Life In The Weeds

Special Delivery

FedEx is taking it on the chin after this video was posted on YouTube...showing one of their drivers launching a computer monitor over a gated entrance of a Southern California home.

I know the FedEx guys are super busy this time of year, but holy hell, how about ringing the bell?   He does not appear to have anything on his mind other than the "chuck and run" method.

This technique could be rewarded if, let's say, he was coming in for delivery at 6:00am Christmas morning and the homeowner was on the other side waiting...with wrapping paper in hand, as junior was waiting patiently at the top of the steps...waiting to come down to see if Santa left him that computer monitor under the tree.

Otherwise...there is no excuse for this special delivery.

 

mj

TNT getting lit up with Shaq

I am looking forward to the NBA tipping-off on Christmas Day.

Lots of teams have been shuffling their rosters getting ready for the shortened season...but, the teams are not the only ones adjusting their rosters.  TNT has added a BIGtime commentator to their all-star linueup of EJ, Kenny "the Jet" Smith and "the round-mound of rebound", Charles Barkley.

Shaq Daddy should add plenty of insight and spice TNT's coverage.

Here is the TNT promo...already taking shots at Barkley...should be fun to watch.

 

mj

Runaway Golf Cart

Check out this video...thankfully no one was seriously injured.

It happened at a Texas High School football game during halftime...apparently, one of the foam markers got stuck on the accelerator.

It seems that no one is stepping up to say exactly what happened.  While this certainly is a freak accident, the marker does not just jump up and press the accelerator...I would like to know the real story in this.

mj

Starbucks in Manhatten

It seems as though there is a Starbucks on every corner in Manhattan - after a little research, it seems like the "unofficial" number is 255.  If you type in Starbucks on Google Maps, the image displayed is a see of red dots.  Two hundred and fifty-five is a huge number...making the trip to find a good cup of coffee fairly easy.  That is, until you get inside one of these 255 stores.

Every Starbucks you go into is jammed.  Like 20 people-in-a-line jammed.  And, rest assured, most people on those lines are not ordering a regular coffee...it's all about the half pump, decaf, double shot, no whip, etc.  So, it is a long, long, tedious wait.

Is a cup of Starbucks coffee worth a 20 minute wait?

I went into a Starbucks this morning...looked at the line and bailed.  I walked to the corner and got a cup of coffee from the coffee cart guy.  $1.25 for a large coffee and NO WAIT.

The lesson here: Starbucks is not worth the wait and not worth the price!

mj

What's with the Suit

I feel bad for those poor bastards that commute into the city every day wearing the same exact outfit each day...a suit.

Sadly, most of those suit wearing gents do not even see clients.  So, who cares what they wear?

Wearing a suit to work should be long extinct...

Looking sharp to the client is all that matters and there are lots of ways to do that without putting on a suit.

mj

How to become an overnight Social Media Success

Here is a great story for all you struggling 20-somethings who spend 24 hours a day gaming, tweeting and face-booking.

Long story, short...

The Philadelphia 76er's ran a contest to allow their fans to vote for the name their new mascot - they gave three names to choose from.  However, they did not think about creating a social media campaign using twitter.  So, a Sixer fan registered a couple of twitter accounts - @PhilEMoose and @BFranklinDogg -  and started tweeting like crazy.  Instead of acting like total a-holes and taking legal action against him, the owner of the Sixers invited this kid into his office to talk Social Media strategy...next thing he knows, he's hired!

Here is the long story, long.

mj

The Tattoo Craze

The Hells Angels no longer corner the market on tattoos.  In fact, for a while now, tattoos have become almost common place.  I grew up in a very conservative Catholic household and of the 6 children, 4 have ink...and for her 75 birthday, my mother got herself some nice artwork on her ankle.  Okay, so she probably does not fit neatly in to the demographic of folks getting tattoos, but it goes to show you that the stereotype of someone having a tattoo has been shattered.  

The most recent statistic I could find was that 25% of folks between the ages of 16-50 have a tattoo.

Certainly, major ink is on display with the athletes that we watch on television, both college and professionals.  Many of these kids (cause they ARE kids) don't just have one tattoo...they are literally covered in ink.  I do not have an official statistic, but my guess is that of the 10 players on a basketball court...80% are covered in ink.  It's actually challenging to think of a professional basketball player who does not have tattoo.

I have a tattoo.  A small one on my ankle.  I would get another one.  But, I just can not comprehend the idea of, literally, covering parts of your body.

It's not just hoops...all sports seem to be affected with the tattoo craze.  In fact, professional baseball just included two new clauses in the collective bargaining agreement dealing with tattoos.

• "no player may have any visible markings or logos tattooed on his body" as part of the uniform regulations.
• Players will not be allowed to display tattoos with corporate logos.

A corporate logo clause?  Would a player really go down that path?  I guess MLB thinks so...

Is this tattoo thing a craze or is it crazy?

mj

The 13th Floor

Don't you think it is a little silly that buildings do not have a 13th floor?

I just took notice as I was heading up to my office on the 19th floor yesterday.  I was watching the floors tick by...11, 12, 14.  Even new buildings...built with the very latest technology and equipment...still eliminate the 13th floor...really?  I'm not sure I understand the logic.  Is it that they think the building will collapse?  Will be haunted?  Will be doomed with bad mojo?  

I wonder whether or not the newest buildings in Singapore or Dubai eliminate the 13th floor?  Is it just an American thing?

Kinda makes you say hhmm?

mj

Hands Free Driving

I'm not 100% certain, but I think it is a nationwide law that you can not "hold" a cell phone while driving. The "hands-free" legislation allows drivers to use their cell with some sort of blue-tooth technology or by using the speaker phone option.  While I am totally on-board with this law, I must admit that I am guilty of neglect (and have the ticket to show for it).

Now, the Transportation Secretary is urging Congress to enact a national law against texting while driving. Currently, 35 states and the District of Columbia have a ban on texting while driving.  I am all for this law as well.  I think texting is much more dangerous than talking on the phone.

There is even discussion on banning all cell phone use while driving.  I think this measure is a bit extreme, but it would certainly make drivers less distracted.

So, I'm on-board with "hands-free" driving, but let me ask this...why wouldn't "hands-free" also apply to say...the lady who is putting on her eyeliner on Route 1 or the guy reading the paper on the NJ Turnpike or the guy reading a book or the lady putting on lipstick or brushing her hair or the guy eating a burrito on his lunch break?  All of this things, which we all see everyday are NOT "hands-free" driving...AND are much more distracting than a guy yakking on his phone.  Sometimes it is a down right spectacle in the car next to me.

Do those people get tickets?  Should they?  Will they in the future?  I think it is a possibility...

So, next time you are on a road trip and you want to order a #3 at the McDonalds drive-thru, you may want to think about dining in!

mj

Grounded

We have all been there...on a plane getting ready to depart - checking emails, texting or finishing up a conversation - when the flight attendant says "please turn off all electronic devices."

We all wonder the same thing...does it really make a difference?  Will it really interfere with take-off or landing?  And, more importantly, what the hell are they really going to do...kick me off the plane?

Now, if your Alec Baldwin, your thinking the exact same thing...except he is saying, "what the hell are they going to do to ME, Mr. Hot Shit celebrity?"  Especially if I am in a heated Words with Friends game...I mean paahlease!

Clearly he needed to get in a triple letter, triple word while it was fresh on his mind.  He was probably playing with his daughter and he wanted to beat her ass so badly...because we all know how solid THAT relationship is!!

So, American Airlines booted Baldwin for refusing to turn off his cell phone.  Here is the statement from American Airlines.

Since an extremely vocal customer has publicly identified himself as being removed from an American Airlines flight on Tuesday, Dec. 6, we have elected to provide the actual facts of the matter as well as the FAA regulations which American, and all airlines, must enforce. Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed to be used while the aircraft is at the gate and the door is open for boarding. When the door is closed for departure and the seat belt light is turned on, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for taxi-out and take-off. This passenger declined to turn off his cell phone when asked to do so at the appropriate time. The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane's lavatory. He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language. Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding.

Alec must be super proud...I hope it was not for a measly 5 point word!

mj