Windows Vista

I have been using Windows Vista for a few weeks now and I really like it's look and feel. My favorite feature is the new Windows Photo Gallery. It makes tagging and organizing my photo's a breeze. I used to use Adobe Photoshop Elements 4, but I really don't need it's organizational features any more. Microsoft finally got something right!

The Bridge to Terabithia

I saw The Bridge to Terabithia the other day. It is nothing like the preview trailer! I actually cried! The trailer makes you think you are going to see a fantasy movie with a lot of CGI effects.  The movie is nothing like that. Yes, there are some scenes in a fantasy world, but most of the story takes place in the present day. It is a great movie, but definitely not for young children.

Tim Hardaway is Loser of the Week

“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people, I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.’’ Tim Hardaway

Tim Hardaway is our Loser of the Week

It's A Small World After All

This morning a message was left on my answering machine... "Hi, this is Nick Theodorou, I haven't talked to you in 29 years, I tracked you down. I hope I got the right person".  Wow! This was a blast from my past I thought, as I listened to the message. Nick and I were friends in junior high and early high school. He was a happy, go lucky kid and we had a lot of fun when we were young. I called him later today to see how he was doing. It was really weird talking to a person you haven't spoken with in almost 30 years. He is married, has a bunch of kids in college, was drafted into the army in Greece, and he has owned several businesses. I feel so old from when we used to play with his electric racing car set and watch Speed Racer in the afternoon at his childhood home. He said he found me by googling his name and found an entry I wrote about him on this blog! It really is a small world.

Nick with my Mother

Our Walt Disney World Photos

I finally uploaded our Disneyworld Photos to Flickr. We had  a great time with our friends, Bill and Andy. I can't wait to return to that magical place! I hope to be thinner in the next batch of pictures!

Where Is The Katharine McPhee We Love?

 

     I had been looking forward to Katharine McPhee's album for months now. On American Idol her voice gave me goose bumps! She has a wonderful, tender voice, and it is coupled with a real talent for touching your heart. That Katharine, is no where to be found on her debut album. With the exception of just one song, Ordinary World, the rest of the album sounds like all of the overmixed, emotionless, beat driven music that comes out of the industry today. We love Katharine McPhee for her voice and personality. Sadly, they are no where to be found. However, Ordinary World... Goose Bumps!

We Are Back!

I think that this is the longest I have ever gone without writing in the blog in a long time! We got back home from Florida and I decided to completely change my computers and how I use them! Firstly, I decided to switch to a Mac Mini for my emails and web browsing. It has taken me a week to get everything the way I like it. I also installed Windows Vista on my main PC. What can I say? It really is a nice upgrade from Windows XP. My only gripe is that one of the main programs I use for video editing, Pinnacle Studio 10 is not going to be upgraded to Vista until March. I am gonna have to use iMovie on the Mac till then. I also took the time to upgrade my servers with bigger hard drives. I have quite a home network set up here now. You would think that I had a major business! Maybe one day!

Since we got back from Florida I have been suffering with an awful sinus infection and a bad back. This is the longest that I have ever had back trouble. I talked to my Mom's therapist and she told me that my symptoms suggest a slipped disc! Great! I am doing conservative treatment to see if I can get myself back in shape before visiting the doctor. Time will tell.

We had a great time in Florida with our friends BIll and Andy. Poor Billy got the stomach virus while we were there so he stayed home a few days. It was great fun and wonderful to see those guys on this trip. They are true and wonderful friends.

Well that is all for now..to quote Dr Smith about his back..."Oh the pain, the pain"!

Epcot

Epcot


Originally uploaded by Scott Fisher.

Epcot is open late tonight, so here We are. It is really cold...in the forties. Brr! So much for a warm getaway! We are having a wonderful time, especially with our friends, Bill and Andy!


- Taken at 9:39 PM on January 25, 2007 - cameraphone upload by ShoZu

Epcot Today

We slept in a bit this morning and then we headed off to EPCOT. The Living Seas has been redone with characters from Finding Nemo. It is a nice upgrade, but I was disappointed that they did not use Ellen Degeneres's voice as the fish Dory. Since they use her voice and likeness at the Universe of Energy at the same park,  I would of thought they could have acquired her to dub the new attraction. My laptop doesn't want to accept photos from my camera, so pictures will have to wait till I get home. I may post some from my cell phone if I get the chance. MGM Studios is on the agenda for tomorrow!

Walt Disney World

We made it! We are finally here! So far we are having a wonderful time. We met up with our friend, Bob yesterday and had dinner at Ohana. It is a family style restaurant with a Hawaiian flair. They changed the menu and it is not as good as it used to be. It was great to see Bob no matter what the setting. Last night we picked up our dear friends, Bill and Andy, who are staying with us for the week! We were all here in 1999 together, so it makes a nice reunion! We went to the Animal Kingdom this morning and rode Expedition Everest. It is probably the fastest roller coaster in Disneyworld. It was a lot of fun, but the second time we rode it I got a bit nauseated. My cell phone has been acting up so the blogs may not be as frequent as I would like.

American Idol...Unlock Your Doors!

Tonight I watched the second episode from season six of American Idol. Everytime someone left the audition room the judges had to remind him or her to  go out the right door of the double doors. Why not just unlock the left? I am forever expecting the left door to be unlocked in a double door set. How many hours have people wasted saying, "other door" since the invention of the double door? Please unlock both doors!

Dreamgirls

I saw the Dreamgirls movie again. I really urge you to see it. It is so great to see musicals again on the big screen. Jennifer Hudson is excellent as Effie White. It makes no sense to compare her to Jennifer Holliday, the original Broadway Effie. Both are special in their own way. However, Holliday's performance was one of the greatest to ever hit the Broadway stage. I feel so privilaged to have witnessed it live! She literally "stopped the show!" Here is a clip from the 1992 Tony Awards. While not the same as live...it is pretty damned good! 

The Milk to Cereal Ratio

This morning I had a bowl of GOLEAN Crunch cereal for breakfast. I decided to use all the milk that was left in the jug for my cereal. There was too much for my bowl of cereal, but if I used the correct amount, there wouldn't be enough left for anything else. My cereal looked like milk soup!  I ate all the cereal out of my bowl, but what was I to do with the cup and a half of milk left? Drink it? No! Throw it out! Oh God, No!  I decided to fill it up with cereal again! Why did I feel I had to use all of the milk? Why didn't I just drink the milk that was left in the bowl. It is no wonder I struggle with my weight!

Head Cold

My head is about to explode! The sinus pressure and watery eyes are making me crazy. Where is my Sudafed? Dear Mike went out and tried to buy me some remedies. He bought me Sudafed PE and the CVS brand of a decongestant. I read the box on the Sudafed PE..."Does not contain Pseudoephedrine". What? How can you sell something called something that doesn't contain that something? What's next? Jiff Peanut Butter..."Does not contain peanuts?" Yes, I watch the news. I know that they have put products behind the counter that contain pseudoephedrine because I might decide to make crystal meth while I am coughing and wheezing, but this is ridiculous! Call it something else, because it sure does not work as well as the Sudafed I bought the last time. Somebody say "God Bless You" and please don't touch your nose after reading this!

I Can't Wait!

Kudos: V50.net

Tigger is Innocent! Accusers Losers!

I can't believe that Tigger's innocence is in question! The video clearly shows that the kid is pulling Tigger off balance. It is also not a punch! It is just a slap, not very hard,  and it doesn't even look intentional. The father, Jerry Monaco, even said that at first he thought his son had done something. Why would he say that? His son must do things like this and he suspected him. Jerry Monaco, Sr. and Jerry Monaco, Jr. are my losers of the week!

The Holidays Are Over

Is this the year? Do I finally lose the weight and get back in shape? I feel 80 years old! How long can I stuff my body. I don't even recognize myself in the mirror. It seems so much to even get up of the couch. I feel so stiff when I wake up in the morning. What is going to make me take care of my body? I have been suffering with apathy for too long. I just can't seem to keep motivated. I think I will go make a frozen pizza.

Losers of the Week... Perhaps Century

The following Massachusetts Senators and Representatives will be damned to the wrong side of history. Today, each of them voted to write discrimination into the Massachusetts State Constitution to ban already legal gay marriage. Each of them do not deserve to hold the offices they hold. They are run by a mob majority. I am disgusted.

HOUSE:

Bruce J. Ayers, D-Quincy - Y

John J. Binienda, D-Worcester - Y

Christine E. Canavan, D-Brockton - Y

Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham - Y

Mark J. Carron, D-Southbridge - Y

Paul C. Casey, D-Winchester - Y

Virginia Coppola, R-Foxborough - Y

Robert Correia, D-Fall River - Y

Geraldine Creedon, D-Brockton - Y

Sean Curran, D-Springfield - Y

Viriato Manuel deMacedo, R-Plymouth - Y

Paul J. Donato, D-Medford - Y

Lewis G. Evangelidis, R-Holden - Y

James H. Fagan, D-Taunton - Y

David L. Flynn, D-Bridgewater - Y

John P. Fresolo, D-Worcester - Y

Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn - Y

Colleen M. Garry, D-Dracut - Y

Susan W. Gifford, R-Wareham - Y

Emile J. Goguen, D-Fitchburg - Y

Shirley Gomes, R-South Harwich - Y

William G. Greene Jr., D-Billerica - Y

Robert S. Hargraves, R-Groton - Y

Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield - Y

Frank M. Hynes, D-Marshfield - Y

Michael F. Kane, D-Holyoke - Y

Paul Kujawski, D-Webster - Y

William Lantigua, D-Lawrence - Y

John A. Lepper, R-Attleboro - Y

Paul J. Loscocco, R-Holliston - Y

James R. Miceli, D-Wilmington - Y

James M. Murphy, D-Weymouth - Y

David M. Nangle, D-Lowell - Y

Robert J. Nyman, D-Hanover - Y

Marie J. Parente, D-Milford - Y

Jeffrey D. Perry, R-Sandwich - Y

George N. Peterson Jr., R-Grafton - Y

Thomas M. Petrolati, D-Ludlow - Y

Elizabeth A. Poirier, R-North Attleboro - Y

Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury - Y

Susan W. Pope, R-Wayland - Y

Mary S. Rogeness, R-Longmeadow - Y

Richard Ross, R-Wrentham - Y

Michael F. Rush, D-Boston - Y

Angelo M. Scaccia, D-Boston - Y

Todd Smola, R-Palmer - Y

Joyce A. Spiliotis, D-Peabody - Y

Walter F. Timilty, D-Milton - Y

A. Stephen Tobin, D-Quincy - Y

Philip Travis, D-Rehoboth - Y

James E. Vallee, D-Franklin - Y

Anthony J. Verga, D-Gloucester - Y

Brian P. Wallace, D-Boston - Y

Daniel K. Webster, R-Hanson - Y

 

SENATE:

Scott P. Brown, R-Wrentham - Y

Robert S. Creedon, D-Brockton - Y

Robert L. Hedlund, R-Weymouth - Y

Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge - Y

Michael W. Morrissey, D-Quincy - Y

Steven C. Panagiotakos, D-Lowell - Y

Robert E. Travaglini, D-Boston - Y

Kudos: The Fray

Happy 2007!

 

Kudos: deepbox.com

Saddam Hussein is Executed

Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging yesterday morning. While I feel that the world will not miss him, I can't really see how executing him solved any of the problems that the world currently faces, especially in the Middle East. I have never felt that capital punishment is the right answer to anything. I have yet to see how a society can call itself civilized when they have a systematic system in place for killing their own members, no matter how heinous that member of society is. I suppose I might want the person who killed someone in my family dead, but is that justice? I think it is just revenge. I am all for making criminal's lives unpleasant, but there is no pain after you die. I would rather have someone be reminded every day of the horrible things they have done and be forced to work and pay for their food and healthcare, while any and all luxuries would be denied... that, to me is punishment. I don't think that many of the flotsam and jetsam who commit these crimes actually fear death anyway. Living without freedom is punishment. Execution makes the victims feel better, but all the perpetrator  gets out of it is the time and date of his death. It is hardly justice and not much different or painful than learning you have six months to live from cancer. Call me a pacifist if you want, but I think I want something much worse than death for these individuals.

I would also like to take this time to say I have no respect for anyone who claims that human life is sacred, but supports the death penalty! Either you elevate the human, or you don't... there is no in between. If we are "playing God" with a fetus, or even an embryo, than what gives us the right to do so with a full grown human, no matter how despicable?

There is so much we need to be doing to make this world a better place. Saddam Husein stopped from oppressing and killing people is a good thing. His execution by hanging does nothing for the world.