Friday Fives

Friday Fives

1. How are your map reading skills. What is your favorite “Road trip” memory.?
I have pretty good map reading skills. I am an Eagle Scout, for crying out loud. Factor in my Army time and the few hikes I took to the hills as a boy and as a college student and I am confident that given a map and a compass, I can find my way home. However, it is always important to remember to keep the mountains to the west and know that on the west side of the great divide, rivers and streams run to the west. On the east side, it is just the opposite. But there is a place over in Clear Creek County where the river runs West and it really should run East. So just go figure. A fav road trip? It would have be the trip we took in the Army from Germany to London in a jeep. We got lost in Luxemborg, fell asleep on the Channel Ferry and nearly forgot to get out of the car and we had so little time that the site seeing tour of London lasted about two hours. Crazy, crazy trip.

2. Have you ever shoplifted?
Yes, I admit it. As a teen I used to “take” things out of Kmart. It was the easiest store in the world to rip off. A small town with a quaint naivete, they had no idea they were supplying me with a few cassettes and magazines. This didn’t last long. I wasn’t a career criminal or anything like that. It was over the course of about three weeks one summer. And eventually I had convinced myself that the entire world was on to me, that everyone knew I was a crook. It was against everything I was taught (did I mention I am an Eagle Scout?) Also, I have been known to take a glass or mug or two from a bar. That is probably shoftlifting as well.

3. What is your first thought in your head in the morning? What was your last thought last night?
First thought? “Cat, stop playing with my toes!” This happens EVERY morning around 3:30 a.m. Last thought? “What would I do with my lottery winnings?” A lottery ticket is a ticket to dream. And baby I have spent that fortune in my head on several different occassions.

4. What was your favorite children’s television show? What is it now (children’s show, that is.)
Favorite as a child: A tie between Zoom and The Big Blue Marble on PBS. Now: A tie between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Daria, both showing on Ngn.

5. What’s your zodiac sign? What year in the Chinese calendar were you born? Do you put stock in any of this?
I am a Gemini. Those that follow the stars tell me I am pretty textbook Gemini:
“Gemini is communicative, versatile, can be talkative, and is very curious. Curious, curious, curious… I?ll say it one more time – curious. Gemini energy loves to know how things work. And Gemini energy thrives on knowing what makes other people tick. And when curiosity gets the better of Gemini energy, Gemini may even say scandalous, shocking things or perform outrageous acts for no other purpose or reason than Gemini was “curious” and wanted to see what would happen. Gemini enjoys knowing a little about everything, and Gemini can be the penultimate “jack of all trades, master of none…” Now, of course, I also know that Gemini can get a bit upset over this notoriety and their alleged expertise in skimming the surface of subjects. But tell the truth… We both know it?s a reputation which has been honestly earned (don?t we, Gemini)? C’mon, you can’t kid a kidder! And one more important thing to know about Gemini… Hermes (Mercury, the ruler of Gemini), by some accounts, was the god who originally owned and wore the “Helmet of Invisibility.” This Helmet happens to be the very same Helmet of Invisibility more typically associated with the hidden god of the underworld Hades (Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio). Apparently Hades was merely borrowing the helmet from Hermes. So Mercury (the ruler of Gemini), like Pluto, revels in (and loves) working silently, invisibly behind the scenes. So, while Scorpio is the sign most notorious for being secretive, Gemini is certainly no slacker in the area of being secretive and keeping things under their hat.

I was born in the year of the Dragon:
“1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000: People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters. ”

Yep, that’s pretty much me as well.

Friday Fives this week via Roy.

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The Mint Julep

It is time once again to break out your tin mugs, your mint, your muddling stick, some sugar and some bourbon and begin to craft the consumate Mint Julep, that timeless drink which after about two or so, just seems to drink itself. A tradition at The Kentucky Derby, the Julep. is deceptive. Deceptive in its simplicity, deceptive in its drinkability (that first sip is a doozy, but life is pretty much excellent by the last sip.) It is not, however, deceptive in its boozeability. Saturday is the running of the 130th annual Kentucky Derby. I offer this recipe now to give you time to gather the fixings to make your Saturday afternoon a good ol’ southern’un.


Mint Julep Recipe

crushed ice
many sprigs of mint
confectioners sugar
1tbs water
a good, decent bourbon whisky

Place about six leaves or so of the mint, sugar and water in a large tumbler. Stir and press until the sugar is dissolved and flavor extracted from the mint. Fill the tumbler to the top with crushed ice. Add the whisky to about a half inch from the top. Stir vigorously. The outside of the tumbler will frost over. Add a floater of rum (an absolute necessity to set the proper mood.) Add a few more mint leaves to float on top to nuzzle and add to the sweet smell of the beverage.

Step 5: Enjoy.

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Kerry, The War, The President

Bush has dragged his feet and dragged his feet on releasing his military records. And the ones he releases, he doesn’t release a hard copy. Reporters are allowed to come look at the docs and make notes but nothing for public consumption. Some sort of privilege rule he has invented.

Sen. John Kerry, on the other hand, posted all of his records on his web site in .pdf format for all the world to see.

And Bush cronies are still complaining about Kerry’s war record. At least Kerry has put his record out there and not hidden in some Texas shredder.

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Wal-Mart Rant

It’s fun to cheer for the demise of Wal-Mart. Heck, their stores are crowded and their arrogance is imcomporable compared to any other large mega corporation. Recently, the Denver City Council is being pressured heavily not to allow Wal-Mart to move into a West Denver neighborhood on Alameda.
Recently, Englewood California voters gave a proposed Wal-Mart mega development a thumbs down vote in a public referendum.
But the bigger news and news that makes no sense in some regards is Wall Street’s reaction to news coming from Wal-Mart’s biggest rival, Costco. Costco pays its employees more than Wal-Mart. Costco gives its employees benefits and full time hours and has a commitment to be a good employer. And it posted higher than anticipated profit margins. In fact is a some categories and in some markets, Costco has out performed the Benton Arkansas retail giant.
And what was Wall Street’s reaction? They have down graded Costco’s stock, citing its costs could spiral out of control. Basically the street was saying “Hey. Costco, get with the program. We don’t want no stinking well paid middle class.” But the joke could be on the Street. If Costco continues to post high numbers, they will be the winners of the big retail game and we consumers could once again see a reshuffling of the retail puzzle.
Wal-Mart can’t stay on top forever. Sears fell once upon time, as did Woolworth’s. (remember Woolworth’s?)
And soon the market may reward the better player who is controlling its costs by rewarding its employees loyalty with wages, benefits and security.

Friday Fives

Friday Fives

1. Where are you right now? Weather? Temperature?.
At work in the Inverness Tech Center in beautiful scenic Englewood, CO. Snowing and rain. 30 degrees.

2. What have you lost recently? What were the consequences?
The most recent “lost” item, as in never to be seen again, is a pair of glasses. I had them in a case and was walking to my car. They were my spare pair while my “good” lenses were getting fixed at the opticians. I ended up having to wear an old pair for about a week. Kind of a bummer. The glasses were an old prescription but the sunglasses were a current prescription and it was a bit tiring on the eyes.

3. What was the first CD you ever purchased? Does that embarrass you now?
The first CD was “Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen. Followed a replacement CD, “Synchronicity” by The Police.

4. Fountain or Ball Point?
Pilot P-700 .07 Ink Gell rolling writer. A great, great pen and cheap. You can usually buy a dozen or so at Office Max or Costco for about 4 bucks.

5. Crest or Colgate?
Crest. Although I recently switched to the Crest orange flavored toothpaste. It is disappointing. Sure, it tastes great but it doesn’t have that “slap-your-ass-and-wake-up” effect of traditional flavored toothpaste.

via Friday Fives.

Friday Fives

Friday Fives

1. What do you do for a living?
I am a “Fraud Specialist” at Nextel. Basically, I look at a few accounts everyday and determine if they were set up using fraudulent credit. I basically follow our sales force around the database and undue what they have done because they are working so hard to get a commission that they cut corners. But I also work on issues of identity theft and account hijacking and adjust charges/deactivate accounts were invalid charges have occurred.

2. What do you like most about your job?
I am generally do a good thing and am actually contributing to some good in the world. It is a laid back department with smart people and a very generous corporation.

3. What do you like least about your job?
When I close one of our tickets wrong, I know I will get dinged the next day and it irritates me that I can let little things like that slip by.

4. When you have a bad day at work it’s usually because _____…
I am unable to fulfill God’s glory and message while pinned in my cube.

5. What other career(s) are you interested in?
Porn. *

*(see the dichotomy between 4 and 5? That is a joke, you see. We built the foundation in the joke in number 4 when I made up the crap about Jesus and then slammed the joke home, (in the humor parlance, “the hammer”) by going the other way – again in the world of humor writing a misdirection – by tossing in the porn reference.)

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Politico Linko

As this ugly war heats up (We are bombing Mosques during a holy holiday ferchrissake!) and as Condy Rice explains to all the Bush administration‘s counter terrorism mentality, we still find ourselves surrounded by conservatives and GOP supporters.

All kidding aside, here is a handy site to use in those bar room discussions about our dear president.

Also here is a nice set of arguments to use to help your conservative minded friends see the light.

Vote for anyone but Bush (or Nader, I suppose.)

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Man The Razor

Check out the eyebrows on this news reader dude. I was a bit scared when I stumbled on this. Sorry if you lose your cookies. Imagine who scared the viewers of KDKA must feel. (Click on the pic to get a better view.) My god, this guy needs the fab five from Queer Eye to do an emergency shave.

Friday Fives

Friday Fives

1. What’s your favorite animal?
It used to be dogs. And it used to be a Scottish terrier, most importantly, Whiskey, the wonder dog, the most brilliant and talented dog that ever lived. If I ever get an other dog, it will probably be a Scotty. But a few year’s back, a few very dear friends got me a cat. Brando, the wonder cat, the most brilliant and talented cat that ever lived. Cats are certainly moving up on my list. However not just any cat. Brando, the wonder cat, the most brilliant and talented cat that ever lived is a very cool, suave cat. He is part puppy and part puma. Some cats, they just swing that way, babe.

2. What pets have you had in your lifetime?
Well, there are the two listed above, primarily. Family pets included a Spitz dog named Gigi. And there was a Rat terrier named Abigail and my sister’s first dog, Molly, a dim brained Labrador/Golden Retriever mix. There was Mom’s cat, Olivia. And another family dog, Rudy that I barely remember at all. Dad was a sucker for stray dogs and was known to bring a few home from time to time until an owner could be found.

3. Is there any specific pet that you’ve wanted but never had? Why?
Monkey! Need I say more. We used to have a cousin who lived in Denver and he was famous to us as children because he had a pet chimp. That’s right a chimpanzee – and part of the family. Honestly, I would dig having a chimp. I also want a real tall and smart standard poodle. They are cool dogs.

4. Are you allergic to any animals?
I am pretty sure I am allergic to gerbils/hamsters. I had a roommate in college who had a gerbil/hamster (Is there really any difference) And that was only time I broke out, head to toe in hives and was painfully sick with an allergic reaction. I am certain it was those vermin pets.

5. Do you have any ‘pet’ pet peeves (your pets or others’)?
Not using your signal in traffic, primary pet peeve. Having a set opinion and unwavering in the ability to change your mood/opinion – pet peeve number two. Rats, snakes, gerbil/hamster/chinchilla/guinea pigs, most birds, ferrets/minks, pigs – these are not pets and in most case they would be soup. Pet peeve three: Owning any of the above animals and calling them pets. It ain’t right.

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