Neatorama is Neat

I just happened across a new site or blog (not really sure what to call it), Neatorama. The site talks about everything, that is everything that is considered "neat". So far my favorite post is about Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade's attempt at making a Kwanzaa cake and royally screwing it up to the point that the network got hate mail. I wonder what her Kwanzaa "tablescape" looked like...

They also have a post with Hugh Laurie Photoshopped as a clown ...or how about President-elect, Barack Obama...There's a whole contest for users of Photoshop to make clowns out of celebrities.

10 Outrageous Claims 2009

Saxo Bank (a Danish online investment bank) has made some prophecies for 2009. To see the full list click here.

Some of their outrageous claims are:

2. Crude Oil to $25

The ongoing economic crisis will further dent oil demand throughout next year, sending the price ever closer to $25 a barrel, Saxo Bank said. OPEC production cuts will be hampered by disagreement and fail to stem the slide, it added. (You don't know cheap gas until it hits $25 a barrel!)

4. Italy Could Drop the Euro

Italy could make good on threats to leave the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) and may drop out in 2009, Saxo Bank said, a decision which would mean the country effectively gives up the euro. The EU is likely to crack down on excessive government budget deficits, which could prompt Italy to leave the currency regulation, it said. (Take a cue from England and stay away from the Euro!)

6. Dollar to Outstrip the Euro

The euro will fall to 0.95 cents versus the dollar in the New Year, before shifting direction and rising to 1.30 cents, according to Saxo Bank. The euro-zone will face a tough year in 2009 as the banking sector will suffer because of its exposure to Eastern Europe, a region that will increasingly falter next year, the report said. (If it turns out to be true I must see the rest of Europe!)

7. Chinese GDP Growth to 0%

Export-led China will be hit by the double blow of a slowing U.S. economy and the souring of commodity-based investments, according to Saxo Bank. Japan will not actually sink into recession, despite gross-domestic-product growth all but disappearing, the report said.

The Power of Nintendo DS

Last week, while Christmas shopping at Best Buy, I came across this "game" . My Stop Smoking Coach for your DS! First of all, you need to be a smoker and have a Nintendo DS. Without DS it'll be a bit difficult to use the coach to quit.

My punk brother is a smoker - I guess I should've bought the DS and the My Stop Smoking Coach game for him. Way to make quitting sorta fun...

They also have My Weight Loss Coach for DS. I think the Wii Fit would be more effective.

Christmas Gift Coding System

Usually I just grab wrapping paper and wrap whatever is in front of me. This year I decided we needed a coding system of sorts to keep things organized. Basically each person's gifts were wrapped all the same kind of paper. If you refer to the photo at left of my chart, you can see that my sister-in-law, Mandy, had all her gifts wrapped in red paper with snowflakes.

This worked wonderfully since we had three separate Christmas trips. On the Eve we had to drop of my parents' and brothers' gifts and other gifts went to my mother-in-law's house. The final trip was to my uncle's house. I knew which paper had to go where just by a quick glance. I highly recommend this method, if you have tons of gifts to sort like I do each year.

My MIL hosted Christmas Eve and Day events which was chock full of food and fun. The fun consisted of Christmas Crackers, Wii and white elephant gift exchange. We ended up with some floating Christmas candles and an American flag and pole set.

American Cancer Society

I just got back from Garden State Plaza shopping mall where I volunteered at the American Cancer Society gift wrapping booth. I've done volunteer gift wrapping before and really found that it was a great experience and when my colleague, Meryl, invited me this year I immediately excepted.

Basically people bring gifts to you to wrap and provide a donation to the American Cancer Society in exchange for saving them the trouble or challenge of gift wrapping.

Ugg boots, we learned, are the hot gift this year. In three hours (a slightly slow three hours due to a snowstorm we had today) we wrapped 5 pairs of Uggs!

To find a local American Cancer Society event, enter your zip code or city name at ACS' Calender of Events page.

Brand Spanking New Laptop

Meet my new laptop.

Earlier this year a power surge from a storm made my old laptop go dolally (Brit speak for crazy) After Thanksgiving I pulled the trigger and got me a new laptop. Also an HP I ended up going smaller with a 14.1 inch instead of my previous 15.4 inch.

So far it's beautiful and the screen says, "Welcome to your new HP computer."

Time to continue with the setup...

The Underground

London has a subway system called the Underground or the Tube. The Underground in it's under ground areas is quite deep. The escalators are so steep I get a bit woozy if I try to look down.

This is a picture taken over my shoulder (follow the lights down) because when I tried to turn around I got quite woozy but had to try and a get picture of it!

My colleagues and I went to Harrods on Thursday and spent about 20GBP on a cab due to traffic. On the way back we tried to save some money by taking the Tube from Knightsbridge to Holborn. Individual tube tickets are 4 GBP (=$6 USD). It took about 10 minutes to go 4 stops to Holborn. Of course upon exiting the Tube you heard over the loudspeaker, "Mind the gap." The slogan is on t-shirts and key chains around London.

Leaving London

It's my last night in London and I've spent the last couple of hours wishing I had a degree in packaging engineering. The suitcase is not zipped up because I still have stuff out and may need to rethink my carry on bag.

It's been one heck of a week between working 9am - 5pm and then trying to be a proper tourist in London.

Some pictures:















Harrods Department Store all lit up for Christmas.















The Princess Diana & Dodi Al Fayed Memorial in basement level of Harrods. In the pyramid is an hourglass (not sure why) but also the ring (maybe it's a replica) that Dodi was rumored to have bought for Diana.

Leaving for the U.S. tomorrow at 2pm and will land at 5pm. It's a 7+ hour flight - yes I wish it was only 3 hours. There's some time travel going on.

Cheerio from London

Right now it's 9:00pm in London and I am spent. My colleagues and I left New York at about 11pm NY time and arrived in London about 11am. We made our way to our hotel from Heathrow and got to see some sights in the shuttle to the hotel.

Afterwards we headed out to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Covent Gardens and Westminster Abbey. We even got to walk around the tiny Chinatown in London and had some pretty delicious Chinese food.

I've been having a bit of a hard time with the British Pound as I keep think I need to convert the BP value and convert into US dollars all of the time. I am finding that if it makes sense it does not usually need to be questioned.

Tomorrow it's off to work at the London of m company and there will be less tourist time.

Going Across the Pond

I'm off on another business trip - this time international to London! I've never been to Europe at all so this will be a new experience. Thank goodness they speak English.

This is a pick of my tv thingy. We're flying Virgin Atlantic so it's extra cool cause I think Richard Branson is awesome.

My favorite Brits:
Hugh Laurie (Dr. Gregory House)
Paul McCartney (Beatle)
Sir Richard Branson

We come back on Saturday. I'll post when I can.

A Rant

I watched The Office last night (U.S. version) and at the end of the episode Michael is in a fur coat. The shot pans out showing his fur coat having had paint splattered by fur protestors. I was pissed. (I know it's just a tv show.)

I am of the opinion that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and stances based upon the facts that have presented to them and their interpretation of the facts. Regardless of what that opinion is, expressing it should NEVER be physical. About a week ago, semi-celebrity, Lindsey Lohan was wearing a fur coat and some activist threw a bag of flour at her. A completely rude and elementary form of I-don't-like-you.

I am not a fur wearer but not for reasons that the flour thrower likely believes in - I just don't like it. I think that if someone wants to do or wear something they should be able to. Yes, clubbing of baby animals for coats is messed up but that's that person's choice and their own will to acknowledge the issue. Extreme activists, in fictional character Michael's and Lindsey's situations should have paint and flour, respectively, thrown back at them for being assholes.

Bottom line: do and say whatever you want about an issue (make signs, send videos, make a commerical) just don't get physical.

I feel, a little, better now.