I'm a greedy bugger and so are you!

Quite frankly I'm sick and tired of people blaming Big Oil for the high price of gas and the state of the economy. Quite frankly we are in this mess because we are greedy buggers. I'm quite happy that my oil company is making money, and you want to know why? Because I'm a shareholder, and what's good for the company is good for my dividend. I don't own a million dollars worth of stock, I own less than 10 shares in Big Oil, but that's still enough money for me to buy more stocks in another company. I'm in it for the long haul. All these asshats complaining about the economy are greedy buggers who over-spent their accounts: bought houses that were too big, one too many pairs of shoes, etc. Everybody wants to be satisfied here and now, but nobody is reading the fine print. Well I read the fine print, and instead of buying a $4 dollar latte I bought a $4 dollar share in an electronics company. Everybody can be an investor, even a frugal bastard like myself.

Hell, owning stocks is kind of addictive; watching those suckers go up and down on charts that I have no idea about. Once in a while you get a nice surprise and find that your account is worth a lot of money, and dividends are nice as well. It's also fun to be invited to shareholder's meetings. It's kind of neat to say that you own parts of a company; especially when people are complaining about it. I'm like, screw you too pal, that's my company. You greedy bugger!

Chinese military has Blackhawk helicopters

I didn't know this, but apparently the Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), has Blackhawk helicopters. I saw them responding to the recent earthquake. Interesting...

Robocop is an historian

Here is an interesting tidbit: Who knew that Peter Weller, the actor who played Robocop, has master's degree in Roman and Renaissance art and is working toward a Ph.D. at Syracuse University? He has also been seen on History Channel documentaries on Roman engineering. Just goes to show you that you really can't judge a man by his bullet proof shell I suppose :)

There's something to be said for the old mall

I love online shopping. It's fast, convenient, and you can get monster bargains. Still, there are times when propping up the local economy can be beneficial as well. I went to the mall over lunch hour because I needed to find a pair of trail running shoes. Imagine my surprise when I found this pair of New Balance 708 Trail Runner shoes for $39.97! At one of my online stores it cost $74.99. That's a big savings, especially when you look at the box and it says suggested retail price of $50.00 dollars. Nevertheless I got a great bargain, and I'm happy with them. It just goes to show you that local stores can compete with the online craze. Happy shopping!

Stargate SG1 vs. Battlestar Galactica, it's the weapons fool!

I'm a huge fan of SciFi, yet I've noticed a disturbing trend in weaponology. What is with this fascination for European carbines and submachine guns? The SG 1 team uses the Belgian FN P90 while the Colonial Marines on Battlestar Galactica use the Italian Beretta CX-4 Storm. I don't know which version of the Storm because it comes in 9mm, .40, and .45 calibers. Both of these weapons look very futuristic, so I suppose that is why the producers chose them, but they are not American. Is there no American alternative for future alien battles, or will we continue to be at the mercy of European weapon makers?

Thank God for Renegades

United States Antarctic Program

What sane person hasn't wished at some point that they were in Antarctica? I would love to go some day. I like the cold and being out in the snow. Of course if you get stuck you can always take out the trust Field Manual.

Who really should have won Melodifestivalen 2008

Sibel



or Velvet

Nigella Lawson, baby's got back!

Apparently the Food Network won't show celebrichef Nigella Lawson below the waist because of her huge ass. Instead they will focus more on her cleavage, tongue and eyes. Hell yeah! Somebody needs to tell Nigella that's there's nothing wrong with a little back. To get the ratings even higher I suggest she tilt back her head and pour cream down her chest while licking her lips. Oh man my dough is rising just thinking about that. As long as she doesn't let herself completely go like Rachael Ray, I'd still do her. Even without the cream.

Check it!

Drunkorexia, oh really?

Honestly, WTF will they come up with next? I thought Restless Leg Syndrome was a joke, but apparently there's even a foundation for that shit. Check it:

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs.

I guess drunkorexia is the irresistible urge to drink instead of eating? And since Faux News is covering it, you know it must be something serious. They should just quit calling it drunkorexia and call it by its real name, "being a supermodel."

The wonderful world of medicine

Yes, doctor, this guy is phucked! For 32 years Shark has managed to avoid any serious health issues, or any frequent pill-popping, but no more! Shark had his blood pressure taken a few weeks ago and the nurse warned him that his blood pressure was a bit high and that he should go and get it checked out. Not being very smart, Shark decided not to heed the advice until finally being worn down by parental and spousal nagging to go see a doctor.

After an examination that included a lot of probing, the doctor prescribed Shark some medicine for hypertension. Shark is thus a pill-popping, medical-establishment-supporting-for-life sucker. Luckily Shark had decided to put money into his flexible spending account this year, so he was able to pay for the doctor's visit and medicine. Even though he has health care insurance, co-pays totally suck. Shark is now a bit poorer, but, we suppose, also a bit healthier. Stay tuned for side effects...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

So it's that time of year again, when people get dressed in green and go out to pubs and make complete fools of themselves. Sounds like an average day at my house, but at least we have an excuse on this day. Yes, it's St. Patrick's Day, and I must admit I have no idea why it's celebrated. I'm also too tired to Google it, so I'm just going to imagine that it has something to do about a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, a leprechaun, a vat of Guinness, potatoes, and an emigration to America. Get your drink on! And stay safe, ya bastards!

NYC bar bans "Danny Boy"

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/06/danny.boy.ap/index.html

And this ahead of St. Patrick's Day? WTF are they thinking? I don't know jack about Irish culture, but Danny Boy is a very good song. I especially loved the rendition from Miller's Crossing.

Donor made millions on 11 dollars an hour mill job, gives to charity

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20080113_Donor_built_millions_on__11_an_hour.html

When I first read about this story I was amazed. How can a guy working in a mill become a millionaire? Afterall, even though I work in non-profit, I'm sure I must make more than him a year. The more I read about him however, the more I realized that he didn't really make money from working in the mill as much as he made the money in investing in real estate property; renting them out to tenants. He also invested in the stockmarket and kept his expenses low by not having a family and buying his clothes at thrift shops. Not having a TV or paying for cable also probably helped in keeping costs down.

Now some people criticize him for hoarding all that money, and say that he must not have had a good life since he's not married. What does the guy do for fun as well, considering he doesn't even watch TV or read books? Well, he listens to CDs, hangs out with friends, and now donates to charity, what else can you ask for? Though the article did mention that he drives to the library in his old Isuzu, which I find interesting since he doesn't read books. But since he does read newspapers maybe that's what he reads there.

To me he also sounds like a hopeless romantic, having lost the love of his life at a tender age. I respect him for that. Who here has not been completely in love and been devasted by a loss or a break up? I can understand how some people can never get over such a traumatic experience. In a way that's honorable, more so than running around and sleeping with a lot of people. But who knows, maybe he did that as well, but why criticize a guy, or gal, for not getting married? Critics should cut the guy some slack. At least he's giving some of his fortunate away to charity and to the future children of America. In the end it's what you leave behind that matters, whether it's your children or a swimming pool.

Don't forget the separation of church and state

Vote it!

I voted!

Well, for the first time since becoming an American citizen I voted in a presidential primary. I must admit it was a bit anticlimactic, I was expecting huge crowds and balloons, but everything was sane and in order. No balloons, and no clowns either, which is nice, because clowns really freak me out. Honestly, what people hide their faces apart from pedophiles and bank robbers?

Being a real immigrant I also laminated my voting slip which I will show my children and grandchildren when they get older. This will teach them about civic engagement and how people have lost their lives for the freedom to vote and choose. Dammit voting is as American as apple pie and bass fishing! I'll also tell them that I escaped Old Europe to get away from the potato famine and religious persecution.

Anyhow, I'm proud to do my little part in the grand scheme of things. Voting is something that everybody should do, and you definitely should use it before you lose it.

Snow shoveling

Shit, I'm in the wrong line of work, I should frakking shovel snow for the city.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S274209.shtml?cat=89

Apparently the foreclosure mess is screwing up sidewalk snow removal and people have to shell out:

The city of St. Paul charges $160 an hour, while Minneapolis charges $300 an hour—plus a $103 citation.

Phuck me!

Facebook advertising debacle

http://blog.wired.com/business/2007/12/advertisers-snu.html

Apparently Facebook thought it would be a good idea to sell-out to advertisers. Now I've got no beef with a company trying to make some money, or even trying to capitalize on their popularity, but I disagree with their stupid scheme of having Facebook members be notified anytime their friends buy something online from the advertisers. Honestly, do you really give a phuck what or where your friend bought a pair of Nikes? It's not like we are in middle school where we wanted to be like everybody else. Grow up people.

Billo to debate Alf on Faux News

Apparently having run out of guests to insult, Bill O'Reilly will debating imaginary puppets instead. Check it!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFk_Mxc-ugc

Celebrity gossip blog

Forget TMZ or Perez Hilton, Dlisted is where it's at! How come we can never get enough celebrity gossip? I must admit I always made fun of my sister for reading all those US Weekly magazines and People while I was reading The Economist, but now I see who was the wiser. Nobody gives a phuck about Sudan, but the fact that Britney is preggers again is big news.