Some Quick Thoughts

Well, I've been an MIA blogger for awhile...and may be for awhile more; accounting busy season is about to start, you know. Oh, how I dread the long hours...

I got a handheld GPS...I cannot wait to get out and do some geocaching. If you've never tried it, find someone with a GPS unit and try it out. Loads of fund, and it gets you outdoors!

I bought The Crane Wife by The Decemberists. Very good folky, indie rock album - I recommend to any who like indie rock and even those who like folk music and enjoy a little rock on the side.

That's all I have for now...the big holiday is over, traveling is done, and gifts are in...I have a lot of music to listen to, books to read, movies to watch, and games to play.

Peace,

Alphadork

Walmart Digs the Hole Deeper

I gave Walmart a fleeting chance this weekend. No, there was no chance the super-chain would get on my good side; going there was more a matter of situation. You see, the wife wanted to hit some softballs, and we only have two...one of which is a dead ball. We often go to the park, where I pitch to her, and she has all the room in the world to smack them around. We didn't have a lot of time until sundown, so I chose to run to Walmart because of its proximity to my home in relation to other retailers.

I found a reasonable parking space amongst the vast sea of SUVs and jalopies and speed-walked my way in to the store and back to the sporting goods department. There, I found an aisle of bicycling goods, and aisle of exercise stuff, and an aisle of traditional sporting goods (basketballs, footballs). "This should be the place," I thought. I looked through the aisle, finding only basketball and football items, and one of those loose ball bins with only one small basketball and a couple footballs. OK, this isn't the end of the sporting goods, maybe softballs are another aisle or two down...right? I continued to the remaining aisles to find guns, ammo, fishing, and camping supplies. I shuddered at the thought that guns and ammo were more well represented than even football in this store. After re-looking a couple times to be sure I hadn't overlooked a small bin of softballs, I approached the 400 lb camo-clad salesman at the gun counter to ask. He nicely informed me that softballs were available only in spring and summer. I thought to myself, "who is Walmart to say when I can and cannot play softball?" I thanked the gentleman and scurried my way back to my car.

I am amazed they couldn't simply give the equivalent of one basketball worth of space up to a bin of softballs to keep them out year-round. There was plenty of golf stuff, and I play softball later in the fall than I play golf. Blah. Moral of the story? Walmart is the softball Nazi.

Peace,

Alphadork

Now We're Just Getting Silly

Honestly? $89 million for a PS3? The funny thing is, I happened across this one when it was at $99,999,999, and then the seller started deleting bids because they didn't meet the minimum bidding requirements and seemed to be bogus. Funnier yet is that they did, in fact, meet the seller's minimum requirements, having 10+ feedback and 98% or so positive ratings. These bids have to be fake, but why would successful, positive eBayers put in fake bids? (One had over 2,000 feedback) I bet the seller's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "Oh my fucking god, I am rich, bitch!" Then, they come to reality, realized this cannot be real (I even question the $35,000 bids).

I also question eBay's rules for PS3 sellers...you must have 50+ feedback, etc. I know they are trying to protect people from bogus auctions, but it seems they are unfairly excluding legit sellers who usually sell off things they no longer need around their house and have only 10 positive feedback, in favor of the eBay scalpers that seem to make a living on opportunities like this...it's kinda like Bush tax policy...

Peace,

Alphadork

PS3...wtf??!?!??!

So, the long-anticipated release of the PS3 is tomorrow morning. Throughout this nation, there are thousands of anxious....entrepreneurs....lined up, camping out to buy one. Yes, I said entrepreneurs, not gamers. That's right, kids, hardly a one gamer has the chance at a new PS3 for its actual retail price. It seems that 90% of those buying them are going to turn around and sell them on eBay. Why is it that no one wants it bad enough to stand in line for two days, but they'll go on eBay and pay $10 grand, plus, to get a $700 machine?

Check out this listing.

It's bloody insane; I could pay off my credit cards by buying and reselling one of these. However, it would be hard for me to give it up if I managed to actually get my hands on one. But, then again, if I simply have the willpower to wait a little longer to play it, I can buy one later and still have money left over. Anyway, happy gaming; hope the 10 g's is worth it...

UPDATE: After my original posting above, I refreshed the eBay listing and the $10,000 changed to $5,700...not sure what happened, but I guarantee my screen said $10,000. $5,700 is still exorbitant.

UPDATE2: It was a "bogus bid"...so good luck to anyone trying to bid on one of these with 0 feedback, they might consider you a "bogus bid"!

Peace,

Alphadork

In the news...KFC & Bobby Knight

OK, so KFC has done something "impressive". They found something to spend money on rather than worker raises: they are now the first company to market to extraterrestrials by making a logo visible from space - makes you want some fried chicken, eh?

In other news...why is Bobby Knight still allowed to coach? Really, I don't give a shit how "good" a coach is or how many wins they have, actions such as his should not be tolerated. Assaulting players is under no circumstances an acceptable behavior. It seems to me that coaches in general are very angry people; nothing is ever good enough for them. That was something I seriously hated when playing basketball in high school...the constant yelling, demeaning, banging on things, stomping (you've never heard loafers stomp so frickin' loud), and throwing things. I don't care if it is your job or whatever, no matter which way you twist it, it will always just be a game. Games are for fun, and people always play better relaxed and comfortable than tense and fearful.

Peace...and safe gaming,

Alphadork