2005-12-31
happy new year?
the other half is showing early signs of labor.... looks like we could possibly spend the new year in the maternity ward.
2005-12-29
i'm getting sued for 28 BUCKS!!!!
SUMMARY: i'm getting sued for $260 over an unpaid doctor bill of $28. They only ever sent two letters and we received no phone calls.
I do not have a problem with the fact that i owe $28 to a doctor's office. I will have no problem paying that. But i do have a problem with the fact that the doctor's office supposedly sent one notification and their attorney supposedly sent a notice as well. Neither my wife or i remember receiving these letters (of which copies were enclosed with the summons). Also enclosed was the information page my wife filled out to have our son receive the care, and on this page was proof that we provided our phone number. We never received a single phone call about this matter. Not ONE.
I believe this to be extremely frivolous to rake us over the coals for nearly 10 times of what the original amount was. As such, I want the public to know just how ludicrous and ruthless that a team of doctors and attorneys have baked up such a scam to extract unreasonable monetary amounts from otherwise billpaying people.
I will make sure that the doctors get their 28 bucks, but that's where it stops with me.
If you have any advice, thoughts or opinions on this matter, please comment here and share them.
I do not have a problem with the fact that i owe $28 to a doctor's office. I will have no problem paying that. But i do have a problem with the fact that the doctor's office supposedly sent one notification and their attorney supposedly sent a notice as well. Neither my wife or i remember receiving these letters (of which copies were enclosed with the summons). Also enclosed was the information page my wife filled out to have our son receive the care, and on this page was proof that we provided our phone number. We never received a single phone call about this matter. Not ONE.
I believe this to be extremely frivolous to rake us over the coals for nearly 10 times of what the original amount was. As such, I want the public to know just how ludicrous and ruthless that a team of doctors and attorneys have baked up such a scam to extract unreasonable monetary amounts from otherwise billpaying people.
I will make sure that the doctors get their 28 bucks, but that's where it stops with me.
If you have any advice, thoughts or opinions on this matter, please comment here and share them.
2005-12-15
BEST OF 2005: new television series
To me, this pick was pretty cut and dry. My pick goes to PRISON BREAK on the FOX network.
The whole story revolves around the character of Michael Scofield played by actor Wentworth Miller. Scofield robbed a bank solely with the intent of getting caught and going to prison so that he could break out with his brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) who is on death row for the murder of the vice president's brother. The problem is that Burrows was framed, and Scofield knows he is innocent which sets up the plot. While the series doesn't return until March and the prisoners were only halfway through breaking out at the end of the fall run, we found out that the vice president's brother that was "murdered" is still actually alive further twisting the plot.
As such, with a plot that's relatively easy to follow, and more twists thrown at it than a bavarian pretzel baker, you can see why this makes for compelling television. The supporting cast, of course, is really what sells the series with solid acting by nearly everyone on camera. The show needs no gimmicks because the writing is thorough, consistent and plays to the actors and their characters' strengths with great fluidity. Every episode is wrapped up by revealing enough new plots but providing no resolution until the next episode serving to suck the viewer into the show as a series and not as a self-contained unit like your typical sitcom. Mixing drama, action and romance with perfect proportions makes this show a hands down winner.
Honorable mention goes to Brainiac. While not brand new for 2005, it has only just started airing in the united states this year on the G4 cable network. While most science shows could be considered bland and maybe even boring, this one is like a nice hefty shot of steroids right in the pectoral muscles. While demonstrating some basic concepts of everday sciences like physics and biology, they do so with crazy and outlandish stunts of what appear to be reckless abandon. Think Mr. Wizard hosting "The Man Show" to get an idea of type of show it is. The fact that they also have an affinity for blowing things up (in the name of science no less) and hot babes tends to lend this educational show some real street cred. This is a show not to be missed - so if you have digital cable or satellite, be sure to set your recorders to grab this gem!
The whole story revolves around the character of Michael Scofield played by actor Wentworth Miller. Scofield robbed a bank solely with the intent of getting caught and going to prison so that he could break out with his brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) who is on death row for the murder of the vice president's brother. The problem is that Burrows was framed, and Scofield knows he is innocent which sets up the plot. While the series doesn't return until March and the prisoners were only halfway through breaking out at the end of the fall run, we found out that the vice president's brother that was "murdered" is still actually alive further twisting the plot.
As such, with a plot that's relatively easy to follow, and more twists thrown at it than a bavarian pretzel baker, you can see why this makes for compelling television. The supporting cast, of course, is really what sells the series with solid acting by nearly everyone on camera. The show needs no gimmicks because the writing is thorough, consistent and plays to the actors and their characters' strengths with great fluidity. Every episode is wrapped up by revealing enough new plots but providing no resolution until the next episode serving to suck the viewer into the show as a series and not as a self-contained unit like your typical sitcom. Mixing drama, action and romance with perfect proportions makes this show a hands down winner.
Honorable mention goes to Brainiac. While not brand new for 2005, it has only just started airing in the united states this year on the G4 cable network. While most science shows could be considered bland and maybe even boring, this one is like a nice hefty shot of steroids right in the pectoral muscles. While demonstrating some basic concepts of everday sciences like physics and biology, they do so with crazy and outlandish stunts of what appear to be reckless abandon. Think Mr. Wizard hosting "The Man Show" to get an idea of type of show it is. The fact that they also have an affinity for blowing things up (in the name of science no less) and hot babes tends to lend this educational show some real street cred. This is a show not to be missed - so if you have digital cable or satellite, be sure to set your recorders to grab this gem!
2005-12-14
BEST OF 2005: album of the year
There were quite a few gems that have been released in nearly every genre of music this year, so it took alot of pondering and alot of extra listening to decide a winner.
This year's prize goes to "Odyssey" by FischerSpooner. The group is more than just some band.... they are a performance group that blend music, dance and theatre and could easily draw comparisons to what the result of throwing blue man group and depeche mode in a blender set to frappe would produce. As such, their music is electronic in nature, yet seems to defy many convential definitions of what electronica is. This is exactly the type of music that flies just a hair beneath the MTV radar, yet is well known by their videos that appear on various on-demand music video sites and music video television stations worldwide. The song "Just Let Go" is a hands-down club anthem that gets all the blokes and blokettes at the club hopping around and singing along like carefree toddlers. "Never Win" with its riveting guitar hooks and its depressing refrain is another song that is right at home in the club driving dancefloor divas to gyrate and pulsate with reckless abandon. "We Need A War" is yet another riveting song that just makes you want to move, whose lyrical content is really a not-so-subtle jab against the united states government and their belligerent attitude towards starting another vietnamesque fiasco in iraq over the last few years. While not necissarily a political album, it strikes at a feeling that alot of young people can relate to.
Fortunately, they have their music videos available on their website at http://www.fischerspooner.com/video.asp and samples of all the songs at AMAZON
Since this was a tough decision, I'd like to give out some honorable mentions. "Noah's Ark" by CocoRosie gets the nod. Two sisters have collaborated to create what is perhaps one of the most unique musical projects i've come across in quite a while. Their music, while touching the outer edges of trip hop, ambient and flapper-era jazz, could hardly be described as such because i believe that they've written their own, new genre into the musical fold. Both sisters lend their voices to the lush musical landscapes they paint with deep baritones and high soprannos not to mention everything in between. Fans of artists like Bjork and Tricky would be well rewarded by checking this release out. More info is available at their website on touch and go records, with a video of the song "Noah's Ark" and song samples at amazon.
Last, but certainly not least, on my list is "Guero" by Beck. From the radio staple "Girl" to the bar-crowd favorite "Hell Yes" Beck puts out yet another solid release that proves he can still come up with new sounds and creative, intellectual lyrics like no other mainstream artist. This guy's been around a long time, and he'll be around on the scene for a long time yet to come.
This year's prize goes to "Odyssey" by FischerSpooner. The group is more than just some band.... they are a performance group that blend music, dance and theatre and could easily draw comparisons to what the result of throwing blue man group and depeche mode in a blender set to frappe would produce. As such, their music is electronic in nature, yet seems to defy many convential definitions of what electronica is. This is exactly the type of music that flies just a hair beneath the MTV radar, yet is well known by their videos that appear on various on-demand music video sites and music video television stations worldwide. The song "Just Let Go" is a hands-down club anthem that gets all the blokes and blokettes at the club hopping around and singing along like carefree toddlers. "Never Win" with its riveting guitar hooks and its depressing refrain is another song that is right at home in the club driving dancefloor divas to gyrate and pulsate with reckless abandon. "We Need A War" is yet another riveting song that just makes you want to move, whose lyrical content is really a not-so-subtle jab against the united states government and their belligerent attitude towards starting another vietnamesque fiasco in iraq over the last few years. While not necissarily a political album, it strikes at a feeling that alot of young people can relate to.
Fortunately, they have their music videos available on their website at http://www.fischerspooner.com/video.asp and samples of all the songs at AMAZON
Since this was a tough decision, I'd like to give out some honorable mentions. "Noah's Ark" by CocoRosie gets the nod. Two sisters have collaborated to create what is perhaps one of the most unique musical projects i've come across in quite a while. Their music, while touching the outer edges of trip hop, ambient and flapper-era jazz, could hardly be described as such because i believe that they've written their own, new genre into the musical fold. Both sisters lend their voices to the lush musical landscapes they paint with deep baritones and high soprannos not to mention everything in between. Fans of artists like Bjork and Tricky would be well rewarded by checking this release out. More info is available at their website on touch and go records, with a video of the song "Noah's Ark" and song samples at amazon.
Last, but certainly not least, on my list is "Guero" by Beck. From the radio staple "Girl" to the bar-crowd favorite "Hell Yes" Beck puts out yet another solid release that proves he can still come up with new sounds and creative, intellectual lyrics like no other mainstream artist. This guy's been around a long time, and he'll be around on the scene for a long time yet to come.
BEST OF 2005
Over the next few posts, i will be shoring up what i consider to be the BEST OF from the year 2005. Feel free to discuss, debate or tell me i'm totally whacked out for my opinion of what i think was hot stuff this year.
As the other entries come in, i will link to them in this post. So please, check back often.
BEST OF 2005: album of the year
BEST OF 2005: new television series
As the other entries come in, i will link to them in this post. So please, check back often.
BEST OF 2005: album of the year
BEST OF 2005: new television series
2005-12-06
like the real thing!
Okay, i'm probably one of the last few people in north america to have tried COCA COLA ZERO, but I must say that this is the best diet beverage i have ever tried. The taste is nearly indiscernable from that of the original formulation of coke. It is only slightly sweeter than regular coke and a tiny bit of aftertaste from the artificial sweetners, which is an acceptable tradeoff for those seeking out a zero-calorie pop (or soda, or tonic for you weirdos out there) especially when compared to older attempts like the original diet coke, tab, diet rite or even the newer diet coke w/ splenda.
even if you swear you'll never have a diet pop, give this one a try... you might just like it and your whole view of zero-calorie beverages reshaped.
relax america, and enjoy an ice cold coca-cola zero!
even if you swear you'll never have a diet pop, give this one a try... you might just like it and your whole view of zero-calorie beverages reshaped.
relax america, and enjoy an ice cold coca-cola zero!
2005-12-04
i've been slacking
i know i haven't been posting on here much lately, but that is because i have been very busy with work and getting ready for the holidays (should i celebrate saturnalia or festivus this year?).
As you know, I'm a BIG bears fan and they are 9-3 right now and currently leading the nfc north. Of course they will make the playoffs, but their offense is just dowright abysmal with the team only carried by their number one ranked defense. No matter the case, they've won their last 8 games and snapped an 11-year streak of losing to green bay at home tonight.. this is all undeniable. However, to get anywhere in the playoffs, they will need a multi-pronged attack... that is, one in which offense is a pinnacle for the team. They have a talented o-line and a great rookie quarterback (kyle orton) that can throw strikes without flinching like the best of them; but somewhere down the road, a strong team is going to figure out how to exploit the few weaknesses of their defense and their offense certainly will not be able to carry them in such a game. Though, given the current state of the NFC it is entirely possible that the bears will make the superbowl and would likely face indianapolis (my favorite AFC team). Should this scenario happen, i'm not sure what would happen. In pre-season play this year the bears beat the colts, but IMHO that's not terribly relevant because the first-stringers on both teams did not get much time on the field then. On one hand, I saw that the steelers figured out how to shut down the colts' offense this year (even though indy won), which leads me to believe that the bears have a shot at winning such a game... but on the other hand, the indy offense strikes fast and hard which is unlike the offenses of most of the teams the bears have played so far this year.
Final score of the super bowl? Colts: 14, Bears: 16
Also, if you haven't checked it out lately, i went roller skating for my work's family christmas party and mrs. mabus caught some incredible footage of my supreme incompetence landing me squarely on my back side. CLICK HERE TO SEE IT (windows media 9 format)
As you know, I'm a BIG bears fan and they are 9-3 right now and currently leading the nfc north. Of course they will make the playoffs, but their offense is just dowright abysmal with the team only carried by their number one ranked defense. No matter the case, they've won their last 8 games and snapped an 11-year streak of losing to green bay at home tonight.. this is all undeniable. However, to get anywhere in the playoffs, they will need a multi-pronged attack... that is, one in which offense is a pinnacle for the team. They have a talented o-line and a great rookie quarterback (kyle orton) that can throw strikes without flinching like the best of them; but somewhere down the road, a strong team is going to figure out how to exploit the few weaknesses of their defense and their offense certainly will not be able to carry them in such a game. Though, given the current state of the NFC it is entirely possible that the bears will make the superbowl and would likely face indianapolis (my favorite AFC team). Should this scenario happen, i'm not sure what would happen. In pre-season play this year the bears beat the colts, but IMHO that's not terribly relevant because the first-stringers on both teams did not get much time on the field then. On one hand, I saw that the steelers figured out how to shut down the colts' offense this year (even though indy won), which leads me to believe that the bears have a shot at winning such a game... but on the other hand, the indy offense strikes fast and hard which is unlike the offenses of most of the teams the bears have played so far this year.
Final score of the super bowl? Colts: 14, Bears: 16
Also, if you haven't checked it out lately, i went roller skating for my work's family christmas party and mrs. mabus caught some incredible footage of my supreme incompetence landing me squarely on my back side. CLICK HERE TO SEE IT (windows media 9 format)
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