Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Rise and Shine ---- Crazy cold

Good Morning and welcome to, what, spring?

You know, this is always a strange time of year here in Pennsylvania. There have been years where the opening week of baseball season was warm and nice.
Then there are years like 2011. I remember heading to one of those exhibition/preseason Phillies games a few years ago and bundling up more than if it was an Eagles game.
I also remember breaking out the shorts (yes, that should scare everybody out there) for the last week of March.
In like a Lion and out like a Lamb, indeed.
Anyway, it's a good thing the Phillies are getting out of Clearwater. Not only does it mean the new season is here, but we don't have to read any more about injuries and Joe Blanton.
The first weekend of baseball is always a cool time.
Speaking of cool times, we'll be out at Jimmy Mac's in Drexel Hill for a Phillies opening day party. Come out and say hello.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Rise and Shine --- Something different

Good Morning and welcome to a brand, spanking-new week!

Then again, to paraphrase The Who, meet the new week, same as the old week.
So, after playing about the 500th game of Angry Birds, I decided to check out a few of the other ways the iPhone can make life more interesting.
So, I started snapping photos, then found out I can edit them with a Photoshop app. Then found out I can put the photos into a slideshow on my television. Of course, I also found out that playing with the Fios app during an especially good episode of Scooby Doo can cause a lot of yelling.
I later found an App called Color. Apparently, it's some kind of social photo app. You take a photo of what you're doing at the time and then, through some kind of crazy, big-brother type thing, it shows you photos of everybody within 150 yards who are using Color. I took a photo in the newsroom and, shockingly, there were no other users around.
Finally, I started playing with something called 'qr codes.' For those not in the know, they are those little blocks at the bottom of some advertising. You download a reader and then take a photo of the block. It sends you to a website.
There's a lot of cool sounding reasons to check them out, but none better than this:
qrcode

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Rise and Shine --- One of those days...

Good Morning and welcome back to the only place you can find this!

So, back in the day, one of the first albums I purchased (yes, before iPods and MP3s, you need to actually go to a star to pick up an album) was a recording of Rodney Dangerfield's stand-up routine.
Now, I don't remember the exact words, but one of the portions went like this:
"I reached over to turn off the alarm this morning and the bell fell off. I tried to open the door to my bedroom and the door knob fell off. I picked up my briefcase and the handle fell off. I'm afraid to use the bathroom."
Well, it got a good laugh on the album. Guess you had to be there.
Anyway, it's those kind of mornings everybody dreads. You feel like you got enough sleep, but, somehow, you are still behind the eight ball.
Hit the snooze button too many times? Check.
Forget to turn the timer on the coffee machine? Check.
Make it halfway to work and realize you forgot something? Check.
Repeat above? Check.
Sure, it would be easier to get back into bed, but, without that option, it's time to push on through the day.
Now, where did I put my glasses?

Monday, March 21, 2011

Rise and Shine --- Burning the brackets

Good Morning and welcome to another one of those yucky days!

You know, the first day of spring brings hopes of picnics and playgrounds. Then we get one of these gray, rainy days to, well, put a damper on it all.
Speaking of dampers, how about that NCAA Tournament? I don't know about you, but I was able to perform a ritual burning of my picks by Friday afternoon.
That was OK, though, because for the first time I was able to enjoy the excitement of the games with my sons.
In year's past, when I said this weekend was "basketball weekend," I got the immediate complaints.
"We want to watch cartoons. This is boring. I hate basketball. BOOOORRRRINNNG."
This year, though, I had a tough time pulling the boys away from the games. It helped that almost every one went down to the wire, but they were even fascinated by the blowouts.
This year, the questions were basketball related.
"How do you know if it's a 3-pointer? Why was that an offensive foul? Why does Pitt choke every year?"
OK, that last one was mine, but you get the idea.
We'll be ready Thursday night when the games start up again.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Rise and Shine --- Cutting too close

Good Morning and welcome to the only place on the Internet you can find this!

So, new Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to announce a whole bunch of cuts as he presents his state budget today.
Now, obviously, states, much like the rest of us, have to get spending in line. There is a lot of money being put out there and the checks can't cover it.
Still, some of the rumored cuts have to do with education and helping the less fortunate.
Is that really the way to go? Is it really a good idea to cut even more from school districts who are barely hanging on as it is? Is it really a solution to cut from programs that aim to keep people healthy?
This is the typical party politics I thought we were voting away. The Republicans come in and start slashing programs to help children and the poor. The Democrats go after the aged. The Tea Party, well, OK, they're just wacko.
When you start talking about education cuts the first thing some do is bring up teacher salaries.
Well, in the last year I've seen class size increase from 25 to 30 children (in some cases). Try controlling a group like that some day, then come back and tell me teacher's make too much money.
This is all just too shortsighted. Sure, there are cuts that can be made, but let's check them all out before taking out the knife.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Rise and Shine --- Money, money, money

Good Morning and make sure you have your galoshes this morning!

As I watch the protests continuing in Wisconsin (CLICK HERE to check out what's happening on the ground) and see all the stuff that's happening in Libya, I can't help but figure it all comes down to the dollar sign.
Those that have money (and there is a small contingent of people who control most of the bucks) want to make sure those "below" them continue to struggle.
According to a rally speech given by filmmaker Michael Moore Saturday in Wisconsin, 400 Americans have more money than half of all Americans combined. In other words, there is a small group that can control who gets elected, what laws are enacted and how many jobs will open up.
Somehow, that seems just wrong. For all the talk about the Founding Fathers in the last election, I don't think those back in the 1700s envisioned a place where so few would control so much.
I don't think anybody out there begrudges the rich because they are rich. Most of us are just hard-working people who want to do the best for their children.
Reaganomics started this mess and it's only gotten worse. It's time we started to stand up for ourselves.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Rise and Shine --- Too many cameras

Good Morning and here we are again!

Is it a good thing everybody has a camera these days?
Consider:

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Rise and Shine --- Pizza with mice?

Good Morning and welcome back to the insider space!

So, I'm wondering this morning how it's possible to go to bed early, sleep through the night and still be exhausted the next morning. Man, that coffee can't brew quick enough.
You know, ever since moving to Delaware County, I've always wondered about the number of pizza places. There are pizza joints right next to each other on some blocks. Others are across the street from each other.
The competition is, obviously, crazy. Just think about how many of those pizza menus are left at your door each week.
With that much dough being tossed around (do they still do that?), it's obvious each pizza shop needs to distinguish itself from the rest.
Still, taking mice into a rival's shop is going a bit overboard.
How about trying something different in you shop? How about branching out and changing the menu around? How about making it a fun place to come?
No, this joker decided to do it the easy way and try to sabotage his neighbor.
Maybe it tells you all you need to know about pizza shop owners.