Here you go, nerds

The biggest Star Wars toy collection in the world.

Heath Ledger's legacy?

I could have told him it would be a bad career move...

Watching The Biggest Loser, the commercial break had a teaser for the 10 PM news. What did the announcer say? "Brokeback Mountain star found dead. Details at 10."

So is that what people are going to remember him for?

Lost wallets...

...broken dreams.

In the hubbub Saturday night I lost my wallet. I didn't have much in there except my whole life. Anyway, I've done my part in rebuilding it by ordering new cards, getting a new driver's license, and loading up on cash at the bank.

Why does anyone care? Because it allows me to tell a story and write the only post ever on this blog that's like one of Mrs. Reuter's...

At the Secretary of State's office (why don't they just call it the DMV like every other state?) who was in front me by no more than 2 people? Why, none other than Mrs. and Mr. Knowles. Apparently April had the misfortune of her 401(k) being frozen due to her driver's license not matching her address (or something like that). The Knowles made a lunch date of getting new licenses and hitting up the food court at the Thompson Center. After getting numbers we chatted about the various issues of the day in the holding cell (excuse me, waiting area). Then in line at the cashier we did some more, and finally again at the photo area. At that point I had to walk to CTA headquarters for a new Chicago Card Plus, so I declined their tempting offer of joining them for lunch.

After getting cash I stuffed my face with McDonald's, all the while wondering if buying gorceries in the Soviet Union was a similar experience to navigating the beaurocracy of the DMV. I decided the answer was "Yes".

A-How AWOL

Ask, and ye shall receive.

A-How has been hella-lame, hitting the one-month mark for blog inactivity. Last we heard, Weeds was on deck. A counter will be going up if I don't see something soon.

Bryan's on deck. In other Bryan-related news, WhereIPeed.com still has nothing. Thus, I won't even link to it.

Bars to avoid

Here is a Center Stage article about bars that allow dogs. I consider it my duty to inform you hard-core drinkers out there of the list.

To anyone who actually brings a dog to bar, I am here to tell you what everyone thinks of it: we hate you. Dogs are annoying. They walk around, getting in people's way. They sniff people and slobber on them. If I wanted that, I would own a dog. There's a reason I can spend my whole night in a bar without going home, and it's because I don't own a dog and don't have to go home to ensure he doesn't urinate all over my kitchen. Yes, some lame people think it's fun to pet a dog when you bring your animal to the bar, but those people are morons who don't hang out in bars on a regular basis. A bar is a place to get away from things and relax, and anything that prevents me from doing so (like annoying music or your dog) drives me from that place. My message, in case it's not clear, is this: stop thinking it's cool, because it's not. It makes you a condescening jerk, because everyone who hates the dog looks like an a-hole for saying something about it just because you are too pompous to care about other people.

European Beer Tour review

Thanksgiving is a pretty good holiday. Most people tell you it's because they get to visit their family, eat, blah blah blah. They are full of poop. Since I am from near Chicago and I don't enjoy spending multiple days with my family being tortured, I always head to Quenchers on the Friday after Thanksgiving for the first night of the European Beer Tour. That's the real best part of Thanksgiving weekend.

Of course, many of my friends (who will go nameless because they know exactly who they are; yes, it's just about all of you) are always "out of town" being with their "families" during this joyous time, and they never experience the wondrous miracle that is the Tour.

Anyway, it was AWESOME per usual. I got to spend some QT with both Gavin and Ropp. The shirts are kind of lame this year, though.

I went for a follow-up last night, and I was aided by that enterprising youngster Fubar. While I didn't do another Tour, I did drink 4 beers that were 14% alcohol. They were fantabulous. I also got to hang out with a girl who had piercings in her arm. No joke. She was a tad weird that way. One last note is that there was a crap-load of talent there last night. At Quenchers! The times, they are a-changing.

Module Thursday

So I went to work yesterday to grind out the Mod 5 exercise. It's due on Monday to be eligible for the FAP 1 exam. I found this exercise to be the easiest one yet, so I only need to proof it and write the executive summary introduction.

After Monday I'll then have 16 days to study for the exam. Lauren advises me to not study very much, but I'll probably at least read everything again. I'll accept any detailed advice , along with what I can expect on the exam, in the comments section.

Module Saturday

Yep, I'm at work pounding out the SOA FAP Module 4 exercise before 8 AM on a Saturday. I am happy to be here. By happy, I mean kill me now.

But don't cry for me, Argentina, because in fairness, I've spent the last 20 months doing NOTHING on these things only to realize that I have until January 31 to finish them all up without coughing up another $700 to keep access to the website. Like most things people complain about, I brought it all upon myself.

For shame!

I guess my post mocking him wasn't enough, so in the upper-left corner of the page I've decided to put a reminder of how long it's been since Bryan has updated his blog. Hopefully this spurs some action.

Bryan sucks

We can safely say that Bryan is a terrible blogger. Not only has his personal blog had no updates in 29 days, but the new flagship website of him and Sean, WhereIPeed.com, STILL has nothing. This a few weeks after being told that Sean's unemployment would have that thing up and running.

Just give it up, dude.

P.S. This is a warning to the rest of you: I'm watching!

Walk Of Shame - Saturday, October 6

This morning I made the walk of shame after meeting a girl out for drinks after work. This was a bit unusual, though, since I did it from around 6300 N. LSD. Luckily, it was only a few blocks from the Granville Red Line stop. Since I have nothing but time today, I took the train and then the Fullerton bus, and I made the whole trip in 45 minutes. Not too shabby!

When I got home I went to the store, then ate for lunch a frozen pizza and over a pound of chicken nuggets. Needless to say this made me want to sleep.

After a nap, I'm just getting ready for baseball in a few minutes. In the meantime, who knew that the best game on TV by far is the USF-FAU game on ESPNU. FAU just rolled down the field on the #6 team in the country, and it's not 14-14 with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. I'm so tired of Florida, Florida State, and Miami that I hope USF becomes a great program and counterweight to them all, too, so I'm rooting for them pull this one out.

Oops! It's 5 PM, time for the Cubs brutal end to their season. Go D-Backs! I know I should be better person about the Cubs, but I'm trying. Old habits die hard, right?

UPDATE: F the D-Backs game. I'm staying with this USF-FAU game. USF's up 7 but FAU is plowing over the USF defense AGAIN. 1:34 left in the 3rd.

UPDATE 2: Chris Young just gave the D-Backs a quick 1-0 on a HR. OK, I'm going picture in picture, baby!

I just assumed...

...that the headline of this article meant it was talking about My Boys.

Hanson - still kicking?

Yes, and apparently still rocking. They just played here at the House of Blues, and the only upset is that Bryan didn't attend.

Weak posting lately

I realize the posting activity isn't up to my standards. This has been a very hectic week for a few reasons.

First, work is brutal right now. I am in charge of making sure a huge wave of Schedule B's and PBGC premium calculations get done. If you're not a pension guy, be glad you don't know what those are. They are easy, but we have tons of them.

Second, this is basically the first full week of new TV shows. Prison Break and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are among the highlights, but the best is probably The Biggest Loser. Having Jillian back is like that 80's ballad, You Don't Know What You've Got Til It's Gone.

Third, there's more going on in my personal life right now.

I hope to have something up soon about the UAW's suicidal nationwide strike.

New poll ideas

My hella-lame poll just closed, and with the Sox 3 games ahead of TB it appears they won't have the #1 draft pick next year. They are in a tie for 3rd with about 4 other teams.

Anyway, I'm feeling uninspired so I'll let YOU, the PEOPLE decide the next poll question. Just put ideas in the comment section. I'll choose the best one next Friday morning, September 28.

I almost decided that I'd let YOU, the PEOPLE, choose the next poll question by making the first five suggestions into a poll, but that's a little too ridiculous.

I been lame

I am trying to rip through season one of Heroes, so that's been taking up my time lately. A full ATL trip report should be coming soon.