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February 28, 2004
New Nike Ad will be a Winner
The new
Nike
commercial should be a huge success. If you haven't seen it yet,
you will soon, as the blitz is set to start soon. The spot features
famous athletes in a sports role other than their chosen sport. Lance
Armstrong is in the Boxing Ring, and Andre Agassi in a Red Sox uniform, rapping
out a base hit to left field at Fenway Park. Also in the spot Randy Johnson
is a bowler, Serena Williams is a beach Volley Ball player, and more. The
idea is good, but as for originality? Maybe, a little. While
this spot uses the actual athlete to perform each sport, hi-tech special
effects are used to add to the "story telling." Which raises the question,
Does a marginally original idea become successful with the addition of a
big budget and state of the art effects? I think it plays a big part. I
enjoy the spot, but I am left with the feeling that it lacks an original
idea. That said, the spot will still be a huge success because of the cast,
and effects.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
9:29am
February 27, 2004
Passion
If The Passion of the Christ has all the box office success
that it appears it will have, I heard the creators of the film (Mel Gibson
included) are going to follow up the movie with a book, ya know...... about
the story of Christ.... a book.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
2:28pm
The Last Laugh
Well I guess the last laugh is on
Terrell
Owens. The agent for the sometimes pig headed 49ers wide receiver fouled
up some paperwork, and now T.O. is still under contract for the 9ers.
What goes around comes around. Now the team management has to decide
to trade him or keep him. The answer is obvious, trade him. He's not
good for that team.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
11:10am
February 26, 2004
The Unfair Edit
By now I guess most everyone has heard the
condensed State
of the Union address, but in case you haven't here it is. Even if you
have, it's worth a second listen. (brought to you by
KNBR one of my old Bay Area radio
favorites.)
posted by
Andy Loughlin
8:04pm
And It's OUTTA HERE!
To the sounds of a crowd singing Take me Out to the Ball Game,
a Hollywood special effects expert blew up the infamous
Bartman
Ball. This, in an effort to break the Cubs 54 year losing spell.
Will it work? No. Poor Cubs. They still have Sammy Sosa though.
lol. Did Bartman move to Florida permanently?
posted by
Andy Loughlin
6:47pm
February 25, 2004
Hot Spot
Londoners are selling their parking spaces.
$187,500
for a parking spot certainly isn't an investment that will off set the
4 pound per hour parking fee. For the wealthy anything goes, but that's
enough to buy a home
(or two)!
posted by
Andy Loughlin
7:28pm
February 24, 2004
JACKPOT!.... almost
I hit a straight flush today at video poker. Not the Royal Flush, but
the next best thing. My only problem was because I am far
from a hardcore gambler I was at a penny machine, rather than a quarter machine.
My payout? Only $80.00 compared to about $800.00 on a quarter machine.
I did manage to leave the machine with my winning though, and $80 is
still $80 (I had $3 in the machine).
posted by
Andy Loughlin
7:59pm
If Anyone Objects.... Sit Down.
I try not to put myself on only one side of the political spectrum.
I know that's not very realistic in this forum. The fact is, I do find
myself on both sides very often. I agree with
(SouthernCross) Words that
the banning of gay marriages is nothing more than political expediency.
Choosing an election year to amend the constitution to prohibit same
sex marriages seems evidence enough that this is a move to secure votes.
Bush's version, will limit marriages to be only between a man and a women
(so this means I can't be married to my job, I better tell my
boss - oh yea I don't have one). In addition, (Southern Cross) Words
describes a theory, that with the addition of same sex marriages, the
number of heterosexual marriages may decline, thus effecting the tax revenues
for government. I doubt it. If heterosexual marriages are in decline
there are many other rational reasons (if you hear hoof beats think horses,
not zebras). I can't understand why heterosexuals are so afraid of
gay marriages. I understand that due to personal values, or for religious
reasons that one may not agree with gay marriages, but aren't gays and lesbians
afforded the same rights? What does it matter? Really it wouldn't matter,
if it wasn't an election year. I remember a good friend of mine had an aunt
that owned a gay bar in Bay Shore, NY. They performed "ceremonies"
or 'marriages" all the time in the basement, of course they were not a "legal"
marriage, but the idea didn't seem that outrageous to me back then,
and it certainly doesn't now. I don't see a problem with gays and
lesbians adopting either. I have been married to my wife for 11 years,
I have two grown step children and a six year old. If the day comes when
my six year old asks me why a classmate has two mothers (or fathers),
I'll explain it. I won't be difficult. If two people want to
get married, let them get married, and for the divorce attorneys,
let them get divorced as well.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
7:28pm
A What Son of a What?
For those who have nothing but contempt for Bush, you may get a kick out
of this video by NOFX.
For those that are Bush supporters, you may want to pass, although
it's funny either way. The lyrics are rated PG, so if you are at work
you may want to wait until later. Turn up the sound. This is brought to you
by
URGO DOT
ORG, who recognizes how much the young GW resembles Will Ferrell.
Actually GW does make a good elf in ways beyond the photo.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
2:35pm
February 22, 2004
Elect an Electra?
John Kerry and I do have at least one thing in common. We both honed
our skills on the art of playing the Bass Guitar. Ok, it's not an art, but
I thought it was, once (not really, but the dream was alive once).
Kerry's old prep school band,
The
Electras did actually make vinyl, and while I'm not sure what the record
is worth today, I can talk about the bass that is shown in the picture. That
is a Pre CBS Fender Jazz Bass. I know this, because I still own one
of these. Last appraisal put my 1961 bass (the year the
photo was taken I believe) in the $3500 - $4000 range depending on the condition.
After his short musical career, he went on to Yale, Vietnam, started
a career in politics and now will be a candidate for President. As
for me, well I still get around to playing the bass when I can. Still honing
after all these years. Turn the amp up past ten!
posted by
Andy Loughlin
7:56pm
February 20, 2004
History (yeah it's long - sorry)
To understand one issue of concern I have about Las Vegas, one must understand
a little of this areas history. Actually, the area of concern is this
areas history, one particular part of it. I'm not referring to the
mob history of this town, with the likes of Benjamin (Bugsy) Siegel. (Although,
this is an interesting past and I have gone out of my way to see some
of the few original hotels that are left. I also saw the outside neon museum,
but was unable to get into the boneyard of signs.) This part of history is
I believe unknown too many people who live in this town today. Of course
there are people that are aware, but because of the transient nature of Las
Vegas, and the fact that much of the people here have moved here in the last
five years, I would be willing to bet most people are unaware of what went
on here between 1951 and 1992.
It was during these years that a total of
928 nuclear tests
were conducted less that 65 miles from where I live today, in an area known
as the Nevada Test Site (NTS). From 1951 to 1962 all these test (100
total) were atmospheric, since then they all went subterranean. Some
of these tests were meant to be peaceful in nature, like the Sedan
experiment. This included using a nuclear explosive to move earth.
A 104 kiloton explosion displaced about 12 million tons of dirt, leaving
what is now known as the Sudan Crater (1,280 in diameter, and 320
feet deep). Peaceful? Maybe. Sword rattling? Definitely.
In 1992 the US began observing a moratorium on nuclear testing.
Britain, France and Russia are among 76 other countries which
ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty of 1996. The US and China
have signed the agreement but never ratified the pact, but do still observe
the moratorium. Even before I moved here, I was aware of this past.
I heard about it before, but because I was moving here I began to do
some extensive reading about it. I searched very hard to find something
relating to any danger from fallout that exists today. I am unable
to find anything. This could mean that there is no longer a danger, or that
it's kept real hush hush - lol. I believe that if enough people thought
there was a danger there would be somebody talking about it on the internet
somewhere. Not to say that things on the internet are necessarily true,
but I do believe that true or not, if there was a perceived present danger
someone would be writing about it somewhere. I can't find it. If
you read anything pass it along. I did read about the problems the
fallout caused back in the time of the atmospheric tests. People in
Southern Utah, and Northern Arizona (known as Downwinders) developing Thyroid
cancers from dairy cows eating contaminated grass, thus contaminating the
milk. Also the speculation that the cast and film crew of The Conquerers
with John Wayne and Susan Hayward were somehow contaminated from a bomb that
was detonated a week before the filming started. The Conquerers
was filmed on location in Southern Utah.
There were people on that film that did develop cancer, including Wayne (Lung
cancer-smoker) and Hayward (Brain cancer - unknown cause), but they were
all different kinds of cancers. I spoke with my wife's mother (over
70) and although she believes the people of that generation new the bomb
was bad, and the tests may be dangerous, they also believed that it was very
much necessary. I guess I find this all interesting because I live
here now, and everything that went on is all that much closer, and therefore
it's all the more real.
Where does all this past leave us today? Well some
Nevada
officials still feel a bit nervous. The NTS is still a very active
facility, not only in areas of the super secret Area 51, but with nuclear
related testing. The DOE operates their BEEF facility - Big Explosive
Experimental Facility (no mad cow jokes), the DAF which is the Device Assembly
Facility (these are no small devices they are assembling), and then there's
the Yucca
Mountain facility, which if it is ever opened, will be this nations Nuclear
Waste dumping ground. (I will get into this at length in another post).
I guess I might as well throw in the fact that there is also a huge
storage facility at Nellis Air Force Base housing countless nuclear bombs.
What makes Nevada officials extra nervous is the recent nuclear
bomb testing of India and Pakistan, and how that might lead to renewed
testing at the NTS.
Bush has already
hinted at an end to the Nuclear Test Ban Moratorium. In fact, I
believe he has inquired with the military as to how fast the NTS would
be up and ready to resume testing.
Whatever happens, I will live with it. It won't make me move,
but I will keep myself as informed as possible.
I think we all should. The US isn't alone with its test sites. The
British have spent a lot of time cleaning up the Maralinga Site in Australia.
The more we know the better, because we all may be Downwinders someday.
Until then, I may install a Geiger counter on the roof.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
8:06pm
February 18, 2004
Ups & Downs
I've lived in Las Vegas for nearly two months. Not that long. I've
learned that there's some things I really like about this area, some things
that I don't care for, and other matters that are somewhat concerning.
Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets about moving here, the benefits
and upside of living here far outweigh any downside of living here. In
fact the downsides exist in most any city, with the exception of maybe one
or two things... ok maybe three. One of the things I like here
is the food. Keep in mind I have't even begun to scratch the surface
of visiting this towns many acclaimed restaurants. I plan to visit
them, but I haven't had the time to start yet. What I have experienced is
more subtle, like the casual eateries around our neighborhood. Even
take-out food has been a welcomed surprise, and great improvement to what
I have become accustomed to in California. Not that the food my old
state is bad, maybe it's just the change. I like to think it is
due to the fact that there is a more diverse group of people that make up
the owners of these restaurants. I realize this may sound odd, and maybe
even silly but the Chinese, Thai, and even Italian restaurants here are
plentiful, and really good. Reminiscent of my time in New York. The
bread, the pizza, the seafood, the variety. Living in the San
Francisco Bay Area I could find some real good Seafood and Asian food, but
they were in San Francisco for the most part and that meant a small road
trip. Here, it all seems close by. In California, you have to look
real hard to get a good pizza, there's a few places I know, but not many.
They all like to claim they are "New York Style" pizza, but 99% of the time
- not even close. Maybe it's the water. I suspect that if
the small neighborhood restaurants are any indication of what else is out
there, we will be very pleased.
I don't like the traffic here. I'm used to traffic. Driving is a huge
part of my job, I drive all over. I've driven all over the L.A area
and the Bay Area (and in between), so I like to think I'm a bit of an expert
in driving in a lot of traffic. Not here. Maybe I should rephrase.
Maybe it's not the traffic, maybe it's the drivers. I know, that
much of the context of this town is "party till you drop", and the fact that
my auto insurance has nearly doubled since moving here tells me
that this area has its share of people mixing the party with driving.
But that's not all of it. Caltrans has done a much better job
at designing and constructing the highway infrastructure than Nevada has.
I'm not surprised. California has had more time. More experience.
Los Angeles has a long history of love for the automobile, and
California has responded with some of the best roads and freeways there
are. I know there are some that would say "to hell with the cars, take
the train, you pigs are polluting our air and ruining the environment!"
and while I agree to an extent, I can't take my bicycle out in the field
to do my job. I could look into one of the newer half electric,
half gasoline vehicles though. Maybe I will. Especially if they increase
the gas tax, and we end up paying $1 per liter as in other countries.
So there it is. Something I like about Las Vegas, and something I don't
like. Oh hell, I can live with the traffic. As for the issues which
raise concern, I will save them for another post. I'll need the room.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
10:22pm
February 17, 2004
Dead Mice Spokesvermon
If you are in a Quizno's Sub restaurant
market, you've already seen the TV spots. If you are not, you must
click on the links here. The first time I saw the spot I was turned
off, but soon after I began laughing. As soon as I started laughing
I knew the spot was going to be a huge success. A kind of "any publicity
is good publicity" phenomenon that works so well for celebs, even when they
are in some sort of embarrassing trouble. Through the humiliation, they end
up profiting in some way.
AdAge
describes the spot well. "Dead Vermin Sell Quizno's Subs. The
ads feature two withered mice. Actually, they look more like animated
mouse carcasses. There's one mouse carcass with a bowler hat, one with an
18th-century commodore's hat, and between them two mouthfuls of maloccluded
human teeth and four bulging, mismatched eyeballs. Think Mr. Potato Head,
only with vermin." I have been selling advertising for a long time now, and
although I sell smaller markets, I have had the pleasure (or displeasure)
of presenting an advertising proposal to corporate decision makers nervously
hoping they were understanding me, and trying not to sweat too much. After
seeing the spots all I could think of, is that someone got up in front of
a media buyer and pitched this idea. I wish I could have been there.
I want to see how they did it. The simple fact is, that long
after the spot was over we were all still talking about it, and
now I'm writing about it. You may love it. You may hate it. The
ad works! In my opinion I think the ad is very funny. Quizno's will
do well with his ad campaign, plus..... "they got a pepper bar!"
posted by
Andy Loughlin
9:05pm
Morphing
Anyone who saw Jay Leno last night saw the comparison of John Kerry to Lurch
(Ted Cassidy) of the Addams Family.
Andymatic had the
idea first, but used Herman Munster (Fred Gwynn) instead. I like the
Lurch comparison better, but give credit to Andymatic for the idea.
I'm sure stand up comedians all over are working on their John
Kerry impersonations already. Wonder who will get the role on SNL?
Darrell Hammond has put on a good Clinton and George W, but Kerry?
I don't know.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
7:59pm
Play Ball
Evidently the Yankees are
denying
any interest in acquiring Greg Maddux. This, only one day after announcing
that A-Rod would be joining the pinstripes. After hearing the news
about A-Rod, my first thought was about the pitching, and filling the void
left from Pettitte and Clemens. But the latest possibility of getting
Greg Maddux almost seemed too good to be true (if you are a yankee fan).
I still think the pitching needs improvement. Pitching is what wins
games in the post season.
Besides, if the Yankees were to get Maddux, MLB would have to reschedule
the All Star Game... to everyday the Yankees play.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
8:55am
February 16, 2004
Happy Presidents Day
It's time for revelry
in the taverns throughout the land! That's where I'll be all day.
Actually, in a election year it forces you to wonder who will be our
next president. I think the Dem. voters are set on putting up the best
person to defeat Bush, aside from whether or not that person is in sync with
their political views.
That looks like it will be John Kerry. He's from Massachusetts.
He heroically captained a patrol boat. His
initials are JFK. I don't know if the coincidences will make a difference,
but Kerry needs to hang onto any advantage he can, since we haven't elected
a president from a northern state since the original JFK. (Gerald Ford was
appointed.)
Something to ponder while drinking your Sam Adams.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
10:14am
February 15, 2004
From Soccer Moms to Nascar Dads
President Bush visited the Daytona 500 today.
"Gentleman
Start Your Engines" could have been "Gentleman Please Keep Voting for
Me." The fact that Bush is giving the attention to this group is easy
to understand. The Nascar group is huge, and the popularity of the sport
has been growing at a race car's pace. What I don't understand is why some
people in the media would refer to the Nascar Dads as a possible swing
vote. It seems like Bush campaigning to this group is like preaching
to the choir.
The Nascar
Dad is already a devout conservative republican, at least for the most
part. Unless of course, Bush feels the need to protect this group from straying,
which of course would make a very tempting scenario for the Dems. Maybe
Kerry will sponsor a race car. They can put his name right next
to the Budweiser logo. Anyway, it was nice to see
Dale
Earnhardt Jr. win the Daytona 500 this year.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
9:56am
Good News!
The excavation of our lot has passed inspection, so now the workers
can begin pouring the concrete foundation. This process took longer than
I thought it would. Evidently the "hole in the Ground" needs to be
flooded several times in order for the ground to settle properly, or
something like that. In any case it's all dry now, and ready to
build on. The target date for completion is still July, we'll see.
Another great note, is that this area has proven to be an awesome
investment area. The BLM is no longer releasing new areas for developers,
so the prices are skyrocketing. This is true for not only homes, but
the lots they are on as well. It feels real good to be locked in, to
start the whole process now would cost an additional $30,000. That's
how fast the prices going up. At this rate this area will be priced
similar to that of California. If anyone is interested... BUY
IN VEGAS NOW! ...oh yea, but please pick up some water on the way, thanks.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
7:50pm
February 14, 2004
What am I doing?
I know this still looks like more of a test than anything else, but that's
because it is. I'm just making
sure I have the text editor set up the simplest way to enter daily text (I
know using a Blogger site like Blog Spot would be the simplest ). The
reason is because I'm still not 100% sure of what I'm doing or why for that
matter. I admit I was inspired to start a blog from an old friend,
and while I don't have a grasp of the language as he (and never have) I think
this kind of site has at least two useful purposes. First, it allows me to
do something I have never done before, which is to create somewhat of a daily
journal (even though it's public). Secondly, It can be a forum to keep
in touch with friends and family to some degree. Of course there's
email, and the telephone to do that, but as I think my family would agree,
I don't always make the best use of those. This gives me the ability
to share what's going on in a more descriptive way, and of course comment
on anything I feel like. And since I have recently relocated to Las Vegas,
I can share some of what is happening in a city which relies so heavily
on tourism for it's economic health, but at the same time is growing faster
than any place in the U.S., yet has very little water to go around.
Not to mention Yucca Mountain (I'll talk about that soon). Please don't
expect any great literary works here, and excuse the run-ons and poor
punctuation. Hopefully though, this will create a forum to comment
on whatever seems important at the time, as well as an outlet for readers
to respond.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
9:26am
February 13, 2004
For Seniors Only?
The For Seniors Only domain comes from a business I am still in the process
of launching. I had the
web hosting all set up, so I decided to make use of it by setting up a subdomain
for this Blog.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
2:16pm
Just a Test
Not sure what I'm doing this for, it's kinda a test to see if I want to (really).
I enjoy messing around with creating web pages so maybe that's why
and this will pass, but I'll give it a try nonetheless.
posted by
Andy Loughlin
1:28pm
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