Archive for the ‘Hmmm’ Category
Filed under: Hmmm
They have a great thing over in the states. It is called Redbox and allows a person to rent most new movies for 1 dollar a day. When I am there I make liberal use of it, but I saw an article about the big movie companies like fox and universal demanding that wholesalers not sell to the company because they are not getting any type of profit sharing. I say B.S. on those companies. Redbox is suing and I hope to god they win, because the greed of the movie studios in this case is sickening. Seriously so. People are getting a great deal, and to be honest, the Redbox thing is what made me actually rent movies again because otherwise you pay a ridiculous price for like five days. I don’t need a movie for five days, so I felt like the rental stores were ripping me off by forcing me to take a movie for five days so I just stopped renting movies.
The idea that they are upset because somebody is making money legally that they don’t have their greedy, slimy hands in just really rubs me the wrong way. If they did get Redbox stopped I would stop renting movies and then campaign to get everyone else I know to boycott those studios and all their releases. Why the heck don’t they just move to compete with their own type of Redbox and give people what they obviously want instead of trying to suck everything they can get? That would make a lot more sense than pissing off all the people, customers, who really appreciate what Redbox offers, legally. The movie studios were saying that it undervalues their stuff, well they are seriously overvaluing their stuff. I enjoy movies but, you know what, you stupid movie studios, I could live without them and you.
Tags: greed, movie rentals, movies, prices
Filed under: Hmmm
Alright, summer is here. Yeahhh!!! But that also seems to increase the insect, the creepy crawly, population around the house as well. I keep finding bugs in the house. Lots of spiders too. I am mostly alright with them, except when they drop down from the ceiling just in front of me while watching a movie with the lights darkened. I am also really not fond of them when I am taking a shower and find out that apparently a really large one took a shower with me as well. Then there is just sitting at my desk working diligently at staying awake only to catch movement out of the corner of my eye and when I look over there are a whole bunch of little spiders crawling up the wall right beside me. I must admit that after that I was awake and didn’t have to try anymore to stay that way for the rest of the day.
Then there are the ants. I am not sure what they are here for, I don’t leave food lying around and I keep a fairly clean place but I keep finding them crawling across the floor or along the wall. Those places aren’t so bad, but when I am sitting there again working diligently to stay awake and feel them crawling on my leg that is a bit much, although again, I don’t have to work at staying awake anymore for the rest of the day. Mainly because the first thing I think is not that it is an ant crawling on me but that it is a spider. And of course I couldn’t forget to mention mosquitoes, although they don’t seem to be as numerous as the other two. I see more gnats than I do mosquitoes. And that, is a good thing trust me.
Tags: ants, bugs, spiders, troublesome
Filed under: Hmmm
There has been a story in the news for a bit now about a young 11 year old girl. I guess she is in danger of being deported. Both of her parents are legally in the United States and seem to have gone through all the necessary requirements to stay, but when their daughter was younger they had a lawyer who apparently missed a deadline that he or she shouldn’t have. So as a result, the girl is supposed to leave the states, really the only home she has known, to go back to Poland to stay with virtual strangers for a year while her citizenship or green card petition is decided. Since he lawyer missed the deadline she is supposedly not legally allowed to wait in the states. So she has to go back to Poland for a year and wait there. I think that is a bit stupid. Wasn’t her fault and they were in every other thing doing what was needed for citizens of the United States. In this case I would really call for leniency, let her stay here in the school she has been attending with the friends she has while waiting. Both her parents are legal immigrants, why the heck would you send her out of the country away from her parents to relatives she doesn’t know all that well? Make her go to school in a country where she wouldn’t be able to actually understand the lessons because she has grown up here and is not all that familiar with the language there. It just doesn’t make too much sense to me.
I completely understand sending back and being harsh on those who are trying to get around the immigration laws, but the country was made of immigrants. I have absolutely no sympathy for those illegally attempting to claim whatever benefits they can from the United States. In this case, though, it was a mistake by the lawyer and the parents are already legal. I really don’t see why there would be an issue in the first place.
Tags: deportation, Ewelina Bledniak, lawyer, mistake
Filed under: Hmmm
I know a lot of people are already talking about Michael Jackson’s death but I am still going to add my two cents. There seems to be a lot of emotion both ways. Those who miss him and those who don’t understand why everyone cares so much. Those who don’t understand why everyone feels as they do are probably not able to get their thoughts out much past themselves. Am I saying they are a bit self centered? Yep. Come on, who hasn’t listened to Michael Jackson songs? Who hasn’t enjoyed good times while listening to his music or gotten through bad times? Yes, maybe you haven’t and it may not make sense to you but he was a legend or more correctly his music was a legend. It and he guided a generation or two. There are millions of people out there who were deeply affected by his music, or to whom his music brings back good memories. People associate the music, consciously or unconsciously, with the man and when that is gone it is like a good friend has passed. Someone who was there for you when you needed a bit of cheering and someone who was there for you when you were already cheerful. His music really did play a part in millions of people’s lives.
I know he had some issues but he still gave the world a lot before he started losing himself. He was accused of child molestation but he was also acquitted and he was eccentric but can you imagine the pressure he would be under? How would you deal with millions of people worldwide wanting to be in your life and constantly attempting to see what you are doing at all times of the day? That would be tough for anybody to handle. And in the end rather than his loss of himself towards the end of his life, I sincerely hope that he goes down in history for his music and the affect that had on the world. Rest in peace Michael.
Tags: death of a star, jackson, michael, music
Filed under: Hmmm
Summer is pretty much here and with it comes a lot more travel. People taking time to head out to see their family or friends. Sometimes just heading out to see whatever comes their way. This means a lot more people on already crowded flights in normally unpleasant conditions. They were talking a bit ago about obese people on the planes and how they affect other passengers and what those passengers as well as what the overweight people have to deal with. The airline seats are small and already uncomfortable for skinny or regular sized people. I can imagine what they would be like for someone who is overweight or just plain obese. Other than screaming kids on the plane that is one of the biggest annoyances I can think of.
Having your seatmate attempting to sit only in their seat but also taking up a large portion of yours, the airlines should offer you a discount when that happens. You paid for a whole seat, you should be able to use the whole seat. I understand there are a lot of reasons for people to be overweight but there are not any reasons for them to be forcing themselves upon you. People with broad shoulders can make for more discomfort added to an already uncomfortable seat so you can imagine what it is like when you are having to deal with more of the other person than just their shoulders. I fall into the shoulders category, and I try to position myself so others don’t have to deal with my encroachment into their seat space, but there really is not much you can do for the other person if you are overweight. Some airlines are charging overweight people for an extra seat, which in all honesty I think makes sense. Especially if they are encroaching on another’s seat space; they should be charged or they should pay for the half of your seat space that they take up. I am not trying to be unsympathetic but they should take into account how they are affecting those around them and take steps to minimize that.
Tags: fat, obese, restrictions, travel
Filed under: Hmmm
There was an article recently that was somewhat uplifting. It was not your usual do gooder story it was about a young kid who was graduating college. I think I have written about it before but I find it kind of neat and I happened across a news story on other kids, young people, who are ahead of their peers. Almost ahead of their time. I believe the article talked about a kid that was like twelve or so and was getting his degree in physics and who was also a black belt in a martial art. It was like a ready made movie or tv series. The news story was talking about a teen who was already practicing medicine. He had shown an aptitude for it when he was really young and his parents had encouraged him so now he was already most of his way through school towards being a doctor. I think both of those kids are inspirational because they really do show what is possible. Yes, I am sure they had high IQs but that doesn’t mean much, there are a lot of people with high IQs who are not really doing much. What the kids are showing is passion and drive.
Those are something that I think it would be good for all of us to have more of. I know that a lot of times I tend to let my mind wander off and not stay focused, which is akin to procrastination. Might even be another form, and we all have been associated with procrastination at one time or another. To get through it you really have to be willing to drive yourself or to find the drive and the passion to move through procrastination and self doubt towards your goals. That is what is most extraordinary about the kids, not their intelligence but there passion and drive.
Tags: child, doctor, kid, physicist, prodigy
Filed under: Hmmm
Anybody else found Hulu, yet? I had heard of it but just recently had a chance to take a short look at it. It’s kind of a neat idea. You can find a lot of the shows you enjoy on there and it has fewer adds than regular tv. I don’t think it will replace tv, because they don’t allow a lot of the newer shows, least not the ones I am interested in. However, when that is the case I can often find the newest episodes on the stations web site, often free to view, other than the adds. Which is great because if I miss an episode I can log on and watch the show. With just a little bit of work you can even hook your computer up to your tv and watch the shows like you normally would. It is really quite nice.
I needed to take a break recently and had been thinking about what activity I could do that would require little interaction and thought of tv, of course. The only problem was that there was nothing on at the time, then I remembered hearing mention and seeing the tv commercials about Hulu so I went to the site and checked it out. I think at the time I was looking for Two and a Half Men episodes, but they didn’t have full episodes on the website for the tv station so I was trying to find another place that might have it. Hulu didn’t, but it did have a whole lot of other shows I hadn’t seen in a long time. They had episodes of Simon & Simon, MacGyver, A-team, Remington Steele and a whole lot of the newer cartoon shows. I was really surprised by what was available. I spent a little time and enjoyed watching the first episode of Remington Steele again and that was fun, exactly what I needed. Brain relaxation, with no requirement for actual thought. I will definitely be going back to watch some of the other shows they have.
Tags: brain neutral, online, relaxation, tv
Filed under: Hmmm
Geez, this week seems to be all about phones. Not purposely, but that seems to be what is on my mind the last few days. I mentioned before about cash for mobile phones and was wondering if anybody has any experience with it? I am thinking about it still, but not sure. Most of my friends tend to just dump the things or give them to those charity drive things. No big deal, I was just curious about it as I have run into it a few times recently. It would probably be a good idea if you need a bit of extra cash and had a few old mobiles running around somewhere, maybe even just lying around.
I had a friend mention mobile tv to me as something I should consider when getting my personal phone, but the iPhone (which if you don’t know is what I want) already allows for tv and other fun things. Speaking of fun things, anybody see the article about how application developers are excited about the new things and capabilities introduced to the iPhone 3GS? My friend is happy about the compass, but I am not that big on it. I figure if I ever don’t know where I am or where I am going I am probably having fun. The camera stuff for the new version is supposed to be pretty neat, I have yet to play with one. I am pretty set on the personal phone I want when I take advantage of the upgrade eligibility but as I said earlier this week I still have no idea what I want to do for a business line. I was evening considering not bothering with it and just using my personal phone but some friends suggested that would be a bad idea. It is something to consider but they are probably right.
Tags: 3GS, internet tv, mobiles, small tv
Filed under: Hmmm
I had a guy, after the phone posts, tell me to buy Panasonic cordless phones. I know Panasonic has a pretty good reputation so it is something I am considering. It would go along with my idea for a land line. I had a friend a while ago who asked me to send her a phone from the states because she said the Panasonic phones here were much better than what she could get there. I also know from having some of their other equipment that it is pretty good. Sony and Panasonic are different aren’t they? I think they are. I know Sony stuff is pretty good also, although their customer support is supposed to have a pretty unpleasant reputation. I don’t know much about Panasonic’s reputation. I am sure there are a whole bunch of other choices as well. I do admit that if I go land line for the business phone I will get a cordless one.
It was also suggested I check out Highland Telecom when I get there. Which I will do, although I will probably check it out now instead of later just cause I like to be prepared. Most of the time anyway. Life often goes smoother that way, long as you don’t get upset when things do go sideways of what you had planned. Sometimes things end up being more fun when your plans suddenly change, long as you are willing to go with it and see what comes up new. For me when going places if take a few minutes before hand to check on everything I might need, phone, internet, food, things like that then I also feel a bit more calm because I am not being thrust into a completely new place with no knowledge of it. I have had to do that a few times and trust me it is not as much fun as it sounds.
Tags: cordless, phone choices, phone differences
Filed under: Hmmm
I guess I would class myself currently as one of many mobile phone buyers, although as I mentioned previously I am thinking about going landlocked for a phone. I guess that should be ‘going for a land line’. I still kind of like the idea, it would probably be cheaper in the long run. Cell phones charge you whether you get a call or give a call. Not really fair actually. I like the way they did it when I was overseas, there you were only charged when you made calls; that way if someone called you they paid for their own minutes. That is much nicer than the way they do it in the states. I think I heard that they had changed over there though, so that they were doing it more like the charging systems in the states. I certainly hope not, none of my friends have complained so chances are good they haven’t changed their charging plans.
The thing that would make a good business phone though is one of the smart phones, which I have also mentioned once or twice before. I guess I should start looking into ones beside the iPhone, that is considered a smart phone I believe, but the appeal just hasn’t been there. However, for a business phone there might be more I need to look into than what I have. I think for a personal non-business phone the iPhone is the best bet in my opinion but for a business phone I don’t know. I really haven’t thought about it, I know they are supposed to be able to do a lot of business activities and they are supposed to have security when doing them but I have no idea of what their security is like. Apple itself has a pretty bad reputation in regards to actually being secure. Just because people don’t hit them as much doesn’t mean they are more secure. So, I am not sure about doing banking or business or things like that on the iPhone.
Tags: cell phones, iphones, phone security, smart phones
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