on time and all. The concert was excellent. Probably the best stage show I have ever seen (including "The Lion King", which was fantastic.) There was this guy in front of us though, who kept screaming "Yeah!! Yeah!!" at the top of his lungs and pumping his fists in the air. I really wanted to punch his face in. I wondered whether or not he was tripping and thought he was at a Celtics game instead. I mean, he wasn't even singing or anything - just yelling "Yeah!!", like he was watching an orgy. Maybe seeing Her is his equivalent. His voice eventually gave way though, thankfully.

Afterwards we walked through the city and it was a beautiful night. Lots of pseudo-Italians roaming the streets screaming "Italy" at the top of their lungs and flying the Italian flag.

All in all, I must say, quite the weekend.

"Kyle XY"

Anyone else loving this new show?


"Kyle XY" airs Mondays on ABC Family and Fridays on ABC Standard.

Over the past few years, summer has started to become a great time for new TV shows. Cable, of course, has made this easier - with it providing most of the best shows.

Between USA, which has given us "The 4400" (awesome), "Monk", "Dead Zone" and "Psych", and this, I keep the DVR busier than during the regular TV season.

I hope "Kyle XY" is picked up after this season, Part "X-Files", part "Roswell", and hugely part "Lost", the show is very intriguing and well acted. The central family unit may be just a tad too Disney for my taste (admittedly updated to the 21st century), but I like them anyway.

I do hope he is NOT an alien though - that is too over done.

Condi's Roman Holiday

Why does she always look so mean? Does she ever smile? I guess I wouldn't either if I worked for "him".


So Condi flew to the Middle East and made one of those famous Bush Admin "surprise visits" to a combat area. This time, Beirut. She then flew off to Rome to discuss the current crisis in Lebanon with other world leaders.

I would almost like to be a fly on the wall at these types of meetings. When the US participates, how do they behave? Especially this administration?

Afterwards she states that there must be an "enduring peace". OK, sounds great. I am fairly sure we all want that. But when has there ever been one in the Middle East? It reminds me of the cliche of the Beauty Pageant contestants saying they want "World Peace". Do American state department officials truly believe they can go to these meetings and dictate how the others should behave? Especially now when our credibility as a World Leader has been so incredibly destroyed during the past few years.

My heart and sympathies goes out to all the innocent Israeli and Lebanese citizens who have been killed or hurt during this current situation. But, I think the Bush Administration's best contribution to the situation would be to stay the hell out.

Jerk of the Week, Part 2

Michael Brown (aka "Brownie"), disgraced former FEMA Director and current Idiot.



This guy is a damned fool. He almost faded away into obscurity but then he makes this ridiculous comment? This just exemplifies the type of people the Bush Administration likes to surround itself with, I guess.

It's going to be a long two years.

Jerk of the Week, Part 1

Joe Lieberman, "Democrat" from Connecticut:



This senator has betrayed the Democratic Party, and could very soon do the same to the voters of his home state. Facing a real challenge in the democratic primary on August 8 by Ned Lamont, Lieberman has actually decided that he may run as an independent candidate in the general election if he loses the primary.

This essentially means that he will be telling the voters in the democratic primary that he does not respect their choice. He is telling them to screw. Remember what a primary is - it is the time for the members of a political party to come together and decide who their candidate will be in the general election. Talk about sore loser.

This should probably not be a surprise. He is Bush's biggest supporter in the democratic party, supporting the Iraq war and being called "my favorite democrat" by Idiot-In-Chief himself.

I hope that the voters of CT see he is not good for their state or our country. Lieberman needs to be sent home. He is clearly not serving his constituents' needs at this point, he is only serving his own.

Provincetown, Madonna, the World Cup, 19 Innings, et al... Part Two

Continued from Part One:

I board the boat from Provincetown to Boston, behind the young Italian exchange students, and reclaim the same seat I came down on - which was directly behind where the Italians decided to sit this time (better to see the television).

We get underway. It is a beautiful afternoon, but I am tired from the day (and several cocktails), so I decide to nap. As I comfy down, the purser on the boat comes out and turns on the TVs. Soccer appears to be the order of the day, and the Italians perk up quickly.

I was not going to nap.

The Ride Home and the World Cup

First off, let me start out by saying I was not living on another planet during the month of June. I might be completely clueless when it comes to soccer, but I was not unaware of the events happening in Germany that seemed to be all over the news. The thing I did not know, was just how long this damned thing was. Every weekend, there was another "big game", and I always thought that the game du jour being hyped was the final game (Germany vs. Brazil, France vs. Britain, Snakistan vs. Fritolaysia, etc.) - it just never seemed to want to end.

There is a nice Brazilian guy at my gym I always chat with. He would always say something to me along the lines of "what a game this weekend, ha?" - I always just kind of smiled and pretended to know the details. So throughout this process, I am always thinking the wrong teams are in the "finals" - Germany and Britain or someone from South America (not the US of course).

It was the morning I left for PTown that I finally got it straight. I am rarely up for the morning news on Saturdays, but I had to get to the boat, so I had it on. I hear that Italy and France will be in the World Cup "Finals". I say, "it's STILL going on?". I decide to go to my old friend the internet and finally get this right. Sure enough, it would be France and Italy. Whatever.

But back to the boat. It is the end of the fabulous day in PTown now and I am pretty drained (a few Mike's Hard Lemonades on the dock did not hurt this situation).

I am intrigued by the group of Italian students. They are obviously on some foreign exchange program. When I was about their age (I was guessing 17), I also went on an exchange program, spending my summer in Southern Germany with a host family along with about 20 other students from my High School. It was a wonderful time in my life that I will never forget and it carried forward to my returning for university studies there later in life (I spent a great deal of time there). So I am thinking about the situation that these kids must be in, and envying them a bit.

As soon as the boat pulls out of PTown, the TVs come on and now there is soccer - Germany vs. Portugal. I am instantly confused. I try to remember what I had actually "confirmed" in the morning. It was my impression that France and Italy were playing, but that the game was the following day. I decide that I am clearly not with it in soccer related issues. However, I soon realize while watching the game that this game is for "Third Place" (and hence, fourth place as well). Suddenly it makes sense, and I am interested. I decide quickly that Germany is my favorite, due to my experience living there.

Now the Italian kids perk up - they all collect in front of the televisions and start getting loud. Their Italian is not pure Italian - it almost seems like Swiss Italian, and it has a very strong Germanic dialect/accent. I begin to wonder if they are from Switzerland when suddenly a promo comes on for the final game the next day and when the Italian team is shown, they go wild - No question, they are from Italy.

I am amused by their reactions to the events in the Germany/Portugal game, they seem to favor the Portuguese. And so, I end up sitting and watching the game - or probably more accurately, watching the Italians watching the game. Their excitement for the next day clearly obvious in any language. It brought me back to a day not that long ago - in October, 2004 (I'll let you all figure that one out).

The ride back to Boston was beautiful, the view crystal clear and the wind was warm on deck. I occasionally went out to see. But mostly, I watched the World Cup.

... To Be Continued

Next: While Running to catch The Material Girl, I get caught by the 19th inning! (oh, and I watch Italy and France too)