The Reason Behind NatsJobs

If you saw the announcement a few minutes ago, I’m starting a new job posting venture called NatsJobs. It is where companies and organizations post jobs during Nats baseball games. You can get the details here. You’re wondering how did I start this?

It actually started in October during hockey season where I started to dabble on posting jobs during Caps games. It had some responses, but nothing broke through. My guess is hockey fans want to see the action more than the outside stuff, which was reasonable.

After the Caps playoff season was over against the Tampa Bay Lightning in May, my focus shifted to baseball and the Nats. At that time, Cheryl Nichols forwards a list of our mutual friends on Twitter to me of who are looking for jobs. I help gave most of the Twitter friends’ advice on their job search. It was then I decided to post jobs during Nats games just for the heck of it. To my surprise, there was a huge response of my job tweets during the Nats game. My guess is that people want to watch something other than baseball to pay attention, which can be tiresome for some fans. Posting jobs during baseball games probably was that outlet. Many people have asked, retweeted, and favorite (I have Tweetdeck, FYI) my job tweets. Some asked for me to transition this to part of my business. It was getting a lot of attention, but how was the end result?

There were two factors why I created NatsJobs. The first reason is the business aspect started to creep up during a discussion I had during an awards dinner this past week. It was the rare time I wore a suit and tie and add in the heat during the summer; it affected my decision. The second and main reason was my job postings were getting results. A few people have contacted me and got hired as a result from the job tweets I posted during Nats games. That to me puts a smile to my face and at that moment, it was time to put it to the next level. Thus, NatsJobs was created.

The purpose for NatsJobs is for companies and organizations to tap into the Nats community, which is diverse in every way from skills, ideas, and personalities. NatsJobs is also a way to communicate who you are looking for and the one area everyone is looking at one setting. NatsJobs is not only for Nats fans; it is for job seekers and businesses that are looking for and want to be part of an open community like the Nats organization and their fans. NatsJobs is always an open door for both the job seeker and business (though not sure about the Phillies).

Now, NatsJobs is part of Tran Recruiting and although my staffing firm focuses on nonprofits, associations, and small businesses; NatsJobs is a job posting service for any business that needs to advertise their job to a diverse market at a reasonable price.

In addition, no one or few businesses will dominate all the job postings during the Nats game(s), so I’m asking for 17/18 different businesses if they have a job to advertise for each game. I know there are businesses out there who want to advertise their jobs, and NatsJobs is a great avenue to go to.

Finally, and I didn’t mention this on the initial announcement, but when we post your job, it will not only be on my company’s Twitter and Facebook page, it will be also on my personal Twitter page, Linkedin profile, and my Google+ Buzz section (Oh, my whole Google+ page if you’re interested). In addition, you can add the Tran Recruiting twitter account to your RSS feed/Google Reader and follow via text messaging when a job is tweeted, so your job posting will get more bang for your buck.

I can’t wait for July 26 when NatsJobs officially begins and it will be a new arena for not only to attract talent, but keep the Nats community growing as a baseball town and a tight community people can rely on.

Tracy’s Random Thoughts: June 2009 Edition

Summer is coming up and I have to say this has been one of the mildest summers I have encountered. I really enjoying this, but then there’s always next month. Let’s get to it:

1. Domestic Terrorism

The past two weeks with the shooting of an abortion doctor at church and the shooting at the Holocaust Museum involving an 88-year old man.  Congress warned us the most dangerous threat to our country is not international, it’s domestic.  Sadly for some, the hysteria mentality looms large and some have this end of the world thinking that the world is crumbling down.  We can debate issues about gun control and abortion, but with these activities, we need to have a harder look at ourselves and not the issues at hand.

2. Iran Elections

I would write a whole blog on the Iran Elections and would like to share some information, but it is too gruesome for me to show it.  I do think the elections were rigged and influence by Ahmadinejad’s staff and Mousavi should of won the election.  Instead, a green revolution came to Iran and it is a huge mess (just look at the tweets and videos of the protests).  Mostly everyone in the western world knows where they stand.  I am also glad Obama is keeping quiet of the situation as he knows he has a powerful voice, but must be on the mark.

As for the news coverage, it has been shoddy as usual and I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but if you want great coverage of the Iran situation, go to:

• The Huffington Post
• The Daily Dish
• Twitter

3. The Lovable Losers

The Washington Natinals Nationals are pitiful and I’m going to keep saying that.  However, there might be hope.  The Nats did draft Stephen Strasburg number one and sign their second first round pick, Drew Storen already.  Now, there’s word that if the Nationals get last place again this year (ok, they’re going to be in last place), the prize for next year’s draft: Bryce Harper.

Seriously, I think the kid needs to slow down and enjoy life.  After his sophomore year, Bryce will take the GED and go to community college and be eligible for the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft and will be picked by the Nationals in all likelihood.  I hope the kid success, but he needs to be social and get out and enjoy being a teenager.  I would take full precaution.

4. Twitter and Facebook

Some of friends and family have been complaining about that I tweet too much and need to stop syncing my tweets with Facebook.  Okay, I admit I tweet a lot, but at least I don’t tell you everything I do like “I’m brushing my teeth” or “I’m in the bathroom.”

Now as for the syncing Twitter with Facebook…you have to live with that.  If you have different sets of rules for each profile from Twitter, Linked, and Facebook, that’s totally up to you and I’m fine with that.  In my case, I blur the line in all my profiles.  I would rather have a mix of my personal and professional details in all my profiles because I want everyone to get a real sense of me.  It will be never 100% but at least you get a good picture of who I am.  In Linkedin, you would know my skills and accomplishments, in Facebook, you would know my character, and on Twitter, you would know who I fit in the best.  All f them comes back to one thing…me.

Now I will warn you when a conference or a Capitals game comes up, I’m going to tweet a lot, so if you’re on Facebook, I’ll give you the signal to hide my statuses and tell you in advance how long it would be.  Now, isn’t that simple?

That is all for me…see ya.

Tracy’s Random Thoughts, March 2009 Edition

You’re glad that my picture is blacked out, don’t you?  Anyway, on we go:

1. The Economy

It seems the Dow Jones (or for the real hard finance heads, the S&P 500) has rallied the past 4 days after possible doom if it would go to the lowest levels since the Great Depression.  To me, this seems short-lived since confidence n the markets can be shaken easily if there are any bad news.  Now, Obama’s finance team is on the move with interviews and pressers, which is good, but can it sustain?  I do hear most “experts” say the recession will end in the 3rd quarter.  It could be heading that way.  Now, this leads me to this:

2. Stewart vs. Cramer

I finally saw the interview between Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer and I have to say that was cringeworthy.  Let me say that this was Jon Stewart’s best interview ever and since he’s getting near 50, he has change from jokes about the news to become the heir apparent to David Letterman.

 As for Jim Cramer, I think he knew that Jon was right about everything he said and was caught in the middle.  He can make all the apologies he wants, but it did give CNBC and other business networks the shaft. 

I would say though that CNBC did have reports about the markets failing (please Google Peter Schiff), but the big personalities overshadowed the people who should be trusted.  I did think Stewart was off that CNBC was the face of the financial crisis (you know who that would be), but I do think the other business networks need to step up and focus.

There would have been one solution to solve this: MORE BETHANY MCLEAN COVERAGE!!!

3.  How to improve the economy

Last week, Delaware introduce a bill that legalizes professional sports betting in the state.  By all accounts, Delaware can do this because they have no professional sports teams in that state.  The other states that have legalized betting are Montana and Nevada.  Then, New Jersey State Senator, Raymond Lesiak, is suing the federal government to overturn sports betting and make legalize nationwide.  In this case, he would lose because there are teams involved in the United States and that would cause huge chaos in the sporting scene.  

However, his thought process has brought me something that maybe states need to think about to improve the economy.  I remember people were laughing at the suggestion that Jesse Ventura  would legalize prostitution.  In a sense, that would of been risque, but with the economy in a downturn, why not.  

Hey, how about marijuana?  Apparently from a Phish concert, the police seized more than $1.2 million in value of drugs.  If pharmaceuticals were to hand out marijuana, would the economy get a boost?

Oh don’t forget Prop 8 and how it can open doors:

I’m not an advocate of any of the positions, but if the economy is troubling for your state, why not go after each person’s desires and hopes to help the state out?  Go after the perverts, the gays, the hippies, the degenerates, anyone can be fair game.  Also, if the religious right is very upset about this, they can move to Utah or Southern Virginia.  Hey, another money making opportunity for the state.  Time to open up, people.

4. The EFCA

Usually, I would do advice and case studies on my weekly HR segment, If I Was Running A Company.  I have discussed about the EFCA, but here’s my opinion of it by asking this…can we get along?

There are apparently two sides to this.  If you’re a Republican, you’re pro-business, hence the numerous pro-employer bills from 1995 to the last administration.  If you’re a Liberal Democrat, you’re more in favor of unions, hence the EFCA introduce in Congress last week.  Apparently there is no middle ground if you’re pro-business or pro-union, you dealing with a nasty rivalry that there is no end to it.  

My opinion of this is the bill is more what Donald Fehr would want…big favor to the unions, where they can step in to countercontrol the employers.   In that case, peer pressure might set in and productivity and culture changes for the worse.  However at this time, business does not have the leverage it use to because look at the news of what’s going on…corruption, incompetence, and undeserved bonuses.  Also, the Democrats have control of both the executive and legislative branches, so businesses lost that power.  

I’m also not kind of unions as well because there are instances the union leaders have more interest of themselves than the union.  The MLBPA was a great example of corrupting the system, as well as the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) where Alan Rosenberg is asking a lot of money for studios to pony up during these times, which is not a good sign.  

The problem is apparently, there’s supposed to be a winner and a loser.  Should that be only for games or all of life?  Right now, people are losing jobs because of the mistakes by both sides.  It’s time Congress, employers, and unions to collaborate on a deal that would be efficient for the workforce in the next generation, instead of bickering.  Sadly, I don’t see it coming and they’ll “compromise”.  

5. Facebook —> Twitter

It looks more and more that Facebook is not only trying to be Twitter, but are becoming like MySpace.  How that happened?  It’s called catching up.  Facebook use to be the cool kids on the block with their simple design and their independence.  However, the rise of Twitter and Facebook’s trouble outreach to the public, have them scrambling to update themselves.  By first look, I really like that they didn’t replace my statuses, but they took away the live feed and what friends have joined Facebook.  Facebook is still a good destination for friends, fan clubs, events, photos, and storage, but Facebook just became a tad late that people want to engage in conversations and like to jump in the conversation. For that, Twitter became the hot product now and Facebook is in a mid-life crisis.  Now the interesting part is how Facebook will react to the ever-quickly changing environment.  Seems Zuckerberg’s Billion Dollar status might be shot.

6. The 2009 NCAA Tournament

This is the most exciting time of the year and everyone is filling multiple brackets for their multiple pools (guilty).  Four matchups to look for:

• Villanova vs. American- In Philly, or as I like to call it, the David Aldridge Classic.
• California vs. Maryland – Maryland returns to the tourney and could be the only D.C. team advance to the 2nd round.  However, Cal can shoot the lights out from 3.
• Arizona State vs. Temple – The best individual matchup between ASU’s James Harden and Temple’s Dionte Christmas.
• Binghamton vs. Duke – The matchup I’ve been waiting for 25 years:  Tony Kornheiser vs. John “Junior” Feinstein.

That is all for this month.  I’m taking it slow on the blog because I’m trying to get new business (and Twitter), but next month, I got something in store for you.  Take care.

25 Things

If you are new to my blog, here are 25 Things to know about me from the Facebook Notes.  If you see this on Facebook, this is a duplicate and this one goes out to a wider audience.  Here we go:

1. I’m started this list on Friday the 13th and originally posted on Valentine’s Day. This is intentional.

2. I had a drowning accident at summer camp after Kindergarten. I stayed at the hospital for 2 days because I wanted to go to the big kids pool with a child’s party. Most of it was sad and terrifying. I laughed a little when I still remember it because it was the first time I tried to be macho.

3. I have a birthmark under my left elbow.

4. McDreamy and I have something in common…we both live in a trailer.

5. The first concert I ever attended…Pat Benetar. I walked in to that…literally.

6. At around 12-13, somebody in our house accidently dialed the wrong number for a pay-per-view event and instead, the whole household got 5 minutes of porn. The scene was in a dungeon and a bunch of moaning. The cinematography was bad. I haven’t watch XXX porn since, but with television standards blurring and dance clubs, that’s going to be tough.

7. If you Google my name today, it would be a bunch of my profiles and my blog (and the guy from Dallas). If you Google my name 5-6 years ago…porn galore. One time in computer class, my teacher told us to type our name on Yahoo! The first 10 results were all porn and I told my teacher that I only typed my name. Hence, you get a lot of porn jokes on my status. Just to add, if you search my name, I wouldn’t go past 4 pages; that’s where the fun begins.

8. I get a lot of flack with my name: from teachers, friends, AARP, receptionists, Tony Kornheiser. The best story about my name was last week when I was doing my presentation on social media, two people came by: one man, one woman, with their own respective families. They got the email about the presentation, but their spouses saw the email as well. The wife of the man said in a demeaning tone, “Who’s Tracy Tran?!”, and the husband of the woman said in a demeaning tone “Who’s Tracy Tran?!” The job seekers had to tell them who I am. Their spouses were a bit unsettling, but trusted their loved ones. I wonder this is how Shirley Povich feels?

9. I won the school Geography Bee in the 5th grade and I thought I was going to compete in the county Georgraphy Bee. No one told me there was a written test before that. I failed the test, there for I didn’t advance to the next stage. I’ve always said that if I knew there was a test, I would past it and everything changes. Except being a recruiter, I would of been a traveler and world culture geek. We would never know.

10. I got my drivers license at 23. I hate driving and I’m a public commuter through and through. If it’s a long way and there are no bus rides, I’ll walk…really. I’ve done it with a business suit in the pouring rain before and I don’t mind it.

11. If you meet me in person for the first time, I’m a very shy person because I don’t know what to expect from you. Suddenly with social media, I’m becoming more open. Case in point: the DC Twestival I attended. It was really the first time I wasn’t shy because I knew some of the people from Twitter and the first time I could carry a conversation.

12. I do not take praise very well. I don’t mind you praising me, but I don’t want it because I don’t want to get a big ego. I do get complacent from time to time. So I motivate myself with hard rock and with me saying myself “I suck” and “I suck balls.” Reverse psychology in motion.

13. I’m a t-shirt and jeans/shorts person. I hate wearing a suit and tie unless it necessary like a business meeting or a wedding. Also, I prefer going to bars to watch sports and news than go to a nightclub. I’m down to earth guy, so to speak.

14. I’m very reflective. I do take a lot of photos and do a lot of thinking about many things through my iPod Touch and let my walk be the soundtrack of what I’m reflecting.

15. I’m an early-bird guy. I get that from my parents, where they arrive to the location 1 hour before the scheduled appointment/meeting. I wish I was an on-time guy most of the time. *sigh*

16. I prefer very cold temperatures and don’t mind wearing just a t-shirt and pants in the cold. I really can’t stand the heat (and humidity).

17. I mock myself a lot because it just reminds me that I’m human and I notice my flaws but at the same time, I love who I am and what I have.

18. I believe in God and fate (sorry if I offend any athiests). I believe God has a reason for us to be here and gives us signs on what to do next. God just doesn’t tell us, we have to find it.

19. I’m a pro-life liberal. For some, people are scratching their heads. It’s not that complicated, people. People have different points of view, and no, I’m not an advocate.

20. If all else fails in my recruiting business or I can’t get a job, I would love to start an online novelty store. It started in college where I won a free Washington Post Express yellow t-shirt. I wore it one day and a few people came up and liked it. The novelty stuff really kicked in when I watch an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants called “One Krab’s Trash“. What solidfy it was Dan Levy’s  Mr. Tony section of his online store and CNN starting to make t-shirts out of headlines. I need to pull the trigger on this.

21. I wanted to start a Twitter for Yogi and Puffy. I was denied. If you want to know why, don’t ask me, ask the people who are tagged who have the same last name as mine. Although, I want my ultimate pet to be a monkey and call it Buster.

22. Fantasy – I would like to have my wife to be a Washington DC Sports fanatic (I can live if she’s not a Wizards fan), realistic yet optimistic, wears glasses (thanks Tina Fey and Lisa Loeb), cultured on all aspects, reads current events, would challenge me to be better, Catholic, liberal, independent, and we both can raise a bunch of our healthy kids.

23. Reality – The fantasy person is very microscopic and I know it ain’t going to happen, but I do want someone who gets me and is trustworthy, loyal, and independent. Also, the chemistry has to be right. Although, there are two rules: she can’t be a Dallas Cowboys fan and she can’t be a neoconservative (Mom and Pops conservatives are acceptable). I want to have kids, but I don’t want my kids to be THAT messed up. It’s all in the genes and raising them.

24. I’m a recruiter so I’m in the lookout for people looking for a job. Remember, your profile is a blessing and a curse. I like to learn more about the applicant if they are detailed and have a blog. It could be a curse if I see a lot of booty call pics and a lame attempt at humor. So, think of me as a double agent.

25. I’m a very inclusive person, hence the diverse people I tagged.  Again, this is intentional. I want my HR Blogger friends to know my family; I want my family to know the Mr. Tony littles; I want the littles to know my former co-workers; I want the co-workers to know my long-time friends, I want my firends to know about my celebrity friends.  And when I get married, whenever that maybe, you’ll already know each other and the only shock in you eyes is if trip myself up. Don’t you love social networking?!

My Personal 2008

I already spent most of 2008 explaining my post on starting a new company.  I’ll give a quick summary:  the beginning of 2008 began slowly, but picked up during the middle of the year.  At the end of the year, it stalled because of the economy and most companies are not hiring right now, so the business side is not what I hoped for but I’m going to patient about it since a business is a marathon (my family has a different view about it).

However, 2008 has been the most fun time I ever had.  I got my first national TV appearance on C-SPAN from a book signing I attended.  I have been attending more social events for the sake of business and friends.  I went to my second trip (ever) outside the DC area to Chicago this past summer, attended my first two playoff games in DC, went to the 4th of July in DC, got partial season tickets for the Nationals (just want to see the new stadium and the Nats sucking), and partial season tickets for the best team in DC, the Caps. 

Although my business was stagnant and left my last company at the end of summer, I’ve been doing a lot of blogging on this site since I left and felt a lot better sharing my feelings, ideas, sharing my point of view to the world.  I feel like right now, you (the readers) are getting the real me.  If I’m a co-worker or meet you for the first time, I tend to stay conservative since I don’t want to shock them or get fired.   The internet has given me many opportunities to find old and new friends and open up a lot to many topics.  If it wasn’t for the social media sites, I wouldn’t know how to create dialogue.

To sum this up; if you’re going to take this on a monetary basis, it was not a good year for me.  Not because I made bad decisions, it was mere bad luck ( I blame W., Cheney, Adam Archuleta, the whole works).  If you’re looking at this on a “spiritual” basis, this was the boldest, most fun, adventurous time I ever had.  I also want people who got laid off or having problems, just look at your “spiritual” side and not monetary when reflecting in 2008 and find something to carry momentum into 2009. 

For 2009, I can surely tell you that I won’t do anything bold or adventurous.  Let me get this out of the way:  losing weight in on the list and will probably continue to be  until the end of time or when toning my body is feasible.   I’m also going to save my money until either the economy becomes stable, either of my family members hit the lottery (a big thing in our family), or I hit the jackpot of something unexpected such as my company making $100K or someone wants my service other than HR.  Probably the most fun I want to do in 2009 is actually I want to start to grow a beard.  I think it will be cool to have a beard:  shows comradery, people think you’re intelligent, and I would be a sexy beast (ok, sexy is too strong a word, but you get the point).  I got the new hairdo this year, so why not a new image for next year?!

Finally, if there’s a chance, I would like to see my friends on the week of January 20 when the Inauguration of Obama comes that week and see their faces for the first time in a long time, which includes my high school and college friends, fellow NPR interns, Mr. Tony’s fansite group, and the HR bloggers.  Also, if you’re wondering, I’m not going to split my blog into 5 different areas like many others have tried.  What you see is what you get from this blog:  all me, although I want nicknames (The Mr. Tony Group and my best friends are set, what about the others, hmm?).  Also, I’m going to do a few more vlogs for the hell of it and write the topics that interest me:  Me and Potpourri.

Anyway, I’ll see you in 2009.

Tracy’s Random Thoughts September-October 2007 Edition

I'll be honest, I haven't written anything because there's nothing in length talk about.  So, here's a list of things I have been thinking.

1. Blackwater - Ah, the smell of the government and contractors shooting down Iraqi civilians.  That's wonderful, now we are truly hated because of this.  Good luck with this.

2. Politics in general - When Bush and Congress approval ratings are at 30%, this country has problems.  I will say this, if you want change, you need to bring the Generation Y voters, however, that's difficult because of our perception that we don't change or the system is screwed up (ok, the electoral college is screwed up). I went to a reception where the keynote speaker was Mike McCurry, former press secretary for President Clinton, and he said people now want change and that's good, but a good set of people are not out there voting.  I will challenge the young voters that if you don't like the candidates, there's a write-in vote and select who you want for president.  Also, next year is a crucial period for this generation to pick the next President because if the young voters don't come, the status quo will remain the same, but if they really care about the future, they better make a move after the holidays.

3. College Football - This is fun, now we have new powerhouses in South Florida, Hawaii, and Kansas.  The dynasties are over in this era.  You might get a 3-4 year run and that's it.  People want playing time, period and this is going to be a great college football season.  Can you say three co-champions?

4. Fall TV Season - There is no buzz for this season's crop of TV shows because people have more choices, affiliation of big networks, and DVR.  There's only one show I'm excited about:  Pushing Daisies.  Saw the first two episodes and they're brilliant.  The premise is great with Ned's unique talent and the chemistry between Ned and Chuck (yes, they use it as a woman's name).  The supporting cast is talented and the one that stands out is Emerson Cod, who is the realist of this fantasy storybook type show.  It's the only show I'm watching and hopefully it doesn't get cancelled (but likely will).

5. Larry Craig - You did it, you plead guilty, but you had a second thought and wanted to change, but you already turn it in.  Dude, give it up.  At least you can go back home and enjoy the potatoes.

6. Movies - Can anyone tell me any good movies out there for the fall/winter.  Can't seem to find one.

7. Music - Don't know anything out there, but I have to say the buzz on music has been there, the problems is the record companies are relying too much on CD sales from stores.  I might be in the minority of this, but Steve Jobs made a brilliant plan of iTunes.  Albums are $9.99 and singles are $0.99.  Problem is that he's controlling too much power and has never made any collaboration to the record companies or entertainment industries.  His big ego is causing these industries to bail on them, but his product is now part of a franchise like Pepsi and Coke.  The entertainment industry need Steve Jobs more than Steve Jobs needs them. 

8. Daylight Savings Time - I wonder the heat wave in October is due to the fact the government expanded Daylight Savings Time?  Ponder that.

9. The little big cities - Last week, I went to Crystal City to attend a conference and meet up with my Internet friends.  I've been through Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Tyson's Corner.  These areas are going to be crucial for businesses and shops but here's what I know:  THEY'RE THE SAME PLACE!!!  The reason I love working in Washington is because of the shops, the atmosphere, the monuments, and the activity.  I'm a Northern Virginian all my life and I knew it was going to expand one day, but the planning hasn't been that great.  Create buildings and shops and business will boom.  It might work in the short term, but they need to build something to make these workers stick in the area.  Now I worried that DC might become Tyson's Corner with several Mom and Pop shops closing for corporate retailing.  Really Sad.  If you want references to this, go to the Nathan's of Georgetown site, where Carol Joynt writes a fabulous blog and tells her experience with her restaurant and the landlord.

10. Facebook generation - I knew people would go into Facebook.  When Facebook open the applications format, it would become big.  Right now, Facebook is the hottest thing in the Internet and could probably stay there.  The reason people like MySpace originally is because it was open to everyone and "express" themselves with photos and wallpaper.  However, when Rupert Murdoch bought it, I knew it would go on a downturn because people are going to stuff ads and stuff crap all over.  On the other hand, Facebook is still independent and have change the social networking structure.  People worried that it will be too big for their own good.  However, the reason I love it so much is you still keep the networks you have and hopefully it could expand.  Also, If you are part of a group, you do feel attached to that group (hence the groups I created)and you want to share information.  Now will Facebook get scrutinized by getting bought by Microsoft or Google?  Absolutely, but the companies need to realize don't mess with a successful product.  Look at MySpace is doing; it's losing visitors and the buzz is there, but not as big as Facebook.  I hope no one screws up Facebook.

That's all for me, I actually have a few things to say this week, so getcha popcorn ready (I would like pizza as well).

Tracy’s Random Thoughts May 2007 Edition

This is the late edition since I recovered from ankle tendinitis (or tendonitis) and I was on Advil, so I don’t want to make stupid statements. Anyway, here we go:

1. Alberto Gonzales

Put it this way, if you want a quick summary of George Bush’s presidency, just look at Alberto Gonzales. The guy fired eight attorneys for no reason. Congress, DC, the whole nation, even the world knows Gonzales fired these people for political reasons. However, he’s still on the job and Paul Wolfowitz is out as President of the World Bank. Bush is still President and he is hanging on every last thread, but sooner or later, the bottom is going to fall out. by the way, is there any way to get fired in DC?

2. Sports tidbits

-The NBA

If the NBA Draft Lottery is more exciting than the Playoffs, the league has issues. When the NBA made the decision (yes, that would be you David Stern) to suspend two of the Phoenix Suns best players, the series was over, thus the playoffs have no meaning. Did Stern make the right decision? Yes. Did he have to do this? Under the rules, yes. However, this is my proposal if you want to prevent this stuff to happen: get those hockey boards and use it as a barrier for the players.

Anyway, the NBA is now in big trouble because the first two picks are all in the Pacific Northwest with Portland and Seattle and now all the great teams are in the West. If you want stars in the NBA, move west because there’s nothing the NBA can do about it. Well good luck NBA, you’re going to need it.

-MMA/UFC

The past couple of weeks, there has been all this hype of the UFC and deservedly sold. Pay-per-view revenue in the UFC was $50 million higher than boxing and rating to young males are improving to make a threat. Also, in the UFC, a 50% chance that you will see a knockout. While in boxing, the boxers are too cautious and thinking about the long-term and not for the kill. That is why Mike Tyson and the middleweights in the 70s and 80s were very popular because the potential that they can KO someone. Boxing has a slight chance to return if they find the next Mike Tyson, but with the training teaching science instead of attacking, the sports has gone downhill. Also, Don King and the 50 titles that are available.

The UFC is pure fighting and that’s just what every male wants to see. However, if you promote a star that got TKO’ed in the first round, that is not a good sign. The UFC needs to promote the sport, not the individuals. Let the audience decide who is the best. The hype was necessary, but they blew their chance, although they’re still in good shape.

- Hockey

Here are the sign of the times for hockey. Last week, the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres tied at the end of regulation. During overtime, NBC switch their coverage to the pre-race show for the Preakness. The overtime goal was shown on tape. Business-wise, it was a very smart move as rating increase for the pre-race show. But, let me reiterate this: IT WAS A PRE-RACE SHOW. Do you need interviews and sappy stories about the owners, trainers, jockeys and horses? No. You still had time to do it and from the highlights of the game, overtime was exiting. NBC should have been obligated to show the game in its entirely, or split screen. Of course, split screen won’t work because Bob Costas doesn’t need anyone taller to get dominated. This tells you that the NHL is dead in the States.

3. Pet Monkeys

If you saw the Washington Post this past Wednesday, there was an article of a Rockville, Maryland woman, who had a pet monkey named Armani and $4,000 of space devoted to the monkey. She called the vet’s office to see if there’s anything she can help out Armani. Problem was the receptionist or vet called Animal Control and trace this woman to her home and took Armani. Ok, there are several storylines to breakdown.

• I don’t mind pet monkeys. There the closest things to humans and I don’t have an issue with anyone owning a pet monkey. It’s like treating your hyperactive kid. I would love to have a pet monkey, just make sure I take precaution and they don’t have diseases and the hard part is gone. Diapers are a different thing. Also, very different from rottweilers and pitbulls, if you know about the Michael Vick dogfighting story.
• The woman who told animal control is a rat. That is a personal issue between her and the pet owner. If she can’t help, just say no thank you and move on. But, she had to call Animal Control for the “safety of the neighborhood.” I want everyone to ridicule her for being a pest and sent her to the wolves.
• The Rockville woman is a little nuts, but she does care for this monkey and if the monkey is no harming anyone, she’s doing a magnificent treating Armani. Of course, the disturbing part is she and the monkey watched the Today Show on NBC, meaning the monkey has the image of the preying mantis, Ann Curry, 24/7. She should of put Armani listening to NPR or the Tony Kornheiser Show. The monkey would of been in good shape.

The likely case is Animal Control keeps the monkey and send Armani to a zoo and the woman will gain nothing, which doesn’t do justice for her.

4. Public Radio Talent Quest

Why I am talking about this? Public radio needs to find a star to carry on the next generation and great pub for public radio in general. I feel right the best entertainment is coming from radio with NPR, This American Life, and the variety of shows in the public radio sector. With public radio focusing more on news, this was the perfect format to find new talent and what they can bring. I did not enter because I feel comfortable where I’m at, but go to http://www.publicradioquest.com to vote. You have this week to vote. There are 1452 entries and some are quite good. If you’re a public radio fan and you want a voice to change, then go to the site.

5. The New Facebook

Some might argue that Facebook is trying to be like MySpace. Well, Facebook is the closest competitor to MySpace and they need to make the necessary changes like audio or podcasting. At least Facebook gave an option to which applications you want. I have a couple of applications and it’s very useful. If you’re on Facebook, please take a look at my new profile page and find what you like.

That’s all, have a great Memorial Day and remember the people who made this holiday.

Tracy’s Random Thoughts, September 2006 edition

Hello everyone,

Sorry, summer is over, but guess what? Fall is here and I am one happy man, but before I’m happy, I need to rant on a couple of things:

1. Katrina and 9/11 Anniversaries

The past few weeks, we’ve been honoring heroes and remember the victims of both Katrina and 9/11. I’m a big believer in fate, and I think these two had meaning in different ways.

On 9/11, yes I think it was tragic for our country and gutless for the terrorists killing innocent people to take an order. But was that forthcoming? Before 9/11 and after the Soviet Union broke up, the United States were at top of the world and we felt we were invincible. 9/11 change I don’t think our daily lives, but opportunity of the worst kind. After 9/11, we heard all these reports of future attacks of bioterrorism, Anthrax, Muslim domination, conspiracy theories, scared families, etc. This is where I believe Bush and his administration shined. By not hunting for Osama Bin Laden, the administration (That includes Rumsfeld, Cheney, Rove, and Bush being the last line) brainwash us convincing that Saddam Hussein was part of Al-Qaeda. Thus, the War in Iraq began and convinces some Americans the war was for the better. Instead, the war jumped gas prices, thousands of soldiers killed, and we took the bait. Another part of 9/11 is this raise in Christian faith. If it wasn’t for 9/11, religion would have been a secondary issue. But it happens and forces some people that Christianity solves all issues. When the “GOP is for God and Democrats is for Satan” issue came in the elections, who won? You guess it, the GOP. I’m a Catholic, so I believe in God, but using religion as an issue and take advantage of an opponent; that is just wrong, just boldly wrong. 9/11 was the worst of times because of the actions. 9/11 brought the best of times when heroes rise and we had a purpose in life. All of those were true, but 9/11 brought in reality that the world is getting smaller, diversity is a must, and opportunities come knocking, either good or bad.

On Katrina, I’ve seen Hurricane Andrew rip Florida almost 15 years ago. Katrina was Andrew, but worse. At first, I laughed at the coverage because people were standing in the hurricane for no purpose and only to get a good shot. But, when I saw the Superdome leaked and the roof blown off, I knew this is going to look bad? Bad is a terrible term to use; I would say the damage was cancerous. New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast were underwater from not only Katrina, but the broken levees. It was sad that New Orleans became from a vibrant city to a ghost town. For a long time, people didn’t have homes, had to live in trailers, move to different cities and go into a different environment. Right now, New Orleans has improved, but it has a long way to go. The French Quarter is almost set and downtown looks complete, but the “lower-income” areas, like the Ninth Ward, is still in shambles and the city doesn’t know what to do. It will take almost 10 years to rebuild, but New Orleans has been reborn after Katrina. People view it as a culture, not a place where Girls Gone Wild! is taped. And the city does act like a community. As I mention before, I believe in fate; New Orleans was a place to have reckless fun, but sometimes carnage gives a reason why people love to stay in New Orleans. When New Orleans realizes their culture carried their community, they realize something good is happening. One year later, New Orleans is vibrant for the right reasons and hope. I know this sounds stupid, but if New Orleans had the number 2 pick in the NFL Draft and they selected Reggie Bush, you know fate is on your side. Katrina also meant the global warming theories, but that has been somewhat in the backburner because there have 5 weather disturbances, far fewer from 27 last year. But Katrina brought the issue of alternative energy and greenhouse effects that not only create the storm, but break off a huge pack of ice in Antarctica and Greenland.

2. The Pope’s comments

Pope Benedict XVI in Germany mentions to a class in Germany that Mohammed is evil and he wants to see if he exists. Actually, that was not his phrase (That honor goes to a Byzantine Emperor). But, that was a bad choice of quotes from our Pope. I believe in the Pope and basically I have to follow him since he is the leader of the Catholics, but he crossed the line when he said Muslim/Islam is meaningless. Leaders need to keep an open mind that other religions exist and probably these “Gods” work together. If I were in a public area, 50/50 I might want come to the Pope (the rate should have been 100, but I’m afraid I’m going to get beat up).

3. Facebook

One of my favorite sites is Facebook because it gives a close online community and doesn’t screw up your computer. However, two issues that have raise:

a) News Feeds
People complain that news feeds were invading their privacy. After all the complaints, Mark Zuckerburg, the creator, changes the privacy options. To me, I thought the news feeds were a good idea since I can keep track of my friends, but it was too much to know who got engaged, who attended the parties, etc. That is their business. I want the news feeds to focus on me and me only and that is how a news feed should work.

b) Facebook going public
Facebook announce they are expanding their base to include everyone. Everyone went up in arms, this time, there is no decision yet on expanding (it’s not going public, people). Its all great that Facebook is expanding but the key issue is you are letting everyone in. You are including spammers, porn stars, and advertisers attack the site. Here’s my idea: Facebook should have join with the Social Security Administration to check if each user is legit. Ok, that will cost a lot of money, but I want Mark to have a checklist that in order to be in Facebook, you must have a work address, college email address, high school email address, or a background check for each person register for Facebook. Enough of this “Facebook is losing its community” crap. Hello, you are creating a community with privacy controls.

4. Jaime Gold

For people who don’t know who Jamie Gold is, he won the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event. He won a record $12 million, besting over 8700 players. Of course, the money is going to be tax, so Jaime gets over $6 million. Well, there’s a dark secret: Jaime apparently made a deal with an associate that he can have half of the winnings before day 4 of the event (the day Jaime took the chip lead) (Ok, you are learning too much poker on TV, buddy). After the event, the associate went to the Nevada courts asking for his $6 million. The judge ordered that Jaime’s $6 million to be frozen. Where was Jaime? He went out of the country and came back with this news. A little background on Jaime, he’s a Hollywood producer. That should be enough of why Jaime wanted to keep the $12 million.

5. Strange stories

a) Penis transplant
That is not a typo:

LONDON (Reuters) – Surgeons in China who said they performed the first
successful penis transplant had to remove the donated organ because of the
severe psychological problems it caused to the recipient and his wife. Dr Weilie
Hu and surgeons at Guangzhou General Hospital in China performed the complex
15-hour surgery on a 44-year old man whose penis had been damaged in a traumatic
accident. The microsurgery to attach the penis, which had been donated by
the parents of a 22-year-old brain-dead man, was successful but Hu and his team
removed it two weeks later.” Because of a severe psychological problem of the
recipient and his wife, the transplanted penis regretfully had to be cut off,”
Hu said in a report published online by the peer reviewed journal European
Urology, without elaborating.”This is the first reported case of penile
transplantation in a human,” Hu added.Both the man and his wife had requested
the surgery. He had been unable to have intercourse or urinate properly since
the accident that occurred 8 months before the surgery was performed.Ten days
after the operation, which had been approved by the hospital’s medical ethical
committee, the recipient had been able to urinate.There had been no signs of the
10-centimetre (4-inch) organ being rejected by the recipient’s body. But Hu said
more cases and longer observation are needed to determine whether sexual
sensation and function can be restored.”The patient finally decided to give up
the treatment because of the wife’s psychological rejection, as well as the
swollen shape of the transplanted penis” Hu added. In a commentary in the
journal, Yoram Vardi, of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, said the
successful surgery represents an additional step in contemporary medicine.But he
added that careful patient selection is required as well as thorough informed
consent of the patient and his family.”Satisfactory consideration of these
issues must be taken into account so that this approach can be considered a
serious therapeutic option in the future,” Vardi added.

Luckily its the Chinese because if they have a baby, he shouldn’t have an extra urge after that.

b) Pee/Coffee
I do not like coffee, but this really takes the cake as the grossest story ever told. A guy at work has being urinating on coffee. You would think its for 1 day. It’s gross, but its understandable, if you say so. But, the guy has been urinating coffee for 4 months. That’s right; the other co-workers were drinking coffee and the guy’s urine. The guy got fired after knowing the event. I don’t know the details, but why would you pee on a coffee pot? By the way, this is not some kid; this is a 50-ish year old man. Boy, I wonder how old guy pee taste like. Oh wait, the co-workers know how it tastes likes, I imagine its like tea.

6. The Fall Season

The TV Season, the pitch perfect temperature, the color of the leaves, football season, kids roaming into schools, and my birthday in this season. Ah, its good to have Fall back.

That is all for today, you better enjoy autumn or I’ll smack you right upside your head.