Have you seen these car window memorials? These are pretty popular here in NJ.
I’ll try to tread lightly on this topic because I realize 9/11 wasn’t too long ago and we are currently fighting 2 wars. And let’s face it – losing someone you love is very sad.
But your car window??? Is this really how someone should be remembered? Not to mention, why would you want to be reminded of such tragic things every time you get into your car?
About 3 weeks ago my wife and I stopped at a traffic light. I looked over at the white, mid 1990’s generic GM sedan next to us and saw a relatively young girl at the wheel, chain smoking away. I take a look at the back window and I saw one of these memorials, which read “R.I.P. John (Last Name Here) 1982 – 2007“.
What’s so funny about that? Well above his name was (apparently) his favorite quote, which read “ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE“.
Well Johnny, it seems fairly obvious that you weren’t strong enough to survive and this attention starved lady driving the car apparently wants the world to know it.
Folks, this is why we have cemeteries and tombstones… And please… PLEASE think hard about the words used to remember your loved ones.
Just a little advice the next time you replace or upgrade to a new iPod – get your name and number engraved on it.
I know you might be thinking of something clever since engraving is free, but here’s my advice – keep it simple. Your name and your number is all you need.
While traveling on vacation this past week, I had my “lost” iPod returned to me on the plane before I even knew it was lost. Apparently, while waiting for my flight at the gate, I either left it on the seat or dropped it while walking to board the plane.
An airline employee returned it to me on the plane as we were all boarding. And thank goodness! It was a four hour flight and they were showing “Marley and Me”, which I had seen on a previous flight 1 month earlier.
Oh, and that movie sucked.
I know I’m probably stating the obvious here, but now you have me as a living example. Besides, what else would you put there – “I Wanna Rock”, “Hang Loose”, “Keep on Truckin”, “It’s 4:20 Somewhere on the Planet” or “I Love Mom”?
I can not only say I know first hand what it’s like to be laid off, I’m living it right now. After years of wishing of being independently wealthy so I didn’t have to get up and go to work, I realize now that not having a reason to get up can be tougher than you think. Sure, at first it’s nice to be able to sleep in a little, brush up your resume, follow up on leads, take a nap! However, after a few weeks it can be challenging to stay motivated, and well, avoid boredom.
The foremost problem is that without a reason to get up, there ’s no reason to go to bed. Late night movies, TV, and informercials soon become a staple. As a result, of course, you start getting up later and later. Before you know it, you’re rolling out of bed at noon and watching court TV all day. This is not only unhealthy for your body, but it’s brutal on your spirit. Depression soon sets in and the will to be true to a job search soon waivers. To avoid these pitfalls, I offer the following advice:
1) Keep on schedule – I now make it a point to get up early. Of course, I’m not crazy, it’s no longer 5:30am, but it will be much easier to return to form when I do land a job. Pick a time that works for you and keep it consistant.
2) To do list – Just as you had a daily itenerary at work, put together a list of things you want to do for the day. This will not only keep you motivated to get things done, it will keep your mind and body busy. As much as we hate to admit it, our brains and bodies are made for work.
3) Pick up a new hobby – If you’re the type that thirsts to learn, trying something new will give you the mental focus and challenge you’re craving. It will stimulate your brain and revitalize your spirit. If nothing comes to mind, hit the local bookstore and do a little research.
4) Keep relaxation limited to the evening – Just as you did when you were working, save the evenings for time with your family or your favorite TV shows. What you want to avoid is sitting in front of the TV or Computer all day long so that you no longer appreciate it. Avoiding this tip is a quick way to find yourself completely bored and frustrated.
5) Exercise – How many times have you said that the main reason you don’t exercise is because you don’t have the time? Well, there goes your big excuse. I recommend doing it early. Not only does it get it out of the way, but it will get you revved up for the rest of the day. It’s difficult to get the hear pumping and then just sit down and veg.
So you know those elevated dog bowl trays you can get at any Petco or PetSmart that elevate dog bowls off the ground, so they do not have to bend over to eat off the floor? Well, we have one for our dog, Rocky.
Apparently these elevated trays are specifically designed to “promote better digestion” and “reduce air swallowing”. I assume reduced air swallowing is supposed to reduce dog farts, but no one has explained that to Rocky.
Anyway, when I feed Rocky, I usually put his water bowl in the left tray hole, and his food bowl in the right tray hole, as pictured here:
Rocky Eating Food
Last week, without realizing, I placed his water bowl on the right side of his tray and his food bowl on the left. I then proceeded to sit down at the kitchen table and chat with my wife. As we were talking, we were interrupted by a dog whine. We looked over to see him refusing to eat his food. He just stared at me. So I said, “Go ahead and eat, Rocky,” and resumed my conversation. As soon as I started talking, he whined again.
I got up and checked out his food bowl. Everything looked normal, so I once again encouraged him to eat with a pat on the head.
He just continued to stared at me and wagged his tail.
I was now perplexed. I asked my wife what she thought was wrong. She looked at the arrangement of his bowls and said, “Oh, maybe he’s upset because his bowls are out of place.”
My wife swaps his bowls, pats him on the head, and without hesitation, the dog proceeds to eat every bit of kibble.
What goes through a dog’s head that makes him NOT want to eat because his bowls are not in the “right” order? Do wolves only eat their kill on the right side of their favorite watering hole? Apparently, it doesn’t matter what they eat, as long as it is on the right hand side of a water source.
Anyway, I am now wondering what the marketplace demand is for Doggy Feng Shui? Hey don’t laugh. I now have doggy therapy to pay for!
From the title of this post, I guess you can tell I’m in a silly mood, and feel like writing something. So I’m gonna write something.
Something.
OK who didn’t see that coming.
Anyway, I know we’re only 7 days into the new year (8 if you live in Australia), but I thought I’d share some observations and goofiness from the past 7 days… or whatever.
Namaste, Bitches!
I just finished doing yoga 30 minutes before I started writing this post. This is my 3rd session in the past 7 days. This is not necessarily a new year resolution – I started doing Yoga in 2008.
I Love Yoga. I really do. Now, if you know me, grew up with me, ever hung out with me or just saw me, you’d say, “There’s no way this bearded Ogre does Yoga.” Well, F you. I do. And I like it. However, my biggest challenge getting in Yoga workouts these days is this “lifestyle imbalance” I have.
Due to my huge daily work commute, I have to get up at 5:10 AM every morning. But by nature, I’m a night owl. I love the night! I like the dark, I like late night TV (Adult Swim!), I like to watch stars, planets and the moon, and I like the serenity of the world at night. It’s nice. But the downside is staying up late means waking up late, which I can’t do. But, I can’t get to bed early. Therefore, every day of my life, I never get enough sleep. I know, you’re thinking, “well what about the weekends?” Well, unfortunately, getting up at 5:10 and getting the dog fed and taken out by 6:30 4 or 5 work days a week means that my buddy has to wake my ass up no later than 7AM on the weekends. Ugh!
But who can get mad at this face:
But seriously, guys, it is a great way to lose weight, feel youthful, increase flexibility, reduce chronic body aches, and reduce stress. And it’s very low impact on joints. Take it from a guy who has had 3 knee surgeries on 1 knee, and is going to probably need a fourth this year. Yoga actually helps reduce my arthritis pain.
Ben Stiller. Please go Away….
I saw Tropic Thunder 2 nights ago, and I can’t describe, from a comedic perspective, how weird this movie was. Parts of it were hilarious. Parts of it were awful. Tom Cruise was funny, only because this was the last friggin character anyone would ever envision him playing. Robert Downey, Jr was friggin hilarious in this movie, which goes to show how versatile he is. Jack Black was funny, but there really wasn’t much to him in this movie, other than some funny fart scenes and a humorous portrayal of a coke head. Thumbs in the middle for him.
Which now brings me to Ben Stiller. Why doesn’t he just go away? I can’t stand this guy playing the same whiny, bitch of a character in every fucking movie he does, while he uses the same 3 facial expressions in all his scenes. I just don’t think he’s funny.
To Blu-ray, or not Blu-ray?
So, I’m thinking about updating my entertainment system later on this year, and I’m wondering if should I just get a new DVD player or should I finally jump on that realllllllly slow moving Blu-ray train? Any thoughts?…..Any one?……..Bueller? I know that if I decide a BR player is essential, then I will get a Sony PS3. I don’t really need it for gaming, since I already xBox 360, but considering the price of a good BR player vs the Sony PS3, the PS3 is a greater value. At least it was a year ago.
Obama worse President-Elect EVER!
I keep seeing people on the internets making these anti-Obama comments, like his administration (which isn’t even in power yet) will be one that creates American Socialism and that Obama is going to redistribute wealth.
Well, what about the “Wealth” of our nation being stolen from US tax payers in the form of trillions of dollars in bail outs to banks and car companies under GW’s administration? Instead of “Obama’s Redistribution of Wealth” plan, I think it would be more appropriate to call it a “Return on a Forced Investment in Corporate America” plan.
But I can see why you’d be pissed if you make more than $150K a year. Your tax rate will return to the same levels under Clinton’s Administration, which also happened to yield 8 years of prosperity and a government surplus. Man that sounds rough after 8 years of all those dividend tax brakes from Bush. Sucks to be that guy, huh?
I’m the responsible one. I’m not the classic underachiever or quintessential slacker. I don’t skirt my duties, nor do I underestimate the importance of the little things in life. So, when it came to the question of ‘do I enroll in cobra insurance’ after getting laid off in November, the answer was unequivocally yes!
This resounding answer was coming from someone that can count on one hand how many times he’s visited a Doctor in the past decade. Still, I’m smart enough to know that sometimes things just happen and one stroke of bad luck can drown you in hospital bills.
After being laid off in Mid November and realizing that there wouldn’t be much available by way of work until after the New Year, I decided to take some much deserved time to myself and visit family in Florida. My plan was to fly home on January 1st, a day after my insurance lapsed and immediately enroll. Now, as I said, I never doubted that I’d enroll, I didn’t want to ever spend a day without coverage, but since I was away I figured I’d be okay with a day or two in between. What could possibly happen.
Enter Murphy’s law. On January 2nd, just 2 days after my coverage lapsed and still not in receipt of the Cobra package, I threw my back out. This wasn’t new to me, I’ve had recurring problems for awhile. While it can be quite debilitating, it didn’t normally require much more than bed rest. However, as only my bad luck could have it, I started experiencing the most excruciatingly painful back spasms. I’ve never had them before, I was completely unprepared for the intensity. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what was going on, it was unlike anything in the past. After a few moments of screaming like a school girl, I had to break down and call 911.
The absolutely irony of being covered by insurance literally my entire life and having to be rushed to the hospital in one of only two days without coverage just seems like a cosmic conspiracy.
I can’t even say this post should be a lessoned learned. Anyone who turns down Cobra coverage is playing with fire. No, this little story is more about how life loves to slip in a nice kick in the proverbial nuts once in a while.
With the heated presidential race behind us and the hopes, dreams, and optimism of the new Administration ahead of us, I had a moment this morning to reflect on recent events. There were countless arguments about Sarah Palin’s negative affect on Senator John McCain’s campaign, however, there is one very important upside to McCain’s choice of running mates:
Tina Fey’s impersonation! Am I alone in thinking she looks really HOT ‘in character’ or have I finally matured into a full-on Dirty old man?
I found this interesting article on Vehix.com which goes on about why great small cars aren’t available in the US. The author blames the “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) among others for creating very stringent guidelines for these manufacturers to even consider bringing these vehicles to our country.”
I admit there are some pretty interesting vehicles mentioned in this article, such as a diesel Cooper Mini getting 60 miles to the gallon, or the Ford Ka, which gets 40 miles per gallon and is one of the most popular cars in both Europe and South America.
Ford Ka
All this being said, I have to ask one thing – What about the demand for such vehicles?
I’m on the road a lot. My daily commute to work is 75 miles each way (yep, that’s 150 miles a day). I drive 2 four cylinder vehicles that get pretty decent mileage, but nothing close to 60 miles (or even 30 for that matter). One thing I’ve observed in these daily commutes over the past 6 years is that no one seems to be in a hurry to get rid of their SUV’s, not even when gas prices were over $4 a gallon.
Honestly, I would LOVE to see less SUV’s on the road, as my commuting experience these past 6 years leads me to believe that very few people who own SUV’s actually know how to drive them. I don’t think people who drive these things really comprehend the potential harm they can do in moderate-to-high speed collisions. I see reckless driving of SUV’s EVERY DAY on the Garden State Parkway, and for the weekly 4 or 5 traffic jams I get stuck in, most of the accidents usually involve at least 1 SUV.
Also, performance is another thing. As I stated in one of my previous posts, it’s all good and well to get 30, 40 or 60 miles a gallon, but if it takes me 17 seconds to get up to 55 or 65 miles an hour, well, that’s just not going to work! While I’m a big muscle car and tuner fan, I’m totally willing to see the 454, 350 small block or even the 4 cylinder boxers with turbo go the way of the dinosaur, assuming I can still get a decent quarter mile and 0 – 60 out of an electric/hydrogen/hybrid powered vehicle. Maybe something like this:
the ale
Anyway, here’s that article. Enjoy!
Why Americans Can’t Get Their Hands on Great Small Cars
by Nathan Adlen
9/17/2008
BMW’s Mini builds the Mini Cooper D, one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world. It has a 1.6-liter, 110-horsepower (with 240 lbs feet of torque) diesel engine that is capable of getting well over 60 miles per gallon (about 80 mpg has been recorded with the manual transmission). In any guise, the Mini Cooper is one of the best handling vehicles you can buy. The Mini Cooper Diesel still has amazing handling like other Minis and is available in several configurations (convertible and larger Clubman), but it is not available in the United States.
Ford has been building the Ka for over 12 years. It is an extremely efficient design and gets remarkable mileage while still being entertaining to drive. It is handsome with a considerable amount of comfort and utility for its size. Over 40 mpg (combined) and great driving dynamics are but a few of its attributes. Despite its age, the Ford Ka is considered one of the most popular cars in Europe and South America. The Ford Ka is not available for sale in the United States.
The United States is prohibited from having hundreds of great small cars. Why?
We can thank our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) among others for creating very stringent guidelines for these manufacturers to even consider bringing these vehicles to our country. European standards are a tad looser than ours, thus making it easier for cars like these to be deemed safe for public consumption.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has excellent standards shared with several nations worldwide to regulate equipment on cars in order to facilitate trade of vehicles. The United States is not part of the UNECE and has very different standards – some experts say it is a deliberate ploy by our government to keep imports from dominating our market. Our current standards prohibit many of these small vehicles from being imported without costly revisions. Even our own automakers have to jump through hoops in order to get foreign built cars (even under their own company name) into the United States.
The question should be: How can we get the cars to be accepted into the United States sooner rather than later? And what are American-based vehicle manufacturers like Ford and General Motors doing about it?
General Motors has proved that with minor alterations popular sellers in Europe can be brought to the United States rapidly. The Saturn Astra is based on the European Opel/ Vauxhall model that has proven popular there. Sensing a hole in the American market, General Motors wisely “Americanized” the Astra and brought it to market quick enough to replace the void left by the rather unloved Saturn Ion.
Ford is on the fast track too. Several Ford cars are cutting through the red tape to a speedy production. The new Fiesta will be based on the (well received) new Mazda 2 (Ford is Mazda’s parent company). Hoping to make up for dreadful truck sales and keeping our market flush with new small cars and trucks, it is expected that Ford will bring several economical import vehicles to our shores soon.
There is a “business” reason that more platforms are not shared with other countries which consumers may not be fully aware of. Vehicles are often built for the consumer needs of that region. A Chevrolet Suburban would not be ideal for the narrow garages of Tokyo or the cobblestone roads of old Europe. The Renault Twingo and Mitsubishi ‘I’ would not fare well on our large highways and American style traffic.
Also, consider that a very high portion of Americans still drive two to three ton pickup trucks, SUVs and vans which would boot these wee little cars as easily as Beckham kicks a ball (despite good crash test results – physics works in greater mass’ favor). Having compact vehicles in America is nothing new and can be popular to some, but up until now, these owners were a minority.
The runaway success of the Mini and Smart brands in our country has proven that we are accepting of small cars and may even embrace them. The little Toyota Prius with Honda’s Fit and Civic (and many other’s) popularity should serve as a lightning rod to our newly aroused appetite for fuel sippers.
Within the next few years, several automakers will spring new models onto our shores – it is inevitable. The question now becomes: What do these future, smaller new models have that is so special? What vehicles will be worth the extra expense of licensing with our government’s agencies?
We will know very soon. There are some fantastic machines just waiting to win your hearts and they are closer than ever – stayed tuned for more!
When asked ‘what’s in a hot dog?’, many of us Gen Xer’s might jokingly answer with ‘Lips and Assholes’. I’m, of course, referring to the line from the John Candy/Dan Ackroyd cult classic ‘The Great Outdoors’. Surprisingly, though, most of us don’t have a clue what goes into the summer BBQ staple. I’m pretty sure we know it’s not the best part of the pig, but we’re willing to turn the other cheek – Which might end up being a relative term.
Click here to learn more about the composition and the latest commercial that links it to cancer.
