Posted by Jon at 05:23 PM | Comments (0)

August 24, 2008

Posting Is Tough...

...When you have been at work since 8:30am, and it's now 9:17pm, and I may never go home.

I almost had a post about the Olympics, and I almost have a post about our big news ready to go.

I will work hard to get those done this week.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)

August 23, 2008

Bear With Me...

...As I put on the finishing touches on our big news.

It's coming, I promise, as well as a neat thing to replace the Olympic medal count on the 'blog.

Has it really been two weeks already? Are the Michael Phelps--I mean, the 2008 Beijing Olympics really over?

I hope to have more on that tomorrow.

See you then...

Posted by Jon at 08:32 PM | Comments (0)

August 22, 2008

Ugh...

Long week = crummy post.

Sorry.

Working on some big news to share with you all.

Be patient with me. I have lots to do and lots to say, but no time to do it all or say it all.

Stay tuned.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 07:52 PM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2008

One Last Weekend In Beijing...

Well, for the athletes, anyway. (The rest of the folks who live there will have lots of weekends there, I'm sure.) But soon the flame will be extinguished on the 2008 Beijing Games, and that makes me sad. I posted earlier that anything that ends makes me sad, but we have had an amazing spectacle take place in Beijing. Two words: Michael Phelps. What more needs to be said? This man is amazing, and I am glad he is an American. Others have shown grace, poise, and a winning attitude that embodies the Olympic spirit. I watched a lot of the Games, and I am already looking forward to London, in 2012.

I will write more about this as the Games wrap up this weekend.

But as one fantastic event ends, another begins. Stay tuned to OutOfHans.com for some big news...

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)

August 20, 2008

Another Sad Day...

In one day, we lost two great entertainers.

Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

I listened to Bernie on XM every now and again, and I thought he was funny, but he best work was in the Ocean's 11 franchise. He was fantastic in those, playing a dealer working for Danny Ocean. I will miss him, but I know I can watch him anytime.

I didn't know much about Isaac Hayes until he became the voice of Chef on South Park. South Park was amazing for what it was at the time it came out. Isaac will be missed as well.

Rest in peace, gentleman. The world will be a little less entertained without you.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 08:29 PM | Comments (0)

August 19, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...

Posted by Jon at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)

Birthday Wishes...

Despite the fact that I am in this picture, this posting is about my Dear, Sweet, Wonderful Wife Megan...

My sweetie just celebrated her birthday, yesterday, and selfishly, I am only posting about it now.

I wasn't able to do the things I wanted to do for her on her birthday, but I plan to make up for that real soon.

I love you sweetie, and even though it's a day or two late, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday Dear Megan,
Happy Birthday To You!

I Love you!

Posted by Jon at 07:25 PM | Comments (0)

August 18, 2008

Hi Jodi!

For the first time during this year old experiment in posting once each day for a year, I am trying something new today...

Today, I will create a personalized post.

Today's post is created for Megan's cousin Jodi, who reads my blog each and every day with her morning coffee.

Hi Jodi!

Here's a picture of you...

Not that you need to see a picture of you, because you know what you look like.

How's your coffee this morning? Are you ready for work yet? Don't be late reading this 'blog!

Jodi, Aarika, Kevin and Derek (sorry if the spelling is wrong; we just never had to spell it! We just know his name!) came to vacation in the Old North State from the Constitution state, and I was not able to see them. I was sad. But now Jodi has her own personalized posting, and that makes me happy.

We'll see you guys soon!

Who's next?

Jodi! Get to work!

Love and miss you all!

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 07:11 PM | Comments (1)

August 17, 2008

Are You For Real??? (A Re-Posting...)

If you know me at all, and most of you do, unless you're Megan's friends, in which case I don't know you so well, you would know that it takes a lot to pi** me off. Crappy computers at work, traffic, commercials on radio and TV, Osama, my boss, rude and arrogant people can all make me angry enough to chew glass, but what I found out recently made my blood boil. (No, don't worry. It wasn't really boiling. I'm okay, but thanks for your concern anyway...)

Last night I was speaking with my friend who I will call "John", because that's his real name. John works for the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier.

No, that isn't John, but it accurately represents how the mail is/was/has been delivered to your home/office/dorm for many. many years. I suppose that not long after the engine and the assembly line were introduced, and the Pony Express was discontinued, your mail was delivered to you by a hard working postal employee in a venerable Jeep like this one:

Well, at some point in the middle to late 1980's, the USPS chose to go with another manufacturer of vehicles, specifically Ford. The Jeeps were replaced with the familiar postal vehicle that you see on the streets of your town everyday. They look like this:

During the conversation, John tells me that the vehicles were delivered with air conditioning. But not long after they arrived, the USPS HAD THE AIR CONDITIONERS REMOVED. "You're joking, right?" I said incredulously. "All of them? Here in North Carolina? "Nope. They were removed, all of them, all across the nation", he replied. "Okay, let me get this straight. In Death Valley, where temps can skyrocket during the day, they don't have A/C?" (The blood was beginning to percolate, at this point.) "Not a single air conditioner to be found, except in the offices of those who made that wonderful decision", says John. "Somewhere in Washington, D.C., no doubt!” I said. John says that all of the ductwork and other equipment is still on the trucks, they just removed the thing (whatever it is) that makes the air colder. John says that on hot days, the temps in his truck can be 10 to 15 degrees hotter inside as opposed to outside. He also says that since these trucks have little or no firewalls, the engines putting out heat only add to the oppressive temps.

So I got to thinking...When I was visiting family in Dallas, Texas, my Aunts explained that A/C in the west is not a luxury, but a necessity. Growing up in New York, I always felt the other way; that A/C was a luxury. (Of course that could have been as a result of having cheap parents, but I guess I shouldn't say anymore about that because one of them may be reading this...) Realistically, it just doesn't get as hot in the north (obviously) as it does in the south, and for that reason alone, these poor postal workers should have air conditioning.

But do not despair, gentle readers, because the USPS came up with a "solution". That solution was to install fans in the trucks. John says that the button that would have activated the air conditioner now starts a fan.

Are you feeling cooler already, or is your blood boiling?

Now let's face it...postal workers may not work up the world's sweatiest sweat putting mail in mailboxes, but I think that we can all agree that they work hard, and deserve to have comfortable working conditions, just like the fat cats in D.C.

I guess my question is, why am I only finding out about this now? Is this not a big deal? What if all of the police cars had no air conditioning? What if taxis had no A/C? What if trucks that carry our goods across this great land had no A/C, either for the driver or the goods being transported?

I don't know. It just made me mad, I guess.

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)

August 16, 2008

I Am An Advocate!

It's nothing official or anything like that, but I have just declared myself an Advocate. A Voice for the Voiceless. A Beacon in the dark night of hopelessness. Dramatic, yes, perhaps overly so, but really, if I don't say something, who will?

Some time ago, as I am sure you will remember, I posted about the utter indignity foisted (I typed 'foisted'!) upon the good men and women of the United Postal Service. If you didn't catch that posting, watch this space tomorrow, as I will re-post it.

For now, I am Advocating, again, for the comfort of these hard working, un-heralded, un-respected Americans.

Click on the linky below to read the rest of this story.

See you tomorrow...

POSTAL SERVICE AND AIR CONDITIONING

Paul Lunde, left, Al Floyd,second from left, Debbie Dixon, David Gorden, second from right, and Dean Peterson, right, model prototype kilt uniforms for postal workers at the National Association of Letter Carriers' convention in July, 2008, in Boston, where Peterson introduced a resolution to add kilts to the U.S. Postal Service uniform choices.
(AP Photo/Joni Peterson)

Wash. letter carrier going full kilt ahead By DAN CATCHPOLE, Associated Press Writer
Thu Aug 7, 5:02 AM ET

A 6-foot-tall, 250-pound letter carrier is campaigning for the right to take off his pants. Dean Peterson wants the U.S. Postal Service to add kilts as a uniform option for men.

The idea was soundly defeated in July at a convention of his union, the 220,000-member National Letter Carriers' Association, so Peterson knows convincing management will be an uphill struggle, but at least he'll be comfortable in his kilt, or Male Unbifurcated Garment.

"In one word, it's comfort," he said.

With his build, Peterson said, his thighs fill slacks to capacity, causing chafing and scarring.

Peterson, 48, has Finnish and Norwegian ancestry but not Scottish. He began wearing kilts a couple years ago when his wife brought one back from a trip to Scotland. (A spokeswoman for Britain's Royal Mail said kilts are not allowed as part of its letter carrier uniforms.)

Now Peterson wears them everywhere — to one son's football games, the other son's concerts, shopping and gardening.

"It's the difference between wearing jammies to bed and wearing your work clothes to bed," he said.

Before the convention in Boston, Peterson spent his family's $1,800 economic stimulus tax rebate to mail about 1,000 letters and photographs of him wearing a prototype Postal Service kilt to union branches in every state, Guam and Puerto Rico.

"Unbifurcated Garments are far more comfortable and suitable to male anatomy than trousers or shorts because they don't confine the legs or cramp the male genitals the way that trousers or shorts do," he wrote. "Please open your hearts — and inseams — for an option in mail carrier comfort!"

The union's executive committee recommended disapproval, saying there was not enough demand for kilts to be worth the bother of the resolution, and delegates agreed by a large margin.

But Peterson said there are plenty of approved uniform items that very few mail carriers wear, including a cardigan sweater, vest and pith helmet. He said many convention delegates did express support after his resolution was voted down.

"I got so pumped up after being at such a low that I'm taking this to the next convention in 2010 in Anaheim, Calif.," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

Posted by Jon at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2008

Sleepy...

Gotta' run.

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 12:24 AM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2008

Sometimes the subjects cooperate!

I have said before on this blog that I am grateful for digital cameras. They give those of us who are not so wonderful at getting the perfect shot many, many chances to get it right. And we get instant feedback...we can see the results of our efforts immediately. And, most importantly, we can snap away until we get it right.

Having two very active boys, I have taken more pictures of a blurred figure moving away from the camera than any other kind of shot. But, sometimes, I can actually interest Jonah and Joshua in having their picture taken. Such was the case this afternoon. And this is what I ended up with!

Posted by Jon at 10:04 PM | Comments (1)

August 13, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...(Blast From The Past!)

Posted by Jon at 07:34 PM | Comments (0)

August 12, 2008

It's The Michael Phelps Show!

This guy Michael Phelps, swimmer extraordinare, is nothing short of amazing. I watch him, and am in awe. He swims like he was born to, and he looks like he isn't even working that hard. In fact, watching him tires me out. At nine gold medals and counting, he is, by far, one of the greatest Olympians of our time.

I am proud that Michael Phelps is representing us, as we kick the butts of countries all over the world!

Good job, Mr. Phelps!

Keep it up!

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)

August 11, 2008

You Have Broken My Heart...

That's the only way I can describe how I feel about you right now, John Edwards. As a politician, I didn't think you were ready to be President. I thought, if you just stayed in the Senate for a bit longer, did some good things there, you would be ready. You handled the death of your son with grace and dignity. I don't think I could have handled something like that as well as you have. You stood by your wife Elizabeth when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. You ran a decent campaign, though I was pretty sure I wasn't going to vote for you.

And now this.

I respected you, Mr. Edwards, and I really wanted to believe the Fox (faux) News was wrong when they printed that story about your affair. I was sure they were going to be the laughingstock, because none of the other mainstream media picked up the story. I wanted to believe that you were a stand up guy, and that with all the pressures, you could handle it.

I was wrong.

I am sad.

Whatever happens between a man, his wife and another woman, is nobody's business but the man's, his wife's and the other woman. But you made a lot of believe in your ethics, your determination, and the fact that you touted yourself as a family man.

I offer my thoughts and support to Elizabeth, who is supporting you, but who knows why.

On another, happier note, Michael Phelps goes for another gold medal tonight!

We'll be watching!

Go USA!

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

August 10, 2008

Hey! You! Yes, You!

If you should see my son Joshua, please tell him I am still his father, and that I love him very much.

Been at work since 8:30am. Still here as of 8:30pm.

I haven't seen that boy since Friday evening.

I have a wife, whom I love dearly. Jonah is loved by me as well, though I saw him and Megan this morning before I left for work. At least I think they are still at home. No telling.

I won't get to see Josh until Monday afternoon. Boo.

I miss that guy.

Of course, I miss Jonah and Megan as well. (But I saw them this morning, so that eases the pain somewhat.)

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 08:27 PM | Comments (0)

August 09, 2008

Go USA!

I'll try not to get too ethnocentric here, but Go USA!

Our 2008 Beijing Olympians rock!

I watched with pride when three American female sabre/sword fighters (or whatever their sport is called, no offense) swept the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals today, becoming the first athletes from any country to win a medal. Then I watched as Michael Phelps swam into history winning another Gold medal, and then watched in awe as 41 year old Dara Torres anchored a swim relay to near perfection for the Americans. I watched as two American women beat up the Japanese team in beach volleyball, and I was thrilled to watch our indoor volleyball team rally back to win their first round match.

My joy at our success was tempered, however, after I learned that a crazy Chinese citizen murdered an American, and injured his wife. Crime will happen when you an already overcrowded country's population swells with tourists from other places, but this was just awful. My heart goes out to the Bachman family, and hope that this is last bad news from these Games.

We have done so well so far, and it's only been a day since the Games began!

Go USA!

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 12:19 AM | Comments (0)

August 08, 2008

Let The Games Begin!

Well, they already have!

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are here, and we helped bring in the Games by hosting our first annual Olympics Opening Ceremonies Party!

Amanda, Michelle, Eric, Heath, Scott, Rebecca and Caroline all joined Megan, Josh Jonah and myself, as we watched really weird dances, neat visual effects, and cool fireworks. We also watched Team USA, and cheered them on! When I get a few minutes, I will post some pics!

Go USA!

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)

August 07, 2008

Beijing Olympics 2008...

...Are finally here.

I have been crowing about the Olympics here at outofhans.com for some time now. I am, as you might have guessed, a big fan of the Summer Games. (And the Winter ones too!) It is time now to put aside politics, and let sportsmanship take over, let the world come together as one, and work together. (To beat the Russians!) Sorry. Sorry.

But as I cheer our athletes, and athletes from other nations, something gnaws at me. I want to put human rights aside. I want to move past the horrors of the Tienanmen Square tragedy. But I can't. I can't turn away from what the Chinese people have done, and continue to do to their people. China isn't America. We need to stop trying to make other countries and cultures like America. We need to respect that the Chinese have a type of government that differs from our own. We may not understand it, we may not like it, but we have to respect it. We do not, however, have to respect torture. False imprisonment. The violent quashing of ideas. If China wants to be a world player (and they have been for some time) there are some rules they have to follow. Does America follow these rules? Not hardly. But we are somewhat more transparent than the Chinese, so at least we've got that going for us. China, the world is watching now. We know what you have done, and we know what you are capable of doing. Do not let these two weeks end without positive, meaningful change. If you do, you'll get a Gold Medal.

That being said, I will probably be asleep when the Opening Ceremonies take place. No matter. NBC will have them covered, and we will be watching at our first annual Olympic Opening Ceremonies Party! Pics to follow!

See you tomorrow!

Go USA!

Posted by Jon at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)

August 06, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...

Posted by Jon at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)

August 05, 2008

I Promise You, This Isn't Yesterday's Post!

I can't make this stuff up, folks.

Well, I can, but I'm just not that smart, and I simply don't have the time.

But, it has happened again, and in the same state! (If you don't know what I am referring to, look at yesterday's post.)

What is it with people?

From the Associated Press...

Man tells 911 slot machine stole his money

Posted: Today at 11:19 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. — A second Florida man has been arrested on charges of making false 911 calls in as many days. An arrest report says 47-year-old Carlos Gutierrez was at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino early Monday and called 911 to say the slot machine stole his money. The report says Gutierrez left the casino to place a second 911 call to say the same thing.

He was arrested and charged with making a false 911 call. He's being held with no bail set.

On Sunday another man was arrested after calling 911 five times during an argument with his brother. He demanded that dispatchers send deputies to help sort things out.

And in northern Florida last week, a Jacksonville man called 911 to complain that a Subway left the sauce off a spicy Italian sandwich.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)

August 04, 2008

Wait! Get A Load Of This!

This is something near and dear to my heart. As a Firefighter, and as someone who teaches kids about fire safety and fire prevention, I find this article both scary, and amusing. Scary because someone out there might really be suffering, and won't have anyone respond, because a sandwich isn't right. Amusing because, well, it's damn funny!

We are trying to teach Jonah about 9-1-1, what it is, when to use it, and when not to use it. So far, so good. (He keeps telling me there is a fire in our bedroom, and he has to go put it out.)

Anyway, teach your kids that 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. We don't use it to say hello, or to sing happy birthday. (Remember, these are kids we're teaching!) Tell them that they can call 9-1-1 if Mommy or Daddy or a brother or sister or family member is sick. We can call 9-1-1 if we smell smoke, or think there is a fire in the house. Firefighters, Police and Paramedics will respond, and will NOT be upset if there is nothing to the call. Fell free to call when you think there is a problem, but only when you think there is a problem.

I am climbing off my soapbox for now. Enjoy the article.

See you tomorrow....

August 4, 2008
Man calls 911 after Subway left sauce off sandwich
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:01 p.m. ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Jacksonville police say Reginald Peterson needs to learn that 911 is not the appropriate place to complain that Subway left the sauce off a spicy Italian sandwich.

Police said the 42-year-old man dialed 911 twice last week so he could have his sub made correctly. The second call was to complain that officers weren't arriving fast enough.

Subway workers told police Peterson became belligerent and yelled when they were fixing his order. They locked him out of the store after he left to call police.

When officers arrived, they tried to calm Peterson and explain the proper use of 911. Those efforts failed, and he was arrested on a charge of making false 911 calls.

Peterson did not have a listed phone number.

Posted by Jon at 03:26 PM | Comments (0)

August 03, 2008

A spotlight on Zoe!

We really do have hundreds of pictures of Zoe and most of them never see the light of day. But, today is "Spotlight on Zoe" day! Today, she is seen by all of our fine blog followers. And seriously, ain't she cute???

Posted by Jon at 09:21 PM | Comments (0)

August 02, 2008

Joy...Tempered By Pain...

In a previous post, I rejoiced at the coming of winter, and the Football that comes with it.

Then I realized some negative things about the sport I love so well.

I won't ever get to watch. Working on Sundays will pretty much prevent me from watching any Football. With the exception of the Sunday and Monday night games, depending on when I have to get up for work in the morning, that's gonna' be all there is.

Sure I work at a TV station. Sure there are lots of TV's around. But I still have to work at work, so watching at work ain't so easy.

Add to that the fact that the jerkpants at the NFL Network are showing something like eight games that I cannot see because my cable provider refuses to air the damn network!

I hate winter. And I hate Time-Warner.

And I hate working Sundays.

But I still love Football.

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 10:51 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2008

I Hate Winter!

But I love Football!

And so it goes, as another July fades into memory, and we welcome August. (Of course, I don't really welcome any month, except for July, but in this case, I will make an exception.) So as August settles in, my thoughts turn to the seasons.

I hate winter. With a passion. Don't like being cold. Hate the snow. Can't stand the ice. Yes, it's pretty when the first snow falls, blah, blah, blah, but seriously, I hate winter. Too darn cold. That being said, however, with the cold comes some pretty neat things, like Footbatll.

Can't wait to watch my Giants defend their unlikely Superbowl victory from last year.

Can't wait to watch my Bills suffer through another crummy season. (That's a true fan!)

Can't wait to turn my boys on to the joys of the hits, the thrills, the heartache and the joys of victory!

The NFL season doesn't start until September, so we will tide ourselves over with college football which starts sooner!

Yay Fall!

Boo winter!

Posted by Jon at 09:14 PM | Comments (0)