Category Archives: Personal

Happy Holidays

Posted by Andy Boyer in Creative Writing, Personal

Dear Santa:

This year I would like an additional 15 hours a month.  I certainly think it’s a reasonable ask, since if you would just give me an extra 1/2 hour a day, I could really do a lot more for mankind.

First off, I’d write on this blog more often, and while that doesn’t seem like it’s really going to benefit society that much, follow me on this.  If I write more, more people will continue to read.  And if more people read this, I’ll feel better when I look at the traffic numbers.  And if I feel better after looking at the traffic numbers, I’ll be less grouchy at the end of the week.  And if I’m less grouchy, I’ll be able to spread that joy to all your loyal subjects, or customers, or whatever you call them.

Now before you say no, hear me out.  Because I don’t need all 15 hours to write.  So, I’ll make you a deal.  Give me 5 to write, I’ll donate 5 to charitable causes, and give me 5 more to deal with work stuff – not the boring work stuff – but helping employees and clients to make sure they are all in a good mood too.  So then, that 5 hours you give me would pay itself forward to a lot of people, and then they’d all be in a better mood too.  It’s really a sound investment on your part.

This isn’t a whim, and I have the logistics all figured out.  With the exception of one weekend in Las Vegas that really shouldn’t count, I have not been awake between 4:30 and 5:00am for a long time.  So, all you need to do is let me repeat that 1/2 hour every day, which would then give me an extra 1/2 hour of sleep.  So, instead of my normal bedtime, I’ll go to bed 1/2 hour later, since I know I’ll get it back.  See, the plan’s simplicty is it’s greatest attribute.

So look, have one of your guys run the numbers on this, because I think you’ll see this is a win-win-win Xmas present.  More content on the blog, more smiles from the author, more smiles from everyone 2 degrees away, plus a healthy benefit for a charity (you can even choose the charity.)  It sure beats a BB Gun.  Let me know what you think.

Yours Truly,

Andy

Conversations from years past

Posted by Andy Boyer in Personal

I was down Tucson this weekend, where old storytelling and reminiscing eventually led to amazement about everthing that has changed in the last 8-10 years.  In fact, it lead a few folks to put this list together, and I’m sure it’s incomplete.  

But on October 26 2000, if someone had shown you a newspaper for October 26, 2008, would you believe any of this could really happen?

  • US engaged in year 6 of a land war in Afghanistan
  • US engaged in year 6 of a land war in Iraq
  • Tampa Bay in the World Series
  • UW and WSU combined 1-14 record
  • The Sonics play in Oklahoma City
  • The US government pays $750+ Billion to US financial institutions – with Bear Stearns, AIG and WaMu basically out of business 
  • Gas at $3.09 a gallon – and that’s 30% CHEAPER than it was 6 months ago
  • 45 year old Jamie Moyer pitches game 4 of the World Series, while Freddy Garcia, Ryan Andersen and the rest of the “untouchable” Mariners minor league pitchers are out of baseball.
  • An unknown African American Illinois state senator is going to be elected President
  • The US President, Senate and House are all about to be a Democratic supermajority

 

Comparing the World Series to the US Presidential Election

Posted by Andy Boyer in Personal, Politics, Sports

I’m sad to say, I have no allegiance to either team in the World Series this year.  Which really kind of stinks, since I am desperate for something to root for.  (BTW, thank you Arizona Wildcats for pulling together a respectable football season and keeping me from sports harakare.)

So here I am, trying to decide who to support.  I mean, it’s 7 stupid games.  It shouldn’t be that hard to pick a team.  And through my logical analysis and emotional introspection I’ve used to try to pick a team, it suddenly dawned on me that this World Series is a microcosm of the US Presidential election.

Let’s look at the Phillies.  They have been a part of Major League Baseball forever, but yet have never quite been a team that everyone likes – or hates.  They aren’t the Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox, even though they’ve been around just as long.  They have produced some great players (Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Tug McGraw), but also have some “not so special moments” (like Pete Rose crushing Ray Fosse in an All-Star game.)  And even when doing well, they’ve managed to annoy the press (Steve Carlton).  Basically, they’ve been around forever, and have gone through both good and bad years.  A few years ago, it looked like they had the big prize won, but then suffered an unexpected defeat to a team who ultimatley proved to not be worth supporting (Blue Jays).  Now they have a new squad with new people (Howard, Utley, Rollins, Hamill) but are still perceived as that “old” franchise with the ornery fans.

Now let’s examine the Rays.  On paper, this franchise is way too young to garner baseball’s greatest prize.  I mean, it’s quite an achievement for them to even make it to the final two, but can someone show me anything they’ve accomplished before 2008?  I know they had a lot of draft picks and a few experienced advisors, but until this year, these guys were simply idealists with a dream, and where heaven only lived on a whiteboard.  They have no real history, save for a few veterans who have never achieved any similar level of success anywhere else.  And yet, now Tampa Bay has die-hard, almost obsessive, fans who will shave their head and other body parts to support their team.  Every young fan – plus old fans who love a fairy tale story about achieving greatness in record time – has become a loud, proud Rays fan.

Now let’s look at how they got here.  While the Phillies breezed through their National League Primary, I mean Playoff, the Rays had to go to the late innings of Game 7, going toe to toe with an experienced, veteran, old school franchise that simply wouldn’t go away, even though it was apparent that they wouldn’t win.  In fact, the Rays had a chance to knock the Red Sox out in Game 5 – up 7-0 in the 7th – but then inexplicably the Red Sox had one huge run, and managed to make life complicated for everyone involved, until finally succumbing. 

So what do you think?  Who do you vote/root for this World Series….

It’s Like “Halo” for Soccer Nerds

Posted by Andy Boyer in Personal, Sports

Don’t be surprised if you can’t reach your soccer loving friends Tuesday.  Just check any store that sells Xbox and PlayStation games.   Oct 14 is the official U.S. Release of Fifa ’09,  and anyone who can tell you what is on Channel 401 is liable to make 2 stops after work – one to the store, one to their den…  

Don’t Drink and Email

Posted by Andy Boyer in Human Behavior, Media, Personal, Technology

Finally, a tech product that is useful.

“Mail Goggles” is dubbed as a breathalyzer for your email.  This Gmail add-on makes it harder to send email when you are, um, not thinking clearly, by asking a series of math problems during the times you specify.  If you get any of the questions wrong, Mail Goggles will say, “Water and bed for you. Or try again.” 

You can enable this tool for your Gmail for free from Google Labs.

But What is his High Score on iPhone Bowling?

Posted by Andy Boyer in Big Businesses, Marketing, Personal, Politics

Adotas brings us word that Barack Obama is bringing his presidential campaign to the coolest phone (and presumably most influential trendsetters) on the planet,  releasing an iPhone app that will enable supporters to easily reach out to friends and remind them to vote for their favorite candidate.

According ot the story, the app,  “Call Friends,” organizes the user’s phonebook by state and gives each contact a status (called or not called).  You can also use the app to find out where he stands on issues – and of course – enables people to donate to the campaign. 

I will tell you one thing.  I wouldn’t  trust a lot of politicians to run a company’s mail room, but if Obama doesn’t become President, he would certainly be a heck of a CMO.