CompassBill is Live!

If you have wondered why I have not posted recently (and I know you haven't), I have been busy working on CompassBill, an online billing application. We finally pushed it live earlier this morning. If you are interested in an online billing application, feel free to sign up and take it for a test drive. If you do, please let us know what you think.

Its Stick your Hand into a Hornet's Nest Month at the AV Club!

Apparently the AV Club decided to rile up its followers by taking on sacred cows of the community left and right this month. Between a rebuke of Ghostbusters and a takedown of Children of Men, they really started a furor over there. It almost seems like a cheap ploy to get more comments. What's next, a post saying The Wire and Arrested Development were highly overrated, or someone expressing their thoughts about a Wes Anderson film? Will someone write about a musician that someone else doesn't like? Or maybe a writer will make a post in defense of Dane Cook, and a dissent against Patton Oswalt. If so, make some popcorn and settle down. It will be like wrestling, only with less spandex and more browser refreshing.

Bears vs. 49...Eh Screw It, a Video Instead

Instead of talking about the latest turd left by the Bears at Old Candlestick, I'll leave you with this video that shows how much better 2012 probably would have been if presented as a comedy.

Ugh, the latest Bears game

I apologize for the outdated piece of internet fluff above, but watching the nastiness that is the 2009 Bears defense can do that to you. Apparently losing Tommie Harris is the difference between mere mediocrity and outright incompetence. Amazing how quickly this defense went from being dangerous to other teams to be a laughingstock of the league. Apparently the Bears did need more than just a quarterback to compete.

Maybe they'll do better this Thursday against the Flying Singletarys. Because the Bears always play well in San Francisco.*

*No, they don't. See Jauron, Dick (2003) and Wannstedt, Dave (1995) for more information.

Guest Blogger Erin Speaks Up About Alice, Julie & Julia, and...uh...Brad Pitt I guess

This post is by "guest blogger" (i.e; little sister) Erin. Not Andrew. So don't hold him accountable for any opinions expressed.

Today I went to the movies with mom and Andrew. This is a big undertaking because I don't usually go to the movies, what with me being an internets addict and all. However, I was convinced, one could almost say tricked, into leaving the house and went to a showing of the new movie Julie & Julia. Before I get to my thoughts on the movie (lol! I's bloggin about a movie 'bout bloggin!) I saw the poster for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Looking at it, and hearing vaguely about the premise from a friend, I have already come to the conclusion that I've seen this somewhere before...but where? Maybe this will be a little less dark, but where on earth have I heard the premise of Alice returning to a Wonderland that has been corrupted by the Red Queen?


Oh wait. This is where.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee

Just sayin'.

(Bet some of you thought I was talking about the Resident Evil movie, amirite? Well that also kind of applies)

Anyway. On to Julie & Julia. Despite not really wanting to see the movie, as I am not a cooker, nor am I huge Amy Adams fan (I don't DISLIKE neither, I'm more or less apathetic to either) but I was pleasantly surprised with it. I was worried it would be a repeat of the snoozefest the Hours which also not only featured Meryl Streep but also had the cutting between the two parallel storylines...and was happy to find that this movie was actually INTERESTING.

I don't recall much about the internets world of 2002. I was barely in high school and all my endeavors on the internet consisted of playing games on the cartoon network website and obsessing over fake pets on neopets. However, if I would have known how easy it was to start a succsessful blog, I probably would have been all over that. Thanks Web 2.0 for crapping all over the potential market I could have reeled in with my zoo blog. (Note to self; post "cute animal pictures" blog)

Long story short, once again I had ideas to blog about but now, 4 hours later I've kind of forgotten all of them. If I remembered them, then this blog would have been like a thousand times better.

In other news, is it just me or does Inglorious Basterds look like a REALLY bitchin movie?

Bon Appetit!

Favre Says No to Vikings, Local Bears Fan is Ambivalent

It appears that Brett Favre might actually be retired for real this time. Instead of coming back as the immediate "savior", he will stay in the muggy climes of Mississippi and await his imminent induction into the Hall of Fame. It appears that the Bears will be the only team to make an offseason splash at QB in the NFC North.

Ten, or even five, years ago, I would have been celebrating at the thought of Favre retiring instead of playing for a Bears rival. At that point in his career he was the King of Bears Killers, and it was damn frustrating watch him tear the Bears up during the Wannstedt and Jauron years. Although I would have missed seeing the Bears turn the table on him, I wouldn't have been too broken up about his retirement.

But now, however, I am merely glad all of the "will he or won't he" crap might be over. The Lovie Smith era has been good for the Bears in their historical rivalry with the Cheesheads. The Bears were 6-2 against the Favre Packers, losing only the 2nd game between the teams in 2004 and a meaningless game at the end of the 2006 season. In most of the victories the Bears tore apart Favre, giving some comfort to this Bears fan.

Would he have been just as bad against the Bears had he signed with the Vikings? Possibly, consideirng how inconsistent he was in New York. The Bears defense these days isn't as solid as it was during the 2004-2007 run, but Favre is also older. It would have been interesting, although not as interesting as his first trip back to Lambeau. I'm sure the FOX and ESPN execs are broken up over losing that matchup. I guess they'll have to live with Aaron Rodgers vs. Tavaris Jackson instead.

Movies to Work To

When I am working, I usually like listening to something. Often I just open iTunes and play music, which works in most cases. Sometimes, however, I like to turn on the TV.

When I have the TV on while working, I follow a few basic ground rules. I rarely watch TV shows, unless it is a DVD with a play all option. The best for this purpose tend to be shows set in a workplace, such as The West Wing and Newsradio. I won't work during a TV show that I have never seen, as it is far too distracting. I rarely watch sports while working, which usually isn't an issue considering I rarely watch sports except for football.

Most often when I have the TV on, it is to play a movie. Whether in real time on cable, on the DVR, or on a DVD, movies are the best fit for work-watching. I always watch a movie that I have seen before, especially if I have seen it multiple times. Trying to work while a movie I want to see is on is impossible, as I will either fail to get the work done or completely miss the movie.

Some movies work better than others in getting me to work. The three Lord of the Rings films are a good fit, although I don't own a copy of them, so I only use them when at my parents' house. Movies such as Glory and Gettysburg also tend to work. However, I've found the two best films to use are Pirates of Silicon Valley and WarGames. I guess it is because both movies deal with computers, and the former deals specifically with successfully starting a business. Considering how productive I've been while watching Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy hack into WOPR, I probably should buy it on DVD. Of course, it might then lose its magic.