Reviews

A few new things have come into existence over the past couple of days. I wanted to talk about these for just a few seconds. To give you a little glimpse: Wal-Mart, Super Speedwash, Google, & Andy Milonakis.

First up, Wal-Mart. Today was the grand opening of Hendersonville's Wal-Mart Supercenter. It looks immaculate on the outside, and the inside is nice, too. It's pretty much the same on the inside as Bowling Green's new Wal-Mart, aside from a few things in different parts of the store. Also different at this Wal-Mart is the noticeable absence of McDonald's. In this one there is a nice Subway at the front of the store instead. I think this is a nice choice for Wal-Mart to try to seem more upscale. Not that Subway is upscale by any means, it's just a healthier choice.

Enough about Wal-Mart, next on the agenda is Super Speedwash. This just opened in Gallatin recently and I tested it out today. You pay at a kiosk from your car at the very beginning. Prices: $4, $6, & $10. I went for the $10 one since my car was in need of a washing. You then pull up, are guided onto the conveyor system by an assistant, then put you car in neutral an voila! You start moving. It does the whole automatic wash thing, even drying you, while moving you along enjoying the view. After the wash is complete, you can go around to the vacuum stations where you can vacuum your car for free. 24/7. You don't even have to get a car wash to use the vacuums, or so they say. All in all, it did a swell job at cleaning my car, and great suction on the vacuums - but it still can't out do a manual hand scrub.

Next is Google. A couple of days ago they released their new Google Desktop. It allows you to search for files on your computer easily. But this new one includes a sidebar. I usually don't like sidebars, but this one doesn't seem to get in my way as much. It is docked to the right or left of your screen and includes different section such as a To Do List, a news feed, a scratch pad to make random notes, the weather, and even a section that scrolls through different pictures on your computer and on the internet. Check it out!

Another thing Google released, just last night actually, is Google Talk. It's basically a program where you can chat and call up other people using the internet. The clarity is amazing, although I talked to Paul last night and it didn't sound too good on my side, but he said I sounded great. Try downloading it and talk to me, just ask for my gmail address. Speaking of which, you'll also get a free Gmail e-mail account, which I also highly recommend.

Lastly, Andy Milonakis. I was talking to Reid, from WKU, the other day and he informed me that Andy Milonakis is 29 years old. I had no clue this was the case. The show was horrible when I thought it was a 12 year old, but it's even worse now that I know he's actually 29! If you look on IMDB or Wikipedia, you will find he was born in 1976 and that he is a comedian that plays a teenage kid. Ridiculous. I should have realized he hadn't changed at all in the past 2 years since I first saw him in a video online.

That's about all I needed to get off my chest at the moment. Hopefully it isn't too much for you all to read. I know I'd probably just skip it if I saw something this long. If anyone can tell me that Andy is really a 12 year old, let me know - I will forever be disgusted if he is really 29. Have a good one, folks.

Randomness.

Just a couple of things have come to mind . . . First start of with, did anyone know that Gwen Stefani did about 40 interviews for Angelina Jolie's part in Mr. & Mrs. Smith? I am actually glad that she ended up not getting that. Shocking, huh? I think that was definitely a better role for the stunning Angelina Jolie. Although it might have saved Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston's marriage if Gwen had gotten the role. The world may never know!

Also, gas is supposed to go over $5/gallon next year. 2006. Next year. That's crazy! Check out these gas prices from around the world ranging from 12 cents/gallon to $6.48/gallon. I feel sorry for the people in Amsterdam.

I also went to see the movie Red Eye tonight with Sarah & Hodges. I left pretty much embarrassed. You see, Wes Craven really got me this time. I actually jumped violently and yelled at one point in the movie. Can you believe that? I sure can't, I wish it hadn't have happened. I really like Rachel McAdams, by the way. Anyone with me on that?

It's pretty late right now, but Murphy Brown is keeping me company. Tomorrow I will be celebrating my grandfather and mom's birthdays at some point. Not really sure what time, although I'm positive we won't be having breakfast. Mornings are obviously not a good time for my family . . . at least for 4 people. I'm gonna check out some more Murphy Brown - everyone have a great night/day!

WKU

Today I went and visited ol' WKU. Laura has been up there since Friday training to be an RA - something I would never do! She's a better man than I. Anyhow we went to Wal-Mart with another RA in training and then went to go eat. There is a new place in Bowling Green called The Buckhead Cafe so we decided to try it out. It was overly crowded and we were hungry so we left.

As we were walking to my car, I hear a little old voice behind me yelling 'Sir! Sir!!' - I turn around and it's a little old man. "The belt on my engine broke - can you take me to my wife's work?" I looked him up and down, figured even if he had a weapon that I could take him. "Surely." He lifts up his shirt and says "You can check me if you want! I know how it is these days!" I was thinking that wouldn't be necessary and declined and hopped into the car. Laura was demoted to the backseat on account of the elderly and we went on our way to Ramada Inn. "You people are so nice for doing this - you know these days people aren't so nice with everything going on. Use to everyone was willing to help . . . " Blah blah blah.

Anyhow - we ended up eating at Toot's - without the old man, mind you - and it was delicious. After I dropped Laura off I needed to use the bathroom, but Reid was at work so I couldn't go there. Then I went to Jacob's and watched a bit of The Simpson's then drove home in a monsoon where I could not even see the road. Fun times. I'm out!

Dress Codes

I realize that I am no longer in high school, but recent news coming out of Wilson Central HS has gotten under my skin. I was listening to the radio yesterday when the DJ's were talking to student and parents that were outside of the school protesting, while classes were going on inside. These were mostly students who had been sent home or put in ISS for such horrid offenses as the bottom of their jeans were touching the floor, the pockets of their jeans were frayed, or they were wearing a striped shirt instead of a solid colored shirt. What does that have to do with education?

The people on the radio were siding with the school and the school board saying the students should follow the dress code. This would be understandable if it were a reasonable dress code. You also had the idiots that call in saying stuff like "The schools are just preparing them for the real world where they will get jobs and have to go by dress codes." High school is far from the real world. Once people get jobs and are getting paid to go to these jobs, they will obviously abide by the rules set for them. Kids these days aren't idiots, they know when it is appropriate to dress up and when they don't really have to. Unless you're paying thousands of dollars to go to a private school, these strict dress codes are stupid.

What happens after these students graduate from these high schools? A lot will go on to further their education in college. What will most see when they go to their first day in a college class? Mini skirts, sagging jeans, tank tops, flip flops, 'extreme' hair colors . . . I think you get the idea. So I think it is useless for a high school to adopt rules like this. I can understand things like mini skirts shouldn't be allowed in high school - no one needs to see a 14 year old girl's butt hanging out. But for making students miss out on class time because of a frayed pocket? Balderdash!

www.tennessean.com

Dermatologist

Back in June, while on vacation, my brother pointed out that I had a nasty looking mole on my back. Last week this mole, or whatever it is, started hurting somewhat and had a bit of pus leakage - pretty exciting, eh? Well today I finally went to the dermatologist to have that checked out.

I waited in the waiting room for about 30 minutes or so, then was called back. The nurse took me into the room where the doctor was going to look at me, or the small waiting room, and told me to go ahead take my shirt off. I sat there freezing my butt off with no shirt on for a good 30 minutes when the doctor finally came in. "Hey Kody, I see you haven't been in here since 2001 - oh wait, Ron is supposed to be in here - sorry!" And he walks out. Wait another few minutes and the real one comes in. It's about friggin' time.

Anyhow, to make a long story short - they rammed a needle in my back and numbed me up then I start hearing the scissors clipping away at my skin. They did a biopsy on it, whatever that entails - and said that it might have had a cyst under it, but got all the nice juices out and if it was a cyst that that should have taken care of it. He's telling me all about it as he's standing there with bloody gloves on - kind of gross. Anyhow, good job, doc. I'm proud of you.

So I have to go back in 10 days to get the stitches out and find out the biopsy results! Fun times. Alls I knows is that nasty thing shouldn't be on my back anymore - am I right??

Peter Jennings Died

I'm sitting here watching TV and reading some news when somehow I pass by the fact that Peter Jennings died. Justin Pitt just happened to be the one to let me in on the news. That's pretty sad stuff - I haven't watched any of the evening news programs lately, but I did hear that Jennings had found out he had cancer. I didn't realize it was that bad, though.

Whenever I did watch one of them I would always tune into ABC because Dan Rather would sometimes just get on my nerves. "This race is slim to none and slim just hopped on a train to Utah" - Seriously Dan, leave it to Peter.

Anyhow - I just thought I'd mention my memory of Peter Jennings, which kind of turned into a memory of Dan Rather, but you get the point.

http://abcnews.com

Harry Potter . . . Spoiled?

Don't worry - I won't spoil the book for you if you happen to be in the middle of reading it. However, I'd like to explain how someone spoiled the book for me.

I was perusing the different profiles on thefacebook.com, when I start reading someone's wall (which is a place for people to write comments). It went something like this: "So I was looking at the Harry Potter club on thefacebook and someone wrote about . . . " and continued to ruin the ending of the book for me. I am sure this person was upset about the book being spoiled for him/her, but there was no reason to post that in a public place with no warning whatsoever of a spoiler.

I know there is still a small chance that what he mentioned wasn't true, but it was something I had already thought would happen so it probably is. Anyhow, I'm pretty sure that I'll get through this.

The moral of the story is - Don't take forever to read a book if you don't want it to be spoiled for you.

Wal-Mart

The local Gallatin Wal-Mart has finally decided to do some remodeling on the outside of the building. About dang time. I have been insisting on using brick for years now, and though they didn't go with brick, it still is looking better than it did before. They went for the less expensive option: paint. Leave it to Wal-Mart; the biggest, richest company in the world, to cut corners.

The paint is a better color, but I am hoping that something will be down with the midsection of the store. From the Nashville Pike, the building looks very bland and flat. There is not much height difference across the stores length. It really needs to be built up to make it look nicer. I'll keep you updated if that actually happens.

Next thing they need to do is revamp the inside. The Gallatin Wal-Mart is really crappy. If you have gone to a new Wal-Mart lately, or at least the one in Bowling Green, KY - they have opted for an eye-pleasing brown, marble-like concrete floor instead of the white linoleum tiles. This color makes it a whole lot easier on the eyes since it's not a blaring white color wherever you look.

I say it is getting to be the perfect time to remodel the whole store. Let Gallatin enjoy life without a Wal-Mart for a couple of weeks or months or however long it would take. Once the new one opens in Hendersonville, they should just shut down the Gallatin one and get their work done.

I love Wal-Mart, but this would give all those Wal-Mart haters a nice little breather, and it would allow all the Wal-Mart lovers a chance at shopping at a nice, clean store. This company is great at providing low prices to it's customers - but when it comes to pleasing their customers in other ways that are not related to driving down prices, there is much to be desired.