January 30, 2011

El Cheapo Does Blu-Ray

The hidden cost of buying the PS3 is buying stuff to actually play/watch on the thing.  Being a new format, blu-ray as a medium is still fairly expensive.  But not to be beaten, El Cheapo is still on the hunt to get the best deals possible.

This weekend, Barnes & Noble emailed out coupons with major discounting power.  The range: 10% (meh) all the way up to 50% (wow!).  Of course, El Cheapo managed to snag the 50% one.  To further sweeten the pot, they also had a "Buy Two, Get One Free" promo for DVDs and BDs.  Unable to resist, off i went to B&N.  

In total, i picked up a mix of box sets and individual BDs:  

1. The Matrix Ultimate Collection (actually also had an additional 10% off!) 
2. Batman Begins Limited Edition Giftset 
3. The Dark Knight.  

Yes, i know this says a lot about my taste in movies. 

List price (including tax, but minus the 10% Matrix discount): $114.97. 

For comparison, Amazon price (no tax, natch): $78.47.

The El Cheapo price (including tax): $57.48.

Booyah!  

Cashier: "Congratulations!  You got 50% off!"
El Cheapo (with evil grin): Muhahahahahaha! 

January 23, 2011

Tenth?

Apparently the Newsweek article i posted yesterday has hit a nerve (please note that i'm not claiming credit for publicizing article, simply referencing the fact that i also posted it).  Clicking on Grand Rapids and scrolling down into the comments section reveals plenty of righteous indignation.  I guess i wasn't alone in my assessment (mostly based on gut feel) that Grand Rapids isn't on its last legs. 

A guy named Paul Jendrasiak - who is significantly less ambivalent about this article than me - has actually put up a Facebook page wherein he invites a reporter from Newsweek to come to GR and find out the real scoop.  It's not a bad idea, but let's see if there's actually any takers.  Despite protests from El Cheapo - i'd be willing to help fund that. 

January 22, 2011

Tenth!

So apparently Grand Rapids now has the distinction of being one of America's "dying cities," at least according to Newsweek.  We're number ten! 

I personally would call that into question, seeing as how our provider group has seen a significant explosion in hiring recently.  Downtown seems to be picking up too, with an increase in the number of upscale restaurants and bars.  There's also a significant influx of people with the Artprize, although truthfully it's doubtful that many of those people stay for good.  Oh well, there's really no point in fighting cold hard facts with my anecdotal experience. 

Other cities on the list:

9. Flint, MI
8. South Bend, IN
7. Detroit, MI
6. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Cleveland, OH
4. Rochester, NY
3. Hialeah, FL
2. Vallejo, CA
1. New Orleans, LA

January 10, 2011

Fun in the Snow

It took six years, but Gianina and i have finally gotten around to enjoying the Michigan winter.  I guess what it really took was to have an irrepressible toddler running around and insisting that we play in the snow - despite his parents' protests.

This past weekend saw me construct my first snowman ever... or maybe i should say snowBOY because of the size.  In my defense, there was a lack of good "packing" snow, so i was relegated to packing the powdery white stuff and wetting it with melted water from a nearby drain (from the roof - not standing water) in order to maintain structural integrity.

"Is this snowball big enough, papa?"  

Showing off my carefully constructed snowball, which will eventually serve as the snowman's body. 

Adrian carefully packing the snowball while i collect some water. 

Pouring water on the snowball to help solidify the outside layer.
 
At last we can put the head on.  Careful, it might explode.

A successful capitation! 

The finished product!  Don't knock it - it's harder than it looks.

This weekend also had us "tubing" down the slopes of a big empty piece of land in front of a local church.  A short, steep drop only good for a few seconds thrill - an a minute's walk uphill to do it again - but hey, nothing beats near and free.

On top of the world! 

Zooming down the hill at breakneck speed.  And the two spectators can hardly contain their excitement.

Pulling the tube back for another go.  Not fun, but someone's gotta do it.

Another run down the hill while the proud father looks on.  

We'll probably go skiing again in a week or so.  Hopefully muscle memory kicks in and we won't fall as much...

January 9, 2011

Wandering Eyes

So today in church the sermon was about relationships.  Briefly, the pastor talked about how dating sites like eharmony and match.com are on the rise.  In passing, he mentioned a similar site for people who are already married, which goes by the catchy slogan: "Life is short, have an affair."

While he was nice enough to not mention the site by name, a quick google search leads one to the site ashleymadison.com.  I've never heard of this site before, but apparently it caused quite a stir when it put up a billboard in West Hollywood as part of an advertising campaign three years ago.  I haven't actually entered their site (you have to sign up for that), but i personally find it funny that one of their come ons is "Have an affair... guaranteed!"

I guess there's a lot of unhappy people out there.  Doing quick google searches on affairs and even swingers yields a bunch of resources (mostly sponsored links, some local) where the unhappy spouse could potentially go looking.  Wow.

Whatever floats your boat, i guess.



EDITORIAL COMMENT: For the record, i am happily married to a beautiful, smart, funny, thoughtful, caring, understanding (of course she would have to be, she married me!), sexy, passionate woman.  Her name is Gianina.  I love her and will love her for the rest of my life.  And if i never have to use these sites, it'll be too soon.

"Will you... learn to cook adobo for me?"

January 6, 2011

Man in Tights

Ever since i started running in the chilly Michigan falls, winters, and springs (cold weather for essentially ten months out of the year), i've been looking for a decent outfit.  Two years ago i bought a few pairs of running pants.  But to be completely honest, two of them look like pajama bottoms and the third one is just too damn big and swishy.

For a year now i've been deliberating about whether i should just go and buy a pair of running tights.  It wasn't the expense that kept me away (i can say that at least this once) but rather the perception that running in skin-hugging Spandex would somehow render me emasculated.

Which is not to say that wearing tights necessarily makes one effeminate.  There are plenty of people who maintain their masculinity while wearing tights.

There are the Supermen - Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh:


Despite his own set of tights coming only in pink and black, Bret "The Hitman" Hart (also known as "The Excellence of Execution") always made them look good:


Then there's the ripped-to-the-bone John Wesley Shipp as The Flash:


And of course we should never forget the great cast of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."  Let's face it, you've got to be a man to wear tights!




Which is not to say that i am comparing myself to these exemplars. My body is nowhere near the beefiness.  If anyone, i'd probably look more like Adam West.  I'm not saying that he doesn't have a hot body beneath that layer of fabric, but i'm just sayin':


At any rate, my main concern is function as opposed to form.  I must admit that the single layer of skin-tight fabric does do a pretty good job of keeping my legs warm down to the mid-teens.  So who cares how i look?  Although if you pretended to not know me if i ran by you on the sidewalk, i would totally understand.  At least i don't wear a full bodysuit; i do cover up with a pretty flamboyant jacket. Thank God for small favors, eh?

Obnoxious orange jacket?  Check.  Running tights?  Check.  Screw shoes?  Check.  Ear warmers, gloves, and warm socks?  Check, check, and check.  Dignity?  Errr...