tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13676143352675235612024-03-13T06:02:52.228-07:00Bitter and RantingLiving in suburbia, frustrated with everyday life and everyday things but the world is still a beautiful place to live in.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-33045155345265066852012-12-05T05:25:00.001-08:002012-12-05T05:37:41.613-08:00Raven's 9-7 I was so excited after they came back and won the SD game. I was thinking maybe things are going to bounce our way this year for once and I was super excited. Then the Pittsburgh game happens. I have never gone from so excited for the end of the season, to dreading it so quickly. All 4 teams we have left to play have something to play for. The Ravens could end of 9-7 that would be an epic collapse and everyone would get canned.<br />
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I agree the play calling is so bad I can't even begin to describe it. I was sort of numb when I was watching it. They get ahead and they don't know what to do. Their offense gets stupid and the defense starts rushing 3 guys and the QB picks us apart. It is the SAME thing every time. We play 4 really good quarterbacks through these last 4 games. They are in trouble.<br />
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They could lose 5 straight to end the season. I hope it isn't that bad but we play both Mannings at home for our last 2 games. They will be playing for the playoffs. The Ravens don't have a spark and there have been too many injuries. The offense is not getting it done either.<br />
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It is a potential train-wreck waiting to happen. Things are going to blow up.<br />
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Just one fans opinion. Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-79376408753769773642012-06-04T06:48:00.001-07:002012-06-04T06:48:41.033-07:00EPA more harm then goodIs the EPA doing more harm then good? I am not sure when you read articles like this one.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/06/epas_unethical_air_pollution_experiments.html
Or articles about them forcing people out of their homes because of being in a water shed. I don't get it. They have too much power and they are a big part of why our economy is struggling. I really believe they are now another political entity doing what they do. Striving for more power and control. The people and the economy is struggling under the current weight of the government. We need less of it.
Is the road to hell paved with good intentions? I guess they started out with good intentions.
Just my opinion...Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-43535808870921539492011-10-20T09:25:00.000-07:002011-10-20T09:25:55.927-07:00Google Maps funPointed out bye the local <a href="http://perryhall.patch.com/articles/whats-a-jet-doing-outside-chapel-hill-elementary#photo-8177047">Perry Hall Patch</a> site.<br />
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Pretty interesting Google Maps picture. A plane parked out back the local Elementary school.<br />
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<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=4218+E+Joppa+Rd,+Nottingham,+Maryland+21236&t=h&vpsrc=6&ll=39.402323,-76.434395&spn=0.001451,0.00228&z=18&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=4218+E+Joppa+Rd,+Nottingham,+Maryland+21236&t=h&vpsrc=6&ll=39.402323,-76.434395&spn=0.001451,0.00228&z=18&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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Always some fun stuff.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-74332303172740508382011-10-04T13:51:00.000-07:002011-10-04T19:09:35.859-07:00Raven's Games Sunday NightI love going to the NFL games. They are still an event that I look forward to early in the week. I have have 6 friends who can stand each other long enough to hang out for 6 or so hours. We used to have 8 but 2 abandoned us. <br />
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The Ravens played the Jets Sunday night, and we were warned of the extended pat downs at the gate. We got emails saying to come in early. We actually thought we were doing the safe thing and left to go in 1 hour before game time. We waited in line for 45 minutes to get into the game missing the most of the introductions. <br />
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This increased security does not make sense. Who do they think they are protecting us from? God forbid someone with a gun or a bomb would have attacked the 5000 people standing in line trying to get into the game. It was ridiculous. <br />
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I don't see how it makes me safe. I would gladly get shocked with a stun gun in the game, if it meant I didn't have to wait for that line. Thanks to the dumbass at the Jets game week one. <br />
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It was a great night other wise. The Raven's played well, almost exclusively on defense, and everyone had a great time.<br />
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Hopefully they can do something for the future.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-48766180246261504662011-07-07T11:59:00.000-07:002011-07-07T11:59:56.745-07:00HP I hate youI have bought HP products for most of my life. Sadly I am done. The last printer I bought just does not work. It is called a HP Photosmart Premium All-in-One Printer. The drivers flat out do not work on 64bit operating systems. I have uninstalled and reinstalled them maybe 1000 times, both on vista 64bit and Win 7 64bit. They are there one time then you reboot and they are gone. You can't scan with this thing either. It just does not work. I have spent limitless hours trying to get this thing to work. I really want to take a bat to this thing.<br />
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Next I bought a refurbished HP laptop for 500 bucks. It is a nice laptop. About 2 months after the limited warranty went up it started blinking error messages on the keyboard. Very strange. They said it will be 450 to get the whole motherboard replaced. They are so stupid. If you sold the laptop for 600 that part is no longer worth 450. <br />
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Every time I contacted them they were no help. It is so frustrating. I am done with them. Any suggestions for a new printer?Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-50256992093465437172011-06-19T07:35:00.000-07:002011-06-21T11:50:38.089-07:00Super 8My wife and I were really looking forward to seeing this movie. We got to the theater 30 minutes early on opening day. There were 4 other people in the theater. By start time the movie filled up a bit but nowhere near full. This is more of a statement on movies in general and not Super 8.<br />
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The movie was produce by Amblin which brought us movies like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial">E.T.</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goonies">Goonies</a> so I was expecting a movie that fell in that genre. It was for the first two thirds of the movie. The last third is not for young children.<br />
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It started with a way over the top train wreck which was interesting. Then the movie continued with a Goonies vibe. All the actors that played the kids were great. In fact, all the actors in the movie were great. I have alwasys liked <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0151419/">Kyle Chandler</a> starting way back when he was on the tv show <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101121/">Homefront</a>. <br />
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The story was my issue in this case. The film was really well done. The beginning in the Goonies part of the movie was a great set up. The problem was it turned into more of a Cloverfield. It got too violent to stay in the Goonies genre. It felt like 2 different movies and it was a very abrupt ending. The monster felt like a cast off of Cloverfield too.<br />
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Overall I give it 3 out of 5 scooby snacks. It wasn't horrible, everyone should see it and you wont be upset you saw it.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-68993811158246084612011-03-28T06:35:00.000-07:002011-03-28T06:35:19.054-07:00MD BudgetThe MD state government is raising taxes and fees all over the place this year. Why? They raised the budget 11.6%. I don't understand how they get away with it. As MD residents we need to vote these people out. I sent an email to my 4 congressmen asking them not to vote to raise any taxes. I got some very nice responses from the 3 delegates that represent me (Bromwell, Cluster and Bromwell) explaining their position. I was happy they took the time to reply to me.<br />
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My senator Katherine Klausmeier did what I have come to expect from politicians. This is her answer:<br />
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"I do the best job I can for the residents of District 8." <br />
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Why couldn't she take some time to answer my question? I hate when they talk to you in this matter. Shut up and take it. I know best and you are just my minion. Our state congress raised the budget 11.6% this year. How can they justify that in this economy? The answer is they can't. This needs to stop at some point. How many people in the state's wages went up 11.6%, very few. What justifies it? <br />
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I don't get it. Nobody is questioning them. Can't expect The Sun paper to say anything. <br />
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How about spending less? What a novel idea.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-8357324849250683262011-03-25T07:20:00.000-07:002011-04-01T11:38:45.298-07:00PaulWent to see <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092026/">Paul</a> last weekend and it was a pleasant surprise. We go to the movies quite often and there were not a lot of choices this weekend. There were a lot of movies out that I would watch as a rental but going to see in the theater is a stretch. On a side note I love the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost movies. If you are someone that loves SciFi it is an excellent homage to the genre. There are so many easter eggs in this movie I will probably have to buy it when it comes out on DVD. It has a high re-watch value because of this.<br />
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I am not much of a Kristin Wigg fan but she is actually likable in this movie. That was a nice surprise, maybe she just needs to get away from doing all the SNL movies.<br />
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If you liked <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365748/">"Shaun of the Dead"</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425112/">"Hot Fuzz"</a> you will like this movie. My wife and I agreed this one is not quite as good as Shaun but much better the Fuzz So that is something.<br />
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I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-36584190931380048502011-03-23T06:00:00.000-07:002011-03-23T06:00:22.772-07:00Libya, Why?Does anyone understand why we are in Libya? Does anyone understand why we are bombing target when this started as a no-fly zone? <br />
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I don't understand it. We are getting involved in a civil war. That never a good idea. So far the president has not kept his word on anything. Gitmo is not closed, he has not gotten us out of any wars, he has increase taxes, and he started a third. We need to bring our soldiers home. We can't continue to pay for these wars for political gain. Americans are dying on the front lines. The politicians say they sacrificed their lives to save lives that could have been lost. That does not sit well with me actual lives are being lost not "what if" lives.<br />
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These sort of actions need to end. I don't get it.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-45563443698707434592011-03-19T08:32:00.000-07:002011-03-19T08:32:10.000-07:00MD GovernmentOur State government is so spineless. They keep kicking the problem down the road. O'Malley is the worst governor to have in a time when we have no money. So O'Malley can say he didn't raise taxes he raised fees to increased fees 67 million. It is so frustrating. How about spend less! How about actually cutting the budget. In a country where some governors are leading the way by standing up to unions and spending ours is continuing to spend and beg for money from the federal government. How about cut some programs and or some government workers jobs. We can't keep paying for this. I wish I was in a position to move out of the state, unfortunately I am not.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-78808462002369081532011-03-19T06:45:00.000-07:002011-03-19T06:45:21.612-07:00NFL vs. The Players 2011I am a season ticket holder for the Baltimore Ravens. I am so sick of hearing about the labor problems the NFL players are having. I am sick of the players telling me what I should think about their plight. It ain't that bad. There are too many people without jobs nowadays to care about a NFL player not making 10 million a year. Stop telling me how I should think. The government has no business being involved in this. The problem is big labor has bought and paid for the Democrats so they are going to rule for the Players. That is what they are betting on.<br />
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My tickets went up 50% in 5 years. I am not on the owners side either. The fact that we have to pay full price for 2 pre-season games that are absolutely horrible will never put me on their side. I don't agree with the 18 game season either, they should stop saying it is for the fans. It is for them, the owners only, nobody else. They get to keep getting paid for 10 home games a year and fans only have to pay for 1 pre-season game. How about you cut the pre season games to half price or go back to not making us have to pay for them. Then there is the issue of PSL's. They are the biggest lie ever. The owners want new stadiums so they can make more money. They do it on the backs of the fans and tax payers. That is not right, but we continue to put up with it.<br />
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I can't root for either side. I know nobody will probably read this but just needed to speak my mind. The problem is I will keep paying for my tickets and keep supporting the problem. Until the league loses popularity nothing will change. We the fans as a whole have more power then we think we do. We need to stop showing up to the games. They are ridiculously expensive anyway.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-850543990936997802010-01-15T05:34:00.000-08:002010-01-15T06:03:50.586-08:00Back Room DealsI will start off with, I am no fan of Bush. I hate the fact that we have people in IRAQ and Afghanistan. I hate the fact that the soldiers that have no choice are there dying and the private contractors are making money. <br /><br />That being said this latest atrocity by the ruling Aristocracy is not good. In order to pass the ObamaCare packages they are going to tax these so called "Cadillac" plans. I am not sure what they are thinking with this. I do not have the best coverage in the world. It has in fact, just gotten worse but my plan may fall into this "Cadillac" plan coverage. I am going to get taxed 40% on an employee benefit. How the hell is that fair. I thought this plan was going to be a reform? Reform means improvement. That is not an improvement for me.<br /><br />On top of this atrocity. They cut a deal with the unions saying they will not have their plans taxed. If some union clown has the same health care as I do they will not pay the 3000 dollars in taxes that I will. How is that fair! HOW!! It is a clear cut bribe to get them on the side of the health care package. As if the Unions don't get enough breaks. They are destroying the companies they work for, it is their choice.<br /><br />This kind of cronyism is the worst. So far Obama has gone back on almost everything he said in his campaign. The current congress and president are destroying the country.<br /><br />Still bitter.....Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-4773112228688118082010-01-14T09:31:00.000-08:002010-01-14T09:36:47.414-08:00MD State GovernmentIt really blows my mind. We are in the worst economic crisis in years and the governments can't curtail spending. The state legislature is in session and I heard there are at least 6 bills being proposed to raise taxes. I wish I knew who proposed those bills.<br /><br /><br />The O'Malley led government gave us the largest tax increase ever for state 2 years ago. How can they think increasing taxes now again is OK. We really need to figure out a solution to the 2 party system. I have no idea what it is. The 2 parties we have in power do not represent the people anymore. They have become a ruling class or aristocracy. They no better then the people and I just can't agree with that.<br /><br /><br />Still bitter..Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-48936823009033438032009-12-26T04:59:00.000-08:002009-12-26T05:10:05.583-08:00AvatarHas anyone out there seen Avatar? I saw it last week at the local theater. We did not have a choice of not 3D. Only 3D or 3D IMAX. <br /><br /> Starting out the tickets were 13 bucks a piece, 3 dollars extra for 3D which I didn't want. We may have started off on the wrong foot. I think movie theaters are in a dangerous place with making tickets so expensive. At 26 dollars for 2 tickets I can pass on the theater experience and just buy the Blu Ray when it comes out. I am leaning more towards that feeling every day.<br /> <br /> After 50 bucks in tickets and concessions we were in. A big positive was we were there on a Monday and there was only about 25-35 people in the theater. This greatly reduces the chance that some jackass is going to talk on his cell phone during the movie. One did go off but the guy apologized and did not answer it. <br /><br /> The movie itself was ok, by far nothing ground breaking. I agree it is a retelling of the basic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114148/">Pocahontas</a> or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099348/">Dances with Wolves</a> stories. It took around an hour for my eyes to adjust to the 3D. I wear glasses so I think 2 layers of glasses was a problem. I felt like I was watching a dream sequence for the whole length of the movie.<br /><br /> I know there have been many reviews saying this movie is incredible. I like substance over flash. The story and the acting were largely unremarkable.<br /><br />I guess I hold up hopes for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026631/">Sherlock Holmes</a>.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-64314524184522734992009-12-24T18:57:00.000-08:002009-12-24T18:58:55.519-08:00Courage?I don't get it. I just don't get it. Michael Vick for the Ed Block Courage Award? What has he done? He killed many innocent animals and payed his price. Now he gets a courage award? There has to be Philly players more deserving of this award. I understand he is saying all the right things that's what he pays his publicist for. His persona today is completely manufactured. I really lose respect for the Philly players voting for him. What he did was disgraceful. Giving him a "Courage" award is disgraceful, he went to jail for a reason, a very bad one.<br /><br />I now read PETA is protesting giving the award to Vick. This is the one time I agree with those wacko's.<br /><br />Still bitter....Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-61696967556432220262009-12-05T04:21:00.000-08:002009-12-25T04:50:25.419-08:00Big Screen TVMan I am not happy. I have a 62 Toshiba projection screen tv that has been great for the last 3 years. It went up the other day. I rushed a replacement lamp for it and it is still not working. I am not sure what to do next. I am guessing the after market lamps I bought are not any good. I guess I send them back next and get a Toshiba manufactured bulb. It is hard to believe both of the bulbs I bought do not work.<br /><br />In the end it was the tv blowing up the bulbs. So after 300 in bulbs and another 500 to get it fixed I have a tv again. It is still acting strange but it is working.<br /><br />BitterRucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-61138099939770858222009-09-07T08:18:00.000-07:002009-09-07T08:24:21.836-07:00Jobs Private SectorI just saw a post on my favorite financial blog <a href="http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/">The Big Picture</a> that for the last 10 years we have had a net loss of 203K private sector jobs. When is the government going to understand that supporting the unions and taxing businesses to death is not the way to grow commercially. If the private sector is making money that means more taxes not less. Lower taxes now and in the long run it will be better for all of us.<br /><br />There was 2.1 million new government jobs created in that time-span. How are we going to pay for them if there are not private sector jobs. This is one of those things that seems so clear but Congress seems to ignore this fact. It is all so scary, at some point the government is going to have to pay it's debts.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-78314613640769151422009-09-07T05:19:00.001-07:002009-09-07T05:35:43.866-07:00Gran Tourino and the OscarsI finally got around to seeing this film last night. I thought it was excellent. The sacrifice the main character makes for those kids was heartfelt. I can't understand why it did not get any Oscar nominations. You are telling me <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/">The Wrestler</a> was a better movie or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/">Benjamin Button</a>? I thought Button was little more then a lesser <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/">Forrest Gump</a>.<br /><br />The Oscars have become so Politically Correct it is hard to pay attention anymore. If the movie deals with social issues it is winning. The thing that bugs me the most is they keep snubbing people because they don't want them to win all the time. Clint Eastwood should have been nominated again. Why penalize him because he does good work and does it his own way. For example, Tom Hanks should have won for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/">Saving Private Ryan</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/">Cast Away</a> but it would have been his 3rd Oscar. I think Carey Grant is the only person to have 3 best actor awards. They want to keep it that way.<br /><br />I love movies and this crap makes me angry. There is no way to change it though. Like the Senate there are no term limits for Oscar voters.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-90928151468212703882009-04-29T17:22:00.000-07:002009-09-07T05:36:17.284-07:00Warcraft losing its edgeI have been playing Warcraft\Warcrack since it launched four years ago. I sunk way too many hours into it, and would have to say I am an addict. My complaint is it has slowly over the last year been losing its edge. What does that mean? I will tell you. Blizzard the company that developed the money maker has been listening to users, I would say too much.<br /><br />The game has gotten ridiculously easy. Anyone can level thier character to 80 without any challenge. You just have to know where to go. The game is not hard at all. It is the addiction of leveling and lure of more equipment. This has also been made ridiculously easy.<br /><br />On the other side my account got hacked after playing for three years. I know it was my fault. I know I got a key logger on my machine somehow. Having been someone that played for three years you would think they would be more help but they weren't. They half assedly restored a few of my characters and some money. It sucked.<br /><br />These two things really sucked the life out of it for me. Three years of gameplay down the drain. I think I am done now the game is not fun anymore but it is just a grind.<br /><br />Later<br /><br />BitterRucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-86052317197998206192009-04-27T17:32:00.000-07:002009-04-27T17:33:25.837-07:00Being TakenDo you ever get that sinking feeling that you are being taken? Feel like you are being instructed to grab your ankles. I took my car to a local Dealer to get a window fixed that got frozen shut and broke. It ended up costing over 400 dollars to replace a small part in the door. The window itself was not broke just the piece that connects the motor to the window.<br /><br />I know there is a mark up when going to these places, and I was fine with the labor charge cause that is a black hole. You have no idea what is standard for that. My problem is the part online was 67 dollars. They charged me 243 dollars for it. I don't think 300% is a realistic mark up. <br /><br />I will not be taking my car back there again. They kept telling me how good a deal it was, that usually means they are screwing you. I always like when they talk to me like I am an idiot too.<br /><br />The other thing is, they broke some trim on my car when they were replacing the part. They said they would replace it, at this point it has been a month and they have yet to do so. I don't think it is my job to chase them down for something they did. They should call. I don't really miss the part, it is mainly the point of it.<br /><br />It sucks when you get screwed like this, I guess the only thing you can do is not go back to them. It just so happens it is an American car, only one of the three vehicles I have. You wonder why the American car companies are having so many problems.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-39351728001026502322009-04-21T18:22:00.000-07:002009-04-21T18:26:07.953-07:00Fallout 3 - a great experienceI never thought there would be a game good enough to tear me away from Warcraft. Then, I played Fallout 3. I played the first 2 games, they were good but not this good. This game is pretty amazing from the graphics to the voice acting is really great. There should be more games like this. There are way too many games out nowadays that just appear to be a money grab.<br /><br />I like the skill tree , the bobble heads, and the whole character development set up is quite involved. The only issues I have with it is the game is it is almost impossible to play the game as an evil character and you can only level to 20.<br /><br />There is much satisfaction to removing a Slavers head from his body in a big puff of red and liberating the weak. I know the game ends when you complete the main quest. I can bring myself to do it. I want to explore every location and complete every quest before I finish the game.<br /><br />The one thing I have to look forward too is there are 3 expansion packs. As a side note I originally bought the game for the PS3 and sold it back because the expansions are only for the XBOX and the PC. The game is that good, I wanted to keep playing the game so I bought it a second time.<br /><br />A great game, there are not many out there.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-49212641278067394432009-03-28T09:01:00.000-07:002009-03-28T09:02:26.143-07:00Socialization.....Last I checked we were a Capitalist society. When did that change? We apparently missed the change, I know I did. It seems the government we elected is changing things to socialization. They talk about taking money from the wealthy but these bailouts and stimulus packages mean they are taking money from all of us. They are socializing the losses. The banks that are failing should fail, the car companies that can't make cars people want should fail, and the home owners who made bad decisions should lose their homes.<br /><br /> I have tried to make all the right decisions. I live within my means, buy a house I can afford, and I don't buy BMW's and such just to look cool. In the long run I am the one that is going to pay for all of these people making bad decisions. It is a little depressing. I know they are lowering the fed so people will borrow money and buy houses and such. One side effect of this is when I try to save money my interest rates are awful. There is no good way to save money right now except buying gold.<br /><br /> It is depressing. I feel our government has become an aristocracy, they are now a ruling class above the rest of us. The approval ratings for these bailouts are below 20% yet they still pass them. The government was supposed to rule with the consent of the governed. I don't think they have any real idea what the governed want anymore.<br /><br /> I think we need term limits in congress both state and federal. Lobbying money has gotten to too many of these congressmen, they owe too many favors to really represent us.<br /><br /> It is very disappointing but what can we do, too many people don't pay attention. All is forgotten by election time.<br /><br />Later, <br /><br />Middle class Joe.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-38463511907565391232009-03-27T18:07:00.000-07:002009-03-27T18:08:21.621-07:00Worst IMAX EVER!!I went to see The Watchmen in IMAX format the other day. I liked the movie enough, I was happy I went to see it, my biggest problem was the theater. I have been to two other IMAX theaters, one at the Maryland Science Center and the other in Las Vegas. These are both great theaters, I can't seem to find a good link to the one in Vegas but it was awesome. The screen was like 70 feet tall. I saw the second Matrix movie there, I left the theater amazed at the experience they locked you into your seat like you were on a roller coaster.<br /><br /> The theater at White Marsh Mall in Maryland left me feeling like I was kicked in the balls. It was no bigger then any of the other large theaters. It only seats 500. The screen was nothing to be amazed at, the picture was good but it just was not the same. The price of the ticket was 13 dollars. I have a 60 inch High definition tv at home with 5.1 surround sound. I am perfectly happy watching the movies at home. We spent 50 dollars when it was all said and done. It just is not worth it.<br /><br /> I sent an email to the IMAX people letting them know I felt the implementation at White Marsh was degrading to the IMAX name. I have not heard back from them. I tried to send an email to AMC, the owners of the theater, but their site says to direct any complaints to the manager. I felt like that was a big load of bullshit.<br /><br /> Go try it out for yourself but the theater is a joke. If there was any actual information about the theater online I would link to it but there is not.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-43936027545867668132009-03-15T09:05:00.000-07:002009-03-15T18:45:07.243-07:00Baltimore's Energy Crisis....<div>It is so frustrating living in this area sometimes. In the last year or so there was some sort of legislature saying the electric company cannot shut of service during the winter months for people that have not paid their bills. The story I just read in the <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.utilities06mar06,0,5336178.story?track=rss">Baltimore Sun</a> mentions the fact that 84,000 people could potentially have thier electricity shut off come April 1st when the moratorium ends.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Just the other day I was reading an article in refferring to the panel that is researching why there has been an increase in electricity and natural gas prices. It does not take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that the electric company has the right to be paid for their service. They are passing on the fact that 84,000 people are not paying for power to the rest of us. The Sun paper does not make that correlation, I don't think it is really a reach.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>You wonder why the very liberal newspapers are all going under. I remember when the reporters use to report the facts in an unbiased opinion and they used to think. That era has apparently ended.</div>Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367614335267523561.post-86294307690805147622009-02-25T16:42:00.000-08:002009-02-25T19:07:54.131-08:00PSL's what a sham...Here I am looking at my Raven's season tickets bill, wondering why I keep paying the ridiculous prices. When I got the season ticket 10 years ago it was 35 bucks. Art Modell never raised tickets more then 7 bucks in one season. Then the money grubbing ass bought the team<br /><br />Steve Bisciotti became the majority owner of the team 5 years ago. My season tickets were 48 bucks a game and things were good. His first year he raised the tickets 25% to 60 bucks a game. I was not happy it was a ridiculous increase. Two years later he raised the ticket prices 33% to 80 bucks a game, a 20 dollar a game increase is even more ridiculous then the first increase.<br /><br />Finally this year he raised them 12.5% to 90 dollars a ticket. This includes the 180 dollars I have to pay for 2 pre-season games when nobody I care about plays. Not to mention the games are on Thursday afternoon half the time, who the hell is going to take off for a pre-season game. The moral of the story is my season ticket prices have gone up 87% in five years. <br /><br />I am a big worrier, with the economy the way it is, its hard to pay for the tickets. When the season ticket prices go up so do the tailgating tickets and the beer prices. I think I have reached my level of understanding when it comes to how much is too much.<br /><br />I would like to say I will get rid of my season tickets but how can I? Back to the title of the post, the PSL. When I bought my tickets I had to pay 750 dollars just for the right to buy tickets every year. This is how they screw us. I lose the PSL if I let my season tickets lapse. I can try to resell my ticket but that is next to impossible with only one ticket.<br /><br />I am feeling screwed by the Baltimore Ravens organization and everyone else involved. I am not going to buy anything inside the stadium any more the prices are outrageous.<br /><br />Hopefully, we see some games not sold out this season. Maybe when the Orioles see record lows in attendance this year something will sink in.<br /><br />I love football but I can watch it on my tv and enjoy it almost as much as I do there.Rucknrunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12436105615066364379noreply@blogger.com0