The headline describes the people I have had to deal with today. First I had people at work want me to do a job that was way out of our area to complete and think nothing of asking me why I wouldn't help. Then I had a co-worker who didn't do his job and get mad because I wouldn't clean up the mess left behind and started asking questions about when he had messed up.
Then I got home and found that my dental insurance company decided to arbitrarily change my primary care dentist. So, I get to call another Customer Service Rep back and ask him why it was changed and to please changed it back. "Benson" did change it back, but could not tell me why it was changed in the first place. What was particularly aggravating was that I had to spend a half hour on the phone with a woman who did this for me over three weeks ago when our company's benefits changed. She was good and I thought it was taken care of at the time. But, no I had to waste another half hour tonight. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrghhh!
January 30, 2007
January 28, 2007
Catching Up
-It's been a busy week at work...but the weekend has been just as busy. I saw my first game in the new Mizzou Arena yesterday and saw my beloved Tigers knock off a highly regarded Texas Tech Team 71-58. The arena is two years old and has been compared to Canseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It was a lot of fun to be there in person and see the Tigers play what arguably was their best game of the season. Here's a shout out to J.P. for getting the tickets to the game.
-What do you think of President Bush's State of the Union Address? I liked the reference to reducing energy consumption and think we should all be working to that means. Maybe we can get a lot of the SUVs off the road, and more hybrids into usage. As you know I hate SUVs. I am also somewhat confused about the deductibility of health insurance. Why didn't the president mention he also wants to tax the benefit for those who have it paid for by their employer? But, then Mr. Bush apparently wants to make the fact you have health insurance a tax deduction too.
-How 'Bout Them Blues! The Saint Louis Blues have gone seven - one and one in their past nine games. They got knocked off by the Nashville Predators last night but are still the hottest team in the NHL.
-What do you think of President Bush's State of the Union Address? I liked the reference to reducing energy consumption and think we should all be working to that means. Maybe we can get a lot of the SUVs off the road, and more hybrids into usage. As you know I hate SUVs. I am also somewhat confused about the deductibility of health insurance. Why didn't the president mention he also wants to tax the benefit for those who have it paid for by their employer? But, then Mr. Bush apparently wants to make the fact you have health insurance a tax deduction too.
-How 'Bout Them Blues! The Saint Louis Blues have gone seven - one and one in their past nine games. They got knocked off by the Nashville Predators last night but are still the hottest team in the NHL.
January 19, 2007
Diese Sind Gute Biere!
No, I haven't moved to Germany. But, it's a variation on an expression I heard as a kid from my elders. It translates roughly into "These are good beers".
In the past few weeks I have tasted three very good beers from various microbreweries around the nation. In chronological order from when I tasted them are a Winter ESB at the Schlafly Tap Room, Pale Ale from the Sierra Nevada brewery and a Dopplebock from Alandale Brewing.
The Winter ESB (Extra Special Bitter) is a seasonal served at both Schlafly locations. It is powerful with a strong hoppy flavor and just a taste of Rye. It is seven percent alcohol by volume so be careful! I learned the hard way after enjoying it more than I should have. You can taste this brew in downtown St. Louis and in suburban Maplewood.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is malty with a taste of Orange. As it slides across your mouth it finishes with a taste of hoppiness. This Pale Ale is brewed in Chico, California but distributed nationwide in bottles.
The last beer, and certainly not the least is the Dopplebock. It too has a high degree of maltiness and a high degree of alcohol. (Are you noticing a trend here)? I had been told Alandale's Indian Pale Ale was the best of the brewpubs offerings. But, I found the Dopplebock to be a pleasant surprise and a better brew in my opinion than the IPA. Alandale is located in the Saint Louis suburb of Kirkwood.
In the past few weeks I have tasted three very good beers from various microbreweries around the nation. In chronological order from when I tasted them are a Winter ESB at the Schlafly Tap Room, Pale Ale from the Sierra Nevada brewery and a Dopplebock from Alandale Brewing.
The Winter ESB (Extra Special Bitter) is a seasonal served at both Schlafly locations. It is powerful with a strong hoppy flavor and just a taste of Rye. It is seven percent alcohol by volume so be careful! I learned the hard way after enjoying it more than I should have. You can taste this brew in downtown St. Louis and in suburban Maplewood.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is malty with a taste of Orange. As it slides across your mouth it finishes with a taste of hoppiness. This Pale Ale is brewed in Chico, California but distributed nationwide in bottles.
The last beer, and certainly not the least is the Dopplebock. It too has a high degree of maltiness and a high degree of alcohol. (Are you noticing a trend here)? I had been told Alandale's Indian Pale Ale was the best of the brewpubs offerings. But, I found the Dopplebock to be a pleasant surprise and a better brew in my opinion than the IPA. Alandale is located in the Saint Louis suburb of Kirkwood.
January 17, 2007
I Want to be a Movie Critic
I have always thought it would be fun to be a film critic, but also thought it to be somewhat of a pretentious job. But, I am fresh off of watching two movies in the past two nights so here goes:
On Monday night I saw "Little Miss Sunshine". It is underrated and was hilarious in some spots. I had heard it was a rip off of the "National Lampoon Vacation" series of movies but, it is at times much funnier. The movie is well written and well acted. Alan Arkin and Steve Carell turn in fine performances and newcomers Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin are endearing in their roles.
The movie is about a dysfunctional family traveling from New Mexico to California with a number of mishaps along the way. The movie also does a fine job of spoofing the "beauty pageant industry" and made me laugh out loud several times. It has been out on video for several weeks and is one of the better comedies I have seen in the past several months. On a scale of one to ten with one being the worst movie I have ever seen and ten being the best, I would rate "Little Miss Sunshine" an eight.
On Tuesday night, I picked up "Talladega Nights, The Legend of Ricky Bobby". I am a fan of Will Ferrell from his Saturday Night Live nights, but did not find the movie as good as hoped. There are several funny scenes of Ferrell saying grace at the dinner table and of his "smart-ass" kids running off at the mouth. But, overall the movie is predictable and at times sophomoric. (But, this is a Will Ferrell movie). On, the up side you will enjoy the performances of Sacha Baron Cohen who plays a French gay man who tries to make Bobby's life miserable, and the performance of Gary Cole playing Bobby's drunken degenerate father.
I would rate it a six of ten using the same criteria outlined above.
On Monday night I saw "Little Miss Sunshine". It is underrated and was hilarious in some spots. I had heard it was a rip off of the "National Lampoon Vacation" series of movies but, it is at times much funnier. The movie is well written and well acted. Alan Arkin and Steve Carell turn in fine performances and newcomers Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin are endearing in their roles.
The movie is about a dysfunctional family traveling from New Mexico to California with a number of mishaps along the way. The movie also does a fine job of spoofing the "beauty pageant industry" and made me laugh out loud several times. It has been out on video for several weeks and is one of the better comedies I have seen in the past several months. On a scale of one to ten with one being the worst movie I have ever seen and ten being the best, I would rate "Little Miss Sunshine" an eight.
On Tuesday night, I picked up "Talladega Nights, The Legend of Ricky Bobby". I am a fan of Will Ferrell from his Saturday Night Live nights, but did not find the movie as good as hoped. There are several funny scenes of Ferrell saying grace at the dinner table and of his "smart-ass" kids running off at the mouth. But, overall the movie is predictable and at times sophomoric. (But, this is a Will Ferrell movie). On, the up side you will enjoy the performances of Sacha Baron Cohen who plays a French gay man who tries to make Bobby's life miserable, and the performance of Gary Cole playing Bobby's drunken degenerate father.
I would rate it a six of ten using the same criteria outlined above.
Keith Olberman Rocks
I saw this on the Internet earlier this evening. It is a commentary presented by Keith Olberman last week before President Bush's address to the nation on Iraq and his plan on how to win the war.
I have watched Olberman since his days at ESPN when he was arguably the best sports journalist in North America. Now he has moved on to a higher calling and is again among America's smartest and brightest journalists.
If you get the chance watch this video on YouTube. It is thought provoking to say the least. I have been supportive of the Bush administration's war, but this piece has me again examining what I really think of it.
I have watched Olberman since his days at ESPN when he was arguably the best sports journalist in North America. Now he has moved on to a higher calling and is again among America's smartest and brightest journalists.
If you get the chance watch this video on YouTube. It is thought provoking to say the least. I have been supportive of the Bush administration's war, but this piece has me again examining what I really think of it.
Lame, Very Lame
This past weekend two boys were discovered safe and sound in a crummy little apartment complex about two miles from my home. They had both been kidnapped by a weirdo who is now being held in lieu of one million dollars. I am sure you've heard the story repeatedly even if you are not in the St. Louis area. But, consider yourself fortunate if you are not in St. Louis and haven't had to listen to the lame ass reportage from the local TV stations, radio stations and local daily paper. All of the media I have seen or heard, have at one point or another engaged in speculation, editorialising while allegedly "reporting" the facts, and more hyperbole than you can image.
Now the local TV stations "news" departments are promising live coverage of the arraignment of the alleged kidnapper. I can hardly wait. (That's sarcasm if you can't tell). It should be interesting to see how they fill the time because in Missouri cameras are not allowed in the courtroom. It should be quite a spectacle. But, if you have listened to or viewed any media in the past week in this town that's about all you have had; a spectacle of incompetents trying to cover this "breaking story". Help Me. Please!!!
Now the local TV stations "news" departments are promising live coverage of the arraignment of the alleged kidnapper. I can hardly wait. (That's sarcasm if you can't tell). It should be interesting to see how they fill the time because in Missouri cameras are not allowed in the courtroom. It should be quite a spectacle. But, if you have listened to or viewed any media in the past week in this town that's about all you have had; a spectacle of incompetents trying to cover this "breaking story". Help Me. Please!!!
January 09, 2007
Hypocrites
The Baseball Writers Association of America today voted Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The honors are well deserved for both men, who I was fortunate enough to see play in person during the height of their careers. I also saw Mark McGwire play in person. But, the BBWAA did not see fit to put McGwire into the Hall.
The BBWAA members make their living by writing about the stars of the game. In 1998 when McGwire broke Roger Maris' single season home run mark, they mobbed the guy wherever he went. Many say he revived the game after the strike of 1994 and his home run battle with Sammy Sosa for National League supremacy brought thousands of fans back to the game. These same writers praised McGwire for his brilliant athletic feats and monstrous home-runs. They devoted pages of ink to his accomplishments in 1998 and for several years after that. But today these asses turned their back on him. Only 25 percent of these same writers thought he deserved to be in the Hall. What two faced hypocrites!
The same man they praised nine years ago was rejected by this group today. Why you ask? Well it appears to me the bottom line is these arrogant asses decided Mark's homers were tainted by steroids. I agree that steroids are a detriment to the game, but the substance McGwire openly admitted to taking was legal. So what's the problem BBWAA? Their problem is they are now holding players to a higher standard of conduct and have in some cases ignored the player's achievements. In this case they have found McGwire guilty without a judge, trial or jury. I heard one of these "experts" interviewed this afternoon. He claimed that McGwire was only "one dimensional". What??? Tony Gwynn made his living by being a single and doubles hitter (and one of the best I have ever seen). Isn't that a bit one dimensional?
McGwire hit 587 home runs, which when he was retired, was in the top ten of all players to ever put on a major league uniform. That number in itself is good for admission. But, these losers in the BBWAA don't want him in their club. With only 25 percent of the members voting for him this year it is doubtful he will ever make the Hall of Fame. And that is a shame. But, what's worse is these members of the writers group have put themselves above the game. And that is a bigger shame.
The BBWAA members make their living by writing about the stars of the game. In 1998 when McGwire broke Roger Maris' single season home run mark, they mobbed the guy wherever he went. Many say he revived the game after the strike of 1994 and his home run battle with Sammy Sosa for National League supremacy brought thousands of fans back to the game. These same writers praised McGwire for his brilliant athletic feats and monstrous home-runs. They devoted pages of ink to his accomplishments in 1998 and for several years after that. But today these asses turned their back on him. Only 25 percent of these same writers thought he deserved to be in the Hall. What two faced hypocrites!
The same man they praised nine years ago was rejected by this group today. Why you ask? Well it appears to me the bottom line is these arrogant asses decided Mark's homers were tainted by steroids. I agree that steroids are a detriment to the game, but the substance McGwire openly admitted to taking was legal. So what's the problem BBWAA? Their problem is they are now holding players to a higher standard of conduct and have in some cases ignored the player's achievements. In this case they have found McGwire guilty without a judge, trial or jury. I heard one of these "experts" interviewed this afternoon. He claimed that McGwire was only "one dimensional". What??? Tony Gwynn made his living by being a single and doubles hitter (and one of the best I have ever seen). Isn't that a bit one dimensional?
McGwire hit 587 home runs, which when he was retired, was in the top ten of all players to ever put on a major league uniform. That number in itself is good for admission. But, these losers in the BBWAA don't want him in their club. With only 25 percent of the members voting for him this year it is doubtful he will ever make the Hall of Fame. And that is a shame. But, what's worse is these members of the writers group have put themselves above the game. And that is a bigger shame.
January 04, 2007
Big Oil and Gasoline Prices
I'm not much for conspiracy theories but I heard this commentary on the way home from work the other night. The author is consumer advocate Jamie Court who is a contributor to the "Marketplace" program on American Public Media. Take a listen here and see what you think.
The Post-Dispatch Does It Again
Apparently the genius sports editors at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have lost what little brain power they may have had at one time. I am speaking of a decision by the paper's sports editor to put the Missouri Tiger basketball game story on page five of the sports section yesterday morning. The Tigers are now eleven and two and beat a better than average Mississippi State team that was in the Final Four just a few years ago.
Instead, the paper put a story about Wake Forest and Louisville football on the front page and another story about the St. Louis Blues there too. Just for the record and in case a Post manager reads this, there are more alumni of the University of Missouri - Columbia in Saint Louis than all other schools combined. They just don't get it. But, then many of them are carpet baggers who weren't good enough to make it when they all worked together at the Baltimore Sun.
And finally to top it off, Missouri winning at home against Mississippi State and being banned to page five is bad enough. But, this morning the paper's brilliant staff did put the University of Illinois game story on page one of the sports section, even though the readership is small in Illinois compared to the number of readers in Missouri. And Illinois lost to a mediocre Michigan team. It's enough to make you wonder what they do at that paper all evening.
Instead, the paper put a story about Wake Forest and Louisville football on the front page and another story about the St. Louis Blues there too. Just for the record and in case a Post manager reads this, there are more alumni of the University of Missouri - Columbia in Saint Louis than all other schools combined. They just don't get it. But, then many of them are carpet baggers who weren't good enough to make it when they all worked together at the Baltimore Sun.
And finally to top it off, Missouri winning at home against Mississippi State and being banned to page five is bad enough. But, this morning the paper's brilliant staff did put the University of Illinois game story on page one of the sports section, even though the readership is small in Illinois compared to the number of readers in Missouri. And Illinois lost to a mediocre Michigan team. It's enough to make you wonder what they do at that paper all evening.
January 02, 2007
Happy New Year
I hope you had a good and safe New Years Eve and Day. Mine was on the quiet side. In fact the highlight of the evening was watching the Packers and Bret Favre beat up on the Chicago Bears. Then watching Nevada nearly pull off the upset against the Miami Felons, er, Hurricanes. I was in bed by ten after midnight.
One of the highlights of New Year's Day was watching that Fiesta Bowl game. Wow!! It has to be one of the greatest football games, college or pro, I have ever seen. You have to hand it to the Boise State coaching staff; they have some balls. A couple of trick plays and a "Statue of Liberty" to win the game on a two point conversion. It was for lack of a better word..."awesome". And that's not to take anything away from Oklahoma which rallied back to take a lead with very little time left. As the old cliche goes..."It's too bad one of the teams had to lose because they both deserved to win". I think it will go down as one of the greatest ever played.
And then today it was back to work. It wasn't too bad, but I was thinking it's only 349 days until my next Christmas vacation. Let's see how tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that go, and well you get the idea.
Anyway, Happy New Year to you and yours and I hope it's your best ever and brings you happiness, health and wealth!
One of the highlights of New Year's Day was watching that Fiesta Bowl game. Wow!! It has to be one of the greatest football games, college or pro, I have ever seen. You have to hand it to the Boise State coaching staff; they have some balls. A couple of trick plays and a "Statue of Liberty" to win the game on a two point conversion. It was for lack of a better word..."awesome". And that's not to take anything away from Oklahoma which rallied back to take a lead with very little time left. As the old cliche goes..."It's too bad one of the teams had to lose because they both deserved to win". I think it will go down as one of the greatest ever played.
And then today it was back to work. It wasn't too bad, but I was thinking it's only 349 days until my next Christmas vacation. Let's see how tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that go, and well you get the idea.
Anyway, Happy New Year to you and yours and I hope it's your best ever and brings you happiness, health and wealth!
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