The other day, I was talking to someone about the Atari. He said that it was a poor-man’s Intellivision, and so began one of the weirdest conversations I’ve ever had. It wasn’t an argument, per se, but it was an out-of-the-blue chat about what made one video game system better than the other.
As I’ve been watching the stock market spiral into mid-90s territory – and realizing that my dream of retiring before, oh, 90, is gone – it’s been tough to find any bright spots. I mean, it’s really been a tough few months. When Citi can announce that it’s finally profitable and it causes a 300-point jump in the Dow, that’s a testament to the state of the economy.
In fact, the recent economic downturn has even changed the way we talk to one another. At work, at home or just around friends, we’re continually couching things in terms of the economy.
The other day, I got a link in Facebook to write 25 things about myself. So, it seemed like a good one for the Sweet Monkey Pie blog. Because if I’m going to write something for fun, I damn well better do it on this site first. Since this will get updated automatically on my Facebook site, this is a true “two birds with one stone” situation. Enjoy.
Although we got back from the Disney cruise about a week ago, I’m just getting around to writing up my thoughts. So, here’s my take on cruising with Mickey, in oh-so-easy-to-write bulleted form.
Tomorrow, the family and I are heading to the airport, then to the Atlanta airport, then to the Orlando airport, then to a bus to Port Canaveral, and finally to the Disney Magic. I’m starting a friggin’ seven-day cruise square in the face. Seven days of R&R after a year that’s been, well, all too heavy on stress and way to light on either R or R.
As the last few presidential elections have shown, Americans are easy to break down into groups. Especially at election time. From soccer moms in 2000 to NASCAR dads in 2004, we’re all just caricatures. This year, the gross oversimplifications are coming fast and furious. Joe Sixpack. Joe the Plumber. Pro-Americans. There are probably more… I just can’t keep track. Read more…
HOW IN THE HELL DO WE KEEP FINDING POLITICIANS THAT CAN’T PRONOUNCE THIS WORD!!!!!!
I should probably have something more lucid to say, but that’s it.
Earlier today, I saw an article on a newsfeed called “Blizzard of Lies,” written by Paul Krugman from the New York Times. He basically documents the blatant and outright deception that the McCain camp is pulling. Makes me completely sure that I made the right choice. Read more…
Get ready… I’m probably going to ramble… First, some background. Believe it or not (given my rants on this site over the past three years), I’m still a registered Republican. It’s not that I view myself as a Republican, but when I registered to vote in 1989, they were the party in power… the party of my grandfather, the man I most admired… and the party whose ideals most closely aligned with my 18-year-old wannabe Alex P. Keaton self.
This morning, I got a salient reminder on why I won’t miss the W. presidency. No, I didn’t fill up my car with $3.70 gas. And no, another classmate from high school didn’t die in Iraq. This realization occurred when MSNBC broke in on their Olympic coverage to televise Bush’s feelings (thoughts? missives?) on the Russia-Georgia conflict. And, believe it or not, it comes down to those who like freedom and those who don’t. Shocker.
