A wise man once said that trying is half-way to failing. Well we tried and we failed, so I guess in this case he was right. Team "Up & Atom" was pumped and ready this past Friday. We went to the Meridian Hotel in Los Angeles, and along with 30 some odd teams took the test at around 4 pm. I think it was a very fair test. Everything they asked was relevant to the world of pop culture. I would reveal some of the questions they asked, but the made me sign some waiver about not revealing what was asked or anything in particular about it. So, because I want this blog to continue I'll refrain from posting some of the questions. I will say that I have a good memory...just in case you ever seen me....wink wink nudge nudge.

Oh and if trends continue, my 4000th reader should be on this post...Identify yourself!

My Launch.com Music Player

During slow sports weeks, I usually don't listen to sports talk because it's not that interesting. This is one of those weeks as the Superbowl is still more than a week away and for the most part they are discussing things that don't interest me that much. Being unable to sit and work in complete silence I decided to give my yahoo.com launch player spin to see what gems they can give me. Mind you, as you rank your favorite music, they will play more music similar to it.....or so they say. Here is a sample of my latest playlist:

1. John Mellencamp - "Our Country" - This is the song featured in those Chevy commercials, where we learn that Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, hicks and rodeos apparently make up OUR COUNTRY!
2. Seven Mary Three - "Cumbersome" - I hadn't heard this song in ages, but I for some reason remember my cousins John and Melissa enjoying it one summer I hung out with them in Santa Cruz .
3. Jimmy Fallon - "Troll Jingles" - This is from Fallon's "comedy" album. Here he does impressions of famous bands singing about those ugly troll dolls, in case you forgot what they look at here is a picture of something similar:

4. Tupac - "Lord Knows" - I can keep it real too!
5. Ian Van Dahl - "Secret Love" - I listen to some trance music occasionally, this is one of the better ones.
6. The Michael Garson Ensemble - Streets of Philadelphia " - Apparently this guy takes famous songs and does them with a symphony. It was actually pretty good. Maybe I'll look into other songs by him.
7. Garbage - "Milk" - This song, along with "Vow" made me by this album. One of my better music buying decisions.
8. The Smiths - "Big Mouth Strikes Again" - One of my favorite songs by the Smiths.
9. Blink 182 - "All of This" - Actually this is what happens when the Cure meets Blink 182. Surprisingly good!
10. Sigur Ros - "Untitled" - I think it was untitled #2, but it didn't say for sure. Hey Sigur, you wrote the song, give it a title!
11. Bill Conti - "Gonna Fly Now" - Don't recognize the song? Imagine Rocky running around and up the stairs...yep that's the song!
12. The Pixies - "Where is my Mind?" - Always makes me think of the end of Fight Club, perfect song for that scene too!
13. Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies - "Uptown Girl" - Speeds up Billy's version just a little bit
14. Elliot Smith - "Everything Reminds me of Her" - I think I have all of Elliot's stuff rated pretty high so that way I get one of his songs pretty often.
15. Tori Amos - "Lust" - Ditto for Tori, get a song from her nearly every hour.
16. Oingo Boingo - "Not my Slave" - I wish they'd hurry up and come back for Halloween already, maybe this year? maybe?
17. Collective Soul - "World I know" - how the heck did this get on my list? Where's the skip button...oh yeah there it is.


Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this look into my launch player. You don't need to tell me that my music taste is weird, I'm fully aware

Make that 100%

In the previous post I set the line for Lexus not doing anything with my car for me at 85%, well we can now make that 100%.

In totally unrelated news, who wants to buy a 1999 Lexus ES300, it has small repairs that need to be made. Make me an offer!

Happy 100th!!

In just under 1 year I have put together 100 blogs for you, my fellow readers to comment, mock, and occasionally enjoy. I would like to thank you all encouraging me to continue this website, as well as giving me ideas on which to blog on.


Here are some Brad updates:

-My car still has no engine. Well it has an engine, but it doesn't work. I am waiting to hear back from corporate. My current lines are that there is an 85% chance they are going to do nothing, and I will be in charge of paying for it all; 10% chance they will assist me some way; and a 5% chance they will get me a new engine. Maybe I'm being a pessimist, but hey its a car company, why shouldn't I?

-I have been at my new job for 1 month now. I have to say that thus far it has been pretty much what I expected, which really means nothing. Its getting old trying to find things to read and look over. I listen in on conference calls, and read budget stuff, not exactly glamorous by any stretch of the means. I am waiting to see how much it will pick it in the weeks to come as bills start being written.

-Me and my teammates have our World Series of Pop Culture interview this weekend, so lets hope all my useless knowledge finally comes in handy.

-Haven't seen many of the possible best picture movies. Oscars nominations come out tomorrow. I would like to see "The Departed" and "Borat" get nominated, just because I found them both to be enjoyable. I recently watched "United 93" and it was hard enough to watch on my computer, in the theater, probably would have been too much.

One last thing, after watching the AFC championship last night, I guess I have to say that I'm okay with it.........

Oh blackberry

I WISH I KNEW HOW TO QUIT YOU!

A look inside.....

I was bored at work today and decided to clean out my wallet. Mind you, I clean out my wallet, about once or twice a year, if that. I thought I would list the contents of my wallet to get a better idea of who I am:



Inside my wallet:

Bank receipts:
Washington Mutual ATM: 6 receipts

Las Vegas:
Luxor Hotel Pyramid Café: February 5, 2006
Star Trek Experience Quark’s Bar and Restaurant: March 4, 2006
Wynn Buffet receipt: Sept 9, 2006

Event Tickets:
Washington Nationals Ticket: NYM vs. Wash, Apr 13, 2006
Baltimore Orioles Ticket: LAA vs. Bal, April 15, 2006
Ticket stub: radiohead – June 26, 2006
San Fran Giants Tickets: LAD at SFG September 29, 2006

Restaurants/Bars:
Souplantation: 3 receipts
Crown city: 3 receipts
Tustin Lanes 2 receipts
Gordon James, San Clememte, February 22, 2006
Jake’s Billiard Café: November 25, 2006

Retail:
Receipt from store at the Baltimore Airport, April 17, 2006
Macy’s paying my bill , June 10, 2006

Movie Tickets:
Movie ticket: “Wordplay” July 8, 2006
Movie Ticket: Gridiron Gang Friday September 29, 2006

Ah yes, that is what it’s like to be me. I now have my awesome LV wallet to replace my Gucci one. It’s totally real!

A look back at 2006

Hey everyone, sorry about the lack of blogging:

Here are some highlights and lowlights from the year that was:


10 Highlights

- Going to Washington DC on vacation
- Getting to go to Santa Cruz for a week
- Getting to see the famous Tai Shan
- Watching the Dodgers make the playoffs
- Getting to see 2 USC Football games, 1 Arizona Cardinals Game, 2 Clipper games, 1 Washington National game, 1 Washington National game, the last 2 rounds of the World Baseball Classic, and countless Dodgers and Angels games.
- Getting to closer to my 100 beer goal at Crown City Brewery
- Getting a new job with the Orange County Health Care Agency
- Getting to watch my favorite shows endlessly: Arrested Development, the Simpsons, the Office, and How I Met Your Mother.
- Getting to go to Disneyland twice after not going at all for 5 years.
- Throwing a fun BBQ at my house for my birthday.

10 Lowlights

- Having to put Tootsie, our wiener dog to sleep after she got very sick
- Watching USC lose to Texas in the national championship game
- Watching the Dodgers get swept in the first round of the playoffs
- Watching the Broncos get held out of the playoffs after losing their last game to that other stupid team from nor-cal.
- Car troubles: Car dying coming home from Vegas, shredded tire with body damage coming back from SF, and to top it off a blown engine right at the end of the year.
- Leaving the most exciting Dodger game since they moved to LA early
- Not having any real successful trips to Las Vegas despite numerous attempts
- People in the family getting sick
- My sister moving away and being forced to fix lunches for myself everyday.
- Having the house broken into and losing my bags of change, my camera and all of my mom’s and sister’s jewelry.


10 Hopes/Expectations for the upcoming year.

- Go on vacation somewhere
- Read at least 4 books
- Reach my 100 beer goal, and then slow down the drinking
- Watching a few more movie series straight through while keeping updated logs
- Try to take more pictures for my blog and for myself (I know I need a camera)
- Try to update my blog and the 742evergreenterrace blog more frequently
- Win the World Series of Pop Culture (Hey I have an interview, anything is possible!)
- Try to go to at least one baseball game per week during the regular season
- Go see a Broncos game in Denver
- Possibly move out of the house