My Athens Walk Score [. . .]

[...] 52 out of 100. Not s'good, Mum. Athens is a great walking city, if you live in the downtown area. But I don't. I live on the East Side of Athens, and it's definitely not as accessible as downtown Athens. I've got some restaurants and stuff, but my job cannot be reached by walking, and that's the ultimate downer.

See, I've been thinking about using public transportation at least one day a week, but I can't seem to bring myself to the point where I can get up and just 'take the buss.' Don't get me wrong. Athens has great public transportation (second largest in Ga, behind MARTA, hoo-ah). The Lift, it's called. Which I think is great. I just have never been a pub-tran kind of guy, and it's going to take gas getting just a wee bit higher for me to actually delve in a do it.

Go look at my Walk Score page. The funniest thing on there is on the left-hand column. Look at schools. I guess if I needed a Poultry Diagnostic, I'd be set.

KlydeLanta, I'd like to see what your Walk Score is, because I think it'd have to be something like 99. I'd hope so, anyway, ya NYC punk.

Another interesting site I found while perusing some finance blogs was a service called FlexCar. Now, to the best of my knowledge, with a flexcar - or FlexCar, if you prefer formality - you just pick up the car (using one of their Zipcards), drive it for an hour, a day, whatever and then drop it off where you picked it up at the end of the trip.

It sounds like a superb idea. A good question is: how do you get there in the first place? I know that sounds stupid, but it's a valid question. If you have a friend dropping you off, why can't the bum take you where you need to go? Just kidding. But I do think it's a cool idea. The only problem is it's in a few select cities (and not Athens). If anybody's done this, let me know how well it works.

Paying Down Debt - Motivation

As I've said in the past, I've been working to pay down all of the debt that I have - credit card and student loan debt, mostly. It's a long, hard trek, and when you're in the situation that I'm in, you have to do it slowly and carefully. One month of extravagant spending and you're back in the same spot as before.

So it helps to stay motivated. Believe me, every week when movies, music, video games, and books come out, I'm practically salivating. I have a media addiction - two hundred DVDs and four times as many books - and I also like to eat out a lot. Working through those issues to get to 'Debt Level Zero' has been challenging. In a town like Athens, with a couple hundred fast food places (including a place called Barberito's that, I swear, is literally addictive) and a Target, Two Wal-Marts, and Best Buy, you have to be very careful.

Luckily, there are other people going through the same sort of dilemma as I am. You can find hundreds of personal blogs, where people have chronicled their struggles to beat the system and pay down their debt, expenditures be damned.

Since there might be a few of you out there who are in debt and have no idea how to get out - or even if you can - I've decided to link to several of those sites. Check them out and take a serious look at your financial situation. It might end up helping you out, in the long run. Enjoy.

Clever Dude
Free Money Finance
Blogging Away Debt
The Consumerist
The Bargainist
Make Love, Not Debt

Stephen King Interviews

To give you an idea of what is interesting to me today, take a look at the videos I've posted below. Interviews with Stephen King, circa the release of 'Lisey's Story', which I have to admit, I have not read yet.



Seeing such interviews on BBC makes me sort of yearn for four channels. Wait, no it doesn't! But I do hate that we don't have more substantive interviews like this one on television. It's always Larry King feigning interest in Lauren from the Hills or New York from whatever reality-television hole she crawled out.

On YouTube, there are other Mark Lawson interviews, including ones with people like Terry Pratchett. Yay!



And, speaking of Terry Pratchett, there is a web site up on the web called Match it for Pratchett, dedicated to raising money for Alzheimer's Disease Research. If you didn't already know, Pratchett has recently been diagnosed with a form of early-onset Alzheimer's Disease.

Sneak Video of Mario Kart Wii

Over at Kotaku, I found a link to a feed of gamers playing through the new Mario Kart Wii game. 'All thirty two courses!' the site claims, though I'll never find out. I rarely have the patience to play two hours on my own most nights, let alone watch someone else play a game for two hours. Even Mario Kart. Gasp.

If you're really hard-up for some Mario Kart action, though, and can't wait until the April 27 release date, then this is the thing for you. I can't really complain too much, because I broke down and hooked up the N64 in the living room to play MK64 in preparation for the new one coming out. Nerd Alert: I hope it's as good on the Wii as it has been in my mind.

The one aspect of the whole thing that bothers me when I watch the video demo of people playing it on television (or on Amazon) is that it looks pretty difficult to keep on playing after awhile. I mean, I'm in pretty good shape, but there's only so long I think I'd be able to hold my arms up like that and not get some sort of strange affliction.

I figured out how to embed the video, so you don't even need to go anywhere else to view it!


2 Hours of Mario Kart Wii (all 32 levels) from WiiNintendo.net on Vimeo.

The Office: Spin-Off of a Re-Make?!?

This Just In: The relationship between Pam & Jim may not be the thing that eventually causes The Office to jump the shark (in a decade, hopefully). NBC may have just done it for them.

E! Online is reporting that NBC will be doing a spin-off of The Office (How?). See Private Practice. There is no word if characters from Scranton will defect to this new show, or there will exist an entirely new cast, or they will dip in and out of each show like the boundaries of an old NES game.

Obviously, I'm skeptical of such a move. This is a heaping pile of unmitigated audacity, more than I've seen in awhile. But definitely not below NBC's programming practices. Put more time into keeping Friday Night Lights on the air, jerks!

First of all, NBC stretched the comfort zone already by importing the show to the U.S. They were lucky it wasn't a complete bomb. Now they want to spin-off of it as well? That just seems loony. It's homogeneity. That's what the network is looking for. Oh, we're so devoid of creativity that we have to milk from a merely moderately successful show - I love it, but come on, they don't get A.I. or C.S.I. ratings - to create a homunculus spin-off.

Blast you, NBC.

Submit Your Old Books 'Into the Wild' - No, Not the Movie

Tonight I did something for my eternal soul. No, I didn't try to find old Jim Jones videos on YouTube.

I released a book of mine Into the Wild. What does that mean? Well, at BookCrossing.com you can take an old book you've read (or one you haven't, in my case) and write a web code on the inside cover...and just leave it somewhere.

Sounds like a hoot, eh? It actually is, if you take the time to sign-up and do it. Now, I'm not an early adopter of this system, called 'Bookhopping', but I'm the only person I know who's done it, so I have to brag a little bit.

For my book, I chose to release Jonathan Franzen's 'The Corrections.' What I did was, I typed in the ISBN and picked a place where I would leave it in my hometown of Athens, GA and tomorrow at 7 pm I'm just going to drop it off and hope for the best!

Doesn't sound like an instantly gratifying existence, but I think it's the sort of thing I'm looking for. Whoever happens to find this book can go to the BookCrossing web site and type in a few words about the book and its location and pass it along.

Karma awaits. I hope that it goes pretty far, but since I'm leaving it at a bar, I just hope that it doesn't end up in a urinal. Go to BookCrossing.com to learn more about BookHopping.

Hulu.Com - It's Almost a Palindrome

I just saw over at The Consumerist that Hulu.Com is up and running for the general public.

Watch NBC and Fox shows for free on the web! I assume that it's the attempt of '50 content providers, including FOX, NBC, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and more to deliver premium programming across all genres and formats, television shows, feature films, and clips.'

Or, more succinctly, an attempt to cripple or even end the need to download on iTunes and to show the YouTube generation that studios aren't so goddamned craggy! For some reason, you can also watch movies (that you probably already own), like The Big Lebowski or Jonah: The Veggie Tales Movie (I know I do!).

Just to prove it, here's 'The DeBarted' from one of the most recent Simpsons episodes:

Britney Spears's HIMYM (Not what you're thinking)

Over at Defamer, you can see the first photo for Britney Spears's coming appearance on the CBS excellent sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. Apparently, her only scene occurs with Ted Mosby, Architect.

Coming Soon!

I have not really had oodles of time to spend on blogging over the last week-and-a-half or so, but suffice it to say that I'll have some more stuff to talk about in a few days! Thanks for being patient with my inability to sit at a computer for very long periods of time.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow More Fond

The world is an alluring place, and I have to say that I've fallen victim to it time and time again, which is why I haven't been able to blog as constantly as I would like.

That being said, here I am, to give you updates and highlights of the world of ME. Boy, blogs are a great place for the self-centered! Just kidding. Sort of.

I've officially applied to UGA's grad school for English Education, and right now (as we speak) I'm working on two items that I will have to turn in with my transcripts: A Statement of Purpose and a Resume.

After that, I'll just have to wait for the results. Like the results of a paternity test (which I swear I've never taken!), this could change the entire trajectory of the rest of my life.

Other than rocking the app, I've been revising the third novel, now entitled 'Alone in the City'. It's a much better title than 'The Marquis Man', but it might not withstand another edit. I'm still searching for a great title, and I've always been bad at naming things. My imaginary friend when I was a kid was name Guy. Hey Guy. Hey there. Talk to me?

So far, the editing process is going well. The book is completely different from the first draft, in that I've cut out a lot of the sort of humdrum sequences and replaced them with more poignant sections. Writing a novel is a cinch compared to editing one, I'm learning. The basic story is the same, but the things I've chosen to point out to the reader have changed.

I hope it turns out well. I've sent off a query letter to a publisher I really respect, a publisher, I might add, which had published Elmore Leonard in the past. I'm excited.

For those who don't know, a query letter is just a one page document letting a particular publisher know that you've written a book and want them to take a look at it. It's sort of a dutch oven for the publishing community, something that is not quite shit and is nonetheless unleashed on you out of a place you formerly thought was safe. Bye!

Now My GRE Scores Are Official

A lot has been going on in the Olde Lifee lately, and I'm proud to admit that I was wrong about my GRE Scores. I must have been so damn excited to have broken the 1000 mark that I didn't realize that it was my Verbal Score which was a 610. The math score was a 570. 1180 still. No change there. But I did better on the verbal than first thought, so I'm excited.

Also, I found a video I think everyone should watch. It involves a lion and a person and NO violence. Hurray! No, it's cool. If you've never seen a lion hug a person before, here's your chance. Visit the link below:

http://www.telestereo.com/Archivos/video.html

I've finished the first big edit of my third novel, 'The Marquis Man.' I cut nearly 20,000 words from it. The book went from about 125,000 words to 105,000. Not a bad edit. Plus, I'm in the process of changing the name of the book from 'Marquis Man' to something else. Some of the names I've been tossing around are:

'Out in the City'
'Down and Out in the City'

And so on. You can see a theme there. I'm just in the brainstorming phase right now, so don't boo the names too badly just yet. Have a good afternoon. Let me know if you saw the lunar eclipse last night and if you were impressed. Toodles.

Happy VD

Here's a little story I heard that will spice up your Valentine's Day:

A woman in Germany sold sex on the internet as an auction to the highest bidder. A pretty abstract thing to sell, but whatever works.

Well, when the online auction was over, six men tied for the highest bid. So what did this prosperous young woman do? She decided to have sex with all six of them!

Well, you probably can guess what happened next, but if you can't, I'll tell you. She got pregnant and sued to auction company for a paternity test. But since the men involved signed anonymity agreements, the company refused to release the names.

She eventually won the court case and now the men have to handle over DNA to prove who is the father. Hmm. That's got to be the worst value on the internet. First of all, you have to share your prize with five other guys - I wonder if the sixth guy got a discount - and then you get the girl pregnant!?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

'Friday Night Lights' May Have A New Home

According to The Hollywood Insider, the unsure future of the critically-adored show 'Friday Night Lights' still looks as tumultuous as ever.

HOWEVER,

unlike other similar situations in years' past (Arrested Development, anyone?), NBC has the foresight to know that it might be better to move the show to another network or station rather than close down production outright.

Keep your fingers crossed.

***

And, speaking of Arrested Development, there's yet more evidence that an AD movie is in the works. Purportedly, Jeffrey Tambor and Jason Bateman have been contacted regarding a possible theatrical release.

Ricky Gervais, Jonah Hill, Louis CK in This Side of the Truth

Rotten Tomatoes is reporting that Ricky Gervais is set to direct his first feature, This Side of the Truth, starring himself as the protagonist and Jonah Hill and Louis CK as his erstwhile supporting cast. No other real news on that yet.

GRE Results

Okay, you can give the edge of your seat a rest...for now. I took the GRE on Monday, and, as far as I can tell, I rocked it.

Well, I say that, but my being satisfied doesn't necessarily mean that I knocked the thing off its ass. 1180. 570 Verbal. 610 Quantitative. 1180 isn't Einstein, but it's at least, I don't know, Jerry Bruckheimer or Michael Bay's intelligence level, right? And they're pretty f*cking smart.

The writing scores still have to come back, but if I don't pass those, I might as well give up on the idea of graduate school all together.

'Super' Tuesday

The IQ and the life expectancy of the average American recently passed each other in opposite directions.
~George Carlin

I think in the deepest part of me that I am at least a marginally optimistic person. However much I'd like to convince myself of such a fact, I can only find that the idea of 'Change' in an election in 2008 is a stupid, silly fucking idea. To be a contender in the election, one must inherently be a part of the system.

So doesn't that bring into question the Democratic candidates' platforms? Eight years ago, Bush 43 (even though he wasn't quite Bush 43 quite yet) ran on the whole 'Washington Outsider' thing. Remember that? He was such an outsider, he didn't have a goddamned clue what he was doing.

Now, once Obama or Hillary gets chosen for the nomination, I hope that this whole idea of change goes away, unless one of them plans on going into Congress with a machine gun and armed mercenaries. Now THAT would make for an interesting election.

I'm almost positive that Hillary wouldn't do such a thing, because she likes being privy to the power of governmental function. I'm sure that a lot of crusty white people may think that Obama would, though. Which is one reason why I'm sort of leaning toward the left this time around (as opposed to last time, which was to vote for ANYONE but George W. Bush). What srikes fear in the hearts of Republicans the most, a black guy or a woman (who's also a Clinton!)?

Of course, I'm only kidding, sort of. But when or if you go into the booth today, don't fool yourself. We're all stomping on the same bag of dog shit, hoping to put the fire out. I don't even know what that means, but I liked the sound of it, so it's going into this post.

The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, “You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.”
~George Carlin

Help Stop Hunger! Be Smart!

If you go to FreeRice.com you can take an online vocabulary quiz. For every answer you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program.

It's a good cause. So if you're smart, or think you are, then use your time-wasting skills to help those less fortunate than yourself. I would say you don't even have to think about it, but since it's vocab, you probably will.

Wii Will Get Rock Band!

I just found This Article this morning, and even though there's no release date or details, Wii will get Rock Band. Woo-Hoo!

John Edwards Is Out (Of the Presidential Race)

Oh well. That's one more out.

I guess it's down to Clinton and Obama. Oh, and Hillary.

Jerry O'Connell Does a Dead-On (sort of) Tom Cruise

BumWine.Com - For The Men Who (Don't) Have Everything

I can already hear the groans from the PC faction of my fanbase, but since it has been brought to my attention, I have a journalistic obligation to bring BumWine.com to your attention.

Don't I? Well, if you've ever wondered which of the bum wines has the worst taste, then you can find out.

What constitutes a 'Bum Wine'? Cheaply priced and produced alcoholic beverage with as high an alcohol content as possible.

Night Train (Yep! Like the G'N'R song!), MD 20/20, Wild Irish Rose. Those are all bum wines. If you find yourself drinking one of these, put down the bottle and make sure that you have a residence. Please.

Election 2008: A Real (Cynical) Perspective

Rolling Stone correspondent Matt Taibbi has done some amazing, insightful work on the campaign trail, and its not skewed to benefit Democrats and its not the sort of ego masturbation that seems to go on in the mainstream media.

After reading the newest Taibbi article in my Rolling Stone, I tried to move over to Time and read something about John McCain and was so appalingly let-down that I could barely finish it.

I guess I'm really looking for something that reads between the lines and doesn't spout the unpalatable rhetoric which has dominated the contest so far. Blech. The last thing I need to hear about is more 'Change' nonsense. It's denigrating your intelligence to experience more of the same nothing that we get from our news sources.

To read some of Taibbi's writing, click here.

Even MORE Scientology Bunk

If you're as enthralled with learing about Scientology as I am, then you should check out this link, composed by a former Scientologist.

It's more technical than the other critiques (Read: South Park) you've seen online. The optimum tactic is brainwashing through repetition, ostensibly, and the author sheds light on Auditing, the ever-pervasive information collection technique of the 'Church'.

You can find passages like the following on the link:

In the south park episode "trapped in the closet" [comedycentral.com], they did a cartoon version of the OT3 materials labeled "This Is what Scientologists Actually Believe", if Matt and Trey has been members of the church, they would have been ex-communicated very quickly. The church would have almost definitely told Issac Hayes to "dissconnect" from them or otherwise become ineligible for any future Scientology services or auditing.

I rest my case.

Kwanzoo - Stupid Name, Smart Trivia

I've been addicted to Kwanzoo.com, a movie/tv trivia site. Some of the question, you can tell, have been composed by 14-year-olds, but the others are valid and entertaining. It'd be good to play a drinking game while checking out this site.

Everbody's Gone Get A Check

I will count this post as my weekly/monthly/yearly economic update. The economy is going into the tank, so the Federal Government thinks giving everybody at least 300 bucks is going to solve our problems.

It probably won't, but I find myself thinking that I could really use the money. This is where my principles and my pragmatism fall into conflict. 300 dollars could help me out in a lot of ways, and not just for the giant tub of mayonnaise I've had my eye on at Wal-Mart.

My mantra of 2008 is debt-reduction. Maybe the FedGov could adopt it, too.