Mmm...real girl scouts

One of the nice benefits of coming home is I get to eat Girl Scout cookies and yes I believe they're made with real Girl Scouts.

Quick

Quick without it looking it up if you can tell Ronald Reagan or John McCain's middle name then you can feel free to call him Barack Hussein Obama. Naw, even then you can't do that. Give me a reference when the last time someone referred to John McCain using his middle name and then it is okay for you to use Obama's middle name. You idiot ass people are the reason the republican party has been run into the ground.

Man I hope we get our ass kicked in November. Granted I'd much prefer us getting our ass kicked and having the democrats actually do something unlike the 2006 Congress that hasn't done shit. Newt is ushered in and is able to push Clinton around some and that was against a very popular president. Pelosi becomes Speaker and Congress hasn't done anything in 13 months.

Xbox 360

Man how they create such a great system in terms of user content but so bad at everything else. The number of quality games and the stunning quality in those games is just out of this world. The content and quality through Xbox Live is insane. The games and online community just crush the offerings of Sony and Nintendo.

I've been buy systems since the NES, I've owned an NES, SNES, Genesis, Playstation, Dreamcast, Playstation 2, and Gamecube. Other than the NES and SNES there hasn't been a system with this many great games this quick, at least in my opinion. I think my opinion is skewed because the NES and SNES were when I was in school and younger so my impression is probably a little different. All of the critics and most of the game developers also agree, the Xbox 360 is a great system. It is better than the PS3. Neither the PS3 or the 360 are really comparable to the Wii. Everything the Wii is good at the PS3/360 aren't and vice versa. Anyway the 360 is great.

Well almost great. The quality is abysmal. Their Red Ring of Death affects almost 30% of their systems. Their DRM is awful, well most DRM is awful but this is worse. The DRM is tied to your user account and to the system ID. If one changes it can still check the other one to make sure you're allowed to use the content you've paid for. MS wants to push their larger harddrives because they sell HD movies and full games through XBL. But moving your content from on HD to another can somehow lose your system ID numbers in the DRM. It only affects certain content since you aren't changing systems just storage devices. That isn't the real issue, the real issue is DRM mixed with the Red Ring of Death. Now you're getting a new console back and your content won't work properly. It will work only when you're online and even then there are also some issues just like transferring the HDs.

Microsoft has never been known for good customer service and their Xbox team is no different. Calling their support line for either the RROD or DRM issues, both issues MS is well aware of and even admits in public a lot, is like pulling teeth. The calls take far too long for one. This is mainly because they are outsourced to India. The most recent call was a nice guy with a thick Indian accent and a vague understanding of the english language named Fred. I've talked to a 'Bob', 'Janet', "Kim", and 'Pete'; all thick Indian accents although some are pretty good at english.

The call center is not empowered to handle complaints, only offer scripted solutions. There is no person to complain to, they don't have supervisors at least for you to talk to. Their forums have moderators that are helpful in answering questions but don't work for MS and don't have any power to do anything. There are multiple huge DRM issues constantly updated on their forums as 'in progress' and those were started when the system was launched.

Apparently the RROD is getting a lot more under control but the DRM and customer service issues will remain an issue. MS is a huge proponent of DRM and like I wrote earlier has never been good with customer service. So I'm torn, all three of us love playing the 360. I've played and enjoyed at least 15 great games since the system was released. I have an HD TV and a huge fan of video games so I want a system that shows that off. The 360 is just a ton better in terms of games library than the PS3 and that doesn't look to change.

So I don't know what I'd recommend to someone looking for a new system. Well I'd recommend a Wii but a new system for HD I just don't know. I'd probably recommend a 360 since their RROD is a lot more under control and they do handle it quickly. Be warned about the DRM though, don't spend too much money on XBL or at least research it first before you buy it, some developers are much better with DRM than others.

But a system with Mass Effect and Halo 3 is not to be missed. In addition to the multiple platform games almost always rate better on the 360 than PS3. Just understand that your $400 might only last 18 months and then you'll spend a few hours on the phone and then a few weeks without a system.

Almost Opening Day

I'm trying to decide if I want to head to Atlanta for the home opener. The last time I went was the last time the Braves made the playoffs so I think I should go. We'll see as it gets closer.

Academy Awards

We like the Oscars, we watch them every year. This year's crop really has both of us feeling rather blah but it is still a fun view. In one of the little video clips they showed Michael Bay talking about voting for Best Picture. Michael Bay should not be allowed to vote for a real award.

Too...much...snow

Hopefully I can get to the airport and how through the 8 inches of snow. Really how do people live in this crap every year.

I'm too old for this

I'm too old for 7:30am to 11pm days, much too old. I was probably always too old but when I was 25 and making time and a half I thought it was a great idea. Now that I'll get nothing for it, not even probably a thank you, I think I'm much less excited about it. Hey at least I didn't work the most hours this week on my birthday.

Snow

I don't mind snow, in fact up here they handle it really well. I just really wish it wasn't supposed to drop 5 or 6 inches of snow on the day I'm trying to fly home. I'm here five days a week so please snow on the other days.

Some days

Are just better than others. That of course means some days are worse than others. Today was one of the worse kind. Man some of the people up here aren't good at all.

First time for everything

I've worked 12.5 hours in a day before.
I've worked a shitty day on the road before.
I've worked on my birthday before.

I've never worked 12.5 hours, in shitty conditions on the road, on my birthday before. To say I've had better birthdays would be an understatement.

Election Day

It is election day and I haven't ranted about politics in about a week so it is time again.

You know I don't mind when a campaign keeps passing along information that isn't entirely true. What I mind is when the news keeps harping the same thing over and over again yet it isn't true. Hillary Clinton does not have more experience than Barack Obama. Obama actually has more time as an elected official than Clinton does. Being First Lady of the US and First Lady of Arkansas does not count as experience.

If you have to go to surgery tomorrow does the surgeon's wife or husband count? If you're robbed can the police officer's spouse investigate the crime? Sure the surgeon's spouse knows more about medicine and surgery than your or I do. And a cop's wife probably knows gun safety and crime prevention more than average person. I mean my wife knows TCGs better than a novice but I wouldn't call her a game designer. Being the wife of the President does not count as governmental experience.

So congratulations to Barak Obama for his 9th win in a row at the state of Wisconsin. He'll probably get his 10th as I go to bed in his home state of Hawaii. Hopefully Ohio and Texas can end this and allow him to spend money on a national campaign starting in a few weeks.

Sarah Conner is better in HD

I'm actually enjoying the Terminator show a good bit. I like the universe a lot and this is changing it up some which is nice. I do miss being able to watch the show in HD as opposed to the little ass TV I have at the hotel here in Connecticut.

More than 40 hours

Next week I'd like to spend more than 40 hours or so at home before I'm back on the road. Oh well, I guess it beats digging holes for a living.

Please just shut up

I had to catch a 6 something or other in the morning flight to come home today. I couldn't sleep because the family behind me in the little ass plane wouldn't shut up talking to the young couple going on vacation. It was obvious the young couple wanted the family to leave them alone but they were having none of it. My favorite was the dad pointing out to his 7 or 8 year old son his knowledge of Star Wars. The son was looking threw the Sky Mall magazine and it had the Sharper Image R2-D2 in it.

"Yeah that is the robot that Luke Skywalker built."

First they aren't robots, they are droids.
Second Luke Skywalker didn't build any droid or robot.
And finally, no whiny Slywalker, Luke or Anakin, can build R2.

I almost corrected them but then I'd be involved in their conversation. Next time please let me sleep.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm not a fan of this holiday made up to sell more greeting cards, chocolate, and jewelry. I love my wife and I don't need an extra reason to buy her flowers or something shiny.

Still I do like this day. Eleven years ago my beautiful wife said the one word that change our lives forever, "Yes!"

She was still living at home (we're young now 31 and 29 and about to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we got hitched young) and had done something to piss her parents off. We hadn't really been on many dates around Valentine's Day. I want to say that it was our only date in a month or more, its been a long time. I obviously knew I wanted to ask, I had the ring and everything. I didn't really want to be sappy and ask her on Valentine's Day. The pain in the ass her parents were giving us didn't give me many options so I decided Valentine's Day would be great.

Of course it was great. We've had some really good Valentine's Days and some good birthday/VD combos (my birthday is near VD). This year is a telecommuting Valentine's Day since I'm stuck in the boredom that is bumble Connecticut. There's always next year.

Happy Valentine's Day Pretty Bird, I miss you.

Maybe its just me

A junior, minority member of congress vs. an established, should have already won the nomination already candidate.

A possible and almost inevitable floor fight at the convention (actually I seriously doubt it will come to a floor fight).

Neither party running an incumbent in the general election.

The republicans running a moderate candidate who is popular with independents and even some democrats.

The republican candidate having issues with the 'family values' portion of the republican party, needing to pick a very conservative, probably from the south running mate.

I just described season 6 and 7 of the West Wing. It could be me but that seems an awful lot like real-life. It should make for a fun year if you pay any attention to politics.

Snow

There is more snow in the last few hours up here than my entire three years in Charlotte, NC.

Just Plain Crazy

Normally I think John Rocker is a raving lunatic, actually I still believe Rocker is a lunatic. I do completely agree with everything he said today. I think MLB while not pushing performance enhancing drugs very much looked the other way. I also think encouraged coaches and doctors to look the other way. Chicks dig the long ball and that put people in the stands.

John Rocker is still crazy, he's just correct here.

McCain or Obama

The 44th President of the United States of America is going to be Barack Obama or John McCain. John McCain will pick a conservative running mate to get the Republican Party back all together. If you wacky democrats nominate Hillary Clinton then McCain's wins in a landslide.

I've written it before, I will write now, and I will write it later on. If you crazy democrats nominate Hillary Clinton then John McCain will be the next president. Clinton has no moderate republican or independent appeal. Sure she'll carry most of the democrat base but that didn't exactly work for Gore or Kerry. In addition she'll depress turnout from democrats (like my wife) who don't like her. If you nominate Obama at least there is a chance.

Either way I don't really mind. I'd much prefer Obama but I do like McCain as well.

Off the cold NE

I drew the short straw and I have to motivate/supervise our company's warehouse move from CT to NC. Very few people that work for us have the skills and flexibility to be able to handle it. Plus I can be a dick when I need to be to get what I need. I could have opted out but that would have made someone else have to spend two to four weeks in CT. Personally I hope to get these people motivated enough that I only have to spend two weeks there. Lots of fun. At least maybe I'll be able to drive to Rhode Island or Vermont/New Hampshire to knock some states off my list.

Good Public Speaker

After two campaigns and three candidates who couldn't carry a room for shit the 2008 election is a nice change. Obama, Clinton, and McCain are all commanding public speakers. Well maybe McCain isn't commanding but he is pretty good and very charismatic. Since in my opinion one of the biggest things a president can do is inspire the people I think public speaking should be a job requirement. Obviously the DNC and GOP didn't think so in 2000 or 2004 with those three dolts. Granted Gore was already Vice President, of course he was going to get the nomination. Anyway, I think the debates and campaign should be interesting. Of course the democrats better pick a candidate soon or they'll be way behind.

Mercury Morris

The only bad part of the Giants winning the Super Bowl is it allows Mercury Morris to remain relevant. Man the '72 Dolphins can be borderline insufferable. However I do think the new Reebok commercial is pretty good.

Matt Hasselbeck

Can Matty just retire and go to the booth so we can get some decent color commentary? Hasselbeck is going to be an awesome booth man once he's done playing. He would be a good talking head but bald white guys usually don't get a talking head job, sorry Brad.

Baseball Season?

Is it baseball season yet? Can it be the start of football season? Now ratings for ESPN go down big time in our household.

Get Out and Vote

I can't vote until April and by then the primaries shouldn't matter. Most people who read this blog are either family or friends in Georgia or the ever increasing group of people I know in Colorado. Both of those states have their primary or caucus or whatever today. So stop reading this and get out and vote.

I don't really care who you vote but you should vote. Well you should vote for Obama but even if you don't you should vote.

Double standard

Randy Moss is absolutely demolished for leaving the sidelines in a losing situation before the game was over. He was demolished by the media and fans to the point where it was a huge reason for the Vikings feeling he should be traded.

Brett Favre leaves the sidelines before a game was over the very next year in a game that was already decided. It is okay, Brett Favre is old and probably couldn't read the game clock anyway.

In both cases I think it isn't that big a deal for the players to be on the sidelines with a few seconds before the game was over, it doesn't matter. If Moss is going to get destroyed over it then Favre should have at least had his name dragged through the mud a little bit.

Coaches on the other hand, they need to keep their ass on the sidelines until the double whistle is blown. It never really entered my mind that a head coach would leave before the clock hit zero and the game was over but obviously I was wrong.

Bill Belichick left the Super Bowl sidelines before the last play was run. Obviously there was a good bit of confusion at the end of the game and you can see if a player or two got confused and headed to the locker room early. The head coach however was told by the ref that one more play had to be run, how else would that play have been run. Belichick still decided to leave the sidelines early.

I haven't really bashed the Patriots the way all the haters have. They get called dirty and classless but most good teams get called that. Hines Ward is called dirty because he hits harder than the other WRs usually do. Chad Johnson or Marvin Harrison would blindside hit as much as Ward does, which is legal, if they were good at it. It keeps the DB back just a little bit more than usual and wears them down. Ward is just good at it so he uses it. Almost all of the good teams that I can remember have had people complain that they do this or that dirty or they lack class. I just viewed the Patriots as the same, they're good so let's hate on them.

Man I do wish Belichick showed just a little more class though. I want to say it is just people hating on him because he's probably the best coach in football but stuff like that doesn't help.

Doesn't help

When asked why I'm a republican the answer I most frequently give is I like a smaller federal government. It is the truth as well. I don't think the best solution to every problem is automatically a federal program to fix it. Sure me and my community would have a hard time defending the country or building an interstate. But there are plenty of other things that state and local communities are much better served handling themselves. There are other reasons but that is the big one.

And now President Bush sends the largest budget in history to Congress. Oh yeah, he's also got the second and third largest budget. Sure there is inflation but that is just dumb. I am really embarrassed that he is the same political affiliation that I am. Such a bad president that man is.

Again, OMG

Was that an incredible play or what? That was just dumb good.

I like being wrong

Oh my God was that a great football game. I mainly wanted a good game and good lord it was a great game. Back to back Manning Super Bowls, just a little weird. Eli's sack avoid, 20 yard completion is now my favorite non-Steelers Super Bowl play. Man that was a great play.

Say what?

I love that Art Monk finally made the Hall of Fame. For whatever reason I've always been a fan of Monk. I don't really understand how Cris Carter didn't get into the Hall. He's clearly one of the three or four most prolific wide receivers in the history of the game. I'm sure Carter will get in eventually but I don't really get why you should. I guess I never really understood that about Hall of Fame voters.

56-24

The Patriots will destroy the Giants, I mean destroy them. We haven't had a rout in the Super Bowl in a few years so we're due. The Patriots are quite possibly the best team to ever play in the NFL. The Giants are pretty good team, you have to be to make the Super Bowl, but they can't stop the Patriots. I think the Patriots are going to go all "Tiger Woods" and just step up on Sunday and bury the competition.

Best of Both Worlds

Today Pretty Bird and I took the Little One and two of her friends to see the Hannah Montana concert movie. Much like Miley's real concerts this movie is sold out everywhere but we were able to get some tickets. The Little One invited a second friend so despite her "really wanting" me to see it as well I was left out. The theater we got tickets to was about 35 minutes away and with three 8-year olds I didn't want to leave my wife alone. I drove and helped keep the kids in-line. They were crazy excited the entire way up and the entire way down. I'm sure there they were that way during the show as well. It is so weird to see them grow up but it is great to see her this excited.

For Girard

Only two weeks left.

The Braves big acquisitions this offseason that will report in two weeks, Javy Lopez and Tom Glavine. Not bad if it was 1998 but it is 2008 so I'll reserve judgment for later.