Sunday, September 27, 2009

Weekends Matter

This was my 1st real weekend in a while as weekends really do not matter when on sabbatical, staycation, or the dole.

The Chako's invited demon child, wife and I over on Friday. Demon Child is currently taking a tech literacy course and current unit of study is on 'internet predators'. After assuring daughter that I had met them in person before and showing her family picture on facebook she decided to trust my judgment and ordered me NOT to mention her predator question. This will have to just be another post I hope daughter does not read. Food was good, company was good and MrsChako managed to get permission from my wife for me to go to Vegas in December.

Saturday I played tiny bit of poker in order to get another take 2 day but have not been feeling the poker play last week or so. Hung out poolside with some of the neighbors at night for a near record 2nd sociable night in a row and then had late night (for them) IM conversations with 2 of my cousins that I have never IMed before.

Sunday means watching NFL's red zone channel (Greatest Channel ever, I love that Scott Hanson felt need to apologize for being in High-Def when they showed Seahawk's jerseys). At this point Chiefs, Rams and Bucs would have to be leading contenders for 1st pick in April. Redskins, Raiders and Lions also look quite bad but they have already beaten a member of the trio of suckitude.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sunday Football Report

Sunday the wife sat down to watch football with me around 11 am. Fifteen minutes into it she was asking "OMG how can you follow the game switching the channels like that?". I pointed out that the remote was next to her. NFL network's red zone channel rules. Rather than having to watch the atrocity that was Raiders vs. Chiefs I got to see my fantasy football teams take a beating during the morning games and my Bucs take a beating in afternoon all for only $5 month since I can't get Sunday Ticket (stupid tree next to deck).

Sunday poker continued it's normal pattern, grind a small profit for a while in PLO then get checkraised on turn for stack when I am holding nut straight, top set and 3rd flush draw only to see opponent has 3 chop outs (as well as useless top 2 pair) and straight flush gutter that of course hits.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

NFL TV schedule

Missed 1st week of NLF season due to flight to Ottawa last Sunday.

Tomorrow my local affiliates have:
10:00 am Raiders at KC
1:00 pm Seattle at San Francisco

Not that I want my neighbor to know but this is not an optimum selection to me.

After a long hard week at work I would rather not have to spend Sunday in sports bar.

FML

Friday, September 18, 2009

1st time publishing in Firefox

OMG did Tech e dominated on line of scrimmage last night!
That is all.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

End of an Era

Easiest promotion ever:





I was reading company Corporate computer use policy:

"You must not use computer equipment, under any circumstances, to engage in online gaming. Even sites accessible without a download are prohibited. "

I finally have to learn how the other half lives.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009



Hat tip to MiamiDon for sending the video above. I could almost smell the fear in the message.

I will have to set dvr for game Thursday, this working and west coast living has it's downside. Demon child went right to heart of matter last night when I told family about job: "You are going to have to talk on job, bwahahaha" . I talk more than Waffles, but not a lot more during previous workdays unless I was leading a specification or design review.

I did confirm I am 1st U.S. citizen at job, may have to learn to appreciate hockey. Luckily now that games are broadcast in Hi-Def it is watchable on TV

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Brian Westbrook is smarter than Hines Ward

But Villanova vs UGa told you that already. I had Westbrook on a fantasy football roster when he slid down at 2 rather than scoring which iced a game for the Eagles and for my fantasy opponent. Hines not so bright in waning seconds of regulation but coin flip bailed Ward out of sleepless night in overtime.

Georgia Tech started their game against Clemson like it was going to be a woodshed game. But realistically they had 3 big plays and not much execution until the last 2 drives.

I interviewed with a company 3 times in July, they did keep me informed that they had not made a decision and there was lots of vacationing in August. Do Canadians get European levels of vacation? I met local business manager and CEO for breakfast, ended up with a flight to Ottawa to meet co-workers early next week. I will still be based in Santa Clara and most of my work will be on West Coast plus Arizona. I did not check to see if I ever have to go to Nevada but it would seem to be part of territory.

Friday, September 04, 2009

I have the best friends

An email received today:

Dear good friend,

Good day, how are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have
paid the fee for your Cheque Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm
if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Ahmed Zafa
the Director of Financial Trust Bank told me that before the cheque
will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to cash the $1,500,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to
cash payment to avoid loosing this Funds. However, all the necessary
arrangement of delivering the $1,500,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS
in cash was made with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER COMPANY here in Cotonou
Benin Republic
,

It is so nice that my friend managed to cash a check payable to me before it expired.
As I was typing this blog post I received a 2nd email it contained above text plus:

Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou has to
package the sum of $1,500,000.00 USD in cash for me. Then he also
agreed to help me to register the Consignment with GLOBAL TRUST
COURIER COMPANY. Infact I thank God very much for all the movement I
made, every thing goes normally. As for our agreement with the Global Trust Courier Company they
promised that your consignment will leave this Country on Monday next
week, But the Director of the GLOBAL TRUST COURIER COMPANY said that
they need your contacts information’s to able them meet up with you
immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived to your Country. Please write a
letter of application to the given address below.


ATTN: Mr.Terry Cool
TEl: 00229 98540624
EMAIL :( removed)
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country withYour BOX .This is what they need from you.


1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Please make sure you send this needed information to theDirector General of Global Trust Courier Company Mr.Terry Cool with
the address given to you Note. The Global Trust courier company doesn’t know the contents of
the Box. I registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloth. They don't know
it contents money. This is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don’t
let them know that is money that is in that Box, Again do let them to
find out the box contain cash for i simply register it as an African
Cloth ok.


I am waiting for your urgent response.

You can even call theDirector of Global Trust Courier company with this line: 00229 98540624 ( email removed )
Thanks and Remain Blessed.


Alhaji Barka

This explains so much. After 1st email I was concerned that bank had cashed my check for someone else. (I like Fuel misplace $1.5M all the time). 2nd email clarified a lot of things as I can now get my money back.

Still I am left wondering.

1) Was sending 2 emails intentional or was this a bad cut and paste on 1st attempt?

2) How many people really fall for this each year?

3) Would Waffles break even if he responded to 100 of these emails?