Jake Long - The Fins #1 Pick

The Dolphins have had been slotted with the number 1 draft pick for what seems like last years draft. I have actually been saying that Jake Long will be the first pick in the 2008 draft for longer than that - so for him to be going to my favorite NFL franchise - is a great thing.

There have been a lot of changes within the Dolphin organization over the past few months, and I'm beginning to believe in long-term Dolphin success (my prediction is that they'll win 6+ games in 2008). The last time the Dolphins were successful (a run of 6 consecutive play-off appearances), they had Dan Marino. What common football fans leave out, however, was that it was also the last time that the team had a pro-bowl offensive lineman (Two actually ... Richmond Webb and Keith Simms).

Securing Jake Long was the best choice - period. I've watched over 95% of the games that Jake Long played in college, and I can tell you that he's a monster, super-stud offensive lineman. None of the other players available are sure-things, and J. Long is undoubtedly the closest thing within the 2008 draft class as such.

The Fins have a plethora of early round picks to secure Linebackers, Defensive Lineman and other pieces. (I'm hoping we take Mario Manningham with the #32 overall pick, but not sure that's gonna happen)

I'm thrilled we signed him. I'm really happy the announcement came early. I genuinely believe it's the right choice - and I think Dol-Fans around the country should be pumped.

(Why do a post like this? Well -- Blogs are pseudo documents of history. Should Jake Long by a bust -- I'm on record saying I think it was a good move. No one would be able to say otherwise. And I think that's pretty cool)

Two New (and interesting) Blogs

Two good friends launched blogs recently and I wanted to promote them because I think they're both really good...

• Greg March launched a blog about Ads, Sports and Technologies (oh - and "giggles" but I thought it was way too weenie to include in a "promotion" of sort). Greg is a very good writer, a very funny guy, and fairly insightful as well.
  
• Another buddy (who desires to be anonymous) launched a 2008 NBA play-off blog. He is also a good writer (although - I never knew that until the blog) and is beyond passionate about the NBA. If there has been an NBA play-offs to follow in the last 15 years -- this year is it! Great games should be on tap for the next 2 months....and Playbyplayoffs should offer some great commentary...
  

Enjoy!

Third Party Data in the Media Business

This past week, Google reported "better than expected earnings." Just a few weeks ago, a reputable third party data company reported that Google's paid click growth sharply declined from 12% in December to 0% in January and 3% in February...

Well - it turns out that those third party numbers were WAY off (I think Google came out and said click growth was 20%) - and so the market was surprised when Google reported it's numbers...

I geniunely don't have an issue with ComScore. They tried downplaying their numbers when they came out - but Wall Street Analyts felt it was more fun to jump on the "Google is sinking" bandwagen.

My burning issue has nothing to do with Google or ComScore or Wall Street Analysts. Well, it sort of does, but not directly. You see, in the Television market - for decades - Neilsen Ratings is THE third-party barameter of television viewership. It is the source of information that values and compensates television networks. It is the deciding factor if a television production is successful. They SWEAR - much like ComScore swears - that their data is accurate given statstical modeling...

I have a HUGE issue with this. I think I've blogged about this several times -- and will continue to do so. The cable companies have the REAL data, but for some reason - they don't release it. In the online model -- Google had the real numbers -- released it -- and proved that 3rd party data can (and probably is) way off base.

In the online world - the value and accounting of billions of dollars isn't based off the third party data, however... In the TV and Radio and Print worlds .... THEY ARE! Why are companies so scared to release the real data?

When will it change????? I have no idea...but it drives me nuts!

Healthy Food at Airports?

I'm still in the middle of my work-travel stretch, so here's another travel-related post...

Do Airports ban healthy food? Seriously. I'm not the worlds healthiest eater, but I'm in the middle of being fairly successful at going to the gym at least 3 times a week. When you're like me - and you geniunely don't enjoy the act of running on the treadmill but do it anyway ... I think it gives some motivation to somewhat watch what you eat. Otherwise - kinda silly to torture yourself 3 times a week - right?

Anyway - when I travel - I find it very difficult to eat healthy - ESPECIALLY when you have a meal a day at the airport. There is nothing healthy at fast food joints or the microwave pizza places...Seriously - NOTHING.

Here's a business idea for someone... Develop a health-conscious chain for airports. Start in body conscious cities like LA, New York, Detroit(just kidding), and Fort Lauderdale. There is no question in my mind that it would work. While "the average American" probably thinks ordering a Diet Coke with their super-sized meal counter-acts the burger and fries they ordered -- I think there is a size-able market of air-travelers who would be happy to expense an over-priced healthy meal...

If not - does anyone have any good "tricks of the trade" they can share?

My Top 5 Airplane Annoyances

This week is the first of a 7 week stretch that I will be on plane at least twice during the week for work. Given that, I thought I would vent/outline my top 5 biggest annoyances on airplanes. I've avoided the obvious ones like delays, turbulence, flight attendants who hate their jobs, etc....

5. Loud Talkers.
I have found that women friends who sit next to each other are the worst offenders of this. There's "outside voice," "inside voice," and I guess now "airplane voice." Oh, and if the person on the window and aisle know each other and there is someone sitting in the middle - switch seats!
4. The Rush to get on/off the Plane
I've already vented about the people who crowd the boarding area before it's their turn to board, but what I also find rude are the people who don't let the rows in front of them off the plane before they dart down the aisle.
3. The Over-Verbal Pilot
As air travelers, we put our hands in their lives so we are certainly forced to respect the job that all pilots do. I want pilots to focus on the flying, and focus less and the talky-talky. I don't need to know every single town we are going to pass during our route and it doesn't help me to know that we are running out of fuel. Welcome us on the flight - tell us how long it's going to be - tell us to be safe and then tell us when we're about to land. Thank you.
2. Rude People
This can be classified under "the obvious," but there are specific class of rude people on airplanes (these people are often pegged as "New Yorkers"). If you ask someone to switch seats with you - and you have a crappy seat and they have a good seat -- you are rude. If the flight attendants announce that cell phones need to be turned off, or that you need to be seated -- and you think that rules don't apply to you -- you are rude. If you are on the aisle and don't get up when the window seated individual needs to go to the bathroom - you are rude. If you are a man of a somewhat young age - and you don't help an older woman with putting her luggage overhead - you are rude. You get the picture. Rude people suck.
1. Gas Passers
Passing gas in public is rude...passing gas on a plane (more than once - because fine - sometimes it just slips out) should be against the law. Seriously. It's just not nice. Not at all.

Play Ball

The 2008 Baseball Season is underway ...

I'm a huge sports fan - but baseball has always been a fantasy-only joy of mine (I've been playing fantasy baseball for probably 7 years)

Living in NYC, I have often said that I casually root for both the Yankees and Mets, as New York City undoubtedly has an added vibe and excitement when the Yankees and/or Mets are in the play-offs. While I will continue to hope that both teams make the play-offs, I'm going to try and root (and be a fan) of The New York Mets this year... I was a huge Mets fan as a kid in 1986 - but when I moved to Florida - I spent 9 years without a local professional baseball team. The Marlins came along in 1995, but anyone who knows anything about the Marlins knows that it's almost impossible to truly be "a fan" of the Marlins...

So - I'm not going to pretend like I'm a long-time fan ... I'm just going to try and have non-fantasy interest in baseball. I have tried in the past - but without any success... I'm hoping this year is different. I believe in Willie Randolph - I really like David Wright's demeanor and overall game...So...Let's go Mets!

Henry Blodget's Media Blog Post

In case you're just meeting me .... I'm pro-online media and especially pro-Google. This isn't to say I'm anti-offline media at all ... I consume more television programming that most Nielsen homes (which is a stupid metric) ... Anyway, I stumbled upon an intriguing blog post Henry Blodget.

Henry's past is pseudo relevant in that his original career of internet bubble-era stock analyst came to a crashing halt thanks to one Mr. Elliot Spitzer...

Anyhow - Henry compared 17 major public media companies data and segmented 2007 yearly figures and growth rates. Here 's a condensed version of the top-line stats - which I found interesting - again directly from Henry's blog:

• Total US ad revenue across all 17 companies grew 9% from 2006 to 2007, from $53 billion to $58 billion
• Online ad revenue grew 28%, from $14 billion to $18 billion.
• Offline grew only 3%, from $39.5 billion to 40.6 billion.
  

• Online ad revenue grew by $4 billion.
• Offline ad revenue--in all other media--grew by $1 billion.

So advertising revenue is flowing online at a frantic rate. That's the whole story? No. Let's look at how that online revenue breaks down.

• Online ad revenue at Google grew 44%, or $2.7 billion.
• Online ad revenue at Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL grew only 15%, or $1.3 billion.
• Google captured 2X as much revenue as its closest three competitors combined.

Another fun stat:

• The year-over-year growth of revenue on Google.com (US)--approximately $2 billion--was more than twice as much the growth of ad revenue in all of the offline media companies in this sample combined. This is such an amazing fact that it bears repeating: A single media property, Google.com (US), grew by $2 billion. All the offline media properties owned by the 13 offline media companies above, meanwhile--all of them--grew by about $1 billion.

Elliot Spitzer Drama

The Elliot Spitzer saga has dominated news headlines all week... Truthfully, the only way this at all effects my life (even as a NYC resident), is in the aspect of being a part of my daily conversations with people. As a fairly opinionated person -- it's rare that I'm this passive about such a public controversy... (maybe I'm evolving -- because I could care less about the whole Roger Clemens fiasco as well) Anyhow - as there is not a true "side" to be on within the story -- I feel like the event sparks a slew of questions (and not many answers) ... Here are the questions I have....

• Would this be a big story if Elliot Spitzer wasn't married with 3 children (all girls)?
• Has this story proved that any politician who's passionate about very specific topics - is - in fact -- actually guilty of those crimes in his past?
• Why is prostitution illegal? (My Grandpa Herman was a big advocate of legalizing prostitution...)
  
• Do you think the Mayflower hotel is happy about the millions of dollars of free PR (not to mention the ever-lasting allure for customers) or are they annoyed that anyone who stays there from now on will expect expensive hookers to be hanging out in their lobby?
• Is it possible that the escort was a big part of the leak? I mean -- After receiving over 5 million visits to her myspace page -- she suddenly has her "new single" for sale....
  
• Was McGrevers wifes book really due out this week -- or did her smart publishers push the date up? Genius either way!
• Apparently Spitzer was a "super-delegate" ... What happens now?? (Not knowing much about the political process -- I do understand that super-delegates are very important given the tight democratic primary race)...
• When the escort describes her client as "easy" ... what does that signify?? (Of the $1,000 an hour of service... $16 or so was spent on the actual sex...?)
• What's the over/under on when the story hype will die down in the press? I'm hoping 2 weeks, but my gut says June...
• And the most obvious question .... What was he thinking????
  

I'm sure I have more questions -- but those are the first to come to mind... While I truly don't care about elected officials personal lives (yes - I didn't care in 1998 when Bill Clinton was under the fire storm)... I understand why it's newsworthy ... The issue I have - is that Republicans and Democrats alike -- now spend less time on what THEY SHOULD and more time with tabloid airtime and true public politicking...

An Interesting Story I Heard

At a conference I was at last week, a "blog expert" said that end-users typically gravitate to one of two types of blog posts: Stories or Lists.

So - I thought I'd try out the hypothesis on my own blog with an interesting story I was told earlier this week by an old acquaintance that I ran into at the gym...(I've taken very minor liberties on some details - like what was "really" going through the main characters mind - but the core is completely true) Here goes...

A guy is packing for a family trip to Jamaica. He contemplates packing his video camera into his carry-on, but remembers what a pain in the ass security at the airport is -- so he decides to pack the camera (and related accessories like blank tapes) in his checked luggage...

When he gets to his hotel room - he opens his luggage and notices neither his video camera nor its' accessories are included in the contents of the baggage. The suitcase is in good condition and it doesn't appear that someone stole anything... Did he forget to pack it? Did he leave it on the dresser?...
During the trip - he's convinced he just had a brain-fart and forgot it.

That's the beauty of vacation...you can leave any worries behind - especially when going to the beach and having a couple of beers is the only thing you have on you "to do list" for the day.

Reality sets in, however, when he returns home and finds that his video camera is still missing. What is he to do? It's not like the video camera is a family heir-loom and of unaffordable value (we'll call it $250)... So... he decides to do what most of us would -- buy a new one....

Given the fact that he's already in the hole a few hundred bucks - he decides to try and save some money by going on eBay... He notices that there is are a couple of auctions ending in the next day or so for the same model camera as the one he used to have. So - he bids on the one ending soonest. Turns out -- he loses by $1... (Talk about a slap in the face -- losing your camera is really bad -- and losing an eBay auction isn't really that big of a deal -- but losing the auction by 100 pennies is a pseudo jab to the kidneys...)

Frustrated - he decides he's determined to win the next auction -- and does... Him and the seller email details to each other - and he expects to get the camera in 5-7 days. It arrives in 4 days in the condition described -- a positive eBay experience!

When he opens the video camera - he notices there is a tape inside. Scary to think of what is on someone else's video camera...but c'mon...who's NOT going to watch it???

He does - and has a pit in his stomach from the content....It's a tape of HIS son and daughter playing! He just bought back his stolen video camera from eBay...

What is he supposed to do?? On one hand - he feels outraged that his personal property was stolen by some airline or TSA worker - and then re-sold for a substantial profit on eBay (so - yes - this thief profited TWICE by the same innocent guy). On the other hand - the thief knows his name and address... If he is to report it (and somehow PROVE it) - and the person gets fired and brought on charges -- is it really worth the extra $150 for that anguish?? He could write some negative feedback on ebay -- but then what if he wants to get the police involved... He should waste his chances...

To be honest -- I don't know what he's decided to do. I got the sense that he was going to leave it alone... He was going to chalk up the $150 as the price of one hell of a story to tell people for the rest of his life....(oh - and I just stole it from him.... looks like the guy is just the perfect subject for theft)

Are hotels the new airlines?

It's been heavily documented that the airline industry is fully "nickel-and-diming" it's customers ... Most airlines don't include food in their prices - but they make buying food available for additional purchase... They've taken away magazines, pillows, blankets, and other amenities that were industry standards for a very long time ... They've done this to try and gain additional revenue in non-traditional ways ... Buying premium movies, upgrading to business class, even paying more for window seats vs. middle seats has become a trend...

Well - on Friday - when I checked into my hotel.... They told me there was a $3 per day "maid service fee" which was in place "for my convenience" so I didn't have to leave a tip when I left...

First of all - I very rarely left a considerable tip for the maid. I was (and actually still am) convinced that a small portion of the hundreds of dollars I pay per night INCLUDE the convenience of someone straightening up while I'm gone... Am I crazy?

As is -- hotels pillage customers on mini-bar items ($8 for a bottle of water?), in-room entertainment ($14 for movies - which is more than in theatres in NYC), and Internet access...

Like the airline industry, unfortunately... one hotel chain follows everyone else ... So - I won't be surprised to see the "maid service daily fee" as a standard in a couple of years...

While it may represent an opportunity for some chains to differentiate themselves -- I don't see a white knight riding in anytime soon...

Music - Retail

A large portion of my job focuses around "media effectiveness." In other words - what ads make people buy stuff.... So, I spend a lot of my weekdays talking about the need to extend the conversation of internet advertising effectiveness outside of mere e-commerce activity. While we know at least 60% of in-store shoppers use the internet to help form their buying decisions.... only ~7% of total sales come directly from e-commerce. Which brings me to the news story below...

Apple Inc's iTunes digital media store edged out Best Buy Co and Target Corp to become the second-largest U.S. music retailer, behind Wal-Mart Stores, according to data released on Tuesday from tracking firm NPD Group.

Based on 2007 sales, legal music downloads now account for 10 percent of music acquired in the United States, but the increase failed to offset a decline in physical CD sales, NPD said.

About one million consumers stopped buying CDs in 2007, according to NPD.

The iTunes store now has more than 50 million customers and has sold more than 4 billion songs.

So - to re-iterate ... Apple sells more music than Best Buy or Target... They solely distribute music online ... Does anyone think that the internet was the only way Apple's 50 million music customers learned about the music they wanted to buy? OF COURSE NOT! So - why is the assumption that all of Wal-marts music purchasers learned about music through newspaper circulars???

NY Building Elevator Trick

Small, pretty useless nugget here ... But ... Last night I saw a trick that I've used in my building being used by food delivery guys (which obviously validates my theory) -- so I thought I'd share.

Do you live in a building with many floors and/or slow elevators? Have you ever left your apartment, gone downstairs and then realized you forgot something??

Well - if so - you know the annoyance of waiting for the elevators to go back down the second time is twice as painful as the first time...

Next time ... On the way up -- if you are on floor 19 (and are alone going up) ... in addition to pressing the "19" button on your elevator - press 20 and 21... With these 2 additional floors - it should give you enough time to catch the elevator on it's way down...

While this is far from being a class-act or a good neighbor ... It could save you a few minutes in the morning if you're running late...If, however, someone is waiting to go down on your floor - and they realize what you did -- it could be an uncomfortable joint ride down...

Again - pretty useless - but I'm a fan of over-thinking the useless stuff....

Double-Fisting

Given the recent advancements in smart phone proliferation... An interesting decision makes it's way to many corporate citizens... "To Double-Fist or not to Double-Fist" ....

I hope by the mention of "smart phone" you don't think this post is about how drunk you should get at corporate functions... It's about the decision of merging your portable work email device (most likely a blackberry) with your personal phone device (most likely not a blackberry).

There are a lot of variables in play - such as the ability to keep you phone number, where the phone bill goes, and various corporate email and phone reimbursement policies... Usually, if all these variables aren't an issue ... Employees will most likely start combining their work and phone devices...

For me, however, I don't like to mix business and pleasure ... My work email stays on my blackberry and my personal phone is my iPhone... Yes - I need to carry an extra (and somewhat bulky) phone during the week -- but -- I think it's worth it ... Other advantages include the ability to put your work cell phone on your business card, not having to submit a phone bill in your standard expenses, and being able to select different devices for your different needs (example -- I love my iPhone -- but not sure I'd love it as my primary mobile emailing device).

Amy is dealing with the dilemma currently. She prefers one device (The blackberry "curve" to be exact), but there are restrictions limiting her ability to convert. Feel free to suggest your opinion the next time you see her...

Our First Anniversary Trip

This past Sunday (February 10) was Amy and my 1st wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we planned a short 4 day vacation. As I've mentioned to many people in the past -- there is a difference between vacation travel and vacation vacation. The purpose of this trip was the latter -- which to Amy and I means: Be as lazy as possible on a beach, eat whatever you want, and feel like you're being pampered a little bit...

We originally thought of somewhere like Aruba -- but with a single trip to Liberty Travel -- we were convinced to instead book an all-inclusive resort in the Mexican Riviera. By recommendation of the travel agent (and looking at the options) -- we opted for the Excellence Resort, which is about 20 minutes from the Cancun airport.

I'll summarize by saying that Amy and I were VERY happy with our decision, as we had a really great vacation.

It was our first "all-inclusive" experience, which I must admit I was a bit skeptical of. I mean - I just couldn't fathom ordering as many Jack and Ginger-ales that I wanted -- without some kind of charge ... Turns out - that it's legit (at least the resort we went to). I'm sure there are Club Med type places that advertise all-inclusive, but have some hidden annoying stipulations or subsidize the cost with horrible food and service. The Excellence had great service and more than acceptable food quality (it exceeded expectations for sure -- but not willing to say it was amazing - but again - as to be expected). The rooms were very nice (inclusive of all-you-can-eat mini-bar and room service) and all come with an outdoor jacuzzi.

Amy, in particular, couldn't believe how nice the staff was - and it's true. We really felt like we could have been at a Four Seasons resort. We had servers come up to us at least every 15 minutes asking "Would you like something to drink?"...

The beach set-up was also really nice - especially the several 2 person beds placed right on the sand. I made it a point to take a little 5:00 nappy-nap everyday on them...The sand itself was really soft, but the ocean floor was way too rocky to enjoy...But... we were fine walking 10 steps the other way to use the pool to cool off.

All-in-all, I think Amy and my first anniversary vacation represented what I believe our first year of marriage represented as well: An overall amazing experience that Amy and I both genuinely appreciate and never want to end.

TV Commercials

Given my wife's occupation - the following is a slippery slope for me .... So... I'm going to be brief.

I've long believed that how marketers and TV stations report on audience figures is INSANELY archaic. I'll save that for another time...

Putting that aside -- outside of National Cable movie channels [;)], The Super Bowl and American Idol .... 95% of people don't even watches the commercials!
Chart below from a reputable research firm.

My Random Thoughts of Super Bowl 42

• If you would have told me at the start of ANY Sunday this football season (including yesterday) -- that the Giants were going to win the Super Bowl this year -- I would have told you that you were crazy!
  
• I feel like Giants fans are fairly shocked as well... It was a bit like I felt 2 years ago when the Heat won the NBA Title... It was completely unexpected - but that doesn't make it any less sweet ... just different.
• I don't blame the Patriots for the reasons I was rooting against them....(The whole 19-0, best team ever, blah-blah-blah, CONTINUOUS hype).... I blame the media - and mostly ESPN. And while I'm at it -- I'm from South Florida -- and I'm also sick of the 1972 Dolphins drama...It's a perfect example of the flaw within the typical "news story" structure.
  
• Speaking of the media -- I think I'm going to refuse to watch ESPN during the 2 weeks leading up to the Super Bowl next year. 2 weeks is WAY too much time for ESPN to continue to try and come up with new things to talk about...And worse of all -- I never ONCE heard anyone on ESPN predict that the Patriots would struggle against the Giants defense (and only score 14 points).
• The positive of the media cycle -- The Mercury Morris sound bytes this week are going to be pretty amazing...
  
• I loved the "Peyton Manning camera." He clearly wanted to interact with NO ONE during the game...Is he really married?
  
• I think I loved the camera shot of Jeremy Shockey more... Someone I was watching the game with asked "why isn't he on the field with the team" ... The first thing that came to my head, "Uh - they don't serve Red Bull and Vodka's on the field, honey"....
• Speaking of spectator comments ... Someone said "How much fun would it be if you were a student of the University of Phoenix right now?" ... Well ... although they have a Phoenix campus, the majority of students don't actually go to school in Phoenix. It's predominantly an online university... Yup - those stadium naming rights really pay off! ;)
• I'm sure I'll see it at least 100 times in my life -- but the "Eli avoiding the sack -- chucking it up to David Tyree and catching it off his helmet play" is one of the best (and most crucial) plays I've ever seen in a Super Bowl.
• I don't feel bad for any of the Patriots - with the exception of Junior Seau. He seems like such a happy dude -- and he's been a loyal, non-confrontational NFL player for so long -- that it would have been nice to see him win a Super Bowl ... if he was on the Giants...
• From the comments I heard after the game ... It felt like during the game Tom Brady crossed the line between competitive and cry baby. The look on his face throughout the game was WAY different than anything else I'd seen from him during the regular season...He's one of the best QBs of all-time...But I honestly think he choked yesterday.
• Something I haven't heard anyone talk about yet - was the fact that Belicheck opted to go for it on 4th and 11, rather than attempt a 49 yard field goal. And while the Pats ended up losing by 3 points -- I do agree that the media shouldn't be pilling on him. He had done stuff like that ALL year - and they were 18-0 going into the game. He was consistent.
  
• I'm a huge fan of Tiki Barber... some people don't - but I do... That said, today has to sting a little for him...
• The streets of NYC last night were pretty great. I high-fived about 3 random drunk topless dudes...
  
• The Commercials SUCKED this year... For the biggest stage of creative advertising - it truly disappointed this year... Hail to online advertising! ;)
  
• The scoring wasn't even close to as advertised... but it was still an UNBELIEVABLE game (not as good as the Titans ending the game on the 1 yard line - but definitely top 5 SB games I've ever seen)
• Congrats to all my Giant die-hard fan friends... Colediggy, Felch, Wolfe, The Mandell bros, The Satnick clan, Chuck, and anyone else I forgot... I'm happy for ya!!
  

Theoretically

A week ago -- I went to dinner with Amy and Colediggy.... In our dinner conversation, Colediggy pointed out that I used the term "Theoretically" several times throughout the evening...

Fast forward a week -- and I have consciously said the word at least 20 times...It's driving me nuts!! I keep trying to stop saying it, and replace it with something else.... Unfortunately - I haven't had any luck. "In theory" comes out... Which obviously isn't much better....

I was on a panel at an industry event in San Diego this past week - and I used "theoretically" twice. The second time - I paused mid-sentence and tried to use another phrase that didn't sound as good...I am officially in my own head.

Everyone has their go-to sayings... I know I do. It's just ... these phrases are typically not conscious... It is other people around you who are very aware of your sayings ... YOU, however, are not supposed to be. I have to imagine that "theoretically" wasn't in my arsenal before recently. If it was -- Colediggy probably wouldn't have said anything...
And... I have no more room for any more sayings -- I just don't know how to stop it...

Any ideas? (and no -- punching me in the arm twice if I say it while I'm around you does not count)

Thank You's

First things first ... I'm a guy ... Thank you cards aren't necessarily the thing I'm best known for. This isn't to say that I've never written Thank-You cards (I actually have written many in my day) ... I just haven't "batted a thousand"...

I grew-up with a Grandmother who would call me exactly 2 days after I received a card or gift from her -- "didn't you get my card???....You know I already received a thank-you card from your cousin Lauren..."

Anyway - Amy is definitely a "thank-you card gal." She is also pretty good with sending people gifts when it's appropriate - especially in the current popular life stage of our friends having new babies...By marriage, I've become pretty good at sending new baby gifts, 2 year old birthday gifts, etc... Through this - we've obviously received our fare share of thank-you cards (mostly written in the voice of the new-born or 2 year old...perhaps more on this in another blog-post).

It's of my opinion (which may differ from my that of my wife), that a thank-you note in this instance - although very much appreciated - is not necessary. In place of the old-fashioned card, what I think is more appropriate in this digital age -- is an emailed picture of you/your baby at some point in the future using/wearing/playing with/sitting next to our gift.

New moms and dads are busy. Thank-you cards, while a noble practice, are from a different generation. An era where you couldn't check online to see if the gift was delivered...or perhaps it was deemed by some as too expensive to phone someone "long-distance" to thank them...

As the gift buyer -- I know I feel better seeing a picture of your baby wearing the gift than getting a note in the mail...I guess it just gives me the confidence that I didn't buy you an errand... This said, I guess for those cases where you return the gift...an old fashioned thank you card will do...

Your Aunt Edna and my Grandma Crannie will never be satisfied without the thank-you card...but I hope I can save some of you some time in the future...

(BDS - this wasn't a cryptic message that I'm expecting to receive a pic of Landyn rapped up in Google gear...I've been thinking of this post subject for a while)

Boxing

Growing up -- I always enjoyed a good boxing match. To be fair - I grew up primarily watching a combination of Rocky Balboa and a young (and yet to be unleashed into public life) Mike Tyson...

There is something about THE SPORT OF BOXING that I very much respect. It's probably one of the oldest sports known to man...a competition of both physical and mental strength, quickness, and stamina.

THE BUSINESS OF BOXING is what has officially ruined THE SPORT.
No fight is without suspect of being fixed (especially in the heavy-wight class). Anyone who has actually paid the $100+ to buy a fight on Pay-per-view - has at some point been burned by a First-round knock-out disappointment...

Regardless, I have always wanted to go to a live pro boxing match. It's an experience I believe that most likely cannot be replicated on TV... So ... There is a big fight (one that should have happened 8 years ago) at MSG this Saturday night: Roy Jones Jr. vs. Felix Trinidad.
I don't have big plans tomorrow night - so I looked into getting tickets. Tickets apparently range from $500 - $1500 per seat!! Now - I happen to have a connection who is able to get a nice discount on the tickets -- but honestly -- the price is STILL too steep... Perhaps the only way I'm going to get to see a boxing match in person is if someone else picks up the tab (business related perhaps)...

Until then - I guess I'll sit and watch the UFC eat further into Boxing's market-share.

Happy 2nd Birthday Sydney!

Last Monday Syd Stern (Amy and my niece) turned 2. As we don't see her all the time - now that she lives in Florida - we really enjoy the time we spend with her (and take a lot of pictures). At her birthday party, she was obviously very cute. Running around at a gymnastics center with her princess crown, pizza sauce and cake icing on her face and as she's known to do these days talking to everyone...

We really enjoyed our time - but for those people reading my blog who have never been to a child birthday party before (and Sydney's 1st and 2nd birthdays are my only ones to date) -- there really is no greater form of birth control...

Sorry for the side bar...

Happy Birthday Syd. Your Uncle Brett Brett and Aunt Amy love you VERY MUCH!