Brow-Beaten

Today I put the finishing touches on three days of golf, split between Myrtle Beach (TPC, Tidewater) and Kiawah (Ocean Course). All three rounds delivered scores in the mid-80's, and have helped prop up my handicap heading into 2006 (a minor gift to myself). I may at some point describe the rounds in detail, but in summation:

1.) I've returned to the SW from bunkers, as opposed to the 60', as I can easily control both the flight and distance.

2.) My driver is in shambles, I have no idea where it is going. I made good use of the dozen Pro V1Xs that I received as a Christmas gift.

3.) I chap easily.

4.) If anyone has any putting tips, I am all ears. I also need a suggestion on a decent 3W, and not from anyone named Owens.

5.) Coming to Myrtle for golf between March - August is pointless, as gorgeous as the week unfolded. Temperatures in the mid '60s and reasonable rounds on excellent courses (save Kiawah).

Finally!

After months of searching, ending in a foraging effort through bins at Best Buy (a flea market in December) I found and purchased 'Better Off Dead' on DVD. It was just what I wanted for Christmas. I certainly ain't holding my breath on a Virginia bowl win.

Holiday?

Not the 25th, but today, the shortest day of the year, cementing my vampire-like existence when I leave work at 5:30 and it is pitch black. Looking foward to WD40'ing the joints next week for 3-4 days of golf after a two month layoff. December in DC has really sucked, between the cold and first week snow.

Secret Santa

Nothing exudes class like purchasing a six-pack of Miller Lite and ten Lottery scratch-off tickets at 9:15 on a snowy Thursday morning. It was extra classy to inquire whether 7-11 took a credit card for the purchase.

I know it is a gift I would like to receive.

RIM

I don't understand how RIM (Blackberry) has been unable to settle their patent-realted suit with NTP. $450M is quite a write-down, but could easily be withstood by RIM, and the days that pass without settlement only serve to eventually eat into the market monopoly enjoyed by RIM.

RIM should offer a mixed settlement of $$$ (<$450M) and equipping all goverment employees (underprivileged children, etc.) with Blackberries cost-free for two years. The cash hit to the company would decrease, they would be able to expand the market share of their brand, and NTP would be cast in a negative light for not accepting a deal that would assist a government/non-profit/positive association.

Expressively Frustrating

On weekends I really enjoy being able to watch European Tour golf tournaments. While watching an event from South Africa I was finally able to pinpoint somthing that had been bothering me for a while, the reactions/expressions of frustration that tour pros exhibit on most of their shots.

Not once after missing a putt from within 20 feet did a player not make some sort of outwaard gesture as an expression of annoyance (kicked putter, head shake, wince). While golfers rely on their game and expect to make every putt, their propensity to whine after missed shots has become cliche'. If I were to sum up a tour event in one word, it would be annoyance. For a gentleman's game, the prevalence of sneers, sighs, and other immature expressions of grief are unacceptable. Obviously, a golfer is going to miss more putts under 20 feet then they are going to make, and it should be treated as such, the expressive nature of professional golfers has lent itself to poor form.

Random Friday Shizz

- Why is it that when I start to accumulate a number of file folders dedicated to a single subject at work I always find myself thinking, "I am building quite the Penske file."

- Heard that Alanis Morissette (I hope I misspelled it) is now covering "Crazy" in her repertoire. I love it when my most hated artist sings my most hated song. Maybe I can catch her act at The Cheesecake Factory and see how long it takes before my head explodes.

- Why has no one created a website that tracks plane ticket costs over time? I sure would be interested in how much ticket X on flight Y cost since the flight was scheduled. A no frills, simple line graph. I wouldn't be surprised if orbitz, sidestep, eg. had agreements with airlines limiting the display of their data for the rights to extract from their databases.

- What happened to the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

Playing Hooky

With the marginal dusting of snow in the DC area last night, the majority of the area opted to stay home, rather than come into work. Those ignoring work are easily smarter than I, left to do battle with the mental midgets on the highways who are unable to drive with the added variable of Mother Nature.

I never claimed to be the greatest driver, but I don't put others in jeopardy by making myself a slow-moving target on 95 at 40 mph. I try to maintain my normal driving tendencies, with the small exception of cutting turns and stopping short in the attempt to shake the snow off my car. Probably not the smartest.

And it is only December.

Tax Cut Wariness

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR2005120702608.html

I applaud Congressional efforts to aid in the restoration of Katrina ravaged areas, and support US troops serving in Iraq, but raise my eyebrows at the benefits offered to the affluent, which reeks of pork barrel legislation.

While money collected through taxes has increased, it has not matched economic growth, and the notion that tax breaks directly fund expansion is foggy, at best.

Government expenditures and taxation processed need to be subject to a Lean event. Until we can escape from our current budget defecit tax cuts should be a zero sum game.

I've Added...

...'The Tuna Melt' to my pertinent links. Please have a view. The author has come a long way since riding The Short Bus in elementary school, being called slow, and having to take speech class in his retainer.

Someone Please Suggest...

...a song/album/compilation that defines Wilco and why they are considered to be so great. I've searched for something (anything) I find to be decent, but all I have encountered sound rambling and whiney. Might it be because I am a Jay Farrar disciple and am inclined to Sun Volt that I find Wilco to be disappointing?

One that was passed my way that I am currently enjoying is Cool Calm Pete.

Random Shizz

I was very happy that I took the time to connect my Christmas tree. Nothing fancy, the 6'6" $24.99 Walmart model that comes pre-strung with lights and takes three minutes from start to finish to concoct. I never really give much of thought to Christmas, and am always upset when January hits and I haven't been festive. The tree isn't much, but it is enough to remind me of the season, which is all I need.

Found out this week my sister was accepted early to the college of her choice. Many prayers were uttered that things would work themselves out, and her dedication to schoolwork and accomplishments (much better than my extracurriculars, which involved paying $5 to join every club possible) was deserving of early admission. Looking forward and am extremely proud to watch her live a portion of her life I remember so vividly from my own experiences.

Metro Woes

After months of research and brainstorming the Metro board delivered its plan for improving Metro transit and decreasing wait time;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101955.html

Sadly, the effort probably received decent funding to amass ideas I could have concocted in five minutes, proving the more people involved in a decision, the less the chance of majority agreement, resulting in passage of the LCD of options, for mass appeasment.

Metro prices have been rising, and riders have been increasing, would it be too difficult to spend the $$$ on more trains? Is the Metro budget readily available through FOIA? I am sure the line items would be sickening, such as paying an overstaffed Metro board for nominal changes.