Life In The Weeds

A Niche Business

For all you English/Journalism/Writing majors out there struggling to find work...don't settle, there could be a niche for you in the world.

You just never know where YOUR talents may take you.

Professional Rant Writer

mj

Lost (again!)

Unless you have been under a large rock for the last several 6 years, you must be familiar with the show Lost  (ABC, 9pm, tonight). I'm not suggesting you have to be a fan...maybe you have not seen ONE episode...but, certainly you have HEARD of the show.

I was a BIG fan when it premiered in September of 2004...in fact, most of the TV viewing audiences was a fan (based on the incredible ratings and numbers it produced in Season 1). I continued to watch through Season 2, but lost interest when the story line seemed to get more and more bizarre...bordering on ridiculous.

Fast forward to this season...season 6...Lost's final season...I have decided to re-engage!  

I am SO GLAD I've decided to tune in for the last 16 episodes...Lost has to be considered one of the best written shows ever.  The episodes (especially this season) are dramatic stories that unfold like movies on the small screen.  Lost happens to be one of the most expensive television productions ever...it shows!  Sure, everyone watching is hoping for clarity...expecting all the questions and mysteries to be answered and solved...but, in doing so, we are experiencing a show unlike any before, since and probably to come. 

If you once were Lost, I suggest getting Lost, again!

mj

The Big Dance

On the eve of the Sweet Sixteen games, it only fitting to talk about March Madness.  

What a fantastic tournament so far...upset city...so many "unknowns" winning big games. Cornell, St. Mary's, Northern Iowa...come on, these teams are legit.  Don't think for a second that these teams do not think they have as good a shot as anyone to win the entire tournament!

I'm routing for Cornell...love this team and love their chances against Kentucky!

Year after year, the Big Dance delivers!

mj

Happy St. Patty's Day

One of my favorite days of the year!

There is really not much better than Corn Beef & Cabbage, with red potatoes and a Guinness to wash it all down.  Add a little Gaelic music in the background...a few more Guinness...ah, near perfection!

On St. Patty's Day, I love to read one of my favorite books to my kids - a story about the legendary Finn McCool.

I also love to sing an Irish Folk song called Seven Old Ladies...it's a story about how seven old ladies were locked in the lavatory from Sunday through Saturday and nobody knew they were there!  Classic.

Enjoy a pint today!

mj

Happy Birthday .com

Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the domain dot-com.  Pretty amazing to think that we are only talking about 1985!!

Check out the list of the Top 100 oldest, still existing dot-com domain names...in registration date order!

The first was by a company called Symbolics Computers.  IBM, Intel and AT&T took over a year to register their company names...more amazing, it took Apple TWO YEARS to register!

By 1997, there were over 1 million registers dot-coms!  It is estimated that over 650,000 dot-com domain names are registered every month and the total number of dot-coms to date is 71 million!

Seems like this internet craze is a keeper!

mj

The Invention of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891.  Naismith was a Director at a YMCA Training School and was looking for a an activity that could be played indoors during the harsh winters in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was interested in developing something for the students that required skill and not just strength.

And yes, it's true, the first time it was played the goals were peach baskets affixed to the Gymnasium walls and a soccer ball was used in play.

Here are the original 13 rules Naismith used to distinguish his game:

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitution shall be allowed.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.
7. If either side make three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).
8. Goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge and the opponents move the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.
10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves with five minutes' rest between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners.

mj

All-Time Best Basketball Players from the Big East

Last night I was flipping through the channels and came across a program highlighting the all-time best basketball players from the Big East.  Needless to say, I stopped.

Growing up on Long Island, I was a huge St. Johns fan...back when they were The Redmen!  I was fortunate to have attended a few Big East tournament match-ups in Madison Square Garden.  Instant classics between St. Johns and Georgetown during the mid 80's were unforgettable.

#1 and #2 on the list are no surprise.  I think there is room for debate on the rest of the top 10...or, at the very least, debate on where they fall on the list.

10 - Eric "Sleepy" Floyd

9 - Kerry Kittles

8 - Ray Allen

7 - Richard Hamilton

6 - Dwayne "Pearl" Washington

5 - Walter Berry

4 - Derrick Coleman

3 - Allen Iverson

2 - Chris Mullin

1 - Patrick Ewing

Thoughts?

mj

What's up with the Stink Bugs

Do you have a pre-historic looking bug hiding in the folds of your window treatments?  Or, under the lampshade down the hall?  And, when you kill said bug, the entire area stinks?  Well, that is a Stink Bug!

 

Where did they come from?  As it turns out, stink bugs are Chinese imports, first reported around Allentown, Pa., in 1996.  They were first identified in New Jersey in 1999 and are now found throughout the area. 

They probably arrived in packing material with shipped goods — isn’t everything we buy these days made in China? Since touching down in America, the Asian stink bug has made remarkable progress for an insect that can take half an afternoon to make its way across your living room.

The good news is that that are totally harmless...the bad news is that, like skunks, they are equipped with glands that squirt a foul-smelling liquid as a defense against predators. The smell, is released when they are crushed or disturbed.

You’ll be happy to know that your government is on the case. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is working on a pheromone trap, similar to those that attract Japanese beetles.

Unfortunately, I have not seen anything on the market yet...so, co-habitation with Mr. Stink Bug is the only solution.

mj

 

Drive the Speed Limit, please!

Why are people compelled to drive below the speed limit?  On a clear evening, driving down Rosedale Road going under 30...REALLY?  The speed limit is 45 mph.

[I am screaming right now in frustration!!]

mj

Looting, a Moral Dilemma?

When is looting, not considered looting?  

According to Merriam-Webster:

Looting - 1 a : to plunder or sack in war b : to rob especially on a large scale and usually by violence or corruption 2 : to seize and carry away by force especially in war

With the recent 8.8 earthquake in Chile, there have been many pictures of residents "looting" throughout neighborhoods.  Though, if you look closely, it's not flat screen televisions and jewelery these folks are carrying...it's milk, food and basic essentials.  

Is it still considered looting, if what you are taking is needed to survive?

I think not!  When a cataclysmic event occurs, your survival instinct kick in...do whatever you can to keep your family alive and well.  Once life as you know it returns to normalcy, then go wait on-line to buy groceries...

mj