Friday, October 02, 2009
Friday Night Lights
Just finished watching season 2 of Friday Night Lights on Netflix instant viewing. Not as great as the first season but still fairly solid. The murder sub-plot was unfortunate and a few of the ways they took characters wasn't ideal. But it seems to have ended going in the right direction and I'm looking forward to season 3. And I'm happy to find that season 3 is on instant viewing.
Today is D-Day for Summer 2016. Is Chicago the front runner? I have to thing that all things being equal the IOC would rather give it to Rio than Chicago. But a U.S. hosted event will mean out-of-control tv rights fees for the IOC. Plus Madrid & Tokyo seem like solid choices.
Today is D-Day for Summer 2016. Is Chicago the front runner? I have to thing that all things being equal the IOC would rather give it to Rio than Chicago. But a U.S. hosted event will mean out-of-control tv rights fees for the IOC. Plus Madrid & Tokyo seem like solid choices.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
I hate my doctor's office.
My doctor was in a practice with a number of doctors. He moved early this year but I never bothered to move my records. So back in July when I had shingles I stayed at the same practice and saw my parent’s doctor who was still there. I was not thrilled with him and have was going to transfer my records but wanted to make it through my recheck in November for my blood sugar checkup. But the last couple of days have pushed me over the edge.
My company requires use to see out doctor with basic tests to receive a discount on our insurance premium for 2010. We had to have this done by yesterday. So I called his office Tuesday and after dealing with voice mail hell, on hole for over ten minutes I finally got a call back. I explained I had the tests done in July and could I just bring the sheet in and get signed. The doctor’s assistant said I had to make a appointment so I made one for 9:40 with the same nurse practitioner I saw in July.
To even piss me off more, when I told a co-worker I would because of a doctor visit he laughed that he just faxed his to his doctor and they faxed it back.
Well at 9:55 I was called in (they beat my 10:00am over/under). I handed her the form and after reading it over she said that I didn’t need an appointment and could have just gotten it signed. She signed and dated it for the July visit, walked me to the front and said I didn’t need a visit. Had them tear up the insurance form and returned my co-pay.
So all I was out was my time and frustration. At least I had a good book to read while waiting.
My company requires use to see out doctor with basic tests to receive a discount on our insurance premium for 2010. We had to have this done by yesterday. So I called his office Tuesday and after dealing with voice mail hell, on hole for over ten minutes I finally got a call back. I explained I had the tests done in July and could I just bring the sheet in and get signed. The doctor’s assistant said I had to make a appointment so I made one for 9:40 with the same nurse practitioner I saw in July.
To even piss me off more, when I told a co-worker I would because of a doctor visit he laughed that he just faxed his to his doctor and they faxed it back.
Well at 9:55 I was called in (they beat my 10:00am over/under). I handed her the form and after reading it over she said that I didn’t need an appointment and could have just gotten it signed. She signed and dated it for the July visit, walked me to the front and said I didn’t need a visit. Had them tear up the insurance form and returned my co-pay.
So all I was out was my time and frustration. At least I had a good book to read while waiting.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Cotton on Jan 2?
Not much today. After returning from work, were I had to go for a couple of hours, I took great pleasure in watching a couple of upsets. With the Cotton & Sugar today it felt more like New Year's Day than yesterday did.
Very happy that Texas Tech lost. Always a great day when they lose, especially since everyone was giving them the victory.
Was also happy to see Utah win. Not that I'm that against Bama but I do enjoy rooting for the Utes.
Also updated my Guardian 1000 list. My number is 677 seen & 322 to go. The only film that needed to be updated was Borat. I think I watched this off cable a few months ago. Never been a big fan of his show and the movie was just more of the same fairly unfunny stuff.
Very happy that Texas Tech lost. Always a great day when they lose, especially since everyone was giving them the victory.
Was also happy to see Utah win. Not that I'm that against Bama but I do enjoy rooting for the Utes.
Also updated my Guardian 1000 list. My number is 677 seen & 322 to go. The only film that needed to be updated was Borat. I think I watched this off cable a few months ago. Never been a big fan of his show and the movie was just more of the same fairly unfunny stuff.
Labels: Guardian1000, Sports
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Another year, another post
So new year, new chance to blog? Maybe...
I'll try to make updating this blog one of my many things to do this year.
So I spent today watching college football and a couple of films.
Watched my first Netflix in a couple of months. Broadway Danny Rose. This is on the Guardian 1000 and I'm at a loss as to why. Not a bad film, actually pretty enjoyable, but I'm sure there is a better Allen film I could find for the list. And I have no idea where I stand on the Guardian list, that will be for another post.
The other film was The Air I Breath. Another multi-story, time fractured film that has been done before far better and more interesting. At least it wasn't awful and added 1 to my list of 2008 films seen, and that badly needs help.
I'll try to make updating this blog one of my many things to do this year.
So I spent today watching college football and a couple of films.
Watched my first Netflix in a couple of months. Broadway Danny Rose. This is on the Guardian 1000 and I'm at a loss as to why. Not a bad film, actually pretty enjoyable, but I'm sure there is a better Allen film I could find for the list. And I have no idea where I stand on the Guardian list, that will be for another post.
The other film was The Air I Breath. Another multi-story, time fractured film that has been done before far better and more interesting. At least it wasn't awful and added 1 to my list of 2008 films seen, and that badly needs help.
Labels: Guardian1000
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Snow Angels
Book number 5 of the year is Snow Angels. My main reason is picking up this book is that next week this will be the 4th feature film from the extraordinary director David Gordon Green. It has a lot to live up to as I love all of the first three efforts.
The novel interweaves two stories set in a poor town outside of Pittsburg in the fall of 1974. The story echoed the themes of some of Atom Egoyan’s films, Exotica or The Sweet Hereafter. While Stewart O’Nan’s debut novel is interesting and well written it doesn’t pack the emotional punch that either of those two works did.
Most of the novel is told in flashback. It starts with Annie being shot and the blasts being heard by 15-year-old Arthur, whom Annie formerly babysat. The backstory of Annie and her husband during separation is quite interesting. Her story of living in a dead end town is whose life unravels under two tragedies comes alive with real characters and details. One drawback is that you can see the first tragedy unfolding as soon as the chapter begins and the buildup to the second tragedy, the shooting, seems a bit too literary an ending.
The parallel story of the dissolution of Arthur’s parent’s marriage doesn’t have need the interest of the first. This is mostly due to Arthur’s mother being completely one-dimensional and unappealing. Arthur’s coming of age, especially with his changing feelings toward Lila, the even poorer classmate who is the only other family living in the run down complex his mother is forced to move to post-separation. I’m really excited to see how DGG handles this part of the story given his success with similar parts of Undertow and All the Real Girls.
Another bothersome aspect of the book is the way it treats the female characters. Most of the male characters don’t seem to be judged. Annie meanwhile is abusive, hot-tempered, and cheats on her husband and friends. Her own mother even blames her for causing the situation she’s in. While she doesn’t deserve to die, the reader is lead to think she deserves almost what happens to her. And as stated before, Arthur’s mother is unappealing with much of the same attributes.
The novel interweaves two stories set in a poor town outside of Pittsburg in the fall of 1974. The story echoed the themes of some of Atom Egoyan’s films, Exotica or The Sweet Hereafter. While Stewart O’Nan’s debut novel is interesting and well written it doesn’t pack the emotional punch that either of those two works did.
Most of the novel is told in flashback. It starts with Annie being shot and the blasts being heard by 15-year-old Arthur, whom Annie formerly babysat. The backstory of Annie and her husband during separation is quite interesting. Her story of living in a dead end town is whose life unravels under two tragedies comes alive with real characters and details. One drawback is that you can see the first tragedy unfolding as soon as the chapter begins and the buildup to the second tragedy, the shooting, seems a bit too literary an ending.
The parallel story of the dissolution of Arthur’s parent’s marriage doesn’t have need the interest of the first. This is mostly due to Arthur’s mother being completely one-dimensional and unappealing. Arthur’s coming of age, especially with his changing feelings toward Lila, the even poorer classmate who is the only other family living in the run down complex his mother is forced to move to post-separation. I’m really excited to see how DGG handles this part of the story given his success with similar parts of Undertow and All the Real Girls.
Another bothersome aspect of the book is the way it treats the female characters. Most of the male characters don’t seem to be judged. Annie meanwhile is abusive, hot-tempered, and cheats on her husband and friends. Her own mother even blames her for causing the situation she’s in. While she doesn’t deserve to die, the reader is lead to think she deserves almost what happens to her. And as stated before, Arthur’s mother is unappealing with much of the same attributes.
Labels: Books
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Final Week
Six days from now is vote time and Texas will be dropped like a high school girl who just put out in favor of another conquest. It’s been an interesting week or so and these final days should be even more so. I’m been reading story after story that focus on how bad the Clinton campaign is going and making it sound like she has as much chance as the defenders at the Alamo. But I’m not counting them out. Remember they always seem to bounce back and the losers at the Alamo ultimately won the war.
But a number of comments make things bleak. Much is being made of Hillary’s campaign seems to being run without a clear focus. Maureen Dowd comments that her multiple looks doesn’t work in the Information Age and just makes her look even more manufactured. Mayhill Fower, of Huffington, reports of the aimless campaign stops that seem too little and aren’t hitting the right people.
Locally you see Bill Clinton, the former most charismatic man in politics, drawing only a few hundred to a stop at a city park while Barack Obama, the current most charismatic man in politics, draws and overflow crowed of over 17,000 at sports arenas.
The Clintons have no answer to Obama’s charisma. At debates he seems at ease in either taking the offensive or being in the defensive, as he was for much of the time in Cleveland. But Hillary can make no dent and comes off looking even whineier with her comments of always getting the first question. Bill is even more perplexed. He’s not used to being upstaged by someone preaching change with lots of style.
With super-delegates beginning to bend to the will of the popular vote this might get nasty before it’s over with the Clintons feeling they are being backed into a corner.
But a number of comments make things bleak. Much is being made of Hillary’s campaign seems to being run without a clear focus. Maureen Dowd comments that her multiple looks doesn’t work in the Information Age and just makes her look even more manufactured. Mayhill Fower, of Huffington, reports of the aimless campaign stops that seem too little and aren’t hitting the right people.
Locally you see Bill Clinton, the former most charismatic man in politics, drawing only a few hundred to a stop at a city park while Barack Obama, the current most charismatic man in politics, draws and overflow crowed of over 17,000 at sports arenas.
The Clintons have no answer to Obama’s charisma. At debates he seems at ease in either taking the offensive or being in the defensive, as he was for much of the time in Cleveland. But Hillary can make no dent and comes off looking even whineier with her comments of always getting the first question. Bill is even more perplexed. He’s not used to being upstaged by someone preaching change with lots of style.
With super-delegates beginning to bend to the will of the popular vote this might get nasty before it’s over with the Clintons feeling they are being backed into a corner.
Labels: Politics
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Addicting Game
A friend sent me this yesterday. It’s a geography quiz that I’m obsessed with right now. The highest level I’ve gotten to in the World game is level 11. I don’t think I’ll stop playing until I make it to the 12th and last level.
The Traveler IQ Challenge
The Traveler IQ Challenge
