Flying Objects

This weekend I tried out two new games for the iPad. Flick Kick and Angry Birds. First Flick Kick, it is a field goal kicking game on the iPad. The game has two versions, free and .99 cents. The free version has commercials every now and then while you play. The game itself has several modes to play, six in total for the paid version. I thought this game would be a silly 5 minute time kill as we were driving across town. Much to my surprise, this game was very addictive. Flicking the ball on the screen and judging the wind is a challenge. Depending on the mode you play the rules vary a bit. Many of the levels have bonuses for consecutive kicks made. If you are looking for a simple game with a football theme this game might be the one for you.

The second game I tried was Angry Birds. Most of you (all one of you reading this) have most likely already played this game, I held out as long as I could. Two hours later, I know why all of you have been playing this game. How fun is it to shoot the different birds at the pig palaces trying to crush them for stealing the birds eggs. The game has over 200 levels to play and 5 or 6 different birds you can launch at the pigs. The birds range from straight forward flying birds, to exploding birds, to birds which split into three and bomb the pigs.

The object of the game is simply to knock over the structures protecting the thieving pigs. Short cut scenes from time to time introduce new levels and birds. There is a micro-transaction part of the game you can access if you choose to bring in the eagle of doom for .99 cents. I have not used it nor will I. I would rather keep trying to figure out the levels until I succeed.

Bottom line, both these games offer some simple and addictive fun on the iPad. If you want a quick game you can play and walk away and resume without crops or plants withering, check these two out on the app store.

Bra Straps

I have thought about this before, but for some reason it has happened several times this week and I need to get my rant on.

I have been sitting in meetings and will look over to see one of the women in the meeting reach inside her collar and adjust her bra strap. Oh sure, all of you know what I am talking about. Any female reading this has probably done this before. Even in meetings where it is just me and the other person…into the collar with the hand to adjust the strap. UGH!

If I were to reach down and adjust myself during a meeting I am sure my next stop would be Human Resources. I think there actually was a guy we worked with at a past company who was reprimanded for doing just that in meetings. Anyway, I can hear you already saying it is not the same. You are just adjusting the strap not the contents of the bra. I don’t care. It is not right to be reaching inside your shirts during a meeting and adjusting.

Where is my Global Warming

So it is the 2nd of February and it is nine degrees outside, yes nine. That is pre-windchill factor. Now I spent most of my life in Michigan so this is not one of those, “boo hoo it is so cold outside,” rants. This is the, “WTF where is my global warmed 70 degree winter?”

I was listening on the news as they discussed the record levels of snow on the East Coast and the bitter cold through the mountain states and into the Mid-West. Of course it is now “climate change” caused by the greenhouse gasses, which in turn bring us the extremes in the weather. Now it rains more in spring, it snows more in winter, it suns more in summer and I guess it falls more in fall. Bottom line is what happened to the Earth is heating up and getting warmer. Did they just change their mind, or were they wrong?

Now the tune has conveniently changed to climate extremes? If it starts raining monkeys will that be an off shoot of the climate change? I think not. When will we wake up and not allow for movements like the global warming group to just change their tune to whatever is taking place today in order to drive their agenda?

Stoopid agendas.

Banking Woes

So I went to my bank today (Chase) to make a deposit. It was a business deposit. As you may or may not know I have my own business, CmB, Inc. Well every time I go in for the business they want me to sit down with a small business advisor and discuss options for my business. Today was no exception.

The only difference is they wanted to tell me about the new fees starting in February. Here is the high level overview.

Them – New fees in February if you don’t put more money in your accounts so we can get interest off of your money.

Me – Really, I signed up for free checking with Washington Mutual. I realize you bought them out, but now you are not honoring the account I opened with them.

Them – Nope, with the new laws limiting our ability to charge other fees we have to come up with new ones to make more money. We are a for profit company after all.

Me – Then I will have to look at my options and more than likely take my accounts elsewhere.

Them – Ok.

There was more discussion in the bank about how poor their customer service is and how they put making money over customers all day long, which they never refuted. It is just sad that for $5.00 a month ($60 a year) in fees they would want to lose customers. I know as you multiply that across their entire customer base it becomes a much bigger number; however when you are driving away business, and I can guarantee I will not go back to them, it seems like something they could take action to resolve.

I am sure 90% of the people out there won’t care about the fees and will just go on using them. So for the 10% that take the time to complain and tell you they are leaving you as a customer, DO SOMETHING to retain them.

Sheesh!

Ahhh…all clean!

Many of you know Amy and I did a cleanse for two weeks at the end of June. I thought I would share how it went and the outcome. First let me tell you what the program was. The program was supposed to be three weeks long. We did two as Amy was heading to CA after the two weeks.

Week one was two shakes a day, with ten supplement pills a day, and small amounts of very specific foods. This is designed to open up your glands and detoxify them. Day one and two were a bit brutal as the headaches set in around 3pm. After week one, it is still two shakes and eight pills, but we had a bit more food to choose from and no headaches.

After a week I had lost four pounds and 1% body fat. I could tell my pants were looser as well. After week two I had lost seven pounds and 2% body fat. My pants were really loose and I could tell my stomach was less, well…round.

As of today, I have lost a total of ten pounds and 2.5% body fat. I feel good and I am making healthier food choices. I have only eaten fast food once since we stopped the cleanse. I can say the process is as much about building good habits as it is detoxing your body. I would highly recommend a program like this to anyone who is looking for more energy in their day. It just makes you feel better about yourself.