DERRICH.com - crude, yet refined » New News

That Just Happened — Andre Smith Needs More Than A Bro

derrich — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:43:20 +0000

Dan Lopez / Associated Press—–

Andre Smith disappointed scouts and coaches yet again during his Pro Day yesterday. This is a guy I think is worthy of a #1 consideration based on his accomplishments at ‘Bama. Now, I’m second-guessing my decision. He may go much, much later now. I know it’s been reiterated over and over again. But when millions of dollars are at stake, how do you not prepare yourself as best as you possibly can. Nice goin, ‘Dre. Get yourself a bro while you’re at it. All joking aside, I think there are still teams out there that are considering him as a first round pick despite the lack of work ethic and bad choices he’s made throughout this draft process.

It should come as no surprise that the BCS has received extended agreements with the Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls through 2013. Can’t wait ’til September when they decide who goes (Bowls Contrived in September).

Anyone notice the name of the Italian Job sequel yet? *snicker*

One of the biggest question marks of the 2009 NFL Draft is West Virginia QB Pat White. Despite the obvious parallels to other athletic quarterbacks, it appears that White has created more buzz lately, and has NFL teams scratching their heads regarding his contributions to their programs. The Senior Bowl MVP threw the ball exceptionally well at the Combine, and he was able to run unofficial times of 4.50 and 4.49 in the 40-yard dash. Today is his Pro Day. There are 25 NFL teams there to watch him. He is expected to run routes today. Because his ‘athletic QB’ predecessors have experienced short-lived careers as QBs, a move to WR might be his best bet. He may be the reason for the evolution of the Wildcat…or more aptly named the ‘Two-Headed Monster’.

That Just Happened — Feed My Twitter

derrich — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:41:58 +0000

Tweet from @natewhitehill…In case you didn’t know, Nate and his crew over at Unique Blog Designs ~~designed~~ helped design Derrich.com. His link was a video of Jon Stewart explaining Twitter.

Tweet from @tonyhawk…the Tony Hawk Foundation seeks to foster lasting improvements in society, with an emphasis on supporting and empowering youth. Through special events, grants, and technical assistance, the Foundation supports recreational programs with a focus on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities. The Foundation favors programs that clearly demonstrate that funds received will produce tangible, ongoing, positive results. To support the cause, the THF is auctioning off a pair of Jeeps. To bid, visit this website.

Tweet from @TechCrunch…in conjunction with my heads up about Amazon VOD meets Roku, Michael Arrington shared the news today that Roku now supports Amazon VOD.

Tweet from @blellow…Mandi Leman is a San Antonio entrepreneur that started Blellow — its mission is to encourage open collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. If you’re scratching your head and want to learn more, see how it works and sign up for Beta, which closes today. So get movin’!

That Just Happened — Fat Tuesday Means Free Pancakes

derrich — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:14:37 +0000

Fat Tuesday marks the beginning of Mardi Gras. Well, actually…the literal translation of “Mardi Gras” is “Fat Tuesday”. And now I feel like Donovan McNabb, because I didn’t even realize this until today. My French isn’t so good. (I didn’t even know what a plethora was until I saw Three Amigos.) Anyway, the day commemorates nothing in particular. It’s simply the day to get $#!tTy before Lent begins when Christians are supposed to fast and do a little almsgiving. I haven’t decided what I’m giving up this year. Last year it was alcohol. I’m thinking of giving up TV…except whenever the Spurs play, or 24…or The Soup. Or American Idol. And NFL Network.

Apparently IHOP is helping us get fat. To celebrate National Pancake Day, IHOP is giving away free short stacks with a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network. Last year, cheap-@$$e$ donated $875,000 for charity. When compared to Denny’s (similar # of restaurants), which served an estimated 2 million people with its free Grand Slam circus…that’s less than $1 per meal donated. Seriously? I know times are tough, but I think everyone can afford a buck for a good cause. Look at it this way, you can get fat and feel good about it!

I hate Devin Harris…well, less now since he’s been traded from Dallas. He always gave the Spurs problems. This season, he’s giving everyone problems. Last night it was the 76ers…from half-court.

That Just Happened — Starbucks Sells Out To Survive

derrich — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:11:57 +0000

Nothing new. They already do it in Malaysia.—–

Did you ever imagine the day when a specialty coffee shop would start selling breakfast? I don’t mean the complimentary sugary confections we’re all used to…but breakfast. That day hath come. Starbucks announced that beginning on March 3, 2009, it would pair a drink with one of two new breakfast sandwiches.

“Welcome to Starbucks. How may I help you today?”

“Yeah…lemme get a…a Siren Sausage Sandwich and a tall caffe latte…non-fat, no whip, double trouble…no, no…make that a black eye…and half caf.”

By obscure comparison, the Amazon Kindle is like a Jonas Brothers album. You don’t know anyone that owns one, yet somehow Amazon can’t keep them on the shelves. Now the Kindle 2 is being released on February 24, 2009. It’s about as thin as a magazine, boasts a 25% increase in battery life, and can hold over 1,500 books. How many college kids would rather have this than lugging around ten 20-lb. text books in their backpack?

Courtesy ESPN

A-Roid, Ster-Rod, A-Fraud, Agent Orange (nice tan)…the nicknames are flying after ARod’s interview with Peter Gammons on ESPN. Orange you glad you told the truth, ARod? Smart move.

Speaking of orange…the Texas Longhorns got a commitment from another McCoy this week…Case McCoy. According to InsideTexas.com, the younger brother of Colt McCoy will play join the ‘Horns squad. No word yet on whether or not he will be accompanied by an attractive girlfriend that will sit with his parents at the games.

Along the college recruiting lines…it seems things get more and more ridiculous each year. Recruits are being treated like kings before they even step foot on campus. The result? They often develop an attitude of entitlement. South Carolina recruit, Alshon Jeffery, was told by head coach Steve Spurrier that he could keep his #2 jersey digit.

The problem? It’s retired.

Sterling Sharpe donned the number while he attended the University of South Carolina. Sterling is opposed to the idea. Don’t give in, Sterling! You’ll just add to the growing attitudes of entitlement among college recruits. Just a piece of the spectrum of college recruiting’s thin gray line.

That Just Happened — Tampa Has The Best Strip

derrich — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:24:36 +0000

Tampa Bay is hosting its fourth Super Bowl. Despite the number of Tampa’s attractions that the city’s tourism bureau would like for you to visit, one industry in particular is looking forward to the big game. It is believed that there are as many as 43 skrip clubs in the Tampa metro. SI.com has some interesting insight to the “Tampa Strip”. Somebody pass me a steak…and shrimp.

How hard is it to get Super Bowl tickets? Well, not that hard at all…just expensive. StubHub.com has a bunch of tickets listed starting at $1,600 per seat up to $10,000 per seat. And if you have $100k to blow and 15 friends (or strippers from the night before) you like alot, you can buy a luxury suite.

Hey, Tony. I can’t stand girls with twig-like physiques, but what did you do to Jessica? Seriously, though…I’m not making fun. But I’m not gonna lie. This is definitely surprising. Somebody pass me the chips and pizza.

Is Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald the greatest wide receiver ever? If the Steelers win the Super Bowl, will they be the greatest team in NFL history? Did you know that Bill Cowher once coached the Steelers? And did you know that Ken Whisenhunt once worked for Cowher? So, who does Bill Cowher pull for in this game? Just a few of the questions you’ll hear over and over again leading up to this weekend. John Royal at HoustonPress has a whole list of Super Bowl Memes you’ll be sick of.

Raise your hand if you thought Paul Blart Mall Cop signaled the end of Kevin James’ movie career. It’s been #1 for two weeks in a row. Somebody pass me the crow.

Earlier this year, one of my friends brought to my attention Erin Burnett’s snobbish tendencies. Ever since then, I’ve been looking for my new fav CNBC hottie. I found her. Did you know Trish Regan is fluent in Spanish and Italian, studied classical voice (opera), and was Miss New Hampshire in 1993?

That Just Happened — Lebron Goes NFL, Pilot Goes AWOL

derrich — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:53:11 +0000

Lebron sure has caused a stink with all that speculation about joining the Brooklyn Nets in 2010. Maybe we’re all mistaken. Did you ever think Lebron might be jumping sports? How dare we! Thanks to lebron2010.com, we have new fodder for speculation. Lebron to the NFL!

Lebron to Le Browns in 2010?

Myron Rolle is living a charmed life. He’s brilliant, he’s athletically gifted and he’s calling the shots…as he should. He decided to forego the 2009 NFL Draft and head to Oxford to pursue his Rhodes Scholarship. He will earn a one-year Master’s Degree in Medical Anthropology. Jolly good, Myron! See you on Sundays in ’10!

Marcus & Michelle Schrenker——

Memo to Bernie Madoff: Next time you scam ~~millions~~ billions from people — hop in a plane, send a distress message to air traffic controllers and just parachute out. Easy. No word yet on whether or not Marcus Schrenker scammed money from people, but the investment advisor was issued a $535,500 judgement against his company in favor of OM Financial Life Insurance Co. To add to the downward spiral, his wife filed for divorce on December 30 of ’08 and his step-father recently passed away. Check out the article in the Indy Star.

You, too, could own a strip club! Better yet, a strip club in Las Vegas! Better yet…the strip club once graced by Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones. The Minxx is for sale!

That Just Happened — I’d Give A Kidney For An NFL Cheerleader

derrich — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:21:42 +0000

While I wouldn’t actually give one of my kidneys for an NFL cheerleader, I’d devote a few minutes to checking out the NFL Cheerleaders: Best of 2008 on NFL.com. There are 72 photos that should keep you busy. Let me help out a little: 1, 24, 30 (middle), 42 (both), 50, 51, 57 and 70 (go Bucs).

Divorce can be messy. When 50% isn’t good enough, some spouses might choose — I don’t know — a kidney as well. A New York doctor gave a kidney to his wife while they were married. He’ll settle for $1.5 million as opposed to getting the kidney back. Really?

Looks like Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones got the boot in Dallas last night. I don’t see any other team giving the guy another shot. Jerry Jones was his best bet. Sorry, Pacman. *Awa-awa-awa*

Wardriving is no longer necessary. A company based in San Francisco called Autonet Mobile has developed a router that uses 2.5 and 3G networks allowing you to surf the Internet from your car. The service costs $29.99 for 1GB of data/mo. or $59.99 for 5GB of data/mo. This opens things up for road ragers everywhere. “Get off your damn laptop and watch the road!”

In case you missed my post or haven’t heard, the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship will be shown in 3D. Visit the link to see if it’s showing in your city and where. From what I’ve seen, tickets are anywhere between $13 and $16.

That Just Happened — Zune Freezes Over

derrich — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:45:29 +0000

This is it. Say goodbye to 2008…and to all those bad habits. Wipe the slate clean. Knock out those resolutions! What? You never follow through with your New Years’ resolutions? Get some help! stickK is a website that promotes healthier and happier living by enabling its users to form Commitment Contracts. That’s right…a financial obligation to succeed. stickK was co-founded by Dean Karlan, an Economics Professor at Yale. The idea is based on two simple principles of behaviorial economics: [1] people don’t always do what they claim they want to do, and [2] incentives get people to do things. Check out the stickK FAQs for more info on how this site works.

Apparently at about 2:00am this morning, every owner of a 30GB Microsoft Zune experienced the ultimate freeze. According to Gizmodo, there were “tons of reports—tons—about failing Zune 30s“. By ‘tons’, they mean all 12 Zune owners.

Congrats to the Rice Owls for stomping the Western Michigan Broncos last night in the Texas Bowl, 38-14. The game was highlighted by two former San Antonio standouts, Chase Clement (Alamo Heights) and Jarett Dillard (Sam Houston). And, of course, the head coach is none other than David Bailiff of my Alma Mater [Southwest] Texas State University. Not only does Dillard hold the NCAA record for career touchdown receptions (60), but he and Clement hold the Division I-A record for career TDs between a QB/WR duo (51).

How about a Derrich.com Best Gadgets of 2008 list? Everyone else is doing it, so why not. Here are my Top 5:

[1] Kodak Zi6 HD Video Camera. About $50 cheaper than its counterpart, the Kodak Zi6 is a quality camera that shoots videos in 720p HD. HD! And also unlike its counterpart, it features an expandable memory slot for up to 32GB of vids. And, of course, it comes in pink .

[2] Roku Netflix Player. For $99 (and a Netflix membership), you can get movies on demand anytime. The Netflix Player allows you to sift through a selection of over 12,000 movies and TV shows — some in HD — for instant viewing on your televish.

[3] BlackBerry Bold 9000. Yeah, I’m biased. But it’s a great phone! As I previously pointed out in my Bold vs E71 comparison, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 boasts impressive battery life, a great browser, WiFi, and an ever-growing supply of useful apps.

[4] Wii Fit. This selection might be questionable; but with the introduction of a new year come those New Years’ resolutions. And if you’ve never played a Wii before, try out the boxing game for a few minutes. You’ll be winded. I guarantee it. The Wii Fit Ultimate Fitness Bundle is the perfect alternative to a gym membership. This year over 2 million Wii-related items were sold on eBay. So, I know someone out there will agree with me on this one.

[5] Toshiba REGZA 42″ LCD HDTV. Not exactly a gadget, but another impressive piece of hardware from Toshiba. For under $900, the Toshiba REGZA 42RV535U 42″ LCD HDTV can be hanging on your wall. I thought Toshiba had outdone itself with last year’s 37 inch 720p LCD, which I purchased for a skosh over $850. For a little more, you get 1080p in a 42 inch screen. The picture is amazing. While there are probably better TVs out there, you can’t argue against the ‘value’ value of this HDTV.

Well, it’s certainly been an interesting year for me…and for the rest of us as well. I’m happy to be blogging again…I’m about to be a baby daddy a second time…but there were definitely many speed bumps for me along the way. Good riddance to 2008! Bring on 2009! I hope all of you have a safe and Happy New Year!

That Just Happened: And The Heisman Goes To…A Dog?

derrich — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:01:24 +0000

The Heisman ballots are due Wednesday. Despite my usual attention to the underdog, my unsexy Heisman picks are far from consideration. The Heisman race for 2008 appears to be undecided. The Heisman Pundit, Chris Huston, certainly believes so. He hasn’t revealed his prediction yet, but he makes great points for each of the top three candidates in what has turned out to be one of the tightest races in quite sometime.

So where does the dog come in? Well in case you missed it, a traffic camera in Santiago, Chile captured some amazing footage of a dog that dodged traffic to pull the body of another dog to the shoulder. The other dog had been hit by a car earlier — apparently his buddy didn’t want his corpse to be hit again. See the video of this dog rescue in Chile.

Speaking of videos, The Dark Knight was released today. No doubt it’ll be a top seller…and a perfect stocking stuffer. Buy it on Blu-Ray, DVD w/Digital Copy so it can be transfered to your computer or portable, or the good ol’ Widescreen version.

Can you remember the last time Antonio Bryant was good? That’s right. At Pitt. So far this season, he’s pulled in 66 receptions (for nearly 1,000 yards…currently 10th among WRs), but none as pretty as one-handed catch.

My wife was making her nightly rounds on BabyCenter.com last night trying to find out how large our daughter should be (we’re on Week 31, I believe), and she stumbled upon an interesting service. The BabyCenter’s Booty Caller sends ovulation alerts to your phone to let you know when you’re most likely to be fertile. Wow. I guess you can never be too safe.

5 Must Have [Free] BlackBerry Apps

derrich — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:23:39 +0000

This list was last updated July 3, 2009. If you want to suggest an app for this list, please leave a comment.

Let’s face it. The one advantage to having an iPhone are the plethora of apps available. With the ‘newness’ of the BlackBerry Bold, I’ve had trouble finding some decent applications to add to my phone…apps that I’d actually use on a daily basis. After searching high and low on the Interweb, and a little trial and error, I’ve discovered several apps that make the Bold even more uber. The following BlackBerry apps are free and in my opinion the most useful of the lot.

viigo. This aggregator features a wide variety of content from a collection of news sources (national, local, entertainment, sports), stock tracking and finance news, as well as an RSS reader to keep track of your favorite blogs through over 5,000 channels. Viigo also allows you to customize your feeds including the capability to listen or watch podcasts. You can even track packages from four of the major parcel services. Social networking is limited to Facebook, Twitter & Plaxo. Most recently, Viigo has added emergency services to its lineup including breaking news, earthquake and storm watch monitoring, and FEMA and homeland security bulletins.

As I originally thought, this app grew on me. It’s ‘all-in-one’ personality was just too awesome!

From a business model perspective (I apologize…a little off topic), Viigo has smartly and tastefully included ads in its delivery of content (each contant provider has the opportunity to opt in or out of showing ads in their feed). The ads are not overpowering nor are they intrusive, which is hard to do considering the amount of screen real estate on a mobile device. Obviously used to help subsidize the ‘free’ness of the service. Kudos, Viigo!

To download this app, visit http://www.viigo.com/download via your BlackBerry or from your PC.

UberTwitter. If you’re a raging Twitterholic like I am, you need to download UberTwitter now. With this app you can view others’ timelines, single out @ replies, reply and reply all to friends, and view and send direct messages. There is a handy ReTweet function and hashtags are clickable within UberTwitter. It also allows you to search Twitter as well as view a ‘trending topics’ list.

You can also take a picture in Uberwitter and add it to your tweet. Regardless, I still chose to use TwitPic. Add to that some geolocation capabilities and you’ve got a pretty complete Twitter app.

TellMe. TellMe is a voice recognition app that provides GPS directions, traffic information (where available), maps, businesses, movie times courtesy of Fandango, as well as weather information. By using keywords such as “coffee” or “movies” or “sports”, TellMe gets you the information you’re looking for. TellMe is a Microsoft subsidiary and therefore uses LiveSearch for a majority of its results. This app is available for the BlackBerry Bold. You can download this app by going to m.tellme.com on your BlackBerry.

Facebook. Facebook is not only the world’s largest social network, but it continues to grow. I’ve reconnected with many of my old friends and keep up with business contacts at the same time. There are other apps out there that allow you to access your Facebook account, but I prefer to stick with the actual service. Each update of this app has featured something more useful and a more user-friendly interface…moreso than Facebook.com itself.

If you have Facebook, download this app through Facebook or visit the Facebook For BlackBerry website.

E*TRADE Mobile Pro. You’ve seen the talking baby commercials. This kid knows what he’s talking about. For you stock market buffs, this is ‘the one’. The layout is clean, and from a functionality standpoint, it is capable. And best of all, you can use it without opening an E*TRADE account. However, you won’t be able to realize all of its benefits, such as saving your favorite tickers, without doing so. You might be able to gain full functionality by opening a Complete Savings account, which currently has a minimum requirement of $1. You probably want to contact E*TRADE to be sure. For now, I just use it for quotes and market updates…and because it’s pretty.

To download it, go to etrade.com/mobile from your BlackBerry.

APP-SOLUTELY! Like most app providers will include in a disclaimer, these apps are ‘free’ to the point of downloading them at no charge for a service that does not have a service cost (monthly or otherwise). It is important to be sure that you’re plan includes unlimited data. If you do not have an unlimited data plan, your wireless service provider may charge data usage fees for downloading and using the application. If you do not know if you have a data plan, or are uncertain what your data rates are, please contact your wireless provider.

The following apps were once at the top of the list, but have been muscled off the updated list by the new hotness. Regardless, they’re still worth a mention:

ASSOCIATED PRESS. Through an extensive network of content contributors, the Mobile News Network application offers access to local and national news “supplemented by AP’s text, photos and video”. With ‘The Network‘ you can search, share, rate content, and receive text alerts set to your preferences. To download this app, visit bb.apnews.com from your BlackBerry.

VLINGO. Voice control capability for your mobile device is huge. If you’re like me, you want to practice true hands-free driving. Eyes on the road! Vlingo is arguably the best tool for this job. Vlingo’s voice recognition abilities reach beyond dictation of texts and emails. It also allows virtual hands-free web searches, updating Facebook & Twitter status, and it allows you to access your calendar among other apps. To download it, visit Vlingo.com.

That Just Happened — The Nokia N97 Hates Mobile Tuesday

derrich — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:13:36 +0000

In case you missed Sunday night’s NFL matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots, you missed one sloppy game. We found out what happens when Matt Cassel encounters the best defense in The League…so did Wes Welker. Lil Weezy had 4 catches for 30 yards, and took 1 hit for the ages..courtesy of Ryan Clark. See the video.

It was announced that Rickey Henderson would be included on the 2009 Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. His records include 2,295 runs and 1,406 steals. What might be more amazing than his accomplishments are his personality…and the collection of hilarious stories that represent it. Check out the 25 Best Stories of ‘Rickey Being Rickey’..

Black Friday spending was up 1% over 2007. Cyber Monday featured a ton of deals, but more importantly has gained acclaim as one the lead indicators of the upcoming holiday shopping season. So while retailers count their money and analysts sit by and wait for the numbers, I present to you Mobile Tuesday. Seriously? Enough already!

Speaking of mobile, Nokia World kicked off in Barcelona today where the company unveiled it’s latest creation: the Nokia N97. It looks like an iPhone, probably smells like an iPhone…but it’s no iPhone. Nokia’s ultimate goal with this device is to give users the ultimate real-time social networking capability with its concept of ‘social location’. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their ‘status’ and share their ‘social location’ as well as related pictures or videos. Aesthetically, it differs from the iPhone by combining a large 3.5” touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard. “The world’s most advanced mobile computer” will run you about US$700 when it’s released in the first half of 2009. I’ll stick to my BlackBerry Bold, although if Nokia wants to hook me up…

If you can’t afford the GPS-enabled Nokia N97, today’s Amazon Deal of the Day is the TomTom ONE XL 4.3-Inch GPS Navigator. I believe it includes maps for both the U.S. and Canada.

That Just Happened — Despite BCS Confusion, The Eagles Still Suck

derrich — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:06:28 +0000

Last week, I did my best to suggest that an all Big 12 BCS title game was on the horizon. But because I refuse to give the SEC any credit this season, I had to consult the BCS guru, Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times, for some unbiased guidance. Now that the weekend is done, Chris shows us the light with his explanation of why an all Big 12 BCS title game is now even more likely to occur…with a little help from the stars, of course.

Mike Leach didn’t predict the storm brought on by OU. Even if you thought Oklahoma would win, there’s no way you saw the 44-lb hammer come down.

The pride and prestige of winning the National Championship is represented by the beautiful Waterford Crystal football awarded to the winner. That’s all well and good, but some teams find it more rewarding to fight for other trophies — oars, oaken buckets, skillets. Check out SI’s photo slideshow of college football’s unusual trophies.

Did anyone else notice that Div 1-AA (I refuse to call it F-whatever it is) >James Madison snuck it’s way into the BCS poll? I think it’s great (coming from a Div 1-AA football school), but it definitely shows the obscure nature of the BCS ranking system.

Rob Carr | AP

I feel this photo best describes the ongoing frustration felt by Philly fans everywhere. This one accomplishes the same for Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. I feel sorry for McNabb. I feel like offering the guy some tissue paper. Not to wipe his tears, but so he can blow his nose. Is it me, or does he sound a little nasally?

Who needs Tom Brady? Matt Cassel is one more 400-yard game (and victory) away from scoring Gisele. It’s highly likely free agency will be kind to Cassel, but what about making Tom Brady the next Drew Bledsoe? History always seems to repeat itself, especially in the NFL (i.e. Favre, Montana). Waiting your turn as an NFL quarterback pays off.

Maybe it’s just me (it usually is)…but everytime I see these pre-game analysts use Madden or some other simulation software to predict a game, I roll my eyes. Now come to find out there are football programs out there using interactive software to plan games and bridge the generation gap between players and coaches. If you think the Patriots video taping sessions are bad, imagine the quarterback waiting for the play call from upstairs while the Offensive Coordinator plays the upcoming scenario on a frikken video game. “What Would Madden Do?”

Speaking of Madden, if I have to hear that “$5 Footlong” jingle one more time…

A Special Place for Hybrids

derrich — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:24:19 +0000

A little over a month ago, I decided to sell my beloved Nissan Maxima and explore my inner hippie. I loved that Maxima. Attractive, reliable…though not so easy on the pocketbook. It requires premium gasoline and the gas tank has about a 21-gallon capacity. And I drive a ton, so I was fueling up often. So, I bought a Toyota Camry Hybrid. Makes sense…well, a little despite the increased car payment. Just doing my part to be a good stewart. Anyway, before I move further away from the point of the story and offer a full-blown review of my new car…it seems there are more benefits to owning a hybrid than just MPGs.

It appears that some stores across the U.S. are rewarding hybrid drivers with choice parking spaces. According to this article in the Houston Chronicle…better known as “the Chron”…stores such as Ikea, Office Depot, and Home Depot are offering the beloved spaces for their enviro-friendly patrons.

Courtesy of Curbed Los Angeles

Keep your space. Better yet, how about converting it to a “pregnant parking” or “elderly without a HC tag parking”? The idea is noble. Thanks, but no thanks. Besides…I need the exercise.

Keep Track of Your Personal Finances In One Place

That Just Happened — A-Rod Attacked By Hawk At Fenway Park

derrich — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:01:55 +0000

Could it be a sign of what’s to come? Some may think that it’s no coincidence that Alexa Rodriguez, a 13-year-old girl, was attacked by a red-tailed hawk at Fenway Park yesterday. Many fans are releaved that it wasn’t a girl named Dereka Jeter or Alberta Pooholes.

So your tax refund was a little lower than expected? Can’t wait for that stimulus check? Try MissingMoney.com. The website developed by the ACS Unclaimed Property Clearinghouse will search its database for unclaimed property including bank accounts and safe deposit box contents, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends, uncashed checks and wages, insurance policies, CD’s, trust funds, utility deposits, and escrow accounts. Before you hire Russell & Tate to git yo’ money, try this site.

Regardless of how you look at it — 4 years too early or 6 years too late — the New Kids On The Block are back. They appeared on the Today Show this morning reunited for the first time in 14 years. The band will return to TODAY on May 16 to perform their first live concert since 1994 as part of TODAY’s summer concert series on the Plaza. I can see it now…new video introduced by Kennedy and Bill Bellamy.

The Final Four descends upon San Antonio once again. Festivities begin today, games begin tomorrow. With four #1 teams, this city is gonna be a madhouse. I can’t wait! Aside from visiting my bar, RETOX, and the Alamo, I created a things to do in San Antonio list for you tourists. My only amendment to the list for downtown sports bar is The Ticket. Go there. And when it gets packed, come to RETOX. See a schedule of events for the NCAA® Final Four® in San Antonio.

Now This Is Happening — New York Buys Eli A New Carr, Gets A New Gov

derrich — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:32:31 +0000

Well, the prostitute mentioned as “Kristen” in a federal affadivit as giving former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer sexy time has been revealed.

Courtesy of MySpace.com

Ashley Alexandra Dupre (born Ashley Youmans), 22, is also an aspiring R&B singer…according to her MySpace. In her own words, she’s been through tough times.

I live in New York and am on top of the world. Been here since 2004 and I love this city, I love my life here. But, my path has not been easy. When I was 17, I left home. It was my decision and I’ve never looked back. Left my hometown. Left a broken family. Left abuse. Left an older brother who had already split. Left and learned what it was like to have everything, and lose it, again and again. Learned what it was like to wake up one day and have the people you care about most gone. I have been alone. I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But, I survived, on my own. I am here, in NY because of my music.

Looks like she’s got a bunch of support looking at her MySpace comments. Good thing. Right about now, E Spit has been relegated to the doghouse.

As hard as it is for me to even acknowledge ESPN’s John Clayton’s proficiency in the goings on of the NFL, I do. I admit it. He knows what he’s talking about most of the time even though his Skolnick appearance can be deceiving. Yesterday, he offered his Top 10 free-agent gambles. And just when I thought the No. 1 overall pick of 2002 was done for, David Carr rears his Harrington-like head around the corner in New York. I can’t believe I’m saying that. I used to be a huge fan. Now, I can’t imagine him even taking the job of my favorite overweight QB as he finally get his chance in the NFL. Oh wait. There’s still one in Oakland. Whew.

Um…raise your hand if you knew there was another Hulk movie coming out. Seriously, I’ve really been slacking. Normally, I’m on top of this info. if you haven’t already seen it, check out the The Incredible Hulk trailer. Another example of Ed Norton’s range as an actor. He can even turn into a CGI monster.

The Rockets won again. That’s 20! Are you shidding me?

Apply for the Discover® Open Road Card today! link goes direct to application

That Just Happened — Los Patrick Swayze Has The Cancer

derrich — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:52:40 +0000

Despite early reports that Patrick Swayze had 5 “weeks to live” after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the Roadhouse star is said to have a “limited amount of disease”. Swayze’s doctor, George Fisher, added that “…reports stating the time frame of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue”. Dr. Fisher also said that Swayze shrugged off the treatments with a dogmatic statement: “Pain Don’t Hurt“. Best of luck, Pat.

Tonight, my San Antonio Spurs take on the Indiana Pacers (welcome home, Jeff Foster). Tonight is also Latin-themed night. Manu Ginobili is going to wear a jersey thought to represent San Antonio’s heritage. Um. “LOS SPURS” is the dumbest thing the Spurs have ever come up with next to the Taco Cabana Spurs logo. If it was truly in Spanish, it would be Las Espuelas. I hope we lose tonight. But we won’t ’cause we kick los ass!

Speaking of los kick ass, the Houston Rockets won’t stop losing. Last week when I talked about Yao Ming being out for the season, I also wasted no time writing the Rockets off as dead in the water. Hey…I might be wrong. Anything is possible. If you don’t remember Tracy McGrady’s 13 in 33 here it is. Talk about amazing. I was in a jam-packed Baker’s Street Pub in Houston watching this game with one other brave Spurs fan. The Rockets may pull it off if T-Mac stays healthy.

The uber-efeminate Christian Siriano claimed the top prize in the fourth season of Project Runway. I admit, I watched the show. It’s probably a subconscious result of starring at my unusually empty closet…and my undeniable lust for Heidi Klum. Anyway, I doubt any of you watched this show, but I couldn’t stand Christian. He’s cocky and arrogant. I don’t know who I can’t stand more: Christian or Ross The Intern. And, no, I’m not a homophobe. I’m a hard-core George Takei fan!

Now This Is Happening — Lindsay Lohan Photos Trump $100 Oil

derrich — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:26:23 +0000

$100 Oil! C’mon…say it with me! “$100 OIL!!!” The crude (not refined) stuff ended above $100 per barrel yesterday for the first time ever. $100.10 to be exact. It’s up about 4% so far this year. Looks like Trump put that call into OPEC! “Get those prices down…and I mean now!” (6:01). Stockpile speculation on crude oil for March delivery dropped to $99.11 per barrel in after-hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and traded at $99.30 at 1:50 p.m. in Singapore.

Not Jake Shimabukuro

Eat your heart out, Don Ho (R.I.P.). Jake Shimabukuro is better than you at the ukulele. Be sure to check out his recent performance on Conan O’Brien. It’s like Monte Montgomery at chipmunk speed. Pretty cool!

Lindsay Lohan’s mom, Dina, is ok with “LL”s nude photo shoot. The photos in New York Magazine are photographer Bert Stein’s recreation of his legendary 1962 nude shoot with Marilyn Monroe titled “The Last Sitting”. What a relief! I was waiting for Mrs. Lohan’s blessing before I checked those out. And by “those”, I mean her photos. If you’re at work, you might want to wait until you get home to see “those”.

Shaquille O’Neal will return to the hardwood tonight against his old crew, the Lakers. Shaq wasted no time talking Shmaq…calling out everyone from Kobe (of course) to Phil Jackson to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Shaq questioned Kareem’s lack of conversation and attention with regard to his place in the Lakers organization. Hey, Shaq. Hakim (see Game of Death) owns Kazaam.