Like most years, I’ve put off doing taxes until the last moment. I actually thought they were due today, but I guess technically I have until tomorrow. I legitimately had a reason to wait this time, but truth be told I didn’t do anything until last minute despite the excuse. Basically I was waiting on a form from a company I’m involved with and they were late as sin getting it to me. I also think it’s wrong, so I’m waiting to hear back before I send it out. Worse case, I’d get more back if I had to amend it later, but it’s mostly annoying more than anything. Oh well, at least I get money back.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Check yourself
Friendly reminder that if someone you dislike says something that triggers you, it’s probably a good idea to see if someone you do like said it first so you don’t look like an ignorant hypocrite. Ex. Sean Spicer said something that some could argue is true, but people didn’t like; strangely enough Chris Matthews and the NYT both said the same thing years earlier with no I’ll will or fake outrage. Ditto when Ben Carson talked about slaves as immigrants and was lambasted, but on numerous multiple occasions Obama made that same analogy and used almost identical words. You can’t have it both ways.
United, no more.
If you ever want to teach a Master’s class in how to mistreat your customer and react badly to a situation, I’m sure the CEO of United will be available soon and looking for gainful employment. The whole situation is infuriating from a consumer point of view. I know the government has some regulations on how to handle involuntary delays and compensation, but sometimes even those fail to make up for what people might miss if they are kicked. The thing here though is it took place after they seated everyone, was because they needed to put employees on instead, and they used the police to forcefully remove someone who had legitimate reason to not volunteer. All I can say is that United will feel this far beyond the cost of the federally mandated compensation in both their stock price and the inevitable and justified lawsuit. Which is a shame as I’ve never really had any problems flying with them before, but this makes me think differently about them.
Ads or no Ads?
So I have been finding myself using Hulu more and more and contemplating the option to turn off ads that they offer. For the cost, the time savings might be worth it. I like ads and marketing, but it seems like they have amped up frequency and repetition; probably to sell the no-ads option. That said, I noticed a new type of ad making it’s debut, the interactive ad. The recent Mass Effect Andromeda game is giving an interactive offering on console. If you hit the ‘A’ button, it offers you more info and videos about the game. Just what we need, ads that let you see more ads! Sigh. To pay or not to pay?
Spring Sale
I have to give Microsoft credit. I’ve totally bought into digital games with the Xbox One. Finding sales is still not as easy as physical discs and it takes longer sometimes for same level of discount but it’s getting better. You can tell as I have a backlog of games waiting to be played that I bought while on sale. And next week, the spring sale is back, with more bargains! I still have games on my ‘wait and buy when they hit X price’ list so we’ll see if my backlog gets bigger. At some point, one of two things will happen. I’ll catch up or I’ll have everything I eyed at some point in my backlog. Neither is bad news for me as a gamer.
Enter the Gungeon
As Mythic broke up and went its separate ways, a band of developers formed their own small company to create a game. They put hard work and effort and got it done and did fairly well for themselves. Sadly, they signed an exclusivity agreement with Sony at the time so I wasn’t able to support them as I’m a bit of a Xbox guy myself. Thankfully that agreement must have run out as they released it just this week as a play anywhere title for Windows 10 and Xbox One. I immediately saddled up the money and bought it. The game is pretty well made and has a fun premise. It’s basically a dual stick top down shooter with rogue like elements. If you want guns that shoot guns, this is a game for you. Well done guys!
Back and Forth
Man, somehow this week and last has been a bevy of back and forth meetings around and about the DMV. From Arlington to D.C., both in and outside the beltway, I’ve been driving or riding along on trips to see potential partners. I do have to say, it’s been mitigated somewhat by being able to be passenger on most of these drives, but it does break up the day as everything is opposite of my normal commute so it leaves me usually stuck back in Fairfax working from the shared adjunct space instead of my normally cushy office. I can’t complain too much as the partners could be good for the program and school so hopefully they pan out. One thing it has cemented is that I’d never be able to handle a job that required me to drive inside the beltway everyday.
Marveling at Marvel’s Dimwittery
So I’ve been a fan of and reading comics for way too long now. In recent years, the number has steadily decreased with the prices, but apparently jacking up the prices wasn’t enough for Marvel so they also decided to cut back on what they offered. Continue reading Marveling at Marvel’s Dimwittery
Table Addressing
Had a spare moment between meetings and stopped by Chick-Fil-A for a drink since I had a free one for this month’s offer and the month is almost over. So I’m sitting here writing a blog post and realizing it seems something a hipster writer wannabe might do. Definitely not the norm for an old fogey like myself. Of course blogs in general are pretty old fashioned in tech terms at this point. They were the rage for a while but died down due to the encroaching social media and the fact you’ve given everyone a digital pen and paper now. Oh well, I’ve wasted enough time decompressing from the last meeting, time to get back to work and grading midterms. Plus I need a refill…
$5 Boxes
I love the KFC $5 box. It’s quite a value to get three tenders, their mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuit, cookie, and drink for just five measly dollars. Plus, it’s better than other fast food alternatives and generally speaking quite tasty, especially the potatoes and gravy. That said though… Continue reading $5 Boxes