Archive for September, 2007

Sep28th2007

The Automat

Published
by
geoff
11 months ago
in Randomness and Travels
. 0 Comments

automat.jpgI love NY. Something new to put a smile on my face everytime I visit.

I just got back from a round of interviews with a couple agencies (thinking about moving back) and I came across this “thing” on St. Marks (for those of you who are NYC-illiterate, that’s in the East Village).

Its called The Automat.

The best way I can describe it is a humongous vending machine. I’m sure everything is very healthy. Who wouldn’t want Grilled Cheese out of a coin-op. How about some hot wings? Don’t forget the pork buns. Yuuuuuuuummmmmy! Temptation… maybe if I was a full bottle of Patrone deep, and god hope the amount of alcohol would kill anything that made its way into my body, I might consider it. But who wants vendor food when you can’t feel your face? Gimme a slice! Rosario’s. John’s. Come on, its a vending machine!! I’m not quite sure of the quality, and don’t think my digestive system would ever forgive me for taking part in this culinary experiment. When I walked by, people were looking at it more like they saw Criss Angel stuffing himself into one of the food slots for his A&E show rather than debating about something that is appetizing.

Would you buy something from here?

Sep22nd2007

Welcome lil’ anderson

Published
by
geoff
11 months, 1 week ago
in Celebration
. 0 Comments

Nine months goes by in a hurry. Whoosh! Myself and a couple friends (which included my now girlfriend) were out for drinks after Atlanta’s (well, Cabbagetown) Chomp-n-Stomp , and we found out that one of our drinking partners wasn’t really drinking. One thing led to another and we started relentlessly abusing Jeff (it was his wife that wasn’t drinking) about her being pregnant, etc… He was freaking out. And by freaking out I mean I’m surprised his hair was still in its roots. At this point, I decided to secretly convince the waitress to bring a shot of “whatever, just call it the babymaker” to Jeff. I’m a good friend, right? Well, not that night, but shortly there after, our prophecy was true.

Welcome to the world Ava Marie Anderson. I know there are some happy people around. You can read a little about the pregnancy account from Jeff’s side here - http://blameitonthebabymaker.com Its only a shame he couldn’t keep it up. He had some great traffic, dreams of Oprah, Ellen, and book deals.

Sep20th2007

My dear ‘ol Mac

Published
by
geoff
11 months, 1 week ago
in Randomness
. 0 Comments

sad_mac.jpgOh you’ve been there. That moment where it takes a little longer for your computer to execute, render, or save. You wait with baited breath as the beach ball keeps spinning. OK, maybe it just needs a minute, you walk away, grab a drink, maybe run to the bathroom. You come back and its still “chugging”. Your heart sinks into your stomach. Your brain starts to race - “oh god, when was the last time I backed up.” Followed by a profanity laced monologue that would exceed the NC-17 rating, its time to get Apple support on the phone and figure out my options. My PowerBook is a shade under 3 years, so thank god for Apple Care.

My call with Apple and subsequent trip to the Genuis bar was successful.  Walking though the store and talking to the merchandise: “Hello iPhone, I’ll buy you as soon as my VzW contract ends” and “Nice MacBook Pro - you’ll be mine as soon as leopard comes through”.  I’m attracted to this stuff like a fish to a shiny lure.   I literally can feel my Amex sweating when I walk though the pearly gates of the Apple Store at Lenox.

This was my life about 2 weeks ago. And talk about timing - I recently resigned from my job and was in the middle of job search. Thank god I finished redesigning my online portfolio or that would have my my life fun. Now, the big question comes, what did I backup. “Please god, just this once…”  I got back my PB with a new HD, hooked up the external drive.  Couple sighs of relief right away - Contacts, iTunes, photos all intact.  Missing: recent work and my entire email inbox.  Ouch!  I still have all my software on disc, so the usual pain of reloading applications took a day out of my life which will never get back.

Wisdom for the day:  BACK YOUR STUFF UP!

Sep10th2007

Short Break - be back soon

Published
by
geoff
11 months, 3 weeks ago
in Technology
. 0 Comments

I know, I know.  You, my adoring fans, wondering - “what the hell happened to geoff?”  Well, the Powerbook decided to pull the e-brake.  I was working the other night and the hard drive shut down.  And by shut down I mean go to the farm with all the other HD’s to frollick in the tall grass and sip on juice boxes.

The guys at the Genius Bar gave me the look of “I hope you backed up your info” (oh yeah - thank you LaCie Rugged!) and I knew my reliance on technology would have to take a hiatus.  By the way, I love the Apple Store and the Genuis Bar.  It gives me a chance to watch life at its greatest - people struggling with their iPods or shuffles, and mild attempts by “the genuises” to not smuggly laugh in their face. 

Apple is currently replacing my HD (thank you Apple Care!) and should be back in my hands within 7-10 days. 

Until then -
Geoff

Sep3rd2007

Appal-who?

Published
by
geoff
12 months ago
in Sports
. 1 Comment

yosef_asu_boone_lg.jpgYesssss! College football is here. I love saturdays. I was one of those communist (that’s what my coach called all soccer players) kickers at Pitt. I never got off the bench and still plucking the splinters out, but saturdays were religious. Anything can happen. For the most part, what you get is 18-22 year olds laying it out there on every play. The first weekend of play normally has games like Pitt vs E. Michigan, Florida vs W. Kentucky, USC vs St Mary’s School for the Blind, and Michigan vs. Appalachian St, and the scores typically resemble a Team USA basketball game vs Guatemala (Cue the music - “Which one of these is not like the others?”). Just in case you were on a remote island somewhere, living under a rock or work in a nuclear missile silo, the Mountaineers of Boooooooone, NC (yes, I’ve been there. great college town), pulled the week 1 shocker. Do you think ASU will have some trouble scheduling that “scrimmage game” next year? The news was reporting that after the game, students from App. State went to their own field (please note the game was in Michigan) and tore down the goal posts! That’s crazy! I can honestly say I have never heard of that happening.

Just in case some of you don’t know how this works, top shelf Division 1 teams normally schedule a Div 1-AA or a weak Div 1 teams to open the season - one last chance to work out the kinks, actually hit someone that isn’t a teammate, look impressive to the alumni, and add a “W” to the overall record. On top of that, these weak teams normally get payments in the 6-figures for the appearance (most of which goes to medical bills). Rumor has it, ASU got a cool $400k. At this point, do you think Michigan is looking for a refund? Not too may teams go into Ann Arbor and walk out with a win, let alone the game U of M put on the schedule as the home opener.

Now, let’s give Appalachian some credit. They are not a pushover. For the past decade or so, they have played and sometimes won at the top teams in the ACC as their season opener. Teams like Wake Forest and NC State - who no longer want to play them. While ASU has been doing this, they consistently are ranked in the top-10 of Div 1-AA, giving the Div 1-A teams a run, and oh, lets not forget most recently back-to-back national titles from the division formally known as 1-AA. So, anyone, thinking that ASU is a guaranteed “W” needs to have their head examined. Congrats Lloyd Carr, you now have the wrath of “Big Blue” Nation calling for your job.

This brings me one small thing that college football needs to fix until we get a playoff. Rankings. I believe pre-season rankings are fine, something that sells magazines and gets alumni fired up. But here’s where the problem comes in - any team that starts too far down in rankings at the beginning of the year has no shot at either a national title or a BCS bowl. Why not start ranking the teams after we get a chance to see them play - lets say 4 games? The rankings now are based on what, last years team, reputation, returning starters and schedule? How can you reasonably predict a top 25 without seeing them play a single game? I give you Exhibit A - the 2007 version of University of Michigan at #5 (I’m predicting they will fall completely out of the poll). What does that make ASU?

Congrats Appalachian (and especially my brother Pete and his wife kelly, who are both ASU grads)! Live in the moment. I’m sure there were lots of hangovers on sunday, and monday…