We Don't Walk Slow

About Tom Stortz

Enjoying my last few responsibility free years left.

To Xfinity and Beyond

There was a free concert by Third Eye Blind at the new Xfinity Center last night. I have XTC on my spotify radio and they just played Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind as I completed that last sentence. The probability of that song coming on as I was writing about Third Eye Blind is probably one in a million. Maybe one in a hundred million. Back to what I originally intended to write, the Xfinity Center is located near the stadiums and the band was going to come on around 9. I arrived at 8:30 or so and there was a line a few hundred people deep. The place was absolutely packed and they really weren’t letting any other people in. I listened to a few of their songs from an outsider area and then decided to leave due to an inability to get drinks and it was getting cold. The rest of the night was pretty standard. My general impression of the Xfinity Center was that it was really nice, good location, and lots of restaurants and pubs. I have to imagine it won’t always be that packed a better place to watch games and such.

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-31T11:46:37-04:00March 31st, 2012|My Life|0 Comments

Bruce Still Owns

When you consider good music, listen to this song. Why is this song so good? It contains a message that doesn’t involve hoes, fast cars, or bling bling. It stands for something meaningful. It gives me goosebumps listening to it. It makes me feel a sense of pride to be an American. The sound of the song is secondary to how strong a message it sends. The fact that it’s Bruce and he knows how to make a good, catchy song is just an extra bonus. So when you decide to think of what a good song is, keep this one in mind because I would like anyone to tell me that this song doesn’t move you and that’s what it’s really all about.

I also decided to post a song that will be Fun’s next single if you haven’t heard of it. I consider this good because it is catchy and fun (lol) to listen to, not because it has a significant message. Not that every song needs a message but good songs breakdown into two main parts: Sound and Lyrics.

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-29T09:23:47-04:00March 29th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Rnningforum

In my constant search for internet success, I’ve created another webpage dedicated to running. There is an interesting feature that allows users to post articles and content. I’m hoping that this will generate some content from someone other than myself. This other site also have a focus which is much different than this page which just wanders around aimlessly. I’m hoping that other people who run will get the courage to submit something about their experience running. For instance, as a test I’d really like Laura to write an entry about her feelings regarding the upcoming Boston Marathon and then write again post race. I hope other people who read this and do something similar could post as well. I think this idea has potential if there is input from people other than myself. Whether that happens is up to you. I’m also in the beginning stages of getting the site up so I’m not even sure how operable it is. If you encounter any problems, let me know.

By Tom Stortz|2013-03-15T03:38:56-04:00March 28th, 2012|Running|1 Comment

Things I Don’t Like

Jagermeister

I own a Jagermeister skull tshirt that the Shee got from shot girls one time and I’ve implemented it into my rotation, however, I still do not like the product. I’d describe the taste as a liquid licorice. It’s really sweet and doesn’t really taste like alcohol which is why I think people like it. For some reason I like my alcohol to taste like alcohol. I rarely use a chaser when doing shots but when your at a bar the most abundant chaser is beer, and beer and jager don’t mix. This liquor has made me puke before and its not because it’s too strong like a tequila, it’s because it’s too sweet and then it makes my mouth start seriously salivating and that’s when you know you are going to spew.

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat Beer

This beer actually prompted this post. We have a 6 pack in our apartment for over 3 years now and that’s a near impossibility with a kind of beer I even moderately like. Even the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat was consumed. Wheat beer goes down as my least favorite type of beer and that expands way past Leinenkugel. I just like my beer like beer. IPA’s, Lagers or Ales are all acceptable in any form. Beers with wheat or fruit generally aren’t my kind. I will finish this 6 pack though before I move out.

Elivs Costello

I play XTC radio (more on this in a future post) a lot on Spotify and Elvis Cotello is constantly coming up. A few songs I find tolerable are Veronica, Pump it Up, Every Day I Write the Book and Watching the Detectives. Notice I don’t even say these are great songs but I can listen to them without turning him off. I just don’t know what’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding. His music is just so boring and plain and not worth listening to. I feel like he’s a guy who gets tons of acclaim but his music is just average. I read his wikipedia and apparently his lyrics are really witty and he’s a “pop encyclopedia” but I don’t think that saves his music considering I don’t even listen to the lyrics because I can’t stand listening to the song.

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-28T17:28:36-04:00March 28th, 2012|Music, My Brain|0 Comments

Martin Flip Side

An opposing view of a similar case to the Martin – Zimmerman

I don’t like to stick my head in business like this but I do find this odd IF IT IS TRUE (which it is from the wiki page). I’ve never heard of this story before, have you? Which leads us to the whole Travon Martin story that has risen completely off the charts at this point and I think that this is a substantial reason why. Zimmerman is racist. He shouldn’t have been following Martin. What happened to warrant a shot to the chest is beyond everyone at this point. Does this story deserve national attention? Would it matter if the roles were reversed and Martin shot Zimmerman? I honestly feel that there are hundreds of murders a day that don’t make national news, why is this so special?

Here is my updated take on this story dated June 15th, 2013.

By Tom Stortz|2013-07-16T00:06:36-04:00March 28th, 2012|My Brain|0 Comments

Tech Upgrade

As much as I’ve been resisting becoming technologically equipped, I purchased a Kindle Fire and a new webcam today. I had a business associate ask me what my Skype account was and obviously I didn’t have one. I decided if I were going to participate in 2012 I should have the ability to Skype if someone asks me too. While in BestBuy buying the Webcam I decided to check out the Fire and the Ipad2. After some questions with the tech guy (and finding out I can’t use either device outside effectively) I decided that the Fire better suited my needs. I have already purchased some books and am trying to get used to reading on a handheld electronic device. I also purchased the support (which I’m always against) for 2 years because if I break the device they will upgrade me to whatever is the newest version. I was pretty skeptical but I’m sure there will be something new in 2 years and I’ll just break my Fire and get whatever is new for 50 bucks. I’m sure there are some loopholes but I’m happy to battle corporate America on this deal because I have no clue what my 50 dollars is really buying. I also ruined the sticky surface that is supposed to protect the screen during the installation. They charge 25 bucks for it and I had no idea how to put it on properly so I ended up getting all this text stuck to it and it was a disaster. We’ll see how easy they are to send me a new one.

If anyone was wondering why I chose the Fire over the Ipad I’ll give my quick run through. #1 – I don’t find myself supporting Apple and their brainwashing. #2 – The IPad was priced much higher especially when a plan is required to use. A big turn off for me considering I have no Iproducts #3 – The main reason the employee was telling me is I have a greater selection of Apps. Am I 12 years old? I don’t need Apps. I find other ways of entertaining myself like books. I’m not sitting there flicking a football through a goalpost. So that was why I decided on the Fire and so far it seems fine. The ease of purchasing through Amazon is going to get pricey if I don’t be careful but I have my credit card all set up so I’m set to begin with. I’m sure this is what people who use the Ipad feel about ITunes. I’m sure I’ll have more to write about once I use the product more.

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-26T21:39:08-04:00March 26th, 2012|My Life|0 Comments

My Problem with People’s Points

In the past few days I’ve heard people rant about how they use their credit card for everything to rack up points. How anyone who doesn’t do this is an idiot. I have an opinion on this that I’m happy to share and to give my experience with points. My company has a corporate AMEX card that we use for trips, computers, and general supplies that most likely outweighs most peoples monthly expenses. In probably 2-3 years of use we were able to accumulate enough points to buy my mom 4 presents: a kindle, a bike, and two other things that probably amounted to a few hundred bucks. Jeff ended up breaking the bike in under a month to give an idea on quality orientation. The bottom line is all that credit card use amounted to a nominal kickback which I don’t deny is better than nothing.

Here’s where my problem lies. People who go out of their way to use points are on my shit list. They actively avoid cash so that they can use their card. So if you happen to be with a person who doesn’t carry cash, chances are they are a points whore or someone who is brainless. Let’s think about this selfish points whoring act. If 4 people go out to dinner and they are all 4 point whores with no cash then you are going to work with 4 separate checks. This is the shittiest situation for a hostess and complete ineptitude on the party. For what?!?!?!? So you can gain 10 points that kicksback about 10 cents. People are fucking morons sometimes. It’s one thing if you put a few hundred dollars as a charge but to think that you are gaining by using your card everywhere is idiotic. You are being a nuisance because you don’t have the common sense to carry cash.

But, Tom, you are the moron because you are passing up free money. Oh really? The biggest concern in my life is how I can figure out how to use my credit card more often so I can gain more points? Do I live on peon planet? Is my thinking this small that I worry about every cent going in and out of my bank account. How about I worry about staying fit, eating right, and trying not to spend my money like an tard instead of thinking about how many points I’m accumulating. I just really don’t get it.

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-26T20:32:41-04:00March 26th, 2012|My Life|0 Comments

Computer Skills

This ought to make you feel better about your computer skills!

Tech support: What kind of computer do you have?
Customer: A white one…
Tech support: Click on the ‘my computer’ icon on to the left of the screen.
Customer: Your left or my left?
****************************

Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can’t print. Every time I try, it says ‘Can’t find printer’. I’ve even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can’t find it..
****************************

Tech support: What’s on your monitor now, ma’am?
Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me at the 7-11.
****************************
Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support: Are you sure it’s plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can’t get behind the computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.
Customer: ! OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in.
****************************
Customer: I can’t get on the Internet.
Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password?
Customer: Yes, I’m sure. I saw my colleague do it.
Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five dots.
****************************
Tech support: What anti-virus program do you use?
Customer: Netscape.
Tech support: That’s not an anti-virus program.
Customer: Oh, sorry… Internet Explorer..
****************************
Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.
****************************
Tech support: How may I help you?
Customer: I’m writing my first email.
Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?
Customer: Well, I have the letter ‘a’ in the address, but how do I get the little circle around it?
****************************
This one and the next are our personal favorites!
A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer.
Tech support: Are you running it under windows?
Customer: ‘No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.’
****************************
And last but not least!
Tech support: ‘Okay Bob, let’s press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter ‘P’ to bring up the Program Manager.’
Customer: I don’t have a P.
Tech support: On your keyboard, Bob.
Customer: What do you mean?
Tech support: ‘P’…..on your keyboard, Bob.
Customer: I’M NOT GOING TO DO THAT!

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-26T16:45:18-04:00March 26th, 2012|My Brain|0 Comments

Practice Makes Perfect

I just finished reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and the book really does put a lot of ideas about life and success in perspective. The first thing you begin to understand is that opportunity and luck have a lot to do with how successful you can become. People like Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Bill Joy (Sun Microsystems) were born at the perfect time (1950s’) when computers were in their early stages (late 60’s) and they put forth the hard work to become amazing successes. If Gates were born 10 years earlier, even with hard work, wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be the Bill Gates of today.

The idea of how hard you work is also unbelievably important. I’m not sure people realize how integral it is that you practice something to get better. There might be some “natural” athletes but for the rest of us, we get better through practice. I take my own life and use basketball as the perfect example. When I was younger I may have been a tad more coordinated or a little faster than other kids but the reason I was one of the better players was because I went to summer camps, I went to winter camps, and I played in my driveway all the time. As I got older I just stopped playing and it was clear this was the case as I tried to play in my twenties. I didn’t have a feel for the basket, my shot left me, and my confidence was stirred. I could still be a good player but I don’t practice to become good and now I just fall into the masses. It’s not that I’m bad, I just don’t practice.

Another thing to note is how your upbringing is a HUGE determination of how much opportunity you have. If you come from a poor home and your parents don’t have extra money, you aren’t going to be able to attend summer and winter basketball camps. You won’t get coaches watching you and molding you into a better player. If you aren’t good at something most people just assume you weren’t born to be good at whatever is in question. Not true. Most likely you just don’t have any experience or practice. People aren’t good at things because they may lack practice and opportunity.

10,000 hours is the amount of time it takes to be an expert at something. If you haven’t put in this amount of time at something you consider yourself to be good at, you aren’t going to be that good. I don’t wonder why I’m not good at tennis. I know why I’m not good at tennis, I don’t practice. I’ve never practiced. I’ve probably logged 100 lifetime hours on a tennis court. It doesn’t surprise me when I’m not good at it. I believe this is a realization that some people just don’t see. In their own minds they are good at everything and then wonder what happened when they lose. You get good at anything by doing it and practicing it. Spending time doing a particular task is how you achieve success. Now think about what you are good at and understand how much time you’ve put into being good at it. Most likely this idea or activity is what you are passionate about. Now find some way to spend your life living off of that idea. Life will become easy and fun if you can figure out how to live your life doing something you like and are good at.

By Tom Stortz|2012-03-26T09:46:53-04:00March 26th, 2012|My Brain|0 Comments

Sounding Smart

Here are a few words to use to make you sound intelligent. I might be repeating a few I’ve mentioned in other posts.

Balance – Next time you are in a meeting with people just find the appropriate time to say that we need to find the right balance. There are an inordinate amount of ideas that rely on balance and even though you would think it seems so obvious, pointing out that balance needs to be achieved is important. Balance can almost always be the solution. For example, you want to have a good time and you want to drink alcohol but there has to be a proper balance for the best outcome. Also, don’t invest all your money in this one idea because you want to find the right balance of risk vs reward. It really works in so many ways and a balance is usually a good outcome.

Integrity – Don’t ruin the integrity of the game. If anyone is ever doing something wrong or stupid just tell them they are ruining the integrity of the game. Ruining the integrity is indirectly telling the person that they are being stupid. Everyone wants to be part of things that have integrity. Integrity means that you are interacting with something that is smart. Any game you play has rules and you want to follow the rules to maintain integrity. People want integrity.

Pipeline – Saying that you have something in the pipeline sounds way better than I’ll get to it later. Just saying that you have a pipeline makes you sound like you have a lot of things going on. Technically there could be absolutely nothing in your pipeline but it would still be your pipeline. All work needs to be forwarded to the pipeline.

By Tom Stortz|2016-11-01T23:28:53-04:00March 25th, 2012|My Brain|1 Comment