Caller ID - What Type Are You?

I am proud to announce a new topic for people to peeve about...

We've all heard of the debate on toilet paper rolls - should the roll of toilet paper go over the top or behind? Essentially a mindless debate on personal quirks...so I have unveiled a new one for all to discuss whenever they desire...

The caller id - do you delete the numbers after viewing them once or leave them on the device that is displaying them until they are purged automatically? You see, I am one that is of the latter mindset...and I don't think any number should be deleted from a caller id device...because why? My wife, on the other hand, can barely contain herself if (god-forbid) a number is left on the caller id display after being viewed upon...and I am now beginning to see that she (nor I) am alone in our caller id habit.

I just don't understand the 'I have to delete it right away' mentality. What's the harm of leaving the number there? I have 'my own' phone near my computer and I often taunt her with the fact that the caller id is completely full... it is like an addiction to her. She will then try and get the phone to delete all the previous calls as I try to prevent her from doing so. Caller id has made me lazy... I barely can remember a phone number anymore because I can merely punch it up on the caller id and hit dial. Odds of me calling anyone that hasn't called me in the last month (which is about 100 calls and my caller id storage limit) isn't likely...so if I need to find a number, either I have it, or I will be looking it up.

What is insane, is my wife and the other caller id-deleting types. Why do the numbers need to be deleted instantly? They certainly aren't affecting the performance of the device that is storing them? And why would you even consider buying a caller id device that can hold 100 numbers (or even more now-a-days) if you are going to delete them instantly? Plus, there is nothing more that drives me nuts when someone calls and I am to return their call and I (even today) stupidly ask 'What's the number?' I no-doubtedly will end up going to get my phone because I know it won't be on any of the other 'family' phones because my wife has already gotten to it and deleted it with glee.

Women Are Pigs

For some time I've been making this observation... and it really isn't good nor bad, but an observation that seems to contradict what is normally thought... and that is women are pigs...when it comes to food...

I began to notice this when I first started working as a television director when I was required to direct a live news cast then a live event and then another news cast all consecutively, essentially requiring me to be at work for 12 straight hours unable to leave, and then the company would buy the staff food. I didn't even think anything of it the first few times that the company would order 6 pizzas for the crew...which was normal. At first the pizza was always eaten...then on occassions there was some left over...but the same number of persons were still used during these occassions. I have no idea why it popped into my brain, but I began to notice that whenever there was pizza left over the entire crew was made up of men...and when the pizza was eaten entirely, there was at least one, usually 2, females that were working. They didn't appear to eat more then the men...but there was certainly not the food left over... but who cares, I wasn't paying for it and it was a free lunch...

Well now I work at a large venue/conference center. This morning I walk in to see that a large conference is in one of the meeting rooms we have and there is doughnuts, juice, bagels, etc... that was ordered...of course this puts a smile on my face because the left overs will end up in our break room where I then can have a tasty morning treat. But this morning, when I go to snatch up a doughnut or other treat, none is to be found. What? There is ALWAYS food left over...how can this be? Did some inconsiderate person just toss any uneaten food this morning? No. It was a conference that was for nurses...ah... my theory continues to hold. The same amount of food was put out for the size of conference that was taking place, but of course the percentage of men to women was greatly skewed... in fact, in an informal count by myself, I counted 3 men to about 200 women.

I don't mean to demean women, but am just offering this as an observation, that seems to go against conventional thought.

Charger 2005 Draft Review

Well, I wasn't too far off in what I would like to see the Chargers draft and who they actually did...

Their first pick (12th overall) was used to draft a pass rushing linebacker, Shawne Merriman. The pass rush, as I mentioned on April 10th, was an area that needed to be addressed...and address it they did. With their second pick (28th overall) they drafted a defensive end. Of course getting some bad press because the player (Luis Castillo) admitted to using steroids in the offseason...something no pro athletes would dare do...yeah, right.

The Chargers then drafted Vincent Jackson, who is a highly touted reciever with good speed and good hands. They then picked up runing back Darren Sproles who, like Jackson, both can play special teams...so could be put into action relatively quick with the release of previous punt and kick returner, Tim Dwight.

The Chargers then use their final 3 selections to pick offensive lineman (OT-Wesley Britt, G - Wes Sims and G/C-Scott Mruczkowski)...again, as I mentioned prior to the draft, an area that the Chargers could use improvement and depth to help Tomlinson and the run game.

Most 'experts' have given high marks to the Chargers for the draft... but I put no value on any player until they have proven themselves on the field...so it will most definately be a 'wait and see' attitude for me.

Besides the draft, the Chargers then went on to sign 19 more undrafted free agents. Barring injuries and the unknown, the Chargers look to be sitting pretty good going into the 2005-06 season. I really liked looking at the Broncos draft... they drafted 3 cornerbacks and then Maurice Clarrett...apparently they have no db's and need a runningback? Are they the same Denver Broncos that the media gushes over how the 'system' they run just churns out 1,000 yard rushers? Didn't they just get Champ Bailey a shut-down corner? To me, it would seem that picking the players they did, especially at the time they did, seemed like they may have bigger problems then it appears. But as long as Jake Plummer is on the team, no NFL team needs to feel threatened by the Denver Broncos.

So in an early preseason move of 'cockiness' my AFC West standings look like this: 1. Chargers (and you mayl recall I had nothing but despair and bleakness predicted last year for the Chargers) 2. Kansas City - They are making the moves to make the defense better, something that should have been done last year 3. Oakland - You got Randy Moss but no one to throw the ball to him. 4. Denver - Jake Plummer is the quarterback of this team and then the Broncos draft defense and another running back...Plummer hasn't won a game by himself yet, why do they think he is going to start now?

The 2005 NFL Draft and The San Diego Chargers

I'm the first to admit that I don't follow college football all that much and I really don't have a desire to 'track' talent. I'll occassionally look at one of the 7 billion mock drafts that are out there, but I just smirk and think about all the time whomever spent to put together a mock draft...a MOCK DRAFT. What value does a mock draft have? Really nothing except to occupy the time of those that have only one objective in life...to follow the NFL fanatically...which is fine...good for you.

Anyways, now to my point... I know nor do I care about the 'talent' of this year's draft pool because every year there are busts and sleepers...the rest of the players sift out to be your average to adequate NFL players. So I view all the draft hype as just that, hype. Since there is no NHL and the NBA hasn't started it's playoffs this year it has been a particularly slow time for the sports world, so ESPN might as well hype the draft...which they do anyways.

Here's what I think the Chargers are going to do, and because I know no names, will give none! (So there!).

I think the Chargers are going to use their 2 first round picks, 12th and 28th overall. I would like to see them get either a safety, wide reciever or defensive tackle/lineman. Since Rodney Harrison was let go - a move I didn't like - the Chargers haven't had consistent play at safety. Sammy Davis a converted CB playing safety, isn't big enough and got hurt often. He is a good cover guy and should be kept there. Signing McCardell is good and if Caldwell is back to 100% at the start of the season, the Chargers look to be solid at WR's but there isn't much depth. I like Parker and Osgood but both seemed to play better when Caldwell or McCardell were the primary threat. So it would be nice to get a young WR to work into the system and if either of the top 2 go down a reliable replacement is already in place and giving the Chargers a little more depth at that position. Defensive lineman/tackle is a no-brainer and I think will no-doubtedly be a position the Chargers fill with one of their first two picks. For the past two years the Chargers have lacked any sort of pass rush. The secondary is greatly improving and if the Chargers could get any sort of pass rush going the defense will be impregnable.

Other areas I think the Chargers could address is the offensive line. It is relatively young, but just beginning to gel. But again depth. Tomlinson last season was as effective as any other...down from 2003, but played injured for 6 weeks or so. If the Chargers could more effectively open up the middle of the field for Tomlinson, he could very well threaten some offensive records.

What is great about the Chargers situation more than many of the previous pre-draft moods, is that the Chargers look good. Their team overall is solid. It is relatively young and has proven players at the skills position. Having 2 first round picks and cap room the hope for all Charger fans that come fall of 2005 we see some new faces mixed with our proven players leading the San Diego Chargers to the AFC West Championship and on to the Super Bowl.

The Chargers On Prime Time

The 2005 NFL Schedule just came out and it appears as if the world is going to finally see the Chargers. The Bolts, who have had a total of one night time (either Sunday or Monday) game since 1999 will have three nationally televised prime-time games – Oct. 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Monday Night Football" and two Sunday night ESPN games, Sept. 25 against the New York Giants and Dec. 4 against the Oakland Raiders. Also, the season finale, a 1:30 p.m. game Dec. 31 at home against Denver, will be nationally televised.

Out of all these games the one I am most anticipating, should be the one that is Eli Manning's last...that's right, September 25th Eli and the Giants are coming to San Diego. I wouldn't be surprised if Eli was ill or injured and unable to play this game becuase an ass-whopping is what should be coming his way...or at least in every Charger fans dream.

Spring Has Sprung

You will often hear me complain about how I live in the 'barren wasteland'... which is true. Living in North Dakota is the barren wasteland. Very rarely is a week of 'nice' weather ever strung together in a calendar year. Every season in North Dakota can either be the worst case scenario or the best... this is an area of extremes. Our winter was relatively mild... I think we only had about 20 days of below zero temperatures and was broken up by some milder weather - milder meaning about 10 degrees above zero...and of course I'm talking Fahrenheit.

March and April are most certainly a crapshoot when it comes to the weather... we have had snow up until May some years. In 1997 the month of April was one the coldest, most miserable months in recent years... and the summer that followed was nothing but dreary. The summer of 1997, on the barren wasteland was pathetic... it was literally cloudy and cool every day for the entire summer.

So you will have to excuse my over-enthusiasm about the weather we have been having here recently... it has been nothing short of pleasant. The sun has been out for weeks now and most importantly, the temperature has been above 60 every day for the past 2 weeks...which is great. Living in the barren wasteland you need to savor these days because who knows, it may not get above 60 the entire month of May in these parts...

Hicksville, USA

Yes, I live in Hicksville, USA. Sure, there are people that appear normal and exhibit the traits of people that reside in the 21st century, but don't let the 'normal' folk fool you...you are in Hicksville. In the past few weeks I've begin to 'tune' my senses to begin to pick out examples of my region/town being that of Hicksville...and although one has already slipped my mine, I was able to retain such example and hope to continue to list examples as I collect them...

So my first example of why people in this town/region are hicks is here...

I'm out on a Saturday night with a few friends at a bar, enjoying another friend's band...so as you can imaging, the place has a fair number of folks that I would consider an acquaintance... so one of these 'acquaintances' - one that I particularly don't like and maybe is why this happened - begins to spout off on how he hates the internet and computers. Sure, we all have hated computers and/or the internet for one reason or another at sometime...but this guy was adament on how much of a waste the internet is. While this conversation is developing, me not saying anything because his primary purpose was to obviously provoke me, he searches out other people (in a very loud and obnoxious manner) to further elaborate his point that no one here uses, wants or needs the internet.

You see, this is why I live in Hicksville. People in this region are stupid, or maybe it's the people I hang around with...I haven't firgured out which yet...

I end the conversation with "If you don't have the internet, you don't know all the great porn you've been missing." Which gets a great response from my friends, the exchanging of porn sites - and I'm telling you right now, exchanging porn sites is a great 'ice-breaker' between men, next time you are with another guy for any length of time and have covered all the 'basic' topics, start swapping porn sites, you'll have a real fun time...trust me! Then finally the conversation then turns to something more interesting like after we get some off-sale, where are we going to go to drink?