New Links

Kindly check out my new links... Five Critics and Fox Snooze are up and running. Five Critics - a movie, music, entertainment, etc review site. Fox Snooze - a US and World News commentary site. enjoy.

Favorite "Family Gathering" Games

This is my list of favorite games to play when the family gets together. It is divided by "my side" and "her side" since we play different games.

My Side: Baseball, R-Rated Dictionary Game, Axis and Allies, Poker, Fan Tan

Her Side: Up and Down the River, Sorry, R-Rated Pictionary Game, Poker

What games am I missing?

Merry Christmas

So yesterday was Christmas as you probably know, unless you were in a coma or something....which then, you're probably not reading this anyway.

I digress.

It was our first Christmas as a married couple. Good times. It was a music/fitness themed Christmas. I got Billy Blanks Tae-bo Dvds and weights. She got a mini-stepper and Cds.

I love when Christmas gifts are mutually beneficial.

Did anyone get anything good? what was your favorite gift?

please share!

Personally, I liked the DVD player we got. We don’t have to use the PS2 that I’ve been “borrowing” from a friend. Hey Nate, what’s your email/street address? I have a Playstation to return:)

Merry Christmas! Need to make a call? Try a phone card.

The Christmas Music Exchange

Me and my younger bro exchanged music this weekend...Oh happy day. Feist, Aqueduct. Belle and Sebastian, Neil Diamond, The Shins, My Morning Jacket, Spoon. I'm so happy right now, you have no idea. Now I just need to find the time to listen to it.

Blog Updates

I'm slowly going to be transitioning this blog into a business/technology/advice blog. This decision was made to help organize my thoughts better and help you, the reader, understand what I'm about. Right now I have personal stuff mixed in with business stuff and I think we'd all be better off if I stayed on topic. So check out alexburdine.com for my personal/humorist style. I'll still keep this blog peppy, so don't worry about that. And feel free to comment and email questions about business and banking or whatever. ab.

All My Excess Lives in Texas

The title of this post was a fat joke...get it? *comedy school alert: I'll explain it at the end of the post* So in my random googling, which most recently has been spurred by my newest attempt at weight loss (excess, get it? har har har), I was trying to discover ways to succeed in my quest of losing 52lbs in 52 weeks. <---dead serious. So far I'm about 15lbs into it. I was amazed because I found everything from exercise programs to gastric bypass. Seriously, someone needs to do a study on random googling and its effect on IQ, because I learn so much from the internet. I even learned what Lap Bands were:

The LAP-BAND System is the only adjustable and completely reversible weight-loss surgery available in the United States today. Amazingly enough it's available in Texas through Journey Lite Surgeons, the foremost Lap Band Surgeons in Los Angeles, Houston and Tampa.

I can't blame them, it's like putting a hot chocolate stand in Chicago in the winter...go where you're needed, right? Maybe they should check out the gold mine of fat people in PA, that's all I'm sayin'. So for me, I could never really consider that as an option to accomplish what I want to do. In my googling I actually found "The Abs Diet" via Men's Health and have been doing their exercise plan 4 times a week. It's arms, legs, abs, and cardio four times a week. I will keep track of my success. I can't wait to shed the pounds as we contemplate the future and kids and what not. houston weight loss surgery Comedy School: (where I explain the joke to people in need of a little 'splainin'): "All My Ex-es Live in Texas" is a famous country song. The post title was a pun, which, of course, is my favorite kind of joke. It was also a reference to being fat...which is the subject of this post. You and your friends can enjoy comedy school from the comfort of your home on a weekly basis as Alex explains many of his attempts at humor to the lay person.

Why Credit?

Let's face it: you need credit.

Credit has allowed people of average means to make purchases that previously only the top 10% of income earners could realistically make. From Houses to Cars to Vacations, people's wealth and happiness have been positively affected by this great tool.

Credit isn't a new phenomenon, and yet everyday I see people with no credit or bad credit. It's a shame, and I understand how it happens, but at the same time, it doesn't have to stay that way.

1) communicate when you're having trouble. Ask the bank or creditor for assistance 2) be deligent with paying off bills. Don't add more debt when you can't afford it. 3) budget your money so you know where its going.

Good Credit can save you THOUSANDS of dollars in your lifetime, so why not pay more attention to it?

Sk8 or Die?...mostly just hurt myself really bad.

Have you ever really wanted to do something that you just knew deep inside you weren't cut out to do? Some people should never cook; stay away from the kitchen and dine out should be plastered above the refridgerator. Some people will never play a "Dsus2" and pull it off. Seriously, trying is one thing when you're alone in your house...it's just sad when you do it in public.

Have you ever really wanted to do something you might be able to pull off, but just didn't have the courage to do?

Well, SurfExpo.com reminded me of all the things I wish I would have done in the earlier parts of my youth, but never had the guts to pull off.

In my early 20s I attempted to learn to skate board and could ollie and even pulled off a 50/50 board slide and shove it once. In the end I was way too conscious about hurting myself and losing my job or something. Real Punk, I know.

I watched skating videos on that site for a while thinking to myself, "you know, kyle (that's what I call myself) I really could have been half decent if I would started doing this at like age 13 or something. Hindsight is 20/20 and oh so rosey.

what do you wish you could have learned earlier in life?

New Music

(well, old music, but maybe new to you) Check out the music in the top banner bar. I added some sweet tunes by Sigur Ros, Feist, and more. "1,2,3,4" by Feist personally makes me dance like a school girl, but that's what music does. It makes you rock, when you're not ever going to really rock, it makes you dance, when you're not ever going to really dance.

Financial Talk from ADitLoa Banker

Did you know that there are businesses that specialize in helping individuals with bad credit?

Bad Credit Loans help people with poor credit get re-established in the credit market. Without good credit, you could end up paying thousands of dollars in extra interest over your lifetime. In some cases, you won't be able to make major purchases like houses, cars, etc that are benchmarks for healthy personal portfolios

Unsecured Personal Loans are loans used without collateral. Typically these are short term loans with higher interest rates. They are one of the best ways to establish good credit, if you can qualify.

Bad Credit Credit Cards are cards that have low limits, but encourage and reward the user when they pay back the balance. They can have higher interest rates, but the point is that it would be easier to pay back a card with a $300 limit and less risk for the lender.

So if you're serious about getting back on a good foot financially, consider some of these options.

North vs. South

I'm going to start a semi-regular rant post about the differences between the north and the south. I've lived in both sections of the country (Texas & Pennsylvania) so I feel I have a good feel for how things go down in these parts of the country. I promise to be ruthless towards both sides, when it necessitates.

Today I am going to compare the phenomenon known as "passing on the right".

In the South, people are well aware that you may have something more pressing than they do, so they move over into the shoulder, giving you a better chance to pass. This is followed by an exchange of hand waves, which is roughly translated to "thank you".

In the North, people are well aware that you may have something more pressing than they do, but when you go to pass them, they speed up, giving you a better chance to wreck your car. This is followed by an exchange of middle fingers, which is roughly translated to "f you".

I hope you enjoyed this week's installment of "North vs. South".

Updated Christmas List

Human Touch HT 7450 Zero Gravity Massage Chair

That's pretty much all I want.

No seriously, I am in the midst of figuring out what everyone wants for Christmas (this would be close family members, sorry readers) so if your last name is Burdine, please leave a message for me and tell me exactly what it is that you are hoping and wishing for. If you're like me and want the Human Touch Zero Gravity Massage Chair, then you've got as much chance at that as I do. Sorry Family.

Here's our list:

1) Men's Warehouse Gift Card 2) iTunes Gift Card 3) 4 new tires for my car. front and rear brakes for my car. front brakes for the mrs' car. 4) a high five or a mix of your favorite music right now 5) Finishing "the not list"

so basically, you know who you are based on my list. have at it. (hint #3 is paid for by my boss via OT)

I love Christmas. *pours one out for my homies* and here's one towards getting a sweet bonus.

The Guitar Stand...Stand

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you my new invention: For people who aren’t sure what to do with their guitar stands when they’re not in use, from AlCo Products comes “The Guitar Stand Stand”.

This creation is intended to alleviate all of your worries on stage when you aren’t using your guitar stand. It’s a handy device that protects your guitar stand from random bumps that may cause your guitar stand to fall over and sustain damage. Through a patented German engineering and Italian innovation, now when someone bumps your guitar stand regardless of whether you guitar is actually in the stand or not, you can have twice the satisfaction knowing that your “Guitar Stand Stand” will keep your precious gear intact.

Look for it on eBay.

Loggin Day and a new love for power tools

I haven't had a chance to write about this yet, but I thought since the opportunity arose, I would do so now. The day after Thanksgiving where I live has a deep tradition of community. A deep tradition of community and...logging. The day looks something like this: Everyone wakes up and meets at the neighbor's house for breakfast. Some loud music is played, in this case "Zeplin" and we get pumped up to move chopped up dead trees around in the freezing cold. It was our virgin experience as new comers to "the hill"...and we had a great time. The best part: The POWER TOOLS. I got to use a chainsaw for the (real) first time and drove around the kiddies and piles of logs in a John Deere gator ATV. Too much fun, seriously. So in my new found love of power tools, I found a power tool blog. There, I found out about the Ingersoll Rand IQv Cordless system. Yes please. It's a great blog with great deals. check it out. One day I might be able to afford the power leaf blower, chain saw, and log splitter I am dreaming of at night. Oh, and don't even get me started on the John Deere Gator ATV... Next year I will be prepared to take out a forest by myself.

When a band is not really a band...

Alright, I just have to say that I've been hearing about these bands that have just two people in them...like a drummer and a guitar player. This whole set up was made famous by The White Stripes (who surprisingly sound good on their album, but I'm sure suck live).

Seriously, it has to stop. Unless you're Simon and Garfunkel and in some folksy band or something, it's not okay to skip out on a bass player or whatever player.

Honestly, it's like people who have one or two kids. Sure you have a kid and that's a lot of responsibility, but from the kid's perspective, they're going to end up maladjusted. I don't mean this like in the serious "school shooting" maladjustment way; just like "when all the guys are hanging out and one of them farts, you freak out" or "not understanding that getting beat up is just a part of being in a family" or "The world isn't out to serve you" kinds of way.

In that same way, having only two people in a band messes with the delicate balance of attention sharing and other mojo type issues...not to mention the complete sound that comes from a live band (drummer, bass, guitar, singer, etc).

I was thinking about this last night and thought I'd share.

Disney or Bust

credit cards can be such a pain. According to Creditcards.com "Of the households that do owe money on credit cards, the median balance was $2,200". Amazing. "51 percent of the US population has at least two credit cards" Well, I decided to change my ONE credit card from my previous employer's card to the Disney Rewards Card, because with all the purchasing we do with gas, food, etc these days, why not get rewarded? It started with free balance transfers and then with 1% towards Disney money. Basically it works like this: $300 (for fuel each month) x 12 = $3600 and $200 (for groceries) x 12 = 2400, makes $6000 per year...or $60 towards disney purchases. Add in Car repairs and airplane tickets and other expenses, it's easy to see how an extra $100 towards a disney vacation each year could be possible. Kinda cool....as long as you pay off your bill! 0% credit cards

Jesus, the Cat.

In honor of the laughable incident in Sudan*, last night I renamed our cat (Misfit) to Jesus.* I think she likes it and I think God the real Jesus likes it too.* She was given to us by our friends as a house warming gift and as "Abram" became "Abraham" and "Saul" became "Paul," it was only fitting for "Misfit" to become "Jesus."* No word on how Radical Fundamental Christians are handling this news.* fyi: *Sarcasm - Noun - witty language used to convey insults or scorn.

Hejsa means Hello

Did you know: that my blog gets a ton of hits from international readers? wow, huh? Seriously, as a part of my reverse stalking of my readers, I have found that people from Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and just today someone from Denmark (Hejsa!) And speaking of International, another "dyk" is that DialAFlight has Holiday Offers for all budgets. Check it out and come visit the land of the fattened turkey. flights to Florida

Mitt Romney, Bloc Party, and This American Blah

I was listening to NPR last night, "All Things Considered" to be specific, and Mitt Romney was being interviewed by the always annoying Robert Siegel. Mitt was awesome, moody, well spoken, and for the first time, I feel like I might be leaning towards a political candidate. In the end, he basically tells RS that he's an idiot for asking to go more in depth with a question from the CNN/Youtube debates whether Mitt felt the bible was alagorical stories or "the word of God;" Mitt's point: as if this has something to do with being able to lead the nation. He's right. That's why I only like Melissa Block. Some favorite lyrics right now (from Bloc Party's "Little Thoughts"):

This world ain't just m, m, m, made of facts Every half hour is a countdown If it's 'cause of my age then you're a coward If it's 'cause of my age then you're a coward If it's 'cause of my age then you're a coward

And honestly, could "This American Life" be hosted by two more boring people? Ira Glass and Sarah Vowell have the saddest, lonliest sounding voices on radio. (You would recognize Sarah's voice from the hit Movie "The Incredibles"...good lord, I thought it was just for the movie) They have some funny stuff now and again, but seriously, "The American Life" brought to you by XANAX®.

This is the kind of day I'm having...

I'm not sure what David Bowie has to do with my horrible day...but honestly...if I had to dress up like that and dance and sing, I'd want to kick my own ass. I especially like the ending where Bowie tosses the baby up in the air and it's clearly a rag doll of some sorts. too funny.

equally fabulous is a drunk dancing kevin bacon...