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11 Aug, 2011

Cashing in on Blog Traffic

By |2011-08-11T09:05:12-04:00August 11th, 2011|My Brain|1 Comment

Yesterday marked the 2nd highest day in blog traffic ever with approximately 450 visitors. Yes, I played right into it by creating that Storage Wars post and it worked out nicely. Probably 250 of those visitors were searching for “brandi hot pictures.” The one issue with my blog is the title. I must have changed it 10 times now and I can’t ever seem to settle on something good. You have to think about it from the person searching on Google. When they type in whatever and see my search result come up as “‘search term’ | Drinking and Running” they can’t ever take it seriously. I need a better title that gives me a little more credibility. If anyone has any suggestions I’d be very happy to hear.

In other news my Google Adsense appeal was denied. That means that they won’t let me display ads and my source of income from this blog is still going to be 0. I still believe that once I can generate significant traffic, I’ll be able to find some way of making some money. I actually think the blog is as good as its ever been and my topics have been pretty good. Hopefully, my hard work and efforts of these years will eventually lead to something.

10 Aug, 2011

Storage Wars Characters

By |2016-11-01T23:38:41-04:00August 10th, 2011|Tv|5 Comments

Further thoughts on Storage War’s characters found here.

On Wednesday when the new Storage Wars airs my blog traffic goes through the roof. If you don’t watch the show, it’s on from 10-11 and is a bidding game on storage lockers. Here are some thoughts on the characters.

Jarrod and Brandi Schultz

I’ve already wrote about how Brandi is the best looking person on the show and she is seemingly getting hotter by the week. She stays skinny, has a nice rack and a pretty face. The relationship between the two is kind of unique as they seem to “put up” with one another. I just want to point out if you watched tonight’s episode when Jarrod dropped the boxes on Brandi. His attitude of I didn’t drop the boxes on you, they just fell on you is complete garbage. He can easily avoid any confrontation by saying he’s sorry instead of it wasn’t his fault. I like how Brandi acts all prissy and won’t search through garbage. These two will make just as much money from the publicity as they make from the units on the show.

Barry

Barry is growing on me. He’s sort of eccentric and can take a joke. He is willing to spend money on a units potential and he seems to find the most bizarre items. His rivalry with Mark and how intense he gets makes me like him even more. He actually has personality and is good for the show. His gloves and the wild cars he drives should show you that he needs to be different.

Darrell & Brandon Sheets

Easily the worst character on the show. Not his son, but Darrell is constantly talking shit and always walking away from the auction with nothing. Talks the talk, doesn’t walk the walk. He comes off as thinking he is always outsmarting people but is really just too much of a pussy to bid on units. He’s too tight to the vest and should leave the show.

Dave Hester

YEEEEEEUUUUPPPPPP! I really find Dave to be the wisest and most willing to spend cash for lockers that have potential. He seems to make out on almost every unit and he doesn’t get involved in the bidding until the end. Basically he waits to see what people are willing to pay and than he jumps in. The way he needles Jarrod and Barry is great. He’s low key and seems to win. I like his style on the show.

Mark

He’s great for the show. He has cash behind him. He’s willing to spend. He bids up the units to irritate the characters. He’s probably not always paying the best price for the lockers but he makes it interesting. Plus I was happy the way he got down and dirty when he was going through the locker. The fact he thought a Nintendo was worth 13,000 and it was only 10 should say something about his ability to spot deals.

10 Aug, 2011

Investment Advice

By |2011-08-10T11:15:38-04:00August 10th, 2011|My Brain|0 Comments

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you would have $49.00 today!

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you would have $33.00 today.

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you would have $0.00 today.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for the recycling refund, you would have received $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.

10 Aug, 2011

Nicked up

By |2011-08-10T09:56:39-04:00August 10th, 2011|My Life|1 Comment

I know I’ve been posting more about events and celebs than my actual life but I really get the feeling people aren’t that interested in my personal issues. It’s difficult for me to know what my readers actually like reading. The majority of my traffic comes from posts about famous people so I just assume that more people visit this website for topical events. I’ve been staying busy though. Work has been pretty average and I’ve been doing my best to stay in shape. I’m on the fence about running the Philly Distance Run only because I’m not in half marathon shape. I still have over a month to get there, and I could, but it’s just a fair amount of effort. I just feel like I’m always nicked up. My big toe nail fell off, I have a burn on my finger, a blister on my toe… the list just never ends. This wasn’t the case when I was 18. I’ve also been following the market closely and have moves in the pipeline (DUG). I’ve been staying occupied by watching the Sopranos. I’m on episode 40 of 86 and have been very entertained so far. I’m also working through the third game of thrones book which also takes a lot of time considering it’s an 1,000 page book. So life is pretty dull but I’m not bored. I wish I was more exciting because life stories would make for more entertaining reads.

9 Aug, 2011

Top 5 Best Hbo Characters

By |2016-11-01T23:31:54-04:00August 9th, 2011|Tv|1 Comment

Shows on HBO are generally my favorite and they usually include a few characters who stand out above the rest. Usually they offer comic relief or are just badass. Here is my list of my favorite characters in HBO Series.

Stevie Janowski – Eastbound and Down


Eastbound and Down is a pretty average show. The first season was far and away better than the second but Stevie is the stand out star. His misguided loyalty to Kenny is awesome to watch. He just nails this role as the dedicated, copycat servant to Kenny. I have a hard time really describing why I like him so much but if you watch the show you learn to appreciate Stevie.

Stevie: You know what I wish? I wish I could just hang around you all the time, and just do whatever you do, and just like, learn from you, and aide you.

Stevie: “This is awesome, you can totally see straight through the butthole right into the pussy, man. That is awesome.
Kenny Powers: Yeah, man. I don’t think those two things are connected.”

Lord Petyr Baelish AKA Littlefinger – Game of Thrones
Aidan Gillen

I would guess most people haven’t watched this show but this is the same actor, Aidan Gillen, who played Mayor Carcetti on the Wire who was also awesome. I’m just starting the 3rd Game of Thrones Book and his character in the book is deceptive and wily and Gillen does a great job at portraying this.

Murray Hewitt – Flight of the Conchords

Played by Rhys Darby and one of the funniest characters ever in my opinion. I really liked this show and was going to put Dave up here but I think I have to give Murray the edge. His acting is perfect because he doesn’t know he’s being moronic. Everything Murray says has purpose and it always is a little off. The show does a great job of showing how a foreign culture fits into America with hilarious humor.

Bret: It’s a chicken egg situation.
Murray: What does he mean, chicken?
Jemaine: Well, you know, what came first the chicken or the egg?
Murray: Well, that’s irrelevant, isn’t it? Stupid. The chicken, obviously.
Bret: Well, then where’d the chicken come from?
Murray: Well it came from the – oh.
Bret: Yeah, see, the egg.
Murray: You’re the egg. You’re a bad egg. You’ve derailed this meeting with another obscure comment.

Marty Funkhouser – Curb Your Enthusiasm

Played by Bob Einstein, who was Super Dave, the Funk wasn’t even in the show till season 4. However, his dry, monotone humor is hilarious. The episode just a few weeks ago with him wearing the yamaka had me on the floor. I feel like he’s just always capable of something humorous.

Marty – You sit down to pee? Do you shit standing up?

Marty – We were trying to recreate what happened 25 years ago, and I said ‘Larry would you like to make a toast?’ and someone said ‘Larry went home to take a shit.’

Jr – The Sopranos

Corrado John Soprano, Jr is played by Dominic Chianese. I’m just about finished season 3 with the Sopranos but I’m constantly amused by Uncle Jun. The way he’s always yelling at the fat guy Bakula and using great racial comments. For an old guy he has a lot of vigor. I just think he is a great actor and I find the character extremely well played.

Junior: Some people are so far behind in the race that they actually believe they’re leading.
Junior: You heard about the Chinese godfather? He made them an offer they couldn’t understand.


Some other obvious good ones I left out were Omar from the Wire, Eric from True Blood, and Ari from Entourage.

8 Aug, 2011

Close But No Cigar

By |2011-08-08T21:04:17-04:00August 8th, 2011|My Brain|0 Comments

This tends to be the slogan that is following me through my life. I tend to be pretty good at things, but just can’t take the next step. I get 90% of the way there and then fail. It’s not necessarily failing as much as it’s not succeeding. It’s almost a sense of quitting when the going gets too tough. I was gifted with superior physical abilities and I make practically nothing out of them. This isn’t bragging, this is fact and waste. Here are some examples.

  • When I went to Dick’s to buy golf clubs I tried out the drivers in the testing area. The pro that was working there said the tour average club speed was 120mph. My top drive’s head speed came through at 121 and he’s rarely had a guy have the machine read 300 yards. He said I have the potential to be a very good golfer. He also said I have bad posture, a terrible grip, a bad stance and looked like I wasn’t trying to hit the ball with a degree of seriousness. With much practice he said I could get down to a single digit handicap and possible take it further. So what’s the chance of me practicing hours on end to become a better golfer? 0. I may the have the abilities, but lack the drive (not a pun). I see no future in golf.

  • Why did I give up running in High School? There was nothing at the end of the road. I wasn’t even the best in high school, what was the point? Yes, I was better than 99% of the kids in high school in the events I did but it would never amount to anything. I was good, but I was just wasting time. I can stay in shape like I do now and feel just as good. If I do the Broad Street Run and break 60 minutes and get 100th place, who cares? If I dog it and get 65 minutes, no one thinks any less of me. I guess there is an argument for being the best possible human you can be (I’ll get to this) but the rewards are none except the recognition from peers who, and I assure you, care more about their own life than yours.

  • Let’s look at the stock market for a second. A few weeks ago I told CK4 that you can buy the volatility index at 21, mark my words. It’s trading upward of 45 now and I essentially missed everything selling it at 24 and 28. I also saw LinkedIn at 110 and told JC that I think buying the November 70 puts is a great idea. The stock is trading at 75 now and the puts would have increased 300%. How much money did I make from the market in this stretch. NOTHING. I got nothing because even though my ideas are good, I can’t execute. I’m pretty smart with the ideas but I can’t profit a penny. Yes, I’m picking two extreme instances but I just can’t win.

    Is this defeated attitude appropriate? Of course not but it’s the truth. There are things that I do well but it’s not good enough to really make it. What is really making it? Hell, if I could win one PGA tour event I’d be set for life. One lucky play in the market that nets me a million dollars and I’m happy. Is it all about money that I’m striving for? Absolutely. I don’t want to have to worry about money. I want to live my life any way I please. I don’t need extravagance. I just want to do whatever I want. I don’t want to work 40 hours a week. This is why I’m whining. I’m just a regular 9 to 5er. The you can be anything you want to be is bullshit. I don’t want to sound arrogant (people obviously will think this) but I finish in the top 1% of races, top 1% in driving distance and I can’t hack it. Everyone is good at their own thing and you may be the top 1% of what you do well and I hope you are doing better than me. I am spinning my wheels.

    • 7 Aug, 2011

    Bella Vista Golf Course Review

    By |2011-08-07T20:37:09-04:00August 7th, 2011|Golf Course Reviews|0 Comments

    Ck4 and I drove to Gilbertsville to play Bella Vista. We’ve played here once before so I had an idea of what to expect. We payed 47 dollars for a 1 o’clock tee-time. They wanted to charge me $65 but I said their website was broken which allows you to play twilight at regular hours. We got off without a hitch and played from the blue tees which were 6,400 yards. The starter was pretty friendly but the guy at the register was giving me attitude because the site wasn’t working and he didn’t want to charge only $47. Anyway, we started off with an 8 and a 9 on hole one which was pretty sad. It’s a long Par 5 with and we both got off the tee but I flubbed two shots due to a tough side hill lie and then flew one out of bounds into white stakes. I dropped up by the green immediately tarnishing the round. After that I struck fire going 3 over for 7 holes and doubling 9 for a 43 in. Ck4 was 54. I was putting drives in the fairway and the holes were playing driver/wedge. The back nine opens with a par 5 which I flew a 325 yard drive down the middle only to flub the approach shot for my first real bad shot of the day. My tee shot on 11 was errant and I flew on OB on 12. I got it together with a few pars and a bogey until 16 where I tee’d off into someones house. I closed 18 with a double for a 47 on the back. Ck4 was 43 on the back for a nice turn around.

    That put me at a 90 from the furthest tee’s on a pretty tough course. We finished the round in 2 hours 45 minutes for a round of speed golf. I think we played the back in a little over an hour with no one on the course. My main gripe for the course is lack of yardage markers. They have a 150 stake on every hole and I guess they feel that’s a good enough indicator. The 14th is the signature hole at the top of this post. It’s pretty intimidating. They didn’t let us play again after we finished and wanted to charge us 25 dollars for a replay which was annoying. As long as you keep the ball in play, this course is pretty fair. I thought the course was in very good shape and the value at 47 dollars is about right. Time of play was tremendous but I doubt it’s always like that. I do recommend this course though as one of the nicer courses I’ve played. Challenging as well. 8.5 out of 10, edging up to a 9.

    7 Aug, 2011

    Joy

    By |2011-08-07T19:31:15-04:00August 7th, 2011|My Brain|0 Comments

    We accumulated about 750 dollars worth of points with our business American Express card and let my mom spend the points. She bought a Kindle, a camera and a bike. I went over to see her today and as I was leaving I could see her riding the bike in my rear view mirror. She had this glowing, genuine smile on her face from riding the bike. It actually made me happy seeing her happy. This isn’t just your normal happy but a sincere feeling of happiness. No sporting achievement could overtake that happiness I felt. I felt like getting out of my car and giving her a hug and telling her how happy I am to have her as my mother. I wish I could be as happy as she was doing something as simple as riding a bike. I get so caught up in the financial markets and worrying about what people think that I think I miss out on the simple joys. It’s moments like those though that I know won’t always be around forever. Life doesn’t stop and you can’t take anything for granted. It’s sad to some extent but once you come to terms with the concept that you can’t change the passing of time, you just have to take every moment for what it is. That’s why people getting mad at other people is so foolish. Simply put, I’m going to try to be a happier person by making other people happy.

    6 Aug, 2011

    Hickory Valley Golf Course

    By |2011-08-06T19:48:04-04:00August 6th, 2011|Golf Course Reviews|0 Comments


    CK4 and I played Hickory Valley on Saturday afternoon. I went to Dick’s on Friday and bought a new set of irons and a new Driver so this was my first time using the new set. The Pro at Dicks’s was really helpful and got me hooked up for what I considered a good value. Anyway, the course is out in Gilbertsville which was about a 45 minutes drive. There are 36 holes and for a course which is in pretty good condition, it was unbelievably priced at 26 dollars with a cart. We were on the “ambassador” course which is the lower end of the two. The course is pretty tight and the holes were pretty average. We played from the tips which was still on 6300 yards. This being the first time I played with my driver, I couldn’t get off the tee at all and it proved difficult to score. Ck4 hit the ball well for a 90, I was 97.

    The real fun began after the first 18. It was 4 o’clock and drizzling and we jumped on the Presidential course. This course is usually $36 after 3 but free worked for us. After 18 holes, Ck4 and I were pretty warmed up and ready to go. I would recommend this Presidential course. The holes are way more open and very well laid out. Through the first 18 I was hooking driver after driver but I got it together and started hitting some bombs on this 3rd nine. We played 1, then 11, 12, 13, then played 2-10 playing 2-3 twice because the group ahead of us was slow. At one stretch CK4 and I put on 7 pars, 2 bogeys and a birdie in 5 holes. We didn’t have to wait at all and it was a lot of fun. I’d really like to see what 14-18 looked like but I really thought it was a fun time. The ambassador course is probably a 6.5 and the Presidential an 8.5. If you look at if from a value standpoint it’s easily a 10 out 10. Even the time wasn’t terrible as it took us about 4 hours 15 minutes and we had to wait almost every hole.

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