Canada...The Land of the Socialist...

That's where I am right now, I found a way to make it Auto Post while I am off and far away from all things Internet...

Like I said, I'm in Canada with my family on one last family vacation! When I heard that we were off to Canada I did what I always do..Hit up Wikipedia..Here are a few interesting/cool things I found out about or neighbors to the north.

Vancouver initially existed for one sole purpose and that is GOLD, the entire area was full of people looking for it during the Gold Rush of the 1800's..They became an official city in 1886 naming it after George Vancouver, the city did burn down two months later and was rebuilt..(Who helped discover this area as well as Hawaii and part of Alaska)

Vancouver is known as the Hollywood of the North, only L.A. and New York film more movies in North America. (260 were filmed in 2008)...

I continued to read the Wikipedia, but there wasn't alot of things that I felt would really interest my audience, (also considering 25% of "My Audience" will be with me)

So how about a riot photo?

I'll be back to blogging much more often when I return to the states and internet.

Don't forget to click on an ad or two!

A few Pictures...

These are a few pictures I have picked up over the year of Internet browsing at Citizens Bank...Enjoy

The end of banking for me...

Well today was my last day at the bank! (If you didn’t know I've been serving as Sr. Vice-President at a local bank in Abilene for the past 3 years) And I am moving on to bigger and better things! I will be adding to the resume by working at FDLIC...I will be a "Staff Accountant" The prospect of this is exciting and scary! (I have a Finance degree, not Accounting)


I have loved my time at the bank, I have learned a little (I make dang good popcorn) and met some great people..But now it is time to move on!!! SEE YA LATER bank! HELLO ACCOUNTING!

I will try to work a blog or two in from my vacation next week in beautiful Vancouver Canada! Assuming I have time to, I plan to do a lot of rioting while I'm there!!



Kill the TV...

As Netflix grows in popularity, and Hulu seems to have fewer annoying commercials, the idea of paying a traditional cable or satellite bill has less and less appeal. I personally have now been without cable TV for 4 going on 5 months now (I know this sounds like an AA meeting, but it wasn't that bad). Personally, I haven't really missed it! One of the things I really don't miss is the $70.00 bill each month! (The Real House Wives of ______, aren't worth that)!


Since venturing into the land of fewer pixels, I have picked up a few ways of getting a fix (I'm on step 5 of 12)..here are a few:

Netflix:

The first is Netflix, it's awesome! You can pay 8.99 a month to watch unlimited content on your TV, computer, Wii, or iPhone (there are many more options, these are the ones I happen to use). They have sooo much great content, but I'll stay away from the movies since this is "Killing the TV.." and not "Killing your local Blockbuster".. I guess Red Box kinda did that one for me....I digress, Netflix TV library is ever growing, but a few of my personal favorites include: Californication, Mad Men, Spartacus, The Office, Studio 60 (great show, btw). There is such a wide selection, and you can start watching on one device and pick up later that day on another.

Netflix: A+

The World Wide Web:

The Web is huge, no one would have ever guessed that it would play the roles it does in our lives today, no not even you Mark Cuban and Al Gore. You can watch just about any show out there by simply tying in..." Dancing with the Stars Full Episode" now you may have to deal with Japanese subtitles, and this is no where as neat and simple as Netflix, but its FREE! There are also sites like Hulu out there that allow you to watch current shows at the price of watching a 30 second commercial by Ford. There are also similar sites by all the major TV networks...worth a look and once again they are FREE and current shows, both of which you can not get with Netflix...

The World Wide Web: B+

Friends...
Yup, we all have them, so use them! There are some things that the above options just can't cover, like Live Sporting Events, but isn't it a lot cheaper, and maybe even more fun to take over some food or drinks, and take advantage of your dumb friend who is still paying those high bills.

Friends: B-

Options not mentioned:

The Pirate Bay or other download sites (A++ if you don't get caught, D- if you do)

Antenna..Picks up all the basic channels in HD for free (A+ its cheap and easy)

Just don't watch TV? Maybe, read a book? (NO GRADE)

52nd post.

Wordless Wednesday...

Cant misspell this one..

Get it grandma.

Bridesmaids...

I would like to think of my self as a movie connoisseur, but there is one thing I do not do very often, and that is actually go to the movies. (Red Box all the way) Last night my lady friend and I went to the movies and saw Bridesmaids, yes, I know it has been out for a while and we are a bit behind the curve...


I actually really liked the movie, it was very vulgar at times, similar to a female version of "Knocked Up" or "The Hangover"...but all in all it was pretty funny! If you are not someone who is easily offended it’s a must see.
One of the best parts of the movie (and what made it worth reviewing and seeing) was every scene with Melissa McCarthy. This chick was hilarious! I looked her up on IMDB when I got home, and she has been in a lot of TV shows (Samantha Who?/Gilmore Girls/Mike & Molly) and a few movies, mostly serious roles (Charlie’s Angels & an uncredited role in Shooter) I really hope we begin to see more of her! (I made this same wish regarding Ashton Kutcher and now really regret it, Two & a Half Men really??)

I recommend this one, if nothing else it’s a new take on a sometimes over used genre. Give it a watch

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89/100
The Burroughs Index: 4/5

Wordless Wednesday

This was at a recent Rangers game..Pretty funny

The Penny Story..

 

A penny, 1/100th of a U.S. dollar, or as the Brits call them a Pence...This is one of the many things that are a complete waste of time for America. (similar to anything dealing with Sarah Palin)

The cost to America to produce one of the shiny Lincolns is actually more than their worth! ( 1.79 cents according to the U.S. mint in 2010)... So, you ask yourself why are we wasting time and resources producing currency that half of Americans wont even bend down to pick up off the street..Well I think it may be so that Yahoo can post entertaining stories about them!

Today I read a story about a man in Utah (yea I know that should have been my first indication) who paid his $25 dollar medical bill (which he disputed he even owed) in all pennies, yup, 2,500 little Lincolns. After he poured them on the counter and demanded they count them (Should have said PLEASE) they proceeded to call the police and have him arrested. He was arrested and fined $140 dollars for "disorderly conduct"..Maybe he should try to pay this fine in two dollar bills just to be on the safe side..


There are many stories about people paying for things in all pennies..I think ill stick to a credit card, much easier and you get the points!

That's a million dollars in pennies

Red Robin.........

Yummmmmm......

I think I will be having this for dinner, it is hard to blog when you have dinner on the mind. and its even harder to turn down bottomless steak fries and camp fire sauce!

Robin Facts:

There are over 150 stores in the U.S. and 18 in Canada

The "Bottomless fries" were introduced in 1994.

Red Robin is a publicly traded company NASDQ: RRGB

My top 25

I have been working on this for a while now, it is by no mean comprehensive and I'm sure it will change but here it is...

My Top 25 Movies of the past 10 years.. (plus 2011)

25. The Hurt Locker (Restrepo, is alot better)
24. History of Violence
23. The Dark Night
22. District 9
21. The Kings Speech
20. Blow
19. Toy Story 3
18. Wedding Crashers
17. Zomieland
16. Memento
15.Star Trek
14. Finding Nemo
13.There Will Be Blood
12. The Departed
11. Monsters Inc.
10. No Country for Old Men
9. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
8. Lucky Number Slevin
7. Little Miss Sunshine
6. Black Swan
5. Inglorious Bastards
4. The Hangover
3. Inception
2.American History X
1. The Social Network

Those that just missed the cut..

True Grit

Waiting for Superman

Restrepo

The Fighter

Shutter Island

Thank you for smoking

The Blind

 Food Inc.

Should have made the list but its just to old...

Pulp Fiction

The Shawshank Redemption

Schindlers List

Se7en

Silence of the Lambs

Forest Gump

Good Will Hunting

Rainman

Shaq wont be back...

As I am sure most of you have heard the big man, The Big Agave, RETIRED. Yes, after 28,596 points (#5 all time) , 1,207 games, 12 All star games, 11 movies, 6 NBA teams, 5 rap albums, 4 championships, and countless reality TV failures.. Love him or hate him, there is no denying this guy was larger than life, I personally haven't watched or played a video game with out him in my short 22 years.

Shaq was drafted by the Magic out of LSU after 3 years, then 4 years later he "Took his talents to L.A." (could another big man from Orland have this in his future??) After picking up a few rings in L.A. with the Colorado Rapist (get it?) he hopped around to Miami, (picked up another)Phoenix, Cleveland, and limped into Boston. That's his career in a nut shell.

There has not been a more polarizing figure in the NBA to my knowledge, I mean, who releases rap albums and stars in a movie Shazammmmm?? (wont be in my top 50 this year) O and he was a great basketball player the whole time!

Here's to you Super Man.

Fun Fact: Shaq shoe size is 23