Quick Question

All those junk emails I get, specifically the ones that say "get rich staying at home, using your computer," how do these things work?

Perception – smart versus dumb

I see, on CNN.com, George Carlin’s book won’t be sold by WalMart.

I suppose that this is a manifestation of the bible-belt versus the enlightened peoples of the coast. The USAToday site does not mention the Carlin book on the front page. CNN, conversely has this article above the fold. This is interesting.

CNN is perceived as the more intellectual news source. CNN is what John Kerry would read. Conversely, the USAToday is usually seen as the common man’s preferred choice. George Bush reads the USAToday. So, CNN needs to point out how the ignorant masses (WalMart shoppers) will not be exposed to Carlin’s latest tome. Yet this isn’t even news in the USAToday. I suppose what the unwashed masses don’t know, won’t hurt them.

Last time I checked, the WalMart in Seattle was just as crowded (more so, in fact) than any WalMart I have shopped at in the mid-west. Are the unwashed masses migrating? Or maybe, just maybe, the erudite intellectual elitists that live on the coast in the big cities simply aren’t.

Poker perspectives

Had an interesting conversation with my dad this week.

Dad lives in rural Ohio. He lives a couple miles north of the Ohio river. This part of the country is very much in the bible belt. I think there is a 2:1 church to resident ratio. The economy is very much based on farming, tobacco and cattle. These are "regular" folks.

Apparently this "poker craze" has infected rural Ohio. The county where dad lives has decided that they want to exploit the poker craze and have charity poker events. This is the idea of the younger members of the community. Dad was concerned how the idea of poker would be received by the older members of the community.

I'm not sure how far poker is going to get in southern Ohio. Dad's perspective that was that gambling is still a vice and frowned upon by the church going community. Dad was amused by the argument that poker is not a game of chance but rather a games of skill. His comment to me was, "Can you picture some 20-something year old guy, trying to convince some old farmer of that argument?" I suspect my dad is probably correct. He is one of those "old-farmers" that the kids need to convince. In fact, dad laughed at me when I agreed with the argument.

Those old guys are tough to convince.

Sold! Classmates.com

Well, my former employer sold itself.

I suppose I will now suffer the phone calls and emails from former coworkers asking me if I exercised any of my options. Ha - Ha! I did not. I am sooo smart.

Congratulations to all of you that stuck it out.

Frustration

Apparently my previous post was a little nasty. I need to apologize. Sorry.

By the way, writing a business plan is hard.

I am excited to see the Astros-Cards finale tonight. Reading the paper, watching TV, and reading online commentary, you might not be aware that there was another series going on, but yes, the Astros and Cardinals are playing game seven tonight. Go Astros!

By the way, hate the Cardinals.

I am excited to see "The Grudge" tomorrow. The wife and I are going to see it as soon as possible. I still want to go see "Team America" but my wife doesn't. She is predjudiced against puppets and animation. I guess that makes her a live action bigot...

By the way, hate the Red Sox.

Voting

2 weeks from election day. I am going to enjoy the next 2 weeks while I make my mind up about the candidates and issues. I get 2 more weeks to consider my choices and not just vote some knee-jerk liberal ticket, like some other bloggers I know.

I also enjoy the experience of voting in person. I like chatting up the blue haired ladies working the polling stations early in the morning. I like getting up early and standing in line with other voters in a hurry to get to their respsective work places. I like that I will be able to wear my little "I voted" sticker all day long.

The first time I voted (way back in 1984) I voted absentee, because I was away at college. It was a like being on the Atkins diet - I'm never hungry, but I'm never fully satisfied.

Unemployment

Being out of work is okay in small doses. This week in particular is a great example. The weather is excellent. I think I need to get a game of golf in before the week ends.

Spent today monitoring the news. Looks like Bill O'Reilly is in trouble. I certainly hope that the charges this woman is making are fabricated.

Looking forward to the debate tonight. I will undoubtedly watch in between innings of the baseball game.

1 question: Why is it that people feel good about committing until it's time to back up the commitment? I understand fear, but a commitment is a commitment. Right?

it's been a while.

Wow. I did not realize exactly how long it had been since I have written. Sorry.

Updates:

Still short, fat, and bald. No new acne.

So, I'm unemployed. Looking forward to a new opportunity with yet another startup-like venture.

Watched a lot of playoff baseball recently. I don't really like it. It's kinda dull, and none of my favorite teams are playing. That said, I'm cheering for the Yanks and the 'Stros.

Making my wife a football widow as well. I love pro football. When I grow up, I wanna be a "poro football player".

--More posts as events warrant.