Timmyopolis

Valentine Messages

2010-03-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

I know, Valentines is long gone but thought I would share this anyway...

So, most of you have heard of all the new messages you see on the heart candy. Things like "Tweet Me" or "Fax Me"... whatever.

But, have you actually seen them on the heart candy? The kids have a bag of this stuff so I decide to randomly go through the bag and pick one heart of every color to see what messages were printed on them. This was the result.

It appears they decided to eliminate the 'Quality' and the 'Control' out of Quality Control.

Olympic Time Zone Rant

2010-02-26T17:15:00.000-08:00

So, last I checked Vancouver is on the West coast of North America. Also, I believe Vancouver is on Pacific Standard Time. So, why is every Olympic event mentioned in Eastern Standard Time?!!!

Because the East coast folk are incapable of adding three hours to the PST times, we get the luxury of making time zone adjustments for events that are happening in our time zone.

I hate the East Coast!!!

Classic Hanna Barbera

2010-02-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Everyone, regardless of age, seems to know the Flinstones, Jetsons, Tom and Jerry, and even the Flippin Smurfs. But there are a lot of classic cartoons by the Hanna Barbera duo that stand out as great cartoons back in my day:

Yogi Bear
Snagglepuss
Touche Turtle
Wally Gator
Pixie and Dixie
Lippy the Lion (and Hardy har har)
Huckleberry Hound
Etc.

Does anyone remember these cartoons?

What comes after 10?

2010-02-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

Something is wrong after the number 10 but I cannot put my finger on it...... Hmmmmm

Reasons for this mistake:

1) Production Mistake
2) Assembly Error
3) Cost Savings

My vote is #3. It just takes too much darn time and $$ to silk screen an 11 and a 12 when we have so many 1s and 2s.

Sorry kids. Sometimes the Adults need to make big people decisions. You will understand in about 10 or 1 years from now.

Superbowl Party Ideas

2010-02-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

Having a Superbowl party? Or perhaps you are going to one this weekend. One always hopes for a good game along with unique commercials from the creative advertising minds of our generation. Oh yeah, hanging out with friends and eating food, too. Speaking of food, The Foodday in the Oregonian had 'interesting' food options for your Party. Grant Butler of the Oregonian wrote:

"The Super Bowl is the ultimate football smackdown, and it deserves a buffet that's got just as much muscle as a linebacker. "

Wow, sounds good, right? Well, something goes awry when you see what he has in store for "The big game":

Grilled Garlic and Orange Guacamole

Mediterranean Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Indian-spiced Meatballs

Oregon Dungeness Crab Chowder

Ummmmmmm...... No.

Goin' outta Bizness - Rant

2010-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered why there are so many furniture stores going out of business? Is it the bad economy, perhaps? Hmmmm... Possibly. However, let me plant a thought.... could it be because the furniture they sell absolutely sucks? There are furniture stores everywhere that are willing to sell you velvet diamond tuck couches, Dressers with engraved geese pulling ribbons, Chairs and Tables that rival Corinthian Columns of the Pantheon. But they end up going out of business. WHY are these stores so fixed on selling this crap? And expensive too! Heck, Ikea sells crap too but its at least what people want to buy. Then, to top it off these stores stay open for months during the going out of business cycle pumping in things beyond furniture and into Baskets, Tools, Kitchen Appliances, Hardwood flooring, etc. It all makes sense. I, for one plan to head out and pick up a couch system that has built in TV dinner trays, phone Jacks, and a flip-up armrest with a cooler. AND, while I am at it, take advantage of the great prices on the 10 Piece BBQ grill utensil set.

New World Pirate Ships

2010-02-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a stern shot of a Pirate ship we went on over Christmas in Cabo. The shot was taken from the bathroom Porthole on the ship. The picture sucks but take a look at the cords. Yup, the lamps are plugged into your standard household outlets. And it was soaking wet. Pirates can sure be handy when they need to be. And safe too! If my blackberry could take better pictures, I would say it would qualify for a thereifixedit slot.

Gummy Wheres

2010-02-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

Happily eating a bag of Gummy Bears and I take a look at the back of the packaging. First thing I see..... "PRODUCT OF CHINA, USA, OR MEXICO". How does that work? Seems like if this was allowed you would see a lot more of these statements instead of the plain old, 'Made in China' stamp.

How about "Made in USA, Germany, Switzerland, England, France, Canada, Australia, or China"?

7-11 Getting Tough on Customers

2010-02-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

I'm Back....

Have you ever nonchalantly waltzed on into a 7-11 to make a purchase? Do you have ANY idea of the rules and regulations that must be adhered to in order for you to be able to enter and make a purchase? Click on the picture or read below:

Must be 0ver 18 to buy Tobacco
It is Illegal to buy Tobacco for Minors
Shirts are Required
Shoes are Required
Smoking is not allowed
Remove Hood when Entering Store
No Pets except for Service Pets
No Restrooms for you
We have the Right to Refuse service to Anyone
No Loitering
No Pan Handling

Please make note of this going forward.

Barnes and Noble

2009-10-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

I hate this place. Why? All those flippin' questions they ask just to buy a 6 dollar book. Yesterday, I bought Alice in Wonderland. Never read the book and thought, what the hey, something different. Price was 6 bucks. Here is the list of questions from the cashier:

How are you today?
Did you find everything OK?
Do you have a membership?
Would you like a membership? You will save 10% on this purchase
The holidays are coming soon are you sure you do not want to become a member?
Would you like to buy a Gift Card today?
If you buy a gift card along with a membership you can get additional savings. Are you sure?
Would you like to give me your email address so we can send you valuable coupons?
Are you sure? The savings can be substantial
Would you like a receipt?
Just to let you know, you can come back with your receipt within 30 days if you change your mind about the membership. Are you sure you don't want a receipt?
Would you like a bag?

The best part was after all this was done, she sighs and says "People just don't get the fact that this membership lasts for the whole year". Wow, did I ever blow it.

Mental note: Plan Book reading list better so I don't have to go to Barnes and Nobel again. Order through Amazon.

Open Road

2009-10-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of respect for this guy. First of all, is it really so bad to hop in a camper and head on the open road? Free from work and the day to day crap that we all have to deal with so we can conform to the norms of society? Now, top that off with a make-shift storage shed on top of the camper and BAM! A true home on the open road.

Sign Alignment

2009-10-07T11:43:00.001-07:00

This is not a very big deal but it bugs me and therefore, must be posted. The Rock Creek Corner as it is now called is located on the corner of West Union and 185th in Portland. They recently re-sided the place and even put rustic metal awnings to portray a more, well, rustic theme. Here is the part that bugs me.... Along the roof line, Notice that the center of the two sides have a "step up" of the siding. (Click the picture for better view) Isn't THAT where you want to have your sign? That is what they did back in the old west. Anyway, for some reason they did not do this and to me it looks wrong. Therefore, it is wrong.

Good Pizza, though.

Swedish Fish

2009-10-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

You all know the Candy. Basically, a Gummy Bear shaped like a fish with a unique flavor.

Guess what? I developed a cocktail called a Swedish fish and it tastes darn close to the real thing....

Ingredients:

Vitamin Water - XXX Flavor
Vodka

Mix to your liking. And Yes, XXX is an actual flavor of Vitamin Water.

I made the drink but I must give recognition to Kara for tasting it and coming up with the name. Thanks, Kara.

MTV

2009-10-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember the days when MTV played Music videos? How about the days that were absent of 15 minute commercial segments?

EVERY time I turn to MTV 90% of the time a commercial is playing. The other 10% is some reality show that I have never heard of.

I have another question. Does anyone even watch MTV anymore?

What does 'M' stand for in MTV?

Is the Wii Recession Proof?

2009-09-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Nope. Sales are down 30%. Still, the Wii is kicking tail over the 360 and the PS3.

But, if you are one of the 50 or 60 people in the western world that does not have one yet, good news. The Wii dropped in price 50 clams. $199 is the new price. Bad news for Europe though. The prices are staying right where they are in the EC.

Diversity

2009-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Some of you closed minded people seem to have limited breadth of the definition of diversity. Please, lets all band together and celebrate all of the forgotten forms of diversity.

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com

Eco-Sustainable Green

2009-09-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Please don't get me wrong with this rant. The human world is a wasteful polluting bunch that will tear up this planet if steady improvements are not made. I applaud the people that are making technological and lifestyle improvements.

But, I am getting pretty tired of seeing 'Eco' or 'Sustainable' or 'Green' EVERYWHERE. It is losing its value. doing a search on Google on the word "ECO" popped up an ECO web domain, ECO Mall, ECO Gifts, ECO Warriors, ECO Chess, ECO Card, ECO Marathon, ECO Lips, .... The word Eco or green has become such a big thing that it really does not ring home that much anymore. Can anyone say Overloaded Phrase?

History of Eco and Green word use:

1) Intial Use

"Wonder what this is all about. Why do I care?"

2) Actual Products

"Pretty cool stuff but not at that price and it looks difficult. Lets go to Walmart"

3) Proliferation

"That is made from Bamboo? That's cool and it looks great. Lets get it"

4) Mainstream

"Lets consider the Eco-options first. It is worth it"

5) Today

"Eco? Who isn't Eco Friendly? Take a product and slap a Green Sticker on it. Let's go to Walmart"

Sigh

Word Acronyms

2009-09-23T20:30:00.001-07:00

You know what I am talking about. You take a word and take each letter of that word to for start another word to form 'key' words or mission statements, or goals or whatever. For some reason, people think that this clever play on words inspire people. I have yet to find one of any use. But that is my opinion. Here are some examples:

Safety
Tenacity
Unsurpassed Quality
Perfection
Idealism
Dependable
.
or
.
Suck up
Tacky
Unicorn
Petty
Ignorance
Defiant
.
Either way, It's Stupid.

Nerd Alert!

2009-09-21T17:26:00.001-07:00

Perhaps my title is a little harsh. Sure, Lego robotics for adults are for nerds. And yes, you all should be alerted of this information. But the excalmation point in the title went too far.

These people are not our future... They are our Now and should be treated with respect. I bet security for these types of events is really tight.

Metric Rant

2009-09-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, Now for my Metric vs "Standard" Rant....

But, before we get started, check this picture out. I did a search on the web for a picture of 'metric' and this is what popped up. It is the band, Metric. Take a look at her arm swing. Nearly a meter long. And she is super skinny. Say 48kg?

Either way, you can bet she is not swinging her arm the length of a yard and she certainly does not weigh 110 pounds.

OK enough about this band called Metric that I have never heard of. My only tip is that she needs to motivate the rest of the band. They look lazy.

Standard:

12 inches = 1 foot

3 feet = 1 Yard

5280 feet = 1 mile

Metric:

10 mm = 1 cm

100 cm = 1 meter

1000 m = 1 km

Which one makes sense to you? Not convinced Metric is the right way to go? How about this:

Standard:

8 oz = cup

2 cups = pint

2 pints = quart

4 quarts= gallon or 128 oz

Metric

1000 ml = Liter

Why do we not Change?!? This is absolutely stupid that the US will not change. The only reason I can figure is that we are lazy. We tried sometime back with transitioning miles to km and everyone had a problem. WTF?

Timmy's Theorem of Strip Mall Restaurant Success....

2009-09-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

This Theorem is another simple one and states:

A Strip Mall Restaurant that adds a Soda refill price to the Soda fountain will inevitably go out of business.

Lets explore this a little, shall we? We live in a country where inexpensive fast food with large portions rule. Chains like McDonald's, Carl's, Burger King.... meet that criteria. Guess what.... how much do they charge for refills? Exactly. A strip mall restaurant is challenged to compete with these chains and stay profitable. So, they attempt to recover some costs by doing this refill thing. But, here is the problem which seems to doom these strip mall eateries:

Restaurant owner: "Wow, we are losing money.... We need to charge for refills"

Time Passes...

Restaurant owner: "Wow, the refill charging is not working. We need to raise the prices"

Time Passes....

Restaurant owner: "Wow, the price raising is still not working AND less people are coming in. We need to decrease the portions"

Time Passes.....

Credit Corporation: "You have 30 days to leave the premises"

Quantity people... Not Quality.

50k

2009-09-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Well, the ol' Dodge truck just crossed over the 50,000 mile mark (80,000 km for the rest of the world. Don't get me started on my rant why the US is not metric!). Anyway, this 2004 Dodge Ram has been very good to me. It tows ATVs and Dirtbikes, our camper for the family outings and has hauled millions of things including baseball equipment, fridges, chicken coop Lumber and the million trips to Home Depot.

So, what did I do to repay her? I just dropped a hair under 1700 bucks for new tires and brakes.

Happy 50k old friend!

WTC

2009-09-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

In this case, WTC = White Trash Camping. However, It officially was not WTC because not all of us are considered "White". I think I should call it DTC (Diverse Trash Camping). Anyway, I digress. Back to the "Trash" component.... Here is Brad camping with us in the woods of Scappoose and Vernonia (Location not to be revealed). Brad decides it is much more comfortable to sit by the campfire in his seat from the minivan. That is definately a trash first in my book. Well done, Brad!

Coke vs Pepsi

2009-09-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

I have done some extensive research regarding the Coke vs Pepsi debate. That means I drank a Pepsi the other day. Lets face it, Regular or Diet.... Pepsi just plain sucks.

Aviation Sink

2009-09-08T15:05:00.001-07:00

Had a great vacation with 3 other families at Sunriver during the labor day holiday. Nice, large home. Pool table. Bunk house for the kids, separate apartment for us people who do not always appreciate the 6am dance recitals (actually I love them but at 9am), Big flat screen to watch certain Oregon players go on a rampage and punch a Boise St player, etc. etc. A great time. Take note of the sink in the main house. I took a look at this thing and immediately went searching for a manual or any indication that one must be licensed to operate it. However, after a few hours of studying it, I found out that all it does is put water into the sink.

Surf's up

2009-09-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

Lookie here. Shot of my oldest boy surfing at Sunriver, OR. He took a couple of hard head pops but he finally got it. Most people do the boogie board. The braver go with the surfboard. The coolest, like me sits back and watches the excitement.

How was your weekend?

2009-08-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

How was mine you ask? Busy. My youngest son played his first (exhibition) football game. That was pretty cool. He is in 5th grade and most of the kids have already played multiple years so he has some ramping up to do. But I think he did well. Could not make it to the Rose Garden for UFC 102 but managed to get about 5 or 6 people over to watch it on PPV. Most of us were Bachelors due to the Portland to Coast so we also have about 10 kids running around the yard. If anyone watched the event would of seen a knock out in 7 seconds. Dang! Fastest knockout in UFC history. Later in the evening, only 3 of my 4 chickens made it home. All the kids were concerned and they all got flashlights and started the search through the woods and in the neighbor's yards but with no luck. After an hour or so of looking we assumed that Popcorn (Seen here) is most likely in a tree roosting or in a briar patch hiding out. Sure enough, the next morning, Popcorn was waiting to get into the coop with the other ladies. Glad she was OK. Coyotes are roaming nearby lately.

Truth

2009-08-28T13:52:00.001-07:00

To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And, at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between, plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing". This is truth, to me.

-Jack Handey

Praying for the Mantis

2009-08-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Look what I found on a concrete wall this morning. I am pretty darn sure that this is a praying Mantis. I have lived in Oregon most of my life and have NEVER seen one of these around here. Did a little search on the web and it appears that they do make an appearance up in these parts. I thought these things live in the more tropical, warmer climates. Which brings me to Global warming. It is predicted that the Praying Mantis will be calling Alaska and Greenland their home by November. The prediction is coming from me and can be considered highly accurate and reliable.

Free Money

2009-08-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hey, I am sure all of you have had the pleasant moment when you put on a jacket and find a 5 dollar bill or putting on a pair of jeans and finding a 10 spot in the pocket. Well, How about looking through our mini camera bag and finding a 100 dollar bill in one of the pockets?!! Yup. That is exactly what happened to me last night! Patty is trying to take it from me but NO WAY. This baby is mine. We have no Idea how it got in there. Perhaps, emergency money when we went to Costa Rica? Don't know and Don't Care. Bad news is that I owe my Pops 140 bucks so this elated feeling of wealth is soon to be diminished. Thanks for nothing, Dad!!

Rumble in the Garden...

2009-08-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I am not too sure how many of you like UFC. I am guessing not many but if you like it and you are not aware... A serious bout is 'bout to go down in the Rose Garden this Saturday. Couture, Silva, Nogueira, Jardine are not chumps you can pass off as some exhibition show that happened to pass by PDX. This is the big time and they don't come around often. So, if you are into this, it is worth heading to the Rose Garden this Saturday for the show. Should warn you though that the cheap seats are around 100 smacks and go up to about $1500 per seat. Don't worry though, the 1500 dollar seats are sold out. Pay per view will also have this for around $70 bucks but there is nothing like being there to watch the 'Interesting' people and not to mention the 5 or 10 fights that will happen in the crowd. Primal Entertainment at its best!

Smile

2009-08-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

Say Cheese!

I am getting close

2009-08-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Well, Looking that the pictures, I am not at the level of Chihuly with his amazing Glass works like the flower you see here. But, you have to admit, I am pretty darn close! I took two Corona Bottles and using the Campfire at Beverly Beach (With Ken, Patty, and Sungwha) I made a make shift kiln. I managed to get one bottle twisted and warped while the blob you see is an entire Corona bottle folded into a rock looking thing. You have to admit.... I am definitely on my way to glass works stardom. Please no order requests at this point in time.

Gotta get one....

2009-08-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Everytime I visit India, I fall in love with these things. The Auto Rickshaw. Basic Taxi transportation that is suprisingly effective in the traffic congestion cities like Bangalore deal with daily. The real heros are the drivers of these wonderous vehicles. They manage to squeeze the units in places thought completely un-passable.

Anyway, these 2 stroke beauties complete with everything run around 78,000 Rupees or about $1500 US. However, you cannot get them in the US because they do not meet Street Legal requirements. If ANYONE knows how to get one in the US at that price, please let me know.

Do the Dew....

2009-08-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Anyone make it to the Dew Tour in Portland last weekend? The Portland Stop is the Wendy's Invitational. The top BMX, Skateboarding, and Freestyle Motocrossers compete for $$ and sponsorships. They hold the events in the Rose Garden, Memorial Coliseum, and an additional Stadium they set up for outdoor events. Funny thing is that the kids are almost more interested in the exhibit booths that are held on the complex. Wendys had Free Burgers and Frosties, Unlimited Mt Dew, All the Playstation3 playing you can handle. Mini Skateboard Park, Place to ride Yamaha Motorcycles, Nerf Gun competition arena complete with refs and scorekeepers, All the slim Jims one could eat, and a ton of freebies from Toyota, Verizon, Radio Stations, Dickies, Sony, etc. etc. 5 bucks for the kids and 15 for adults. Even if you don't care about the sporting events, the Exhibits are worth a day with the kids. It is definitely safe and kid friendly. The Tour makes pretty darn sure of it. Get to it next year.

Oh Deer!

2009-08-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

7 of them. Side of the house. Note the fear in them as they saunter off at their own leisurely pace.

Wednesday

2009-08-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Hump day! (snicker, snicker) Sort of lines up with a previous posting today, eh?

Engine what?

2009-08-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Train set with "Engine Recognition Technology"? This sounds pretty important. Hurry to kids.woot.com today before they sell out!

(Remember to click the picture if it is hard to read)

Why not, it's Free!

2009-08-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

Taken by Julie's Mom on the way to a Mariner's game.

Petting Zoo

2009-08-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Look at my boy enjoying the petting Zoo. Awww, isn't that sweet? Wait a minute, this is not a petting zoo, this is Nehalem Bay Campground! Turns out that Mama lost her baby. And this little thing would follow and snuggle up to anything it saw. We contacted Fish and Wildlife and they told us there is nothing they could do. BUT, they also said that the deer are very tame in the State park and Mama will eventually find this fella. Well, this little guy eventually took off but came back again at night. Sad. But it took off again later calling into the woods and it never came back. Seeing that predators are non-existent in the park, I am going to assume he found Mama.

Phallic protection

2009-08-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Something just ain't right here.

Full

2009-08-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

The Pooper is full.

Sayonora Sparks

2009-08-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Sparks is out. Like I said in a previous post, Miller brewing decided to pull out the caffeine and the other energy drink components from their Sparks drink beverage.

Enter 'Four Loko'. 24 oz, 11.5%, packed with Caffeine, Taurine, Guarana, and other energy items. This is like 4 beers and 2 energy drinks in one. They managed to do it all without sacrificing anything except for taste. This stuff comes in four flavors including watermelon and grape but it takes some serious getting used to.

So, if you need to have a heart attack fast and taste is not a concern, Four Loko is for you!

Happy Friday

2009-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Yup.... It is Friday.

Hello

2009-08-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

Beijing McD's. Why is the lady waving at me? Does she want to take my order? Does she want to welcome me to China? Nope. "No Pictures Please".

WT Camping...

2009-08-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting sight.... Ken and Pete chillin' at our camp site in Bend. What are they doing you ask? Look closely. Ken is holding a string that is attached to a stick in the BBQ. If you look below the grill you will see a chipmunk climbing up to the BBQ. Yup, they are Chipmunk hunting. And Yup again, we caught em. We caught a bunch of them to be honest. Now, the big question.... Did we eat them? Nope. We opened up the grill and let them go. We did this for a few hours and the chipmunks soon realized we were not a threat so when we caught one and opened up the BBQ, they would stay there and continue to eat the bait. WT Camping at its best.

No Idea...

2009-08-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

This was taken in Scappoose. Ken actually noticed this and said "Hey Idiot, here is something for your blog". So I took it and here it is. Absolutely no Idea what it is about but let your mind wander. The fact that someone actually went to a banner store and said "We need a large sign that says "WE BEND"" tells me that there is something of critical importance here.

Happy Tuesday...

2009-08-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Ralphie

2009-07-31T19:17:00.001-07:00

Not sure if I have already posted this or not but who cares. Here is to the best Ralphie imitation out there. Thanks, Miles!

I am not sure I can agree with this...

2009-07-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

But, who am I to argue? Being different is what makes the world go round.

Taken at the 7-11 on Saltzman and Cornell.

BTW, what would of happened if the 9-11 disaster happend on 7-11? Do you think the convenience store would change it's name? Or, do you think the media would of called it something else because of the situation?

Beijing Olympics

2009-07-26T03:39:00.001-07:00

Here I am at the Water Cube and the Birds nest. Michael Phelps won 7 Gs here. I was amazed that for about 5 or 6 bucks for each place you can go in and look around. The real amazing part is that they bring in thousands upon thousands of people into the stadium and the cube every day. The entire olympic park felt like Disneyland on Spring break. This is some serious bling to have people come in and look around.

Sky Suites

2009-07-26T03:27:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are Jumbo Jet Enthusiats, I saw this beauty at the Singapore Airport. The MD380. Never got a chance to fly on it but dang is this things ever sweet looking.

The front part of the first floor contains 12 Sky Suites. What is a Sky Suite you ask? It is a private room that contains a fully reclining seat and a separate bed along with another chair so you can have dinner together with another Sky suite guest. Large Flat screen TV and the ability to completely close the door. I bet these are really popular as I bet the biggest complaint with the international first class clientele is that they had to get up so the staff can convert their large oversized chairs into beds. What a pain. Now they can just get up from their oversized chair and lay down. I have bypassed this problem altogether by strictly travelling in Cattle class. Cost for a sky suite? I just priced it online and got a price from Singapore to LAX at $28,000. They don't get to LA any faster but I bet it sure feels good.

Are you kidding me?

2009-07-26T03:17:00.000-07:00

Here is something I found in the A&E (Oregonian) a few weeks back. In case you cannot read this:

"Bring in your current unemployment check stub for sales associate to verify and receive 10% off your purchase."

I think the add speaks for itself

What day is it in China?

2009-07-26T03:12:00.001-07:00

Ever been to a foreign country and did not know what day it is? Well, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing, they have solved this problem. Every day, someone goes and changes the carpet in all 16 elevators with the day of the week displayed. Now that is all class!

Anti-Blogging

2009-07-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been in China for about a week and had every intention of keeping Timmyopolis updated. So, I head into blogspot to put in my entries and and cannot get in. Hmmm. It keeps on failing. I also noticed that I could not get to facebook either. Other sites worked but not these two. So, I go and google "Blogspot in China" and find a whole bunch of sites on how to work around the China State firewall that prevents access to blogging sites. Wow. apparently One cannot blog in China. I was not planning on bypassing the firewall as I have no interest getting into any trouble in China. So, now that I am in Singapore, timmyopolis comes right up with no problems.

What a shame...

2009-07-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone who lives in the Bethany area has probably seen this as they head up Kaiser towards Germantown road. Its a shame to see the exhaust headers of this mailbox go to pot like this.... Now it just looks trashy.

What did we ever do to you?

2009-07-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

For years. we have this bird, a chickadee is my guess that always lands on our car and pecks the crap out of our mirrors. It is the same bird and it leaves its own crap and has marked up both of our car mirrors. What have we ever done to this bird? We are a bird friendly family. In fact, last count, we have at least 7 active nests in our front bushes and under our decks. I cleared out the abandoned ones but they soon come back. The bird in question lives in our front bushes and we have never messed with her nest.

The picture I took here was me in the truck. I pulled in. Turned off the car and about 2 seconds later, she shows up and start pecking. The fear of man is almost non-existent when it comes to the instinctual need to peck mirrors.

How could I have let you all down?

2009-07-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

To all of the masses who come to get words of wisdom and life skill direction from my blog.... I'm sorry. To those of you who visit to seek enlightenment and life application... My apologies.

Now, lets talk about this for a moment. I have been pestered at home, at work, at poker, on camping trips about me not updating the blog. However, during the peak times, I would perhaps get 50 hits. I dunno. It seems like I have been pestered by more than that. Maybe I'm double and triple counting the same complainers.

Anyway, I am back and will keep this updated more often. To start things off. I wanted to share this mysterious apple I had in Santa Clara. Yup, you guessed it. It is a map of China OR Iran. Take your pick.

Double Rainbow

2009-05-05T18:05:00.001-07:00

My Mom used to tell me that a rainbow was God's way of telling us his promise to never flood the earth again like he did with Noah.

But what Mom forgot to tell me is that a double rainbow is a double reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops, and appear at an angle of 50°–53°. As a result of the second reflection, the colours of a secondary rainbow are inverted compared to the primary bow, with blue on the outside and red on the inside.

Playground Fail

2009-04-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

My version of Failblog.org.

I am no expert on the subject but I am pretty darn sure that a swing set needs to be level and not going with the slope of the yard.

You can see this in person at the corner of Laidlaw and Saltzman.

Where the heck is Adam?

2009-03-20T11:51:00.001-07:00

Does anyone know what happened to the Adam Carolla show? I hate the Howard Stern Show and was glad to see it go. Adam is where it's at! But BAM! he is gone and they replaced it with this Rick Emerson Show on 101 which is by far the worst morning show I have ever heard. And that is saying something as 99% of all morning shows Suck. Talent is not a requirement in these shows. A few crank calls and a posse of idiots laughing at each other's bad jokes is all it takes to make a show. Adam had talent. Please tell me where the heck he went.... Please!

As for 101 KUFO. There is absolutely no reason to go to that station anymore. Time to erase it from my Radio Memory.

Radio

2009-03-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Did you see what was on the radio yesterday?

Man Hunt.... You can help?

2009-03-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Patty and I were watching the late night news and they were talking about a murder down in Salem. They gave a description of the suspect:

Caucasian, 6 feet tall, 180lbs, wearing black and a ski mask.

If ANY of you see someone that meets this description, you need to call the authorities. Generally, when I see someone wandering about wearing black and a ski mask I think nothing of it. Now I have to think again.

12 hours of Sunlight

2009-03-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

OK, Oregonians. We are half way there. Yesterday was the midpoint of the minimal amount of Sun and the maximum amount of sun in a given day. We are getting about 12 hours right now. The low point is at Winter Solstice and is a tad less than 9 hours. Summer Solstice peaks the sunlight at around 15 hours.

I bet back in the old days, the farmers loved the winter months because if they lived by the adage where they wake up with the Sunrise and in bed by sunset, they got lots of sleep. I would like a 15 hour sleep season.

It only gets better...

2009-03-13T14:16:00.001-07:00

Hurry though... This is a limited edition.

From 40cozystore.com:

"Exclusive: The Black-Out Cozy

Only thirty of these Limited Edition Cozies have been made. They are all black and come with a smoke-holder and velcro-on lighter holder for easy access to all your vices. Each comes with a black product insert and is signed and numbered on the inside by the Godfather and creator of the 40cozy himself, Los-Nasty. Only: $15.00"

Finally, Someone has Answered my needs

2009-03-13T13:46:00.001-07:00

It is about time that someone has solved the 40 oz dilemma.

"Drive-bys" (as I call them) get warm over time. A drive-by koozie solves this problem.

Description from 40cozystore.com:

"This is probably the classiest cozy we make. Wrap this around your 40oz of malt liquor and you'll be able to taste the difference. Looks great on Steel Reserve, Country Club, Olde English, and any other delicious gold 40oz. Only: $8.99"

2 more problems to solve and my life is complete.

My TV talks to me!

2009-03-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was sitting down to a little TV time and the TV interrupted to send me a message.

Hold on there Mr TV. The number of Fridays over a given period of time has been set and there is nothing I can do about it. Perhaps sending this message to our president or to NATO would be a more appropriate decision making forum to help with your request.

Stupid TV.

One in a trillion....

2009-03-13T13:15:00.001-07:00

Take a look at this blemish on this apple. Now blur your eyes a lot and look at it again. You see it? Of course you do. This apple has the country of China on it. If you disagree, its probably because you see Iran.

Regardless, the odds of having a blemish that shows China and Iran at the same time is nothing short of staggering.

This was going on Ebay but I changed my mind and ate it.

What whacked out Religion is this?

2009-03-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have heard (and respected) a lot of different religions in my day but this has got to be a new one. Mike and Karyn, who hosted the Monthly Wine Club this month had this taped on the inside front door. Yup, Bacon.

Bacon on the Door. That rules out Judaism or Islam. And, I cannot remember anything in the Bible regarding bacon on the door for Christians. Had a brief discussions with a couple of co-worker Budhists and Hindus and they are not familar with this custom. That leaves us with a Cult.

Some crazed out Bacon Cult that requires bacon to be taped to the door. Someone please help me understand!

Pretty Picture of Ken

2009-03-05T15:00:00.001-08:00

Ken, the anti-blogger. I guess after this picture, we can also say the anti-attractive too.

This is a shot of us traveling home together on the company air shuttle last Friday. Ilan is in the background. Billy and Chalupa were also there.

Come to think of it, there were 3 more people on the plane from the Ethernet group. Are you guys made of money up on Mahogany row?

Portland Stinks....

2009-03-05T14:54:00.000-08:00

Got a spam letter from Portland City Search regarding the 7 deadly sins of Portland. The link is below. However, I can summarize all of the sins that Portland has to offer according to this article:

Anger: Bowling

Envy: Restaurants

Gluttony: Restaurants

Greed: Powell's bookstore

Lust: Some park in NW PDX

Pride: A Shoe Store and a gourmet food shop

Sloth: A spa and a hotel

Yup. Portland Stinks.

http://portland.citysearch.com/roundup/42670/

WRONG!

2009-03-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

For anyone who grew up on Chef Boy-R-Dee you should be as angry as I am when I opened up our pantry and found this.... Joe's O's? Organic? This is too much. If I EVER see a Joe's Organic canned Ravioli in my house there is going to be some big trouble!

Caught my funny bone.

2009-02-20T16:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know why because it is not that funny but I saw this headline on CNN.com and had to laugh.

Smoking room Disaster!!!

2009-02-19T08:38:00.000-08:00

First of all, I am not a smoker. However, smoking or smokers do not bug me at all. So, I am completely neutral on the subject.
.
Here is a picture of the smoking room entrance to our building. Note that to get to it, you must go through 2 doors. Well, we got a global email saying that there was a scent of smoke at a cubicle that was believed to have come from this smoking room. Keep in mind that the nearest cubicle is about 40 yards away and you must pass the elevators, bathrooms, and a minor maze of corridors to get to the nearest one. Now, once this scent was reported, the company went into action and temporarily closed the smoking room pending an investigation. The results of the investigation found that this room was not in compliance with the Oregon Smoke-free laws and permanently closed this room and people have been routed to the other areas throughout the campus.
.
So, the company locked the doors and posted the appropriate signs. Just yesterday, they added an orange warning cone in front of the door. I am scared to think of why that had to be added. Dollars to donuts says that someone got injured trying to open the door or slammed into it thinking it was open. Sigh.

Its included in the price... Why not?

2009-02-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

Patty was busy doing something so I took the kids to Sweet Tomatoes. You know, the salad bar, soup, buffet restaurant. It was the kid's choice. One thing I noticed are these signs like the one I posted here. You place this card on the table to tell the table bussing staff that you will be back and you are not leaving the building. Why do they have these? Because people are pigs! The Bus staff have no idea if the full plates of food that are sitting there are to be thrown away or not. They need this sign to help them determine that. Why? I noticed that when people come into this place an eating mentality changes modes. They can load up their plate, sample a couple of things on it, then toss it out for another round of sampling. My kids tried this. They loaded up a big salad plate, then went for some macaroni and cheese and pizza. They sit down, nibble a little bit of each then attempt to head off for the dessert. Ummmm....Hold on there boys... We are not going anywhere. Finish everything you chose THEN you are free to get some dessert. They were not pleased but they did it.
.
Listen, I don't see many people go to a sit-down restaurant and order a plate of food, sample it then dump it out for another plate. Nope, that is expensive. But for some reason it is OK here. I think the best thing they could do to save us some time here is to have garbage cans at the end of every buffet station. That way, after you load up your plate, you can conveniently throw it away immediately. That saves you the effort from having to carry it to your table and saves the bussing staff some time.
.

Cedar Mill - Extreme Makeover

2009-02-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

If you happen to be an old building and you happen to live in the Cedar Mill Area, watch out. You are probably going down. Looks like the area between Murray and Saltzmann on Cornell road is being renovated. The picture here is the ancient strip mall on the corner of Murray and Cornell. It contained all the important things that we could not live without like a courier service, a coin/trading card shop (which mysteriously burned down one night), a defunct computer repair shop, Manacurist, etc. There was also an apartment complex on the 2nd floor. Anyway, this place was falling apart and will be good to see some progress being made here. The kids and I are sad to see a detached building called Humdinger burgers go but maybe it will get replaced with something just as good but as they say "its hard to beat a humdinger" (at least I say that).

Perhaps the ugliest Car in the world

2009-02-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

Quite a coincidence. I was driving into work today and saw one of these cars (Pontiac Aztek) and I have to laugh about how ugly these cars are. What the heck was GM thinking? Anyway, about a minute later Adam Corolla on the radio goes off about how stupid these cars are. Again, Quite a coincidence.

Did a little search on this car and found an article from Time magazine highlight the worst cars ever. Here is what they say:

"I was in the audience at the Detroit auto show the day GM unveiled the Pontiac Aztek and I will never forget the gasp that audience made. Holy hell! This car could not have been more instantly hated if it had a Swastika tattoo on its forehead. In later interviews with GM designers — who, for decency's sake, will remain unnamed — it emerged that the Aztek design had been fiddled with, fussed over, cost-shaved and otherwise compromised until the tough, cool-looking concept had been reduced to a bulky, plastic-clad mess. A classic case of losing the plot. The Aztek violates one of the principal rules of car design: We like cars that look like us. With its multiple eyes and supernumerary nostrils, the Aztek looks deformed and scary, something that dogs bark at and cathedrals employ to ring bells (cf., Fiat Multipla). The shame is, under all that ugliness, there was a useful, competent crossover."

Timmyopolis Turns 2000!

2009-02-13T13:50:00.000-08:00

What a better way to celebrate this monumental occasion than to show a picture of the Windows 2000 logo.

So, Seeing I am at 2000 hits I am pretty much considered the big leagues now. The big leagues implies the parties, celebrities, the untethered vacations in paradise, the Paparazzi, you know.... it's all good.

This milestone made do some research (stuff that big websites have to do.... Sigh) and decided to compare my hits with Google:

Timmyopolis: 2000 hits in 3 months
Google: 112 million searches per day.

To normalize the data produces:

Google: 1296 searches per second
Timmyopolis: .00025 hits per second

+/- a few decimal points. We are about the same.

Racial Profiling.... I am sick of it.

2009-02-13T13:27:00.000-08:00

The amazing story of flight 1549. The ability to land in the water and get everyone to safety is one for the books for sure. Now the work continues for determining the reason for the crash. Well, yesterday, federal investigators announced that they found remains of birds inside of the engines and is a possible culprit. OK. Here is where I start to get a little ticked.....

From Newsday.com:

"A DNA analysis done by scientists with the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Laboratory identified the remains as Branta canadensis - Canada geese, according to the National Transportation Safety Board."

Now, why in the heck did they have to bring up the Canadian part? Why did that actually matter? Does the investigation change if they were English Geese or Zimbabwe Geese or Cuban Geese? I am guessing not. But here we are, profiling us Canadians and our geese as the reason for everyone's problems. Lets just stamp a Maple leaf on all Canadians (people and Animals) so everyone will know and the media and you profilers can have your kicks and grins by making us feel bad. This makes me sick! Don't get me started with the Panda Bear. The country of Panda are equally upset!

Revenge of the Peanut Free Table

2009-02-09T10:20:00.001-08:00

Well, if you have not heard yet, there seems to be a "minor" problem with peanut based products. Turns out Peanut Corporation of America sells a lot of peanut products to a lot of product customers. If you don't beleive me, head to www.fda.gov and you will actually find a Widget you can install that keeps you updated on all products being recalled. That is a good sign that this is a serious situation. I was eating a protein bar last week and as a I finished it I thought about the peanuts in it and went to the website just to find out that bar was a recalled product. Yikes.

Anyway, I have a parallel thought to this recall. The peanut free table. Anyone with kids in school has heard of this. Its a table that kids can sit at knowing that all food at that table contains no peanut products. Thinking about this, I am positive that there was no peanut-free table when I was a kid. Is this peanut allergy a relatively new thing or were the peanut allergies back in my day more of a closet allergy? Don't get me wrong, kids with this allergy is a serious and potentially deadly thing but how did it get so serious in the last 20 years and why is that table at school so full?

Lets put this all together. If you read ingredients of a lot of packaged products, you will see a disclaimer on most of them saying that this product was processed in a facillity that may have tree-nuts, dairy, or wheat products. This seems to be a generic comments to cover themselves against any lawsuit regardless if they use the ingredients or not. That must make things tough if you are trying to find food for peanut allergy people. This recall stuff could be the ultimate revenge of the peanut-free population.

Peet's or Starbucks?

2009-02-09T10:07:00.001-08:00

I am not a coffee connoisseur by any means. In fact, one year ago I never even drank coffee. My trip to Costa Rica last year got me started on drinking coffee. Anyway, I have been making trips to Starbucks here and there and enjoying their coffee. Its not bad in my opinion and we all know that access to a Starbucks is easy. Especially around here. I will never know how 2 or 3 Starbucks can successfully exist in the same shopping complex but they do it all the time. Has anyone seen the movie 'Best in Show'? There is a funny scene with Parker Posey as her and her husband explain how they met at Starbucks. Not the same one mind you, they went to different Starbucks across the street from each other and found each other looking through the window.

Anyway, Patty has always stated that Peet's is a far better place to get coffee. I was sure I would not tell the difference but wow. Their coffee is much better. People should try it out and see for yourself. I only know of Peets being downtown and at the Tannasbourne shopping center. I got some coffee their today and noticed the long drive through line at Starbucks across the street and only a short line at Peets. Suckers!!!

Happy Everyday

2009-01-30T17:37:00.000-08:00

www.engrish.com

Nuff' said.

No Spark in Sparks

2009-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

What is happening to our beloved Sparks? Rumors and talks have been going round and round regarding the removal of Sparks from the production lines. There has been a big uproar from concerned citizens that Alcoholic Energy Drinks are dangerous especially for kids. Last I checked, kids are not supposed to drink Alcohol. In December, Miller Brewing announced that in Q1, they will be continuing Sparks but without the Caffeine. That leaves an Orange flavored Malt beverage with some Taurine and Ginseng.

From wikipedia....

As of December 2008, at the behest of San Francisco and 13 states, distributor MillerCoors LLC is taking the caffeine out of its Sparks line of energy drinks, which list ginseng, taurine and 6 to 7 percent alcohol among its other ingredients, as well as changing its marketing campaign. "We're doing it to protect the public health of our young people and to reform business practices," said S.F. City Attorney Dennis Herrera.

That is great for the young people but what about us old idiots who need feel young???

Jack Handey

2009-01-29T12:02:00.000-08:00

Another Deep Thought by Jack Handey....

If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins the most? I'd say Flippy, wouldn't you? You'd be wrong though. It's Hambone.

Ouch... Not Good

2009-01-28T10:50:00.001-08:00

Another crappy picture from my camera. But this time I have an excuse (moving, dark, and foggy). This was taken at around 6am this morning on the corner of Kaiser and Laidlaw (Portland, OR). A car rolled over and pinned 2 people inside the car. They were working to cut open the roof to get the people out. News report on the radio said that they were removed and were alive. They think a car ran a stop-sign due to the fog and hit the car causing it to roll.

Snack Food?

2009-01-28T10:48:00.001-08:00

Here is a snack food you don't see every day. Chili/Mango......

Funny or Sad - You Make the Call

2009-01-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

We have all seen it. The people who stand on street corners equipped with ipods and a sign dancing and waving hoping to draw people into buying a mattress or some incredible going-out-of-business deals that has been going on for years. But here is a new twist. I saw this on the corner of 25th and Cornell in Hillsboro, OR. Who are they? Why its the Little Ceasar guy and the Liberty Accounting guy together at the same street corner. In an unprecedented move, these guys were air-guitaring with their signs while dancing. An incredible display of hard core strumming, Fists in the air, high-fives, and even a brief solo competition. It sent goose-bumps down my spine seeing these two in harmony. Pizza and taxes working together as one. Only in America!

Canseco Bonaduce - update

2009-01-26T12:12:00.000-08:00

Look at the size difference between these two. How on earth did the fight end up in a draw (They tied)? 3-rounds and no knockout. Amazing. Or Sad. Or Pathetic. Depending on how deep you want to go with this. I was hoping to TIVO it but comcast did not have this available. There is talk of a second fight on HBO. Hold your breath my friends.... Hold your breath.

Fight of the year!

2009-01-23T12:16:00.001-08:00

How can this NOT be the fight of the year? We are talking Danny Bonaduce from the Partidge family vs. Jose Canseco from the Oakland A's square off for the battle royale this Saturday night. Pay-per-view for $9.95 or $12.95 day of the fight. To me, watching what is the bottom of the barrel, fight for your dignity battle royale is well worth the cost.

Do not miss it! I will be at another commitment during this fight but will find a way to watch it later. Does anyone know if you can TIVO a PPV event?

Cavaliers at the Rose Garden

2009-01-23T12:09:00.001-08:00

Good game with the Blazers and Cavaliers. Even though we lost, it's always great to watch a close game and of course, Lebron do his thing. Neighbor had some tickets and got to see it live with his youngest boy and mine. These seats were not only great seats but they came with Lexus club level access that included a full Dinner, Dessert Buffet at half-time, and all the snacks and drinks you could wish for through-out the game. This is the way I like to watch the game! Thanks for the invite, Mark! And if you don't know Mark, forget it.... He does not like any of you and therefore will never invite you!!!

Fingers in the Sky

2009-01-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

I am not too sure what to think about this picture I took this morning. I am guessing its one of two things: Intel is being crowned or Obama's fingers are reaching down to save us all. Either way, this is something I have never seen before. I am sure more details can be found at your local Obama worship center.

Are you kidding?

2009-01-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

I saw this on failblog.org and took it from Youtube. Please tell me this is a joke. Sadly, the website is real and has additional items for sale. You can doooooooo it!

Wind Storm II

2009-01-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a better angle of the fallen tree. However, I took it again on my crappy Blackberry Camera.

For you local folks, you can see this live on the corner of 137th and Laidlaw.

Who is this guy?

2009-01-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

Anyone watch the NFC and AFC Championships? I think everyone knew that Pittsburgh would make it to the SuperBowl (although Baltimore did give them a run for their money). But what is up with Arizona? Who in the heck is this Larry Fitzgerald? (shown in the picture (from azcardinals.com)). 3 touchdowns yesterday. He was also stunning last week.

At first, I thought that AZ going to the Superbowl would make it a boring wipeout. But with Fitzgerald, Hightower, and Warner on the offense playing the way they are playing we may have a team that can test the #1 Pittsburgh defense. Looking forward to Feb 1.

Be sure to get your 3D glasses for the 3D movie preview of Dreamworks' Monsters vs Aliens that will show after the 2nd qtr.

Cross-Winds How is it even possible?

2009-01-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Not trying scare anyone but it has always fascinated me how Jumbo jets can land in heavy cross-winds. It is a normal part of piloting these massive machines but you cannot help but respect them for these white knuckle landings.

This video is the new Airbus A380 (Double Decker) performing cross-wind tests in Iceland.

Here is another one. This time it is a real passenger landing on a Korean Air 747 in China.

This one is of particular interest to me. This Lufthansa plane was attempting to land in Hamburg Germany. Had to make another go around. I was also landing in Frankfurt during the same time last year. All airports in Germany were closed due to almost hurricane force winds. They were only allowing planes to land. It was a scary landing for me but not nearly as scary as the people who were on this flight. The pilot did a good job dealing with it and no one was hurt.

Wind Storm

2009-01-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Wow. The Wind storm we had this weekend was a serious doozy. I live in a heavily treed neighborhood and those pines and firs were bending something fierce. Coastal Storms don't affect us. Nor do Winds coming from the north or south. However, when the Columbia Gorge winds from the east strike up, I get scared.

The crappy picture I took here is a neighbor that had a pine tree snap about 20 feet off the ground and land on top of his roof. It does not look good. Poor Bart and Patty. Just a week or two ago, during the ice storm, someone slid a car into their fence. They quickly repaired that then this tree came down. The remaining 80+ feet of the tree is resting on the back side of their house. Roof structure is compromised to say the least.

Brand Loyalty going too far

2009-01-16T16:54:00.001-08:00

KTM. An Austrian company that makes precision Dirt bikes, high-end on/off road motorcycles and even Mountain bikes. I like this brand. Heck, I even own a KTM 450 dirt bike as well as my friends like Billy, Ray, and Ken B. Ken S, the anti-blogger owns an Itallian dirtbike called Beta. BUT, even he has the KTM Bug as his engine is made by those beloved Austrians. They make a great bike. There are some weird things about their stuff like why does my bike have 4 oil filters? And why does the kick stand suck so bad? But overall, these are top bikes and I stand by them.

When it comes to paying bucks for buying branded items like T-shirts or hats with the company logo I tend to question that. Especially, when they charge a premium for the right for you to advertise but I will break down from time to time and get something. However, when a company brands their logo on a dog dish and somehow believes that $11.99 is a fair price for it, that is a line that I will never cross. What the heck is up with that?

Farrell's Anyone?

2009-01-16T16:41:00.001-08:00

Any of you old timers remember Farrell's?

I certainly do. It was a big deal for me and my sister when we got to go there. I remember my Uncle finishing a "Pig Trough" Sundae. I also remember the "Zoo" that fed up to 10 people but when someone ordered it, they delivered it on a stretcher held by two people who ran around the restaraunt while a siren was blasting everyone. How about the Green river sodas? Or the Candy shop with Suckers the size of a frying pan or the JawBreakers the size of a Softball. Sigh. What memories. I always wanted to take my kids there but they have since disappeared. Or have they?

The original was based in Portland (Across from Lloyd center) and eventually spread to over 130 locations before they closed their doors. Why? Read the story at www.farrellsusa.com.

However, I saw that a friend on facebook joined the Farrells fan club. Apparently, they are attempting to make a comeback. Great news if you live in SoCal or Hawaii. :( Perhaps they will re-expand and our kids will have the same fun we did as kids. Farrell's.

Just the facts...

2009-01-15T10:43:00.000-08:00

Everyone likes to hear a fact, right? Well here is one.... I invented the common, household fact. Yup. Please think of me when you hear one.

Here is another one. From USA Today: For the first time since the dawn of the Jet age, two consecutive years have passed without a single airline passenger death on a US carrier.

It goes on to say 1.5 billion passengers traveled on scheduled flights in 2007 and 2008 where no passengers died.

To top it off, MIT Professor Arnold Barnett calculates that it's more likely for a young child to be elected president in his or her lifetime than to die on a single jet flight in the USA or in similar industrial nations in Europe, Canada, or Japan. I think this is a lie because Canadians cannot become President.

BTW, the photo is an optical illusion. The Jets are 750 feet apart and landing on separate runways in San Francisco.

UPDATE: Good news and Bad news: A US Airways jet crash landed in the Hudson River today. 150+ people on board. Good news: Everyone Survived!

The (blank) of Ought (blank)

2009-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

People, We are the generation to make this happen. We have heard the ol' timers or read something about the 1900's with phrases such as the 'war of ought 4' or the 'floods of ought 6', etc. But what have we done so far? We are almost out of time to set our own 'Ought x'. It is 2009 for goodness sake (Ought 9). The picture here is the Chehalis Washington flood of ought 7. It was bad but will not cut the mustard for the stories we will tell to the grand kids.

Yes, we do have the disaster of September 11, ought 1. That one is clearly a worthy story. What I don't want to hear is 'The depression of ought 9', 'The Attack of ought 9', or the 'Armegeddon of ought 9'. But, we do need something where we can show pictures of people walking across the Columbia River, Discovery of Lava people living in the earth's core, or small dogs acheiving the triple back flip.

Come on people, Lets get to it!