Goals and Motivation

6 nights ago I started a new nighttime ritual. This came upon because in about a month I have a dentist appointment, most likely with DeeDee who is a very good dental hygienist. And if I don't floss... which I am embarrassed to admit that I normally don't, she gets on my case like you wouldn't believe. So for the last 6 nights I have flossed, brushed, and then mouth washed. I think the rule of mouth care is to floss first, but regardless of that, I would have to make flossing first. If I didn't, my chances of not completing my ritual would increase 10 fold. So I grudgingly floss, knowing that I must finish in order to brush my teeth, which of course I've always done. And just when my internal clock thinks I'm all finished for the night I have to reason with myself as to why I should use the mouthwash. The fact that this is a struggle for me boggles my mind, but it is. So I stand there for a moment reminding myself of the guilt I will feel if I do not do the mouthwashing step. But then half of me says, "big deal, skip it, it'll only turn your mouth blue anyway, and how healthy can that be?" So then the logical half tells me to look at the label for any color additive that may permanently stain my mouth blue, there is none, so I am forced to continue. After I get the mouthwash into my mouth I begin the next battle of keeping it in my mouth for as long as I can stand it. The way I do this is dancing. I do my mouthwash dance and shake my head to distract myself from the mouth burning. When I realize that dancing right before bed is going to wake me back up I stop and spit. And think to myself... another check on the mental calendar.

All in all, if it weren't for DeeDee I wouldn't do any of this. Sad but true.

My preference in banking...

I just checked my email and found this email from ING Direct. I have to say, I've always recommended them to anyone who's asked. Their website is user friendly, their company has a youthful feel and their customer service is awesome. As if to confirm that they are the company for me, they included the following quote in the email

Global financial markets ended 2007 with many challenges ahead. While ING DIRECT avoided the sub-prime mortgage problem, we understand that this housing crisis threatens the well-being of countless families and, in the end, it will be seen as a major failing of the mortgage industry and its regulators.

The fact that ING DIRECT was not adversely affected is a testament to our operating philosophy that, as Americans, we should only buy houses we can afford. That way we can keep them for years to come. We believe a mortgage is a contract that both parties should execute in good faith and expect to see through to its conclusion. We will not waiver from our sworn promise to provide you with great value, service and convenience.

I've seen mortgage brokers and real estate agents on television blatantly tell their customers to take out loans they can't afford for houses out of their price range. It's nice to see a company acknowledge that it's not the American dream to have a house that you can't afford just because it's bigger than the neighbors' house.

/salute

And the award goes to...

With the Oscars coming up and all I thought it would only be right to honor the real winner this season.

BUCK!

He has now gotten over 40,000 views on his Buck VS. Buck video! In case you weren't part of that 40,000 here's a link to the video Any gifts or letters of congratulations will be graciously accepted.

In other Buck news, he spent most of tonight licking my head clean... or dirty if you ask me. Either way I have a glossy sheen. Here's a link to a video from a few weeks ago of the same act to the nth degree.

Attention Passengers: This Is Your Sales Rep... er, I mean Pilot Speaking

I remember the good old days. When flying meant free sandwiches, sodas, and visiting the pilot in the cockpit.

But things are different now...

We still have sodas, and sometimes we even get a full can! But we don't have food, sometimes a pretzel crumb or small cookie, but no more free sandwiches. Now you can pay upwards of $7 for a shitty plate of cold mini-muffins or small sandwich.

And instead of the pilot announcing all the landmarks you're flying past, he's trying to convince you to sign up for their credit card that gives you.. one zillion free miles!! The in-flight movie, while it still sucks now gets a nice little logo in the bottom of it from time to time. And before the movie starts and after it ends you get commercials for other trips you can take with this airline and the credit cards that will get you there and a million billion miles!! Don't have headphones? Don't worry! $5 will get your a rented pair for 3-4 hours! Woo Hoo

I can only image what flying will be like 10 years from now. Perhaps literally mugging you at gunpoint and pawning off your luggage before you arrive at your destination, all while force-feeding you advertisements on your soda, food, napkin, seat, tv screen, headphones, window, floor.... everything.

Collaboration For All!

Despite only having 3 classes this semester, I have the most group projects I've ever had in the same amount of time. At least the most long-term group projects.

I am getting nervous about one of them. This is mostly because no one had taken any initiative to get the group together or talking. So last night after having a day-mare that we were going to do terribly because of all the apathetic group members I sent out a mass e-mail and an invitation to a Google Doc.

I haven't checked the doc yet, but I will right now and fill you in as to whether these slackers look like they may change their ways.

Wow! I am impressed, 2 out of 4 of them have responded. Perhaps this won't be horrible after all.

It is always strange when someone who would've otherwise be a leader has to step up and do so. I have a strong feeling I will be that person for this group. Hopefully I'll serve them well ::salutes::.

When I wrote them all last night I said I suggest they all get on Gmail (2 of them already had been) as it would make scheduling easier. The lack of ease in getting in touch with people makes me nervous. It boggles my mind when groups or teams aren't all on the same system of communication. I want a team that will be ON the app of choice and be checking up on it frequently. Pipe dream I suppose.

From Riches to Rags

I can't say I know too much about mortgages or buying a home, but I still wonder how people get themselves into foreclosure. I understand it when the breadwinner gets sick or dies or loses their job. But what about all these people who make a decent living and just signed up for a stupid mortgage.

A month or so ago I was getting my haircut and the hairdresser said that he signed for a ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) after his daughter (the mortgage broker) told him it was a great deal and interests rates would certainly not raise for a long time.

Sure the man should've known better than to assume interests rate would stay at an all time low for 20-30 years, but his trusted kin told him otherwise, so he is now on the verge of screwed.

Surely not everyone is being told by family members to get these crazy mortgages? I wouldn't trust a mortgage broker or almost any financial adviser with my life savings, they all have a motive, if you don't think that you're foolish.

When I see excel spreadsheets full of hundreds and hundreds of foreclosures (and that's just for one area of the country) I do feel bad for some of them; some were so close to paying off their mortgage and then they miss a few payments and BOOM it's all gone. But another part of me is wondering how people can be so shortsighted.

So from my limited knowledge I leave you with some basic tips when buying a home.
-Put down the largest down payment as possible (don't end up getting mortgage insurance)
-Get a FIXED RATE loan
-Buy a home that is 20% (at least) less than what your mortgage broker tells you you can afford

Separation of... TV and Internet

Jeff Richards, VP of Digital Content Services at Verisign wrote in his company blog last month about the blurring of the lines between TV and Internet. He was referencing another article from the Wall Street Journal pondering why consumers don't seem to be interested in products or services that allow users to watch Internet videos on their TV.

It seems to me that the main reason that this idea isn't catching on is because users are choosing to keep these two lives separate.

Internet videos are generally short, just long enough for us to be able to sit in our office chairs and view them. TV programs are traditionally longer, which is why we park our couches and beds in front of them.

Additionally, I believe that many of us think of content online as being "underground" and TV content as being "mainstream" and we definitely don't want to mix those two worlds. Like keeping your college friends separate from your work friends.

It would just feel wrong to watch youtube videos from our couch. Not to mention the quality of youtube videos is so bad you probably wouldn't want to view it from a TV. But that's quite a stretch to explain the main reasoning of consumers.

All in all, I don't pay $55+ a month to DirecTv to watch (sometimes lesser quality) content that I could watch online for free. And Americans don't want to waste that quality TV viewing time by watching UGC (User generated content).