In the words of the immortal Ice Cube

"It's Friday and you ain't got sh*t to do."

Word to that!

DNC, Day 4

Alright, Boston's day in the sun is almost over and hopefully we can get back to some sort of normalcy. Lot's of protests and celeb sightings have been going down but unfortunetly I have not been able to check any of them out.

Moving onto something more important. It's the dawn of a new season for the defending SuperBowl Champion New England Patriots, as they open mini camp today. It should be an exciting few weeks as they gear up for the September 9 KickOff Extravaganza vs. Peyton and the boys from Indy on the nationally televised season opener.

who is running this show?

Dim Gillette Razor Promo Goes Badly With DNC Security

DNC, Day 3

Ride uneventful and I have ceased caring.
At work on time.

Got to get my head in the game. Could be big things for me today...

Son, let me tell you something about life and women:

When a girl says, "Let's just be friends" what she really means is "Please fill in the gaps left by the guys I am currently f@#*ing".

-Hugh MacLeod


 

DNC, Day 2

I shouldn't even be here today.

So there was suspicious activity on the Red Line tracks today. Whatever this was, lead my Commuter Rail to be be delayed in Quincy Center. MBTA's brilliant thinking was to load us up on the Red Line to North Quincy, where we were to take shuttle buses to Ashmont and then to take the Red Line into South Station. All in all quite the clusterfuck.

I'm so glad that Jon asked me to come in today.

DNC Week

Hey guys, this is a very special week. The DNC is in town for the next 4 days and I'll be coming at you as often as I can with my nonpartisan take on things.

Everyone know what's going on? Hometown Senator makes his triumphant return to accept the Democratic nomination. Hosted by a local mayor who has put Boston squarely in the national media spotlight. A city brought to its knees by traffic hassle and aforementioned mayor's contract squabbles with local police unions. So that's the cliff notes version of things for you out of town readers.

Saw I, Robot this weekend. And much to everyone else's disagreement I thought it was a pretty good movie. Quite frankly I think the movie was marketed all wrong. This wasn't your typical Will Smith summer blockbuster fare. There was no comedic cornball angle, no one getting jiggy with it and we are still waiting on the Pepsi/Taco Bell tie-ins. Instead it was a psychological thriller with Smith flexing his acting chops just as much as his still Ali-esque muscles.

But that might be due to the fact that I went into it with absolutely no expectations whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, I know about the great hype machine that has been working overdrive the past few weeks, putting Will Smith's mug everywhere I turn. I can handle the MTV specials, and the endless trailers during prime time coverage, but the 10 feet posters hanging in the Galleria was a bit much.

Long story short: if science fiction has ever taught us anything it is.... to never give computers Artificial Intelligence. Bad things man, bad things.

With that being said, check this bad Larry out: 20 Q's

My commuter rail was delayed for an hour today. One freaking hour. And this had absolutely nothing to do with the DNC traffic snarls. This was a simple old-fashioned case "engine trouble"... or so they tell us.

Big Tex gets his sixth Tour de France

Wear Yellow: Livestrong

the aftermath...

Well it's Friday morning and the WillStock has come and gone. I HAVE A SPLITTING HEADACHE. God does this feel anticlimactic. And for one very good reason: Will is sitting across from me right now. Still at work. Hey you got to give it to the guy he is a trooper. He took his licks like a champ last night and made it in to work at 8:30 (lucky for him Kerry got him home in once piece).

It's like this, yesterday was the like the last day of middle school. Everyone is stir crazy just waiting for the bell to rind and get the hell out of there. You got a full summer ahead of you. Swimming, playing some catch, eating Popsicles and nothing expected out of you except some quality lounging. But wait... all of sudden the school committee lets you know that there was an extra snow day back in January that needs to be made up the next day. Your heart drops and it's like, "Why am I hear?"

Oh well, got to make the best of the situation. The NY Times is here to write up a story about BzzAgent. Looks like we are going to be big news. It's really dawning on me that Bzz and Word of Mouth is going to the next big thing. The wave of the future? Hopefully. Maybe we'll even take the jump to Pantheon level (insert Sports Guy plug here). Only one thing left to do: take an Advil, get some OJ in my system and act awake for the remainder of the day.

WillStock

Let the games begin!

Second to last day at the office for Will means one thing: Office party. Anyone in the Boston area, meet on down at the Bell in Hand by Faneuil Hall today.

Going to be fun!

Dear Ron,

I am sorry that I ever doubted you. I am sorry that I was simply too lazy to visit more often. I should have cared more. Sure I was tired, but you have always been there for me when I needed you. I have to make a confession. I visited "you know who" down the street. I know it was wrong, but I had no choice. It was late, I wasn't thinking. It made perfect sense at the time.

And today, sitting here at work eating my lunch I realize what a fool I had been. Lettuce, I hate shredded lettuce. You know that, of course you would know that. You've been a part of my life since high school. Every Tuesday, we would share something special. Oh and don't get me started. It jus wasn't the same. They didn't care if I wanted cheese or not. They didn't even ask what kind of bread I wanted. I panicked and had plain wheat. Just pathetic. I am so disappointed with my sandwich. A foot long chicken salad sub for $3.99 when everyone worth their salt, knows that on Tuesdays, that should be a $2.99 sub. Cucumbers, hot peppers, carrots... all extra. GOD, what's wrong with them?

I knew I was making a mistake when I went to the Subway at the Rotary and now I'm in a world of hurt. I have only myself to blame. I have learned from my mistakes and will be buying my Subway only from you.  

Sincerely,

Disappointed and hungry

Early morning. Best girl's gone. Weather has been pretty gross. Feeling kind of down lately.
 
I miss the OC.
 
I miss Summer.
 
 

Hot time in a small town

Have been living at home for the past two years and there's only so many movies to watch and if you go to the Orchid more than once a month you can really sign up for full-fledged townie status (shudder). So when the chance to do something fun arises, I jump at the opportunity... and jump I did.

Veronica, a former co-worker of mine at the Hive, attended local State U. and has family that lives in my town. At work, over IM we used to bond over to Dave's Diner, the bowling alley (her granddad used to own) and best of all, the Galleria. This mall is pretty much the only show in town when you don't have your license. God, I know I'm not that old yet, but teenagers are the worst. Nothing like seeing 14 years girls wearing pink thongs and fake Coach hats. Except, their prepubescent male counterparts in their Mike Vick throwbacks. A recent venture to see a Friday night flick with Frank in literally drove me to drink. But I digress.

V invited me to attend her annual family BBQ/gathering. But what the heck? I like cold drinks. I like hot eats. And it's Sunday night. I guess I didn't really know what I was getting into. Man this was one huge shindig. Three gas grills, horseshoe pits, and allegedly hayrides on the tractor. Doesn't get more wholesome, small town white bread than that. Not that I felt out of place, I've been the only Asian kid in town (save my cousins) since Bush 1.0 was in office, so I'm used to it. And best of all: a giant inflatable orange dinosaur to bounce in.

A good time had by all... in... with a giant inflatable orange dinosaur. Go figure.

Jared's back, back again, now tell a friend...

The lovable, slimmed and trim Jared Fogle has returned once again to tout Subway, in the fight against... childhood obesity?

over/under

No decision is completely arbitrary. Roll a die, pick a card – some unarticulated motive will affect the outcome. Nothing is pure chance.

At the start of each day, you make a choice. And you have to live with it. You’ve learned how to navigate your top drawer and the silks and cottons it holds, but getting her has been a process. In the beginning, you had no say - someone else put them on and took them off. But then underwear became perhaps the first sartorial choice in your life. Your inner child knows that the skivvies you put on are intimately connected to who you are, hence the wailing echo of “I wanna wear my Underoooos!” Outside, you were just another goofy three-year old. Inside, you were Aquaman.

The change from Justice League to snug and silky is subtle; underwear evolution comes without color commentary. But each year, your natural selections take on greater import. It’s a complicated cocktail of mood and intentions, choosing underwear is: an expression of how you forecast the day ahead, your expectations and hopes, maybe eve your dreams.

Your underwear sends a signal. But it also transmits a message inward, whether you want to receive it or not. Like on those days when you catch yourself lingering just a little too long at the top drawer as you mentally fast-forward to the shank of the evening. No! you say, that has nothing to with it, claiming mom and paramedics as you select. But as you anxiously gulp one more beer with your best friend’s recent ex and your silky blues struggle to readjust themselves, you know that something that was not supposed to be there is. It’s taunting you, flaunting you; it’s got you under its skin. At the end of the day, you can’t hide who you are. Or what you want. Your underwear does not lie.

You know what's great?

When all of a sudden you realize how hot one of your acquaintances, friend or even coworkers are. BAM! It just hits you. Wow, she is really hot. A girl that I know has just returned from an extended hiatus and for whatever reason... I'm totally digging her this morning. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't seen her in a while? Maybe it's that freshly bronzed tan that she is sporting from a week away on holiday? Or perhaps, it's that snug black cotton/lycra top she is wearing. Yeah, it's definitely the top. Sweater kittens are a glorious thing ladies. :)

Work sucks

According to the urban dictionary a pion is: an underpaid bitch

Yup, that's me... for now.

guilty pleasure

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one’s gonna drag you up
To get into the light where you belong
But where do you belong
I saw the sign and it opened up my mind
And I am happy now
Living without you
I’ve left you all alone
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one’s gonna drag you up
To get into the light where you belong
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign

boob

I am writing this because I know that you will be reading this. I hope that the old saying is true and that the third time is the charm. Of all the people I have given my heart to, you are the one I want to continue having in my life. Whatever silly, beautiful, ugly thing that we had for the past year was a part of me. That is why it hurts so much; you were a part of my life and now that you are gone, a part of me has gone too. The finality of this is really quite sobering. Like I said I never want things to go back the way they were because the way things were, was not letting you be happy. I wish things could be that unique, special thing that we once shared. However brief and fleeting that special time was, it was worth it.

Love,

me

Game over...

Well, the streak is finally over. Eric Gagne's streak of 84 straight saves ended Monday night when the Arizona Diamondbacks scored a run in the ninth. 84 saves over the course of two-seasons. Amazing.

I've always been a fan of Eric Gagne. One, he plays for the Dodgers. I was born in LA and proudly wore my Dodger Blue satin jacket from '84-'87. If Nomar was to ever be traded to/or acquired by LA I might have to take a long hard look in the mirror. Two, in BUMLB II I took a waiver wire flyer on this Canadian lefty, barley hanging onto the number five spot in LA's rotation. Suffice it to say I struck gold. You don't have t-shirts with "Game Over" and your face printed on them by being some kind of stiff. Oh yeah, and that face. That beautiful goateed, goggle eyed mug. The one wearing the sweat-stained hat, that's good for an entire 162 games. The epitome of a closer.

I can say that I saw the game's greatest closer at his best. A few years back I was at Dodger Stadium, with Matt, to see LA take on the D Backs*. The Dodgers were up 2-0 going into the top of the ninth. Like the typical LA fan base, everyone was pretty much on the way out. But I had to stick around. I had some extra incentive on this game. A little action, if you will. Every time the Dodgers shutout an opponent, every fan in attendance receives a dozen free Krispy Kreme Donuts. Two outs, none on, with Gagne having just struck out the previous batter with a 97 MPH fastball up high, a ridiculous 76 MPH changeup and the most beautiful 12-6 curveball that these eyes have ever seen and Matt Williams* at bat. The fans that remained were going crazy. Matt and I were exchanging high fives with everyone around. Intense. FREE DONUTS and a Dodger win; traffic back to Newport Beach wouldn't be that bad at all. The windup, the pitch... and gone. Thome sent Gagne's 98 mph offering back into deep right field. 2-1 Dodgers win. No shutout, no Krispy Kreme, 2 hours playing soccer and smoking cigarettes in parking lot waiting for traffic to die down. And being able to see the master at work. GAME OVER
 
*edited with help from Matt

Dawn of a new day

Last night was a pretty tough pill to swallow. I was supposed to pick up my cousin Jon at Logan last night after work. His plane should have arrived shortly before six which would have been perfect for me. Leave work the normal time and swing by. Pick him up, grab some drink and food, watch the game. For some weather related reason his plane did not come in until almost 8. Fine I'll just wander around the city for a bit. And then the beauty of airport traffic and believing Massport. Exits changed, roads closed. There's a reason I always fly out of Providence. And if anyone wants to visit me, I advise you flying into T.F. Greene.

Finally after securing the pickup, Jon and I were able to head off to Brookline and the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse just in time for the 6th inning of the game. That Manny can sure swing a big stick! Good times had by all. But for those of you who aren't a part of the Red Sox nation and do not know... Sox lost 5-4 in 13th. SWEPT BY THE YANKEES It doesn't get any lower. Oh yeah, the Devil Rays are right on our tails in the AL East.

So there is only one thing to do. Packing up it up and heading on down to the Sun
Come Play! Yes, indeed we shall. Indeed we shall.

LOL

Just sitting here quietly at work doing BzzReports and all of a sudden Tim freaks out. Something from the ceiling has been dripping on him and he just now realized what it was: urine. The company above us has a dog and it seems that they forgot to take him for a walk today. Tim is not amused. He is covered in dog piss. So is his desk, his laptop, and his mouse pad. I'm sorry I can't stop laughing, Tim.

hook, line and sinker

Just tried some of this new Coke C2 stuff. And it tastes pretty damn good. Good in the sense that it tastes just like Coke. I've never been one to buy into the whole carb free, Atkins craze that has been sweeping the nation, but this stuff is just as good.