Happy New Year

It's amazing to believe 2007 has come and gone. Time is exponential like that - each year a little faster than the last. We will ring in the new year much like last years: some pizza, a beer or two, some champaign, possibly a board game, and, of course, an explosion of excitement at midnight.

Many enjoy looking back on the last 12 months. And reflection is a good thing. Personally the past 12 months have brought me more than 100 new networking contacts, a facebook account, a fantastic new career, and the complete conversion for PC to Apple.

 

While reflection is great, it's also fun to predict the future.  In his Borowitz Report, Andy gives us a satirical look at how he thinks 2008 could go. I think you will enjoy it. 

Cheers to a Happy New Year!

The 'Ho' Ban

This is absurd. Apparently, if you're Santa, and you're in Sydney, you're catch phrase is no longer, "Ho, Ho, Ho!" Instead, it is, "Ha, Ha, Ha!" New Zealand is considering asking their Santa to stop the 'Ho' as well.

Apparently the 'Ho' is frightening to children and offensive to American women.

As a result, Santa's may strike until they get their 'Ho' back. I kinda think they should. Though I'm not sure how we'd explain Santa to our kids.

"...Lawanda, Santa doesn't have time to hear what you want for Christmas. In fact, he may not even bring presents this year. He's fighting for his 'Ho!'"

On a side note, I did the whole Santa/Easter Bunny/St. Nick thing when I was a kid. And a 'Ho' from Santa is nothing compared to The Tooth Fairy. We tell our kids that while everyone is sleeping, a fairy is going to come in their room, dig under their pillow, take their teeth, and leave behind a quarter. Now that's creepy....

Don't eat your earbuds, a new Surgeon General's Warning

Or it would be if CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, had his way. I'm not making this up.

"If CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta had his way, when you unwrapped your new iPod or iPhone this Christmas, there might be the following warning label:

'SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Ingesting or inhaling your iPhone or iPod earbuds may be hazardous to your health.'"

Now what does CNN think of its audience to have this guy come up with this? Perhaps, we do need Winter Awareness Day.

Today is:

Winter Awareness Day

Now this is insulting to anyone living, say, north of Florida - who is well aware that winter is on its way. Since when do we need a 'Winter Awareness Day?' Are there folks who are unaware it's coming? Does it just sneak up on us every year?

I quote: "Preparing for winter weather should occur well before the cold and snow begin. Tips include understanding that a winter storm watch indicates severe weather may affect your area; a winter storm warning indicates severe weather is in the area or expected immediately. " This is followed by a whole list of stuff on preparing for, living through, and driving during a winter storm.

We have a whole month to practice. Get ready....

Things that are stressful...

...to purchase

1. Carpet - Frankly, as long as its soft, good quality, cushy (less to do with the carpet and more with the pad), and looks nice, I could care less about it. As of late we have found ourselves looking for new carpet, which, incidentally, seems incredibly over-priced. Already I have had to learn way too much about it, and have decided there is way too large of a selection from which to choose.
2. Mattresses - While it's been years since we've purchased one. In fact, I don't even know what brand or firmness of mattress I sleep on. Nor do I really care. It's comfortable enough for me to fall asleep on. But a "Sleep Number Mattress" advertisement forced me to add this to the list. The sleep # concept seems ridiculously excessive. How do you know if your sleep number is a 2, 3, 4, or 6? What if its actually a 95? The thought of this alone would keep me awake. Besides it too seems incredibly over-priced.
3. Cars - You spend $10 K (or easily much more) on an engine and 4-wheels with a steering mechanism, all of which immediately decrease in value, just to allow yourself to move places.

I think that's my top three. What stressful purchases do you make?

One step at a time

When I was a kid, I remember toys made with wood, metal, some basis plastic. Today, new toys made by the ChiComs and recently imported to the United States, have been found to contain traces of the date-rape drug. I guess that's better than lead, right?

Absolutely Amazing

The shuttle landed the other day. I am blown away that this massive thing comes back from 200 miles away from the earth with no power, and lands on a 20,000 ft runway next to the ocean. Its glide to ratio is 1:1. For those that have forgotten, this means it drops 1 ft for every 1 ft that it moves forward. In other words, it drops like a rock. Incredible!

Aviation experts think this is not a big deal. As one who travels regularly, I wouldn't want to be on an airplane at 35,000 ft with no power and have to glide down. No way. We take too much for granted...