First snow for 2012 and a UK Top Gear chuckle

Posted By on January 2, 2012

firstsnowflag120102It looks like we’ll be getting the first real snow of the season today … and definitely the first for 2012, Happy New Year by the way. I’m spending today at home tackling a few chores like helping my son put his snow tires on the VW GTI; it is not the most behaved vehicle on slippery roads. With Taylor home for his Christmas break it was also time for him to keep me up-to-date with the antics from the UK Top Gear guys … so below is a recent armored vehicle clip that made me smile.

 

US debt limit going up again-Maybe we need bigger currency?

Posted By on January 1, 2012

Hmm … not that I have any of these, but it was interesting to know just what the largest currency denomination was … $100,000, but it was retired as well as other bills  over $100. Seeing that our nation’s debt limit will soon rise yet again, maybe we need to bring back bigger currency denominations?

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And you ask … “what made you think of this?”

Lexington man charged with making a fake $1 million bill and trying to spend it

Talk about leaving the store with a big chunk of change.

A Lexington man is accused trying to use a fake $1 million bill to pay for his purchases at a Walmart.

Michael Anthony Fuller, 53, of 3 Parker St., walked into the Walmart on Lowes Boulevard in Lexington on Nov. 17. He shopped for a while, picking up a vacuum cleaner, a microwave oven and other merchandise, totaling $476, an arrest warrant says.

When he got to the register, Fuller gave the cashier the phony bill, saying that it was real.

Store staff called police.

Fuller was later charged with attempting to obtain property by false pretense and uttering a forged instrument, both felonies, court records show.

A warrant says of the fake million-dollar bill: "There is no such thing."

The largest bill in circulation is a $100 bill. In 1969, federal officials discontinued the use of $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills because of lack of public use.

The largest note ever printed was the $100,000 bill, which featured President Woodrow Wilson. The bills, which were not available to the public, were printed from Dec. 18, 1934, through Jan. 9, 1935, and were used for transactions between Federal Reserve banks.

Fuller was being held Friday night in the Davidson County Jail with bond set at $17,500. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Lexington police Sgt. Shannon Sharpe said the case is unusual.

"It is kind of strange," Sharpe said.

Trivia tidbit associated with my pick for person of the year

Posted By on December 31, 2011

In tying up loose ends in closing out the year, one story that made a big impact on technology followers was the death of Steve Jobs. He was an inspirational and creative marketing wizard with old-apple-logooddities all too common with those we associate with the “genius” label … and would have been my pick for person of the year. What I found interesting was that there was a lessor known founder of Apple Computer back in the mid-1970s. Almost everyone knows of the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, but very few knew of their other partner, Ronald Wayne (most likely because he sold and left the company within a couple weeks of its inception).

During the formation of one of the world’s most admired companies, Ronald Wayne wrote the founding documents, created the original Apple logo (right), as well as initial manual for their Apple I computer. He was an innovative type in his own right having an interest in electro-mechanical engineering from his youth. His friendship with Jobs  began in their previous employment at Atari and set him up with 10% of the original company. Unfortunately for Mr. Wayne, his age, unfortunate experience and risk tolerance had him concerned with potential legal problems and he chose to sell his share shortly after its founding.

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Ron Wayne sold a few of those original documents to a collector in the 1990’s when many thought Apple would go into bankruptcy, but recently some of the documents auctioned off at Sothebys for $1.6 million. Wayne still has a few items tucked away in an envelope such as rejected drawing for the Apple I computer, purchase forms for the Apple II and copies he made of the “million dollar” original documents he sold to a collector. Some would say that was his second “miss” to be a winner with Apple, but who can really predict the future.

In hindsight he wasn’t the only one who could have been a bit smarter and have held onto a piece of Apple … as besides being an early and lifetime Apple user (Macs in the 80s thru present day i-devices), I also held AAPL stock back in the 1990s, but also had Ron Wayne’s “risk tolerance” problem and sold it in those lean years.

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Winding down 2012 with the List of Banished words – LSSU

Posted By on December 30, 2011

Lake Superior State University published their list of words to banish in 2012 and lssutwitterI will do my best to not to use these words next year … but will link to the amazing list compiled from 1975 (link). The new normal for President Obama should be to make the shared sacrifice in not using this phrase let me be clear (not on the list, but should be). I would have included the ginormous list from 1975-2012, but know I would get blowback due to the space it would occupy. I would like to thank you in advance for putting up with the occasional trickeration from my man cave – so  be a good pet parent and go out and win the future or maybe make a baby bump. That last one is just creepy to work in.
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This Friday 12/30/2011 does not exist in Samoa

Posted By on December 29, 2011

dateline_colorI’ve lost my share of days by spinning my wheels or tucked under the covers while sick in bed, but I’ve never heard of literally losing an entire day; that’s what is going to happen this week in Samoa. Samoa is at the tail end of the International Date Line and they have found it challenging to deal with the shorten business weeks when working with their neighbors. People struggle with the day difference between their island and Tonga or New Zealand to their west, who are and entire day ahead. Politicians have decided that for 2012 they will jump ahead a full day. When Thursday morning arrives in Samoa this week and it is Friday morning in Tonga, it will be for the last time, because when the sun goes down in Samoa on Thursday night, the next morning will be Saturday … not Friday. They will have lost an entire day … no births, no deaths, no nothing … on what would have been Friday December 30, 2011. To Tongans the day will never have existed. They’ll go from being 5 hours behind the U.S. eastern time zone, to being 19 hours ahead of us … that’s just strange.

Video: Someone needs to fit glasses on this little guy

Posted By on December 28, 2011

Just a cute YouTube video that should make this turtle appreciate that he has someone taking care of him and is not out foraging for himself … I don’t think he would make it.

As my wife would say – Carpe Diem

Posted By on December 28, 2011

As 2011 winds down many of us reflectively look at the year and ponder where we may have fallen short … and hopefully use the self-analysis to improve in 2012. I saw a note posted on G+ (and may have somewhere previously) and thought a year may be too long. How much time did you lose today? (below)

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Lackluster sales this past year-how about a new marketing plan?

Posted By on December 27, 2011

sorel_sellingbootsThis past week has been a bit more relaxed since selling this time of year is challenging.  I focused on looking back at the past year, but I still tried to connect with a few of my well established customers. In keeping communication light, I asked what would make me more effective and welcomed when making sales calls on their company next year. One of the guys made the joke (at least I hope it was a joke?!?!)“show more leg.” 

I enjoyed the laugh until I noticed a couple Sorel ads … hmm … maybe my customer has a point?

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Even as a happily married man I know which ad I looked at first, how about you?

The post Christmas blues after a great family time

Posted By on December 26, 2011

I’m really NOT depressed that Christmas is over … actually quite relieved … but the time with family did go fast, way too fast. We were fortunate that the Corbett side of the family was able to be together at our house on Christmas day. The weather held and gave all who drove excellent roads and we even had sunshine (shocking since it has been a rainy December). Brenda over-did the dinner, and décor, which pleased my mother most of all; she definitely appreciates the effort it takes to make things festive and I know is disappointed that her health prevents her from doing the same. We talked and ate, exchanged gifts and ate and played games and yes … ate. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who gained a few extra pounds this Christmas season.

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I’m thankful to have a family who enjoys each other and makes the effort to be together over the holidays. Hopefully the tradition will continue for years to come … whether at our house or somewhere else (we did miss the annual Howard gathering and the “Howard Bowl” though).

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Year of the tablets: Drew gave Katelyn a TouchPad and Taylor got an iPad for Christmas

As far as gifts and giving in our household, there were plenty of highlights from practical to the much desired electronic goodies. My thoughtful son gave me a lightweight waterproof jacket for the boat, my daughter a much needed new wallet and my wife the socks and underwear required to make it another year. Brenda’s 1998 Toyota Rav4 has moved into the 21st century with a GPS, so as long as the driver learns to use it.  We were fortunate to also have Katelyn’s boyfriend Drew with us this Christmas. He has moved up a notch and received his share of “joke” gifts (as well as real ones), which included his own old dirty sock to hang by the fireplace (all in good fun). We had a great time topped off playing a QR Code dice game by Codigo.

Video: One of the better Christmas stories for 2011

Posted By on December 25, 2011

Since I didn’t post anything on Christmas day this year, I’ll add this short heartwarming story from CBS a few days late (video below). It is a wonderful Christmas story and might just bring a few tears to your eyes.

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog