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No Peet's, No Starbucks
December 27, 2007Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to Alfred H. Peet who died this year at 87 years old.
Not a lot of people know this, but Peet introduced gourmet coffee to America - coffee out of a can? - when he co-founded Peet's Coffee and Tea in 1966.
He had two proteges, Gordon Bowker and Jerry Baldwin, who started a little company in the upper northwest you might have heard of -- Starbucks.
So enjoy a cup of joe and pour a little out for Peet. (I think they have a Peet's at the United at Fairway.)
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Michael Jackson remixed
December 21, 2007Any fan of Michael's Thiller will love these leaked songs. I'm not sure when the actual album will be released, but I'm guessing soon.
There's five tracks to enjoy and some - featuring two of three Black Eyed Peas - are definitely worth a listen. I do have to warn you about the half-assed attempt by Kanye West.
Here's the Link:
http://mattpsmusic.blogspot.com/2007/12/michael-jackson-thriller-25-tracks.html
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Supporting our Troops
Here's a couple of prime examples of the government supporting our troops overseas:
-- Required that soldiers discharged early because of battlefield injuries repay their enlistment bonuses.
-- Sent the longest serving National Guard unit home one day shy (729 days of combat in Iraq) of the necessary time to get education benefits.
-- Denied medical benefits to 22,000 veterans suffering post-traumatic stress by discharging them for enlisting with previous personality disorders.
Just wanted to thank Rolling Stone for bringing this to my attention. Cheers to the government.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
I blame SportsCenter
December 19, 2007Sure money has something to do with it, but after the Mitchell report I point the finger at ESPN for their role in popularizing the long ball, the touchdown, the dunk, the highlight.
In a roundabout way SportsCenter has had a hand in glorifying what athletes do to a degree of marketing. You don't want to fall off the highlight wagon, so you do what you must to stay marketable.
You have to believe athletes, especially young ones, believe what gets shown on SportsCenter that night will make or break their season, or have a hand in it anyway.
I'm not an athlete but I can remember as a younger guy what it would be like to get my mug on that evening night cast for the world to see.
The show started in 1979. That would make this the ESPN generation. There isn't a "guy" who doesn't watch it and there is an athlete who hasn't wanted to be featured.
It's the glory hound mentality. Athletes used to have to fight of the papers before 5 p.m., but in the 24-hour media society, you might as well embrace it.
But the bargaining chip in the equation is how much money someone can generate off their show. I wonder why Roger Clemens has been on the most This is SportsCenter commericals?
You don't think more people wanted to see T.O. after his suicide/not suicide attempt. It was 24-hour coverage when he was leaving the Eagles and coming to Texas to be with the Tuna.
So that's my 2 cents. It might not be a wrong, but it's what I honestly think.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
My fav Christmas movie
December 14, 2007I wasn't able to contribute to the NEXT's cover story, but hands down the best Christmas film has to be National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
Who doesn't know a Griswold in their life? The lights engulfing the house, the eggnog served in the Wally World crystal glasses, the crazy pool visions of a make pretend Phoebe Cates.
The movie is the classic of the season. You can have you It's a Wonderful Life and any version of Christmas Carol, but I'll take my Chevy Chase with a smile.
You can rewind to any scene from the film and you have to laugh. The beginning with the family truckster (metallic pea might be the color for those that remember) stuck under an 18-wheeler is hilarious.
How about the scene where the Margo, the neighbor, (also known as Julia Louis-Dreyfus) decides she finally going to do something and punch Griswold in the mouth only to get devoured by both a squirrel and a rottweiler/Snot?!
Hands down the best movie of the season. 
Any debate?
Posted by Clayton Hein at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
2nd job hunt
December 05, 2007Finding a second job is tough. Finding a good primary job is tough to begin with, but getting a second job is probably the worst.
Usually taking a second job is decided by some other factors. In my case $ is the culprit. Christmas and other things are breathing down my neck. It's no big deal, but I've looked for a second job, off and on, for a long period of time since I've been at the paper.
I usually apply where my friends have jobs already. Something about the foot in the door really helps in getting any way in.
The hunt started last year before my son was born. I figured I'd get something to help with day to day medical expenses.
No luck. I tried, mainly at FedEx packing boxes on to trucks, but I never got a call back. I went up there more than once, but just couldn't get hired. Oh well.
Well for the past couple of months I've tried getting another job again. I've got an application at Academy and at the human resources office on base. No luck. I've got a friend who just started working at Kock's Liquor who's supposed to put a good word in for me, but we shall see.
I don't know what the deal is. I guess as a final resort I started taking on jobs as a painter. Tough but rewarding work. It's a lot of alone time. I've done one job and, hopefully, will get a couple more before Dec. 25. It pays well that's for sure, but getting steady work is the tricky part. Being a dad, having a, usually, more than full-time job and husband demands a lot of time.
So I guess painting is the route for me.
But I think people don't want to hire me because of my qualifications, albeit limited. I have a degree. Not saying that's something special at all, but I really think that's the reason I can get steady extra work.
I know the time constraints of hiring and training another employee whose planning on working a limited amount of time can be maddening, but I'm not asking for much.
I talked with a buddy the other day who said he had a friend who couldn't get extra work possibly related to him having a degree.
Degrees only keep you warm for so long. I need something to keep the lights on.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
fantasy hell
December 04, 2007My fantasy football season is about to wrap up, but boy has it been tough. As you might already know I missed the first 10 picks of my draft so my team was basically picked before hand.
Injuries another unforeseen circumstances haven't keep me out of the playoffs, I'm sitting in the No. 3 slot right now, but they have made my life difficult.
First I traded Ronnie Brown for Deuce McCallister. McCallister lost a leg and that hurt. Brown got hurt later, but he was a heck of a football player during his few weeks.
Then Shaun Alexander forgot how to run the ball.
Tony Romo has been the secret to my success. I traded away T.O. for Wes Welker and Reggie Bush and that really hasn't worked out to my liking. Them's the breaks.
Now I found out I lost Roy Williams. He hasn't been as good as he should have been, but now I have a huge hole at an top-WR level.
I immediately picked up Bryant Johnson. Hopefully Anquan Boldin stays injured.
The worst move of the season was the T.O. trade. I gave him to another team, ran by TRN employee Matt Ledesma, who already had Tom Brady and Randy Moss.
I guess I'll get what's coming to me.
Pickup of the week: Nobody. I might have to retire from the fantasy business depending how this season turns out.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Rider prospects
December 01, 2007I just learned that with the coaching change that Markelle Martin has decommitted to A&M and has committed to the dark side -- Stoops' Sooners. I'm a Horns fan, so I was sad to see that Texas was fifth on his list.
Don't know why, but he is, according to ESPN, going to be playing in Norman shortly.
An associate of ESPN - Scouts, Inc. - gives the following critic of Martin's game:
Evaluation: Martin possesses excellent size, range and toughness at his safety position. He will break off the hash over sideline routes and the next play step down and make a physical hit near the line of scrimmage. He is very versatile and well rounded in all facets.
His greatest attribute might be his savvy diagnosing skills. He expertly reads the quarterback and underneath routes. He blends great timing and anticipation skills with good short-area closing speed to consistently separate the ball from the receiver.
He will win most jump balls or use his long wingspan to deflect the pass. Possesses great ball skills and is a threat in the open-field. As a run supporter, he will shut down his front-side alley with force or effectively sift through the lateral trash to make the big hit.
Sound open-field tackler, he rarely lunges or goes for the drag down. Consistently wraps his head around the ball carrier's waste and drives his hips through. While he is sound in all areas, our only concern with Martin is that some of his productivity stems from his good instincts and positioning, not pure speed and athleticism.
He appears quicker than he is fast. At the next level, with smarter quarterbacks and faster receivers, it will be a more balanced playing field and his true range will be tested.
He might not be able to improve his natural speed, but his overall game can be polished up to help his transition. Needs to stay disciplined in his pedal particularly transitioning in and out.
At times, he stands high, a bit stiff with little fluidity and balance.
Lacks and explosive burst on the ball when attacking underneath. Tends to read and react without good plant and drive technique. Still needs to develop physically and add considerable bulk and strength to consistently play in the box at the next level.
Martin may need a bit of polish, but he is a versatile and rangy athlete who could blossom at the next level.
I also found out that Damien Washington has the following information listed:
Scouts Grade: 70
Position Rank: RB #156
Considering: 1-Texas A&M , 2-Texas Tech , 3-Kansas , 4-Oklahoma State
Evaluation: Washington is a quality running back prospect who can move the chains as an in-line runner. He does not possess workhorse type measureables in terms of size, but he presses the hole with the power of a bigger back between the tackles. Hits the hole quickly and can accelerate to full speed within just a few steps. Flashes good vision and does a nice job setting up blocks at full running speed.
Good luck to the both of 'em.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
