tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151736482024-03-07T17:00:21.890-06:00Radio Free KirkopolisWhere the Id meets the Ego.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.comBlogger381125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-56312500913478745962010-02-21T10:11:00.002-06:002010-02-21T10:13:26.503-06:00So Who Are You People Again?Like, roughly 100 folks have been to this page since the great (well, somewhat sporadic) return. This almost makes me feel guilty about not updating as regularly as I'd like.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-87521934699712893272010-02-10T18:55:00.003-06:002010-02-10T19:24:42.453-06:00I Wish I'd Thought Of That... Oh, Wait- I Did!I can't tell you how many times I raised my fist in the air, wishing a pox on the fact that no one had invented sarcasm font yet (and God knows I wasn't going to do it). After all, if you've known me for anywhere over ten minutes you'd know that I'm all about the sarcasm. Of course, this usually boils over to my writing (emails, whatever) and <i>most</i> of the time folks get it... however occasionally someone will think I'm serious and an inevitable whirlwind of backlash ensues. BTW- shocking the correlation of those people and ultra-fundamentalist Christians. <div>So anyhoo, it seems that someone didn't really invent a font, but more of a new punctuation mark- admittedly a much better idea than my own.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.geekologie.com/2010/02/but_if_you_have_to_explain_it.php">Check it out here, via Geeklogie.</a></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-72722883287290461052010-02-09T15:45:00.002-06:002010-02-09T16:16:56.709-06:00Tales From The Gym. Today's Episode: The LetdownSo the plan was this- On my vacation (which really started at 3am last Friday) I was going to do a few things that needed done, switch my Edward Jones stuff, do my taxes, consolidate my student loans.... and spend a LOT of time at the gym.<div>You see kids, being on 2nd shift meant I had to go to the gym before work, usually needing to get there no later than 11a.m. Any past that and I was really rushing myself. None the less, I always felt rushed anyway. You know- work out, get home, take protein shake, eat, prepare lunch for work, shower, get ready, so I never really felt comfortable that I got in all the workout I needed (saving some energy for the 10 hour work day ahead). </div><div>But.. vacation time mean I could stay there all DAY.</div><div>So, snap back to the story at hand... Thursday rolls around and I awake to a sort throat. AWESOME! Just Freakin' AWESOME! </div><div>To me, a sore throat is a definite precursor to a nasty throat infection- without fail. By Friday it's killin' me. So, I run myself to urgent care and get the drugs I need. However, no gym at ALL Thrus-Sun. My body was just to weak from fighting the infection. Had I gone, the workout would have been crappy <i>and </i>I would have just stayed sick longer as my energy would have not been focused on the healing process. </div><div>Monday rolls around. Bench day. Big day. HUGE day. I'm still feeling a bit weak from the sickness, but the worst is passed. My training went pretty well, went up to 80#'s each on my dumbbell presses (normally I cash out at 70#'s) but only had energy in short bursts, which meant I had to compromise a bit on tricep training (5 or less reps I was good, but any more and I got really tired, really fast). But all in all a good day.</div><div>So- fast forward to Tuesday morning. Got up late (a vacationer's right) and was getting geared up for a HUGE day on back and biceps. Was feeling 100% at this point and was looking forward to spending as long as I wanted in the gym. </div><div>I was all awash in my blissfulness, doing some dishes, when suddenly my hand slips on a food processor blade and GASH! I slice my thumb open, from the bottom of the nail to the bend. CRAP! and it was deep too! Blood going everywhere. I can't really dress it right 'cause I only have one good hand with one good opposable thumb. Total chain of errors. I finally get it dressed and the bleeding (which it was doing a lot of) stopped, then I realized- there's NO WAY I can grip a bar today. Sure it sounds like I'm being a pussy (which I usually am) but I assure you this was a pretty nasty cut- so much so I contemplated getting a stitch, but cooler heads prevailed.</div><div>So- the gods are against me. Whatever is trying to keep me down this vacation is doing quite well at it. Jebus.. even at this point I'm typing and doing my best to hit the space bar with my left thumb- more difficult that one would think.</div><div>So, in short I'm gonna have to get my ass off the couch again and hit the gym, I figure I can do legs today, which is a good day (legs have been strong lately) but it does throw a wrench in my plan. </div><div>With that, I have no real whopping way to wrap this up... so instead I'll just end it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, wasn't THAT a waste of your time!</div><div><br /></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-87425444237024907302010-02-08T14:04:00.001-06:002010-02-08T14:05:39.208-06:00The Great Un-retirement... By the Numbers38285 on the web counter... that's where I stand at the moment for them folks scoping out the page... lets see how this goes shall we?Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-18884421043214959362010-02-08T13:47:00.002-06:002010-02-08T14:02:46.497-06:00..I can't remember, all the times I've tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I'm into food and wine in a big way, a really big way. I think of a meal as an experience. I could go into greater detail but that's not the point. Anyway, of all the meal's I've made... tonight's was by far the pinnacle.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Here's what went down- A side of asparagus. I drizzled it in olive oil, covered with some freshly ground pepper and course sea salt. Baked, came out very crispy. It was simple, but the natural taste of the asparagus was allowed to force through to the front of the palate.<br />Main dish was a porterhouse steak, nice marble- that I marinated in some Allegro, fresh minced garlic, and rosemary- grilled med. rare then topped with crumbled blue cheese that melted slightly.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Then.. the kicker. A while ago I came across a bottle of an '05 Cabernet Franc called- The Scrapper. Normally it runs about $100, but I got it for a steal at $60. It... was... perfect.... the greatest wine I've ever had (still have some left btw).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />I pulled out an old Sergi Manniov -"Chopin Classics" c.d. (just piano, you don't want an orchestra diverting your attention). Lit up a fire, and it was ON!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Everything worked symbiotically with everything else. The side dish matched the main course, the wine crescendoed the food, the music accentuated the meal, the fire gave the ambiance... it was seriously- perfect.<br /><br />Life, in its moments... is wonderful.</span></span></span></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-49055660516772962542010-02-08T14:01:00.001-06:002010-02-08T14:01:28.707-06:00I'm Being Very Sneaky<p class="MsoNormal">So let us try this again shall we?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Used to be I was all about the blogging… and people seemed to like it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, life and all its shenanigans (gosh I love that word) caught up to me and it went to the wayside.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the meantime I got in at ground level with Facebook and the rest of the world came with me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great way to keep up with folks, but it’s really just a web page for the fantastically lazy- right up my alley I suppose. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I tried to re-blog a few times, but the muse just wasn’t with me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, instead I just did my thing, holding my words on the inside, relegating them to 20 words or less status updates (“Kirk Maroscher is rock and rolling all nite, while partying ev-ery day”).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, I’m in day one of a week’s vacation and I’m already bored out of my skull, so- trying this again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also, when I return to work I’ll be on 1<sup>st</sup> shift so that should give me a little more time to compose n’ such.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The trick is that I’m not really going to advertise my resurgence; this is primarily for two distinct reasons-</p> <p class="MsoNormal">1) Now that blogging is hardly cool anymore, I’m now cool for blogging just by default.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sort’a underground. I’m like the secret only the hip know about… at least that’s what I’m telling myself.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">2) When the soon to happen inevitability of “I give up and stop writing” occurs- it won’t be such a letdown.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Really I should focus on #2. </p>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-79465107796132700822008-09-12T09:55:00.002-05:002008-09-12T09:57:03.133-05:00Suuuuper Genius<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUrkgQkZrMt4TCRB8kWibeWgqOIfrpqpWI_1kht0PIQj4WnS2zRIZb7T9RHMrJshnklnIg1eQBsyOo3jz5of97cqfGblf6_BcZ0RdAgX-8h1aXdf7CWiR9RSsUNOBcGYSbj8/s1600-h/DDjones.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUrkgQkZrMt4TCRB8kWibeWgqOIfrpqpWI_1kht0PIQj4WnS2zRIZb7T9RHMrJshnklnIg1eQBsyOo3jz5of97cqfGblf6_BcZ0RdAgX-8h1aXdf7CWiR9RSsUNOBcGYSbj8/s320/DDjones.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245148997965183074" /></a><br />The Cartoon Network is in H.D.Some may find this unnecessary, I disagree.<br />Carry on.<div><br /></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-71235572103698855792008-09-11T10:12:00.002-05:002008-09-11T10:16:15.488-05:00...As I Was Saying<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm10Pa2pATfCvdHtjPym_U8SB4bowD7FHB8DKfFSQQEv9GPNOpymg61rGOcfNcp4fRnpoHgB00eOFQtfj078B0JUfJFhGK-w_qk-mbnjCAXGKIL97FHhXAWVLRdHZJ4KVC13c/s1600-h/armstg.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm10Pa2pATfCvdHtjPym_U8SB4bowD7FHB8DKfFSQQEv9GPNOpymg61rGOcfNcp4fRnpoHgB00eOFQtfj078B0JUfJFhGK-w_qk-mbnjCAXGKIL97FHhXAWVLRdHZJ4KVC13c/s320/armstg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244782798731633282" /></a><br />Well, as most anyone who checks the news daily (usually at work, on the clock, during that 45 minute period where you should be productive) knows, Lance is <i>officially</i> back.<br /><blockquote>After more than three years away from professional cycling, Lance Armstrong — the cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France winner — announced Tuesday that he would emerge from retirement and climb back onto his bike.<br />Armstrong, who will turn 37 next week, spoke briefly about his decision in a videotaped statement posted on his foundation's Web site.<br />"Hey everybody, I know there's been a lot of reports in the media today about a possible return to racing," he said, wearing a white T-shirt and leaning toward what seemed to be a handheld camera. "Just want to let you know that after long talks with my kids, the rest of my family, a close group of friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in 2009."…<br />…But first, Armstrong must find a team. Even the most talented cyclist cannot win on his own. Teammates provide shelter from the wind, chase down opponents and free the sport's stars from mundane, energy-sapping tasks like picking up water bottles from a team car.<br />The speculation has focused on the Astana team because of Armstrong's close connections to the team. Johan Bruyneel, whose holding company owns the team, was selected by Armstrong to direct the United States Postal Service team when Armstrong made his return to racing in 1999 after his cancer treatment. As a team director, Bruyneel was part of all of Armstrong's Tour de France wins.<br />Astana, though, is not guaranteed a berth in next year's Tour. The team was excluded from this year's race by the organizers because of doubts about the team's willingness to root out doping.<br />Philippe Maertens, a spokesman for Astana, said the team was unaware of Armstrong's announcement. He added that Bruyneel had been trying to reach Armstrong since Monday. </blockquote><br />Translation: Armstrong will be racing for Astana. This is kind of a big deal. As it stands Astana is already composed of about 5 of the top 10 riders in the world, and the other 5 are kinda spread out so it suffices to say that their dominance will be out of this world. Plus, just them mere presence of Lance will push these guys even further than where they are now, even as a support role for Lance. Imagine for a second if say, Michael Jordan proved he could still play like in his prime, joined the Dream Team and said “Alright, LeBron, Kobe, here’s how I want you to back me up, and then we’ll win.” <br />Some folks are wondering if he should do it, and I’ll admit I have my reservations (although very few) myself. Mainly, if he doesn’t do well then the results could be very damaging. But the bottom line is this- Lance is a cancer survivor, to the extent where he was literally on his deathbed. Anyone, in my opinion, who has looked death that closely in the eye can do pretty much anything they damn well please. Lance, and those like him have earned that right 100 times over and for that he has my fullest support (yeah, that’s what he needs, MY support).Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-41809134757408664842008-09-08T18:29:00.003-05:002008-09-08T18:32:40.959-05:00OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!LANCE IS BACK!<br />OOOOOOHHHHH BOY!<br />Well, maybe….<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.velonews.com/article/82892/sources-lance-armstrong-coming-back">Velo News-</a><br /><blockquote> Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, according to sources familiar with the developing situation.<br />Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France — and will race for no salary or bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews</blockquote><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzhrc_jbrlPk_y1f2W-1dmlHpLqZ4gvyxPtCu8YUF2xAbiwjtIIdtFa23-VOzAlQL4cn_Gut98HJ4gtDVEVnpmgyCd0w21D7P53sJ00hYbV2h-LquMINmq5rzMHGoLOUDPFU/s320/LANCE.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243797221198355266" /><br />O.K., so this <i>may</i> not actually be true, but the rumors have been flying around for some time. As a sport, this is a much needed shot in the arm. As one might remember, ever since Lance’s retirement the sport has been riddled by doping scandals and mismanagement. Granted, the doping scandals only prove that it’s not the dirtiest sport- but instead the most tested (really, could you imagine if MLB, NBA or the NFL tested EVERY athlete before, after and during an event for every substance know?), but I digress from the point.<br />As much as I’m just bursting at the seams to spew every thought and theory I have, I’ll just wait. We still need official confirmation ya know….Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-61855781612414919092008-09-07T18:09:00.002-05:002008-09-07T18:13:11.303-05:00How To Make A Really Good Bowl Of Cream Of Wheat- Or- Why Do You People Continue To Let Me Waste Your Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlHONe9YZ41-gsFEHxQJ86hHmssS0SLVLicTjtjCRgBaH93x5E7FfojgjBGDnOEMwPwj4d_cIr74FSWe8Pd27bf7eKKvMvXb1sUvetPE7UB2DZNRtLKp5TPI4UBWhqLsN-o8/s1600-h/creamofwheat.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlHONe9YZ41-gsFEHxQJ86hHmssS0SLVLicTjtjCRgBaH93x5E7FfojgjBGDnOEMwPwj4d_cIr74FSWe8Pd27bf7eKKvMvXb1sUvetPE7UB2DZNRtLKp5TPI4UBWhqLsN-o8/s320/creamofwheat.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243421195063695202" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients-</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cream of Wheat</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Milk</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Vanilla Extract</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Coconut Flavoring </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Pack of Splenda or Sugar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Brown Sugar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Raisins</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First, follow the directions on how much Cream of Wheat mix and milk to use.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve found that the one serving is just enough for one person.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know this seems pretty obvious but serving suggestions can vary depending on the person.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now the directions call for either milk or water- sure you can use water, if you want it to be tasteless that is.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, use milk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve found that even powdered milk can work pretty well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Keep the heat somewhere around medium to medium high.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On my stove that’s somewhere between 6 and 7, you don’t want it to high or the milk will burn at the bottom of the sauce pan. If you really want to speed up the cooking process you can put it in a medium sized sauce pan, this will allow for more of the liquid to be in direct contact with the heating element- surface area wise (didn’t know this would<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>be technical did ya).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Stir occasionally, again to avoid burning the bottom of the milk (if you burn any of the milk, throw it away and start again- the burnt taste gets everywhere so you’ve pretty much ruined the whole enchilada).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When you see it juuuusssstt starting to boil add the Cream of Wheat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do this slowly while stirring or you’ll get lumps (unless of course you want lumps, which is perfectly acceptable).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While it’s cooking, add in a small splash of the coconut flavoring and just slightly more of the vanilla.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sure, you could measure it, but where’s the fun in that?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Same thing with the sweetener.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I use ½ a packet of Splenda for no other reason than its easy to measure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You could use sugar as well, just to taste.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let it cook for about two minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After that, take if off the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s at this point you add the raisins.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You don’t want to do that any time before or the raisins will cook too much and get all mushy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Adding just after removing from the heat will mean the Cream of Wheat will still be hot enough to cook the raisins, but not enough to ruin ‘em.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let it set for a minute or so.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then you can poor it into the bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Add one dab of butter- not margarine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Trust me, there’s a noticeable taste difference between real butter and “spread.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Folks, butter is NOT expensive, so get some.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now you can also add the brown sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I just grab some to taste, but I would assume it’s about 2 tablespoons or so.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I just add it to the bowl and in no time it makes this cool swirling effect that makes for a nice presentation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Grab a cup of coffee.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh, I didn’t mention the coffee?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here’s the trick(s) to a good cup of coffee.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">First off, buy a good coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sounds easy enough.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know Starbucks is passé, but the simple truth is they make a good product.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sure it’s expensive, but you get what you pay for.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lately I’ve been getting their Café Verona, it suits my criteria for a good coffee-dark and full bodied (much like my criteria for, oh never mind).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I get the whole beans and grind ‘em up. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now I’ll concede that this is just too much for an everyday cup before work, but on the weekends when you have time, do it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Whole beans make a difference, let there be no arguing on that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lastly, when I make my coffee I always use water that I’ve run through my Brita filter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tap water just won’t due.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Everyone seems to forget this, but bad water makes bad coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember folks, there are two ingredients to a cup of Joe and coffee’s only one of ‘em.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the side I like to have a little glass of orange juice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now here’s the part where I show some restraint and not wax eloquently on some tangent about how there are just WAY to many choices in orange juice these days.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Calcium, low pulp, high pulp, no pulp, heart healthy, low sugar…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I just want orange juice, how difficult can it be?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-12297968404347627562008-09-05T10:54:00.002-05:002008-09-05T10:56:16.946-05:00I Don’t Care If It’s Been 20 Years, I Both Despise And Fear Change<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.cafepress.com/product/158284538v4_240x240_Front.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://images.cafepress.com/product/158284538v4_240x240_Front.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I haven’t been to a High School football game in like 18, years. As a matter of fact I think the last one I went to was the year after I graduated- that would be 1990 for those trying into guess my age. Anyway, when I was in school the South Seven Conference consisted of Marion, Herrin, Mt. Vernon, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Murphysboro, and some sort of combination of Centralia, W. Frankfort and Benton.<br />It was nice. You had rivalries of close towns that made things interesting. I can remember a buddy of mine (a linebacker) dating a girl from W. Frankfort who’s ex boyfriend was their quarterback. Made for an interesting match-up. And that kind’a thing happened all the time. Now it’s all confusing. For the last several years the South Seven has morphed, composed of all sorts of towns like Cahokia. Cahokia? How can you have a rivalry with a town like Cahokia? It’s like 2 hours away! The farthest we ever had to go was once a year when we faced Paducah – Tillman. Not sure why, but we still visit P.T. I guess the athletic directors were just trying to broaden our horizons by introducing us to Kentuckians.<br />Back to my point- I was reading the paper this morning and, being a small area where most the folks live vicariously through their kids and take H.S. sports WAY to seriously, the paper had their weekly H.S. football preview. With that they included an overview of tonight’s Marion v. Highland battle of the giants. Um, Highland? Where the heck is Highland? Here are the directions they gave-<br /><blockquote><br />From Marion, take I-57 for 42 miles toward Mt. Vernon and stay left onto I-64 for 39 miles. Take Exit 34 toward Albers and turn left on Albers road.<br />Turn right on I-160 North for 17 miles and turn right on Broadway for one mile. Take a left on Poplar Street and enter the roundabout and take the second exit onto I-160. Turn left onto Troxler Avenue to get to the high school.<br /></blockquote><br />Are you kidding me?<br />I don’t want to sound like an old, complaining fart here, but ‘back in my day’ the directions to the game were “go to the Herrin football field- try not to start a fight.” Everyone just knew. Now, Highland? Whatever.<br />Like I said, I haven’t been to a game in a long time and frankly I’m not sure if I’ll ever go to another. Not that I don’t have any pride for my alma matter (they had a great season last year and I was rooting for ‘em) but I just don’t wanna be that guy that lives his life in his hometown’ bubble. Sure I still live in the area and really don’t care to move away, but a man’s gotta have his limitations. None the less, I just don’t see the point in what the ISHA is doing here. It would be like moving the Cubs and Cardinals into two separate divisions. Rivalries are one of the key ingredients to sport, why on Earth would you take it away?<br />Even way back when, I never pretended to have the slightest clue to what the ISHA was thinking at any given moment, you just sorta took them as a powerful organization hell bent on taunting the state with ludicrous decisions, but this is just goofy.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-8288542522449464872008-09-04T13:22:00.001-05:002008-09-04T13:25:25.778-05:00...As I Was Saying<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); "><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Now, I dig Facebook, after all it takes up all that time that I could be using for- I dunno, reading, studying, generally being productive, but my problem with it is how invasive the sidebar advertisements are.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">As best Facebook knows, every few hours I’m looking for BBW’s who are over 30.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Not that I’m denying that I just in fact may be from time to time, but none the less it just gets annoying.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">However I do use the service an awful lot, and have connected or re-connected with some great people, and I haven’t paid a dime for it- so I suppose I can’t complain.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With that, I’ve always been under the belief that if you have something to say, then chances are someone’s said it much better.</span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So, read on… From</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26520257/">WashingtonPost.com</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><blockquote></p> <h1 style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-size:21.5pt; font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#CC0000;font-weight:normal">Fat? Stinky? Facebook ads hit where it hurts<o:p></o:p></span></h1> <h2 style="margin-top: 3.75pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black">Social networking site's ads target your psychological soft spots<o:p></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"></span>By Rachel Beckman<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#666666">Washingtonpost.com<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; "><em><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height: 150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">My</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%; font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"> </span></i></span><em><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Facebook+Inc.?tid=informline" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Facebook</span></span></b></a></span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%; font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"> </span></i></span><em><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">page called me fat.</span></em><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Maybe it's my age, my sex or the fact that it knew I was engaged, but the site decided I was a gal who needed to drop a few pounds. And it wasn't shy about its tactics.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">This was not a close friend taking me aside, telling me in gentle tones that she'd noticed I'd put on some weight and was there anything going on in my personal life that I needed to talk about?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%; font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"></span>, no. Every time I logged in to my<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26520257/##" target="_blank" classname="iAs" itxtdid="6704404" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial;outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699; border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">home page</span></span></b></a>, Facebook's ads screamed at me with all the subtlety of a drill sergeant: "MUFFIN TOP." This particular ad had a picture of someone with said affliction. For those blissfully unacquainted with the slur, it's when a woman wears too-tight jeans and a roll of flab hangs over her waistband.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">I posted a status update that said, "Rachel doesn't appreciate her Facebook page telling her that she has a muffin top."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Facebook targets its advertising to users based on the information in their profiles. This is not a new concept, of course. Kids usually see toy ads while they watch<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Nickelodeon+Networks?tid=informline" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Nickelodeon</span></span></b></a>, and women get ads for birth control pills as they watch Lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">But Facebook's data miners know much more about us because we tell them a whole lot more. Facebook knows my birthday, my relationship status and which book I'm reading, among other personal tidbits. The site started turning this information into dollar signs last November with the launch of Facebook Ads, which targets users' presumed areas of interest (or psychological soft spots).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Basically, the subliminal goal of product advertising is to make you feel inadequate and ashamed, because you're not perfect. Your teeth are yellow. Your armpits stink. You're fat. And hairy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">The targeting technology itself will be familiar to users of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Google+Inc.?tid=informline" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Google</span></span></b></a>'s<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Google+Gmail?tid=informline" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Gmail</span></span></b></a>, which generates ads based on what its users type in the body of an e-mail.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/TiVo+Inc.?tid=informline" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">TiVo</span></span></b></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Netflix+Inc.?tid=informline" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Netflix</span></span></b></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>both suggest programming based on what you've been watching. (Remember the "My TiVo Thinks I'm Gay" episode of "The King of Queens"?)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Facebook spokesman Matt Hicks summed up the appeal to advertisers thus:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">"If you're a wedding photographer, do you want to waste your money advertising to a general audience? Or do you want to reach those that are engaged?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><strong style="border-style:initial; border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline-color: initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">Provoking the bully</span></strong><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black; border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><br /></span></b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">After my quaint status update about the muffin top ad, Facebook got even more vicious, like a schoolyard bully provoked by my initial reaction. With the knowledge that I was engaged to be married, the site splashed an ad across the left side of the screen playing into a presumed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26520257/##" target="_blank" classname="iAs" itxtdid="6313952" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial;outline-color: initial"><b><span style="color:#336699; border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">vulnerability</span></span></b></a>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em control="control" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">Do you want to be a fat bride?</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You'd better go to such-and-such Web site to learn how to lose weight before the big day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">I fought back harder. I clicked a little blue link that said "Report" and filled out a form.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"></span>A drop-down menu gave choices: Was the ad "misleading, offensive or pornographic?" I chose offensive. Facebook thanked me for the feedback and said it would take appropriate action, though I shouldn't expect any notification about this action.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Nothing changed. Facebook continued its onslaught of muffin-top and fat-bride taunts. I averted my eyes and tried to remember that saying about rubber and glue. I didn't spiral into a body-image crisis, nor did I start to diet. But there's got to be some kind of psychological toll wrought by so many weight-loss images each week.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">I decided to investigate further, and obtained a document for advertisers called "Common Ad Mistakes." In it, I found this nugget:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">"Text may not single out an individual or degrade the viewer of the ad." It even gave an example of a diet ad that uses unacceptable language: "You're Fat. You don't have to be."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><strong style="border-style:initial; border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline-color: initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">Changes afoot</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><br />The muffin top ad is no more; whether the advertisers stopped using it by choice or by force, Facebook spokesman Hicks wouldn't say. There are other changes afoot at the site. Last month, it beefed up its advertising guidelines, in part to address the diet ads. Any ads that refer to health or medical conditions can go only to users 18 or older, and they must "present information without portraying any conditions or body types in a negative light."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Also in July, Facebook launched its new interface, which includes "thumbs up/thumbs down" buttons beneath ads so users can receive the ones that are more relevant to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">I assumed that the diet ads would subside after I changed my relationship status from "engaged" to "married" in May. They did. I now receive these:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">"Trying to get pregnant? Visit our site now. We're a national network of fertility specialists treating male and female infertility."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="textbodyblack" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial" id="byLine"></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt; line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Thanks, Facebook, for calling me barren.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="apple-style-span" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial; color:#666666"></span></blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/front.htm"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(51, 102, 153); border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-right-color: windowtext; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-left-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; border-right-width: 1pt; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-width: 1pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "></span><br /></span> </b></a></span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/front.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><b></b></span></a><span style=""> </span></p></span>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-22693152558360152552008-09-03T20:18:00.003-05:002008-09-03T20:21:08.851-05:00Self Portrait<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPl3imIVFOQC3ZYKbr_yOqp6bXF2t8LKH0fmkvNANexC8YVvP7hizelr2wVWifSgMWQNsMCoT2za8tPvo5oAKh6W_08fx4Vg40CHu_la0496G-Zfr8mBiKw8tiudzKMKUP8U/s1600-h/chuckandsnoopy_1280x960.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPl3imIVFOQC3ZYKbr_yOqp6bXF2t8LKH0fmkvNANexC8YVvP7hizelr2wVWifSgMWQNsMCoT2za8tPvo5oAKh6W_08fx4Vg40CHu_la0496G-Zfr8mBiKw8tiudzKMKUP8U/s400/chuckandsnoopy_1280x960.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241969716537306930" /></a>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-16526242601225386472008-09-03T16:32:00.000-05:002008-09-03T16:33:09.460-05:00Oh Man This Is Good<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JQRtuxdfQHw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JQRtuxdfQHw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-46657226146188104292008-09-02T17:31:00.001-05:002008-09-02T17:33:12.545-05:00"In A World Gone Mad"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_8mZWOrpuzvdmkXJkqDcEGn9JrYAYvmiylt2bv7Zf7_0DecD5LyZhbf3dIdG96cgU0hOkcak-IwAe64MyxXav2j7emSQ94asZTRnhruthFTDOEnAwrCjqri_tH1qqefTkGU/s1600-h/don.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241555653775753442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_8mZWOrpuzvdmkXJkqDcEGn9JrYAYvmiylt2bv7Zf7_0DecD5LyZhbf3dIdG96cgU0hOkcak-IwAe64MyxXav2j7emSQ94asZTRnhruthFTDOEnAwrCjqri_tH1qqefTkGU/s320/don.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />That’s what I imagine him saying….<br />Don LaFontane, the Hollywood star most never knew they knew (read it twice, it’ll make sense) has died.<br />“Who’s Don some of you may ask?” He’s the guy that did all the vocieovers for movie trailers.<br />“Oh yeah, that guy.”<br /><blockquote><br />By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON – 2 hours ago<br />LOS ANGELES (AP) — Don LaFontaine, the man who popularized the catch phrase "In a world where..." and lent his voice to thousands of movie trailers, has died. He was 68. LaFontaine died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from complications in the treatment of an ongoing illness, said Vanessa Gilbert, his agent.<br />LaFontaine made more than 5,000 trailers in his 33-year career while working for the top studios and television networks.<br />In a rare on-screen appearance in 2006, he parodied himself on a series of national television commercials for a car insurance company where he played himself telling a customer, "In a world where both of our cars were totally under water..."<br />In an interview last year, LaFontaine explained the strategy behind the phrase.<br />"We have to very rapidly establish the world we are transporting them to," he said of his viewers. "That's very easily done by saying, `In a world where ... violence rules.' `In a world where ... men are slaves and women are the conquerors.' You very rapidly set the scene."<br />LaFontaine insisted he never cared that no one knew his name or his face, though everyone knew his voice.<br />LaFontaine went on to work in the promo industry in the early 1960s. As an audio engineer, he produced radio spots for movies with producer Floyd Peterson.<br />When an announcer didn't show up for a recording session in 1965, LaFontaine voiced his first narration, a promo for the film, "Gunfighters of Casa Grande." The client, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, liked his performance.<br />LaFontaine remained active until recently, averaging seven to 10 voiceover sessions a day. He worked from a home studio his wife nicknamed "The Hole," where his fax machine delivered scripts.<br />LaFontaine is survived by his wife, the singer and actress Nita Whitaker, and three daughters.<br />His funeral arrangements were pending. </blockquote>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-40074006823708230772008-08-31T16:03:00.005-05:002008-08-31T23:06:57.925-05:00There Are Things Both Seen And Unseen, And In Between Are The Doors<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit97Lh1TXyoxBsGhMSwibn160ZEAJ-7qr03075cWyHB8Ea7l5Rf6Q-eVQ13qVr5dtniHx7B3sEicaTuWYjfGJDfsJJFcBFw1B_C_jwk7i_ZcDNwxChwTHmerMdCxm5yIpjexw/s1600-h/before.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240790784197084802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit97Lh1TXyoxBsGhMSwibn160ZEAJ-7qr03075cWyHB8Ea7l5Rf6Q-eVQ13qVr5dtniHx7B3sEicaTuWYjfGJDfsJJFcBFw1B_C_jwk7i_ZcDNwxChwTHmerMdCxm5yIpjexw/s320/before.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>BEFORE</strong><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left">Have you ever tried to install a pre-hung exterior door?<br />GOOD LORD!<br />To be honest, in theory it’s really not that difficult, in actuality it’s a job where, if all goes well, should take just under a half an hour...<br />…<em>if all goes well</em>.<br />If there’s one thing that makes me smart, it’s that I know that I’m not very smart. Therefore I take a lead from Abraham Lincoln and surround myself with people who know things that I don’t- and that’s a LOT of people.<br />So, I asked a friend of mine’s husband, who is a contractor, to give me a hand. For that, I am the newest member of MENSA.<br />The extraction of the old door was actually kinda fun. To do so you really need a reciprocating saw, which I didn’t have but boy oh boy was this a good excuse to get one, which I did and its a beast. A reciprocating saw (or recip saw as the cool guys call it) is one of those tools that once you buy one, you wonder how you ever got along without it (much like my air compressor- is there anything that thing can’t do?). Anyway, it’s a fun feeling to blast through old wood and nails when deconstructing your own house.<br />When installing the new door we ran into some issues that forced us to flanagle a circular saw to cut the rough opening about an inch around the sides and top (and again needed the recip to finsh the cuts), but this and other things were all stuff he had seen a million times before and knew how to handle- and THAT’S why you team up with experience.<br />Once the opening was clear, the new door just kinda slid right in, I ran a good bead of caulk across the bottom to keep out vermits, and shimmed it in just a few places, but it was mostly plum and level from the start. A few 10d, galvanized finish nails and a couple of drywall screws later and ‘wall-ah’ it was in.<br />Put two coats of paint on with a brush then finished with one coat via a 3 inch roller. I used the same exterior paint that I used for my house trim a few months back so the color matched perfectly. Then I just slapped on the doorknobs (which you need an equal amount of calm and patients for) and it was all done.<br />So- in summation, a few hints.<br />-<em> <u>When buying a new door, make sure your swing direction and size is correct</u></em><u>.</u> I was spooked to death that I miss-measured and would just be screwed. But most doors are a standard 34” or the more popular 36”.<br />- <em><u>There are one or two screws or nails that hold the door shut for protection during shipping. TAKE THESE OUT.</u></em> The door will not open while these are in and if you’ve already installed it while they are still secure, well then you either have to take the whole thing out or cut away at the frame with the recip saw. I know this because a guy at work, who knows what he’s doing, wasn’t paying attention and did this. Now that will lead me to my next hint-<br />- <em><u>Do not drink while installing a door.</u></em> You gotta get this just right. A poorly hung door is a pain in the butt for as long as you use it, so put the Blatz down for an hour or so. You can pop one open after to celebrate.<br />- <em><u>Get help.</u></em> I think I explained this one well enough.<br />- <em><u>Don’t be cheap.</u></em> This was difficult for me, because it goes against my very nature. But, if it’s an exterior door it usually can be quite a focal point on your entire house. Therefore, spend a couple of extra bucks and make sure you get one that you really like. I think you’ll be glad you did. </p><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240791048907867106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgR11WTHt2bNoCrMo30OfC9foLyUI69YV-_ZpyLTn-iDVx_J1hWbvkLUh3sqg7JkPANjhdYP5rMY9oAnY2gqmC_INS6-d0nX8NXR8yzqzdDLqzGpBrT5PT24zOPGKRBirrWA/s320/after.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong>AFTER</strong></p>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-64363113704265216112008-08-31T21:23:00.003-05:002008-08-31T21:31:52.200-05:00I DARE You Not To Be Moved By ThisIt was Johnny's last video, he recorded it just before he left us. Originally an Nine Inch Nails tune, that he made his own. Trent Reznor is notorious about not letting people cover his work (wouldn't even let Weird Al do a parody) but he was smart enough to know when the man in black comes knocking, you better answer the door. <br />The video was nominated for Best Video of the Year at the VMA's and by all accounts from the powers that be at MTV, no one could understand why it didn't win- even with all that, it wasn't even in the rotation. But, genius is genius.<br /><br />Just like most of the gifts Johnny left us, the beauty is in the simplicity. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AO9dbmJ_2zU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AO9dbmJ_2zU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-13530784851410611412008-08-25T17:56:00.002-05:002008-08-25T17:59:12.796-05:00Like I've Always Said, When You Can't Think Of Anything To Post, Just Throw Up A Cool Music Performance From YouTube...and if it somehow involves Johnny Cash (the coolest person to ever live- well, within the last 2000 years at least) then by defaault it'll be good.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o-kcksQOb5U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o-kcksQOb5U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-22557454797440266372008-08-25T17:41:00.001-05:002008-08-25T17:41:30.756-05:00...And One More<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fpaxaxEWMSA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fpaxaxEWMSA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-85710766079298450192008-08-25T17:22:00.002-05:002008-08-25T17:27:08.644-05:00Crackbook Just Sounds FunnierI'm hopelessly addicted to Facebook- its like MySpace, only it doesn't suck so much (unless you're a 14 year old girl, in which case MySpace is only the greatest thing EVER!). I have re-connected with a ton of people, mostly from High School, which is cool. However, like any social networking site it has a few landmines. <br />Here's a great parody, Crackbooker's will get it all to well.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dHi-ZcvFV_0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dHi-ZcvFV_0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-51467217514747919062008-08-18T19:28:00.004-05:002008-08-19T16:29:19.662-05:00Random Olympian I'm In Love With This Week...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cM2VVVSZvI1Jp7HAnvTt3jWMPeINsZJUPEv0HSyeI-pFqqmbAiQEJ9WEo8zVWKpqQOpyUg01gI9HWdjhUGaTzzsF4xr4yZWp5DdewFqhsCyuzdjq8m6HCtMFKy5w8nrIcgo/s1600-h/LoloJones.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236019582945353970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cM2VVVSZvI1Jp7HAnvTt3jWMPeINsZJUPEv0HSyeI-pFqqmbAiQEJ9WEo8zVWKpqQOpyUg01gI9HWdjhUGaTzzsF4xr4yZWp5DdewFqhsCyuzdjq8m6HCtMFKy5w8nrIcgo/s320/LoloJones.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R6t-2Gooo3omBH3Bk_esO0N_ORU5qOcJcleAp12YR-6mOWwaCFIlPRRuUKdoqe_ZgIRyB1U7bedbba-GIaXNBMQfN81phk0pW1mpvkjgBOD4JKi7ahMvSkKITzKlDmZAQ6Y/s1600-h/ncaa_a_jones_sq_300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236019594346294386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R6t-2Gooo3omBH3Bk_esO0N_ORU5qOcJcleAp12YR-6mOWwaCFIlPRRuUKdoqe_ZgIRyB1U7bedbba-GIaXNBMQfN81phk0pW1mpvkjgBOD4JKi7ahMvSkKITzKlDmZAQ6Y/s320/ncaa_a_jones_sq_300.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>... world class hurdler Lolo Jones.</div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-16373061158137689242008-08-17T19:00:00.003-05:002008-08-17T19:12:38.110-05:00And Now The Nature Segment Of Our ProgramI have three hummingbird feeders and about six to eight hummingbirds that feed from them. I did a little searching and it turns out they are Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. Really, the only hummingbirds native to Illinois (for the most part). Amazingly enough they are some of the most aggressive little things I've ever seen. I'll be on my back patio <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/images/rubythroat/ruby-throated_hummingbird_lg.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/images/rubythroat/ruby-throated_hummingbird_lg.jpg" border="0" /></a>and they sure as heck ain't afraid to feed right next to me- while I'm grilling none the less. In addition they fight each other like something out of a zombie movie. For such little guys, they only weigh about as much as three grapes, they just have an amazing set of (metaphorical) balls. I was talking to the previous owner of my house and she told me that she used to own a red cell-phone and it normal for them to go after it while she was talking. I guess they got little man's syndrome or something.<br />Anyway, I see them all the time here, just another thing I love about my neighborhood.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-59001117579200629642008-08-12T15:59:00.002-05:002008-08-12T16:00:38.694-05:00Again With The Vollyball??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JKFCb4am2aQectAp9KAJHanpRbU_00-6TZac5mJGQp3X5DVHXJteChg_DG4zGvaSY3yT8hxvgY_ttqZ-vXjJfOGNdvW0jhC0CJT_6kOFxMmBIYXnC84-20UkZs2xExJo-88/s1600-h/bilde%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233738998726494706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JKFCb4am2aQectAp9KAJHanpRbU_00-6TZac5mJGQp3X5DVHXJteChg_DG4zGvaSY3yT8hxvgY_ttqZ-vXjJfOGNdvW0jhC0CJT_6kOFxMmBIYXnC84-20UkZs2xExJo-88/s320/bilde%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>This just kills me....</div><br /><div></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-72952611054514846262008-08-10T18:14:00.001-05:002008-08-10T18:16:38.994-05:00...As I Was Saying.<div>Apparently Google knows I have a <a href="http://maroscher.com/">brother</a>.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233031750107433234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkTGONvT4oPWCafZ02FqMPiEYsrkSQx7ncbE8UAFmip8UF2-Aq8y9O_utXSjo44-kZagZCeURmaL4_tbVh58G3ksb2zIIXXqJRitnPR-PACRcwPNi3YE-sjDm3CJIzJ49UhE/s320/olympics08_weightlifting.gif" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15173648.post-39404745058335115452008-08-09T12:14:00.004-05:002008-08-09T12:17:23.652-05:00Google Knows What Side Their Bread Is Buttered OnA whole slew of sports to pay tribute to today, and what did Google choose?<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232567854857041234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE2u1e5GiyfKhKNpyIyWbDn0wFb84jP1ZSfcazz_XmOtBW04EyVzhw0bX_snuJGvFCfA_Al-WqcgRHQuPaJ2Dyr4JpE1dN4S9XM4raGK8cK9Q2rNt84RrwyA3xjk44glpMAc/s320/olympics08_cycling.gif" border="0" /><br />Yup. They know what's good for 'em.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00555496083371304295noreply@blogger.com0